Getting organized

for the Rob Gage Clinic I'm the organizer of! Confused? Me too.

Don't have too much left to do that can be done before hand. I do need to go pick up the wireless microphone and get it tested to make sure it works. I don't know what I am going to do if it doesn't, I should have done this way in advance but..... well you know the drill.

Pip's been good, weird but good. He is fat as a tick, but he looks great. He will be participating in the clinic, Morgan has three rides over three days. I think Pip might protest and think he is being abused but he will survive. I will just make sure he has lots of food!

Pip, Pip, Pip, Pip......

He has been stellar this week. Finding the perfect spot on a line that was set short and ADJUSTING his step to find the sensible spot, not the flyer!!! YAHOO!!! Not only doing it once doing it multiple times. Getting the right number of strides, winding up leaving the ground from the same spot EVERY TIME through and it was a larger oxer on the out side of the line. Morgan says he is getting to be really fun to ride, less work for Morgan. Excellent. There is hope for him yet.

The horse is still a goof ball. At home for flat schools he is on some kind of timetable or something. Walk around the ring so many times, trot around this many, then he decides it is time to CANTER. A year ago getting him to canter was a bit of a chore, now he just decides it is time to. He does this big weird flourish with his front legs when he is deciding it's "Canter Time" - we call it his Liberace canter. He never does it anywhere but home and only when he has decided it is time to canter.

Maybe he has a meeting or something to go to. He is just very odd, amusing, but odd.

Allergy shots are going well. He hates them but that is pretty much it. We are up to every 1o days on this set of vials, which will take us through November, then on to the last set for the initial desensitization which will start December 5th and go through June.

He is very shiny and in perfect weight and he has grown. He is starting to look BIG, but he still has a pony face, and because his neck is set on low looks shorter than he is. I'm so excited for his PreGreen year. That is if he stays consistent. Wish us luck!

Finally getting it!

Pip had great schools all this week. On Friday he was so good he and Morgan went out to the track and motored around. He probably opened his step another 2 feet while they "galloped" the track. He probably has a 15 foot stride or there abouts. At the shows with the lower fences he needs to figure out the 12 foot step to make the lines work and not look awkward and no leaving out a step either.

That is what they have been working on and he is waiting to the jumps, jumping out of the deep one instead of the long one. Although he still protests at times, it is vocally not physically. He really is coming along.

He is getting bigger too. I need to buy him a new blanket in a 76 or 78. His 72 isn't going to fit this year. He is going to be wearing one of Scooter's old Stoney Ridge blankets for awhile since it fits. I thought I had a navy one but I must have given it away. I can't find it. Of course, I haven't really looked for it either. Scooter's big Rambos are at the barn for turn outs and an old cooler is there too, along with one of my old Irish knits. Pip is using Scooter's old Stoney Ridge Irish knit and I will take his dress sheet down today. It is covered in Pippi hair.

He gets body clipped today. Poor punkin'.

The boxes of The Plaid Horse magazine have arrived and been taken to the farm. Pip saw the cover and was very impressed with himself. He loves paper with writing on it. He must touch it. Maybe he can read and we don't know. He is always putting his nose and sometimes teeth on the course diagrams at the shows.

Off to make the beet pulp.

Pip says

HI!!!!!!

This horse is a nut...

Training continues - Pip walks so slow out to the ring one thinks he is an old man... he marched around on the flat like a good boy and then Morgan added some jumps. Little cross rail bounce with placement rails on either end. Now he is awake! Tries to canter the exercise, won't stop when he canters away, doesn't go any faster just won't stop.

He FINALLY decides to listen, jumps through correctly so Morgan got off and decided to turn him loose in the indoor ring. Pip and Morgan were chasing each other around, Morgan would kick dirt at him and Pip would swing his butt to him and kick dirt back at Morgan. Oy. Pip wasn't that interested in running around but did airs above the ground and carried on a bit.

Then Morgan ties the lead rope to the other side of the halter, gets on him bareback and rides him back to the groom stall. Pip goes like an old man again.

Pip is a nut and so is Morgan.

A Star is Born

Pip and Morgan will be featured on the cover of The Plaid Horse October issue! What a surprise!! Thank you Cindy Taylor and Bill Rube, also Becca Brebner for taking the picture. We have always loved The Plaid Horse and The Paisley Pony, now we love them even more.

This is from Thunderbird in August, it poured on Wednesday and Thursday, he had never shown in the rain!

Oh and my web site for events is One Horse Productions, LLC

Tia and Morgan are working hard to drum up business. If I make money Morgan gets most of it via Pip showing. They are smart cookies!

I need to take pictures of Pip enjoying his beet pulp. I've added flax seed to it. What a greasy mess! He usually has it all over his muzzle. Looks like a little kid who has been eating chocolate cake!

Allergy Shots

We are now on the second vial - which is a little stronger, and the shots are scheduled further apart. Next one is on Sunday the 28th. He really does get tired of me staring at him and if he tries to nap I go get alfalfa cubes to make sure he is ok. Oy. Poor guy.

I can't believe he is going to be 5 years old soon. Well another few months. Closer to 5 than 4.

He looks great except he is getting fuzzy, but it is that time of year.

I've been busy putting together a Rob Gage clinic for December of this year. So far so good.

Progress

Pip has been schooling - lightly for the past couple of weeks. He has been a very good boy, except on walkabout the other day. The infield of the track has been set up for a horse show this weekend, it will be the jumper ring. Flags flapping. He was supposed to be "babysitting" a dressage horse who has been converted to a jumper, the horse is a year older than he is. Well that horse got a little worried so Pip took off! Like breaking the starting gate race horse took off! Morgan had the rubber D in his mouth, they were headed for the track rail. Oh MY!! I've never seen him move that fast. It didn't last - precisely the reason WHY he is not a race horse. Morgan was pulling on his face, and Pip just said "Never mind, just kidding." Brat.

The allergy shots are going well. So far. Wish us luck. We are still on the most diluted set of injections. I am also considering trying acupuncture for him and his allergies.

Pippi is still not home. They told me that it would be 2-4 weeks before they would have her ashes back. I just want my girl home.

Godspeed Coltsfoot Pippi Longstocking

Godspeed Coltsfoot Pippi Longstocking July 2, 1993 - August 23,2008

The sweetest Corgi on the planet, the garbage hound, my horse show dog, Mommy, food guarder extraordinaire, old lady. Even though I didn't have you from puppyhood - you came to me from your breeder as an 8 year old ex show dog, I think I loved you best. I still have your daughter Arrow - Coltsfoot Titania - who sat by your body this morning, and watched over you while I got myself organized to take you to the vet one last time. My heart is broken.

Day two for Pip

Well he jumped beautifully, so I was texted by Miss Molly, just had a couple of squirrely moments in the puddles. Puddles.... his downfall. He was not happy that Morgan didn't let him stop and play.

So he leaves this show with a 2nd (which is BLUE! in Canada) in the Baby Green hack. This is his last outing for the year. Next year he moves up to the Pre-Greens. He will go home and just do his normal thing. The aluminum shoes come off on the next shoeing and he is back to steel. Learning to jump courses a little more consistently and having some down time.

I drive up on Sunday to help pack and come home.

He starts his allergy shots in a week to 10 days. He is allergic to everything. Nearly.

First Day of Thunderbird

He was 2nd in the Baby Green under saddle - there were 23 entered. He was called back to hack some more, sounds as though they split the class, or held some. I will find out later.

I'm getting my news via text. Morgan's phone doesn't work at the show (his phone doesn't work at a lot of the shows!) so Becca is texting me what is going on. Doncha' love technology? I would go insane if I had to wait until all was done and Morgan was in the one spot in the parking lot at the hotel that seems to have reception for his carrier. Today it was at 7am when he called. I was already awake and up, because my fire/smoke alarm went off, I turned it off, Brink's called and they were going to try and stop the fire department from showing up. They didn't manage to do that, there was a knock at the door and there was the Kent Fire department. Boy did I feel stupid. I'm probably going to get charged for a false alarm. I have to get the thing fixed now.

Apparently the rain was distracting for Pip. He has never even worked outside in the rain. I'm sure he will be sending letters to the ASPCA and PETA telling them that he was abused having to jump at a show in the, *gasp*, rain. Oy. I'm guessing from the text that he was not stellar over the jumps. Oh well, it is tough being 4.

Tomorrow he has three over fences classes, the low for his height and two Baby Greens. It is supposed to rain tomorrow too. Guess he will have to learn to deal with it. Poor Punkin'.

More stuff - they had to evacuate the stabling yesterday because someone on a Bobcat hit a gas line and broke it! So all of our horses were removed from the stabling and were hanging out on the other side of the show grounds attached to people. Pip was with our groom and his friends. Bob had his stallion, Tilly was with Molly, Bug was with Becca and Oliver was with Morgan. Holy Cow! Line was fixed and horses went back to their stalls.

At Thunderbird!

For Summer Festival! I have no pictures yet. I'm sure Becca will send me some. I'm staying home for the duration. I did drive up and take the golf cart for the EVFians to use. Good thing too, the place is large, we are stabled in the back, in the corner, in the dark with no way to get the rig in to unload so Evie came in handy yesterday, saved every one's back and arms!

The flotilla left late - for the Great White North - actually the Great Wet North. Langley has the same sort of weather we do. Yay for rain sheets, and actually buying one since I'm programmed that way from my former life in the Midwest. I never thought the thing was going to get used in the summer here but it looks as though it will.

Speaking of my former life in the Midwest - Chris Starr from Michigan, now California is here. All grown up! I think the last time I saw him he was 16. I hope he has a fabulous show.

Molly, catch rider extraordinaire, has a new ride for this show, the wonderful jumper Wavelength. I so hope that she has a great time. Tilly knows everything and will give Molly some great experience and FUN!

Pip has never shown in the rain, there might be puddles in the ring, I hope he doesn't stop to play in them while he is supposed to be going to the jump. Or in the undersaddle!! That would be really bad, funny, but really bad. He LOVES playing in puddles. This is at home.



We had three trailers going up. The stallion rode in his owner's lovely three horse with living quarters, by himself. Pip came out and saw the ramp down and made a hard left to get on as Morgan was leading him past it. Oy. Morgan had an interesting time convincing him that was not his ride, then Pip saw Morgan's six horse and RAN up the ramp. The horse is a nut.

Show starts tomorrow. Results will be here - however they managed to spell my last name wrong. Interesting. They fixed it!

Evergreen Marathon

Oy. The world's longest horse show is done. The place is lovely - although it will take a few more years before the footing is stable. The grass didn't have deep enough roots to hold up to the pounding.

Pip was a good boy - ran on to the trailer as per usual. He likes to go for rides. Morgan has learned just to get out of his way. He did the same thing on Sunday when we went to load to come home. Trotted down the aisle of the portables and jumped on.

He was a very good boy. It was really hot the two days he showed. It takes him until the third trip to get organized, he jumps the snot out of the jumps and then needs to get organized in the lines. He is getting there. He pinned in one over fences class, was 8th and won the hack. There were 18 in the Baby Greens. Most of them also showed in the 4&5 Year old hunters as well, Pip just did the low class and his division.

We decorated for the tack room contest although I don't think we got judged. Here is our set up.

I took these pictures with my Blackberry so they aren't great.

It looked very nice, Paul and Lori provided the urns, pots and plants, I did the Waterford crystal vase and had an Hermes scarf picked out to get framed and hang in the back of the "casita" but couldn't get it done, because the show was so slow and unpredictable I was still waiting for Pip to go when I was going to run out and get the stuff to frame it.

Pip got to go for ice cream with Lucas. Usually he goes with him to the Taqueria. I don't know if he got to go stand in line with him at this show.

I got to see Mark Tompkins as he was judging. Chatted with him a few times as I was wandering around and visiting with people I hadn't seen in a long time. I saw Mark last year when he was judging at a show in Monroe. Sounds as though he is doing well.

Pip's next outing is Summer Festival in Langley BC at Thunderbird Showpark. I'm going to go up on Monday to take the golf cart and then go back up on Sunday to bring it home. I can't stay because I won't be able to take the old lady dog with me. It's just as well, hotel rooms are expensive.

Evergreen Classic

On the road again. At least this time it is close to home. Ready to go after work - Evie - golf cart is on her trailer and in my driveway ready to make the trek up to Carnation.

The horses will go in two shifts. The first load with everyone but the stallion, he gets to ride up on his own.

I'm looking forward to this horse show, didn't get to go last year but heard it was very nice.

Meals on Wheels....

I make his beet pulp at home when he is not showing, so I drive to the farm every day he is home. Morgan gets to make it when he is. I'm doing his Bend laundry trying to get organized for Evergreen. Since I will be going up to the show every day I will be making his soup at home. One less thing for Morgan to worry about.

Thunderbird lost his entries so I had to fax those to them this evening. Mine were sent with Morgan's stall count. They can't find them. Lovely. The ones I faxed had no signature for Morgan.

We pack and go again this coming Monday. Then another week at home and off to British Columbia for Thunderbird.

He's HOME!

The "bus" got in at 11pm, I got the phone call at 10:27pm. They made great time. Got him all undressed and he was drinking water and eating hay, his soup was in his feed tub. I don't think he realized it. He was more interested in the hay.

My crazy carrot is home.

On the road again...

Got the call at about 5:30pm that they were headed home. It is a 6 hour drive on a good day. The truck sometimes needs to rest part way up to the pass. I guess they will be rolling in around 11 or 11:30pm. Morgan will call so I can meet them at the farm to help unload. I just like to do that and know that my little Pumpkin is home safe and sound. I also have his Sunday beet pulp soaking. He shares some with his neighbor Jete' or she throws a fit. I've made her up a little bucket too, she hasn't had any in two weeks. I'm sure she thinks she is starving.

Morgan said Pip dragged him to the trailer, trotted on and smooshed him in the corner. Morgan yelled at him and Pip was like, "What?"

I can't wait to see him!! Seven days until they ship to the Evergreen Classic! I'm really looking forward to that show. There is an International Hunter Derby, should be very exciting!!

The results will be here.

Bend II

This is a random picture of the horse show location, near one of the 3 jumper rings.

Added the Young Hunters, and no schooling in the sand ring. He schooled on the grass, someone moved a fence out to the grass.

He went around!! YAHOO!!! Got prizes in nearly all his classes. Won the Young Hunter under saddle. His last Baby Green class he was 2nd, he went brilliantly. The light bulb went on and he figured it out and let Morgan HELP him. Morgan came out of his last two classes grinning. No wiggling, no lead swappage in the lines, no other interesting stuff. He WAITED to the jumps instead of attacking.

I stayed another day because I was not driving home on Thursday with basically no sleep and hauling the golf cart. The other two dogs were very happy to be sprung from jail, Kobe so much so that he scratched me - trying to jump up in my arms or something. At 84 pounds that is a little much. Pippi, the old lady Corgi survived her second horse show in two weeks. She is such a good girl.

We have a week off from showing, kennels and driving! Then on to the Evergreen Classic in Carnation Washington. It will be nice not to stay in a hotel, have the dogs all at home and not pay for the world's longest ship for the horse.

Results from Bend II

Pip at Bend without Mom

Pip eating and being happy. Of course he is becoming Morgan's mode of transport.

Pip's still at Bend

Bend was interesting. The drive was... um, long. I was hauling the golf cart. Got stuck in Tacoma traffic and went to light a ciggy, NO FREAKING LIGHTER! GAH!! Then I remembered one was in the golf cart glove box, perfect excuse to stop at the first rest stop and let Ms. Pippi out for a walk about.

It was hot. It was long. It was beautiful. I'd never been to the east side of the mountains in Washington or Oregon. The high desert is an interesting place.

I don't have pictures from this week, I'm going back next week for two days.

He was a Cheeky Monkey in the over fences on show day. He had schooled, brilliantly on Tuesday, the show rings are grass. Schooling ring is sand. He jumped in the schooling area well, went to the ring and STOPPED. This horse never stops. He kept doing it. He was awful. We made him jump 2 more classes besides the Baby Green. He finally went around, though it wasn't pretty.

Then he won the hack - it was big there were 18 horses in it. He kept his wits about him and just marched around one of the longest hacks ever.

Second show day for him was nearly as bad. He stopped, he wiggled, he was not playing. I left ringside and sat on the golf cart far away. He went around for his last class but it was not pretty.

I have to think about what is going on in his little pea brain. We have added a martingale and a metal bit (he normally goes in a rubber snaffle) that helped a little. I think he might be not so keen on the grass. In the schooling area he is brilliant - gets in the ring and canters to the first jump and just says "no".

No rest for the wicked, he probably won't get any days off this week, and he shows again next week at the second Bend show. Oy.

Results from Bend I

Pip at Bend

The flotilla made it to Bend. Pip dragged Morgan to the trailer and trotted on. I guess he likes to go. As long as he is happy and healthy. Today is schooling day and I will be heading out shortly. He shows Wednesday and Thursday, I hope to be able to stay long enough to see him go on Thursday. It should be interesting, I've never been to Bend and am not looking forward to the drive, with the golf cart in tow. Doesn't sound like fun. I will know soon.

Here he is - in jail....

Hood River From June 15th

They are due back today. I miss my Pumpkin horse.

He jumped on the rig and was ready to go. They had to stand there for about 10 minutes and Morgan said he was a very good boy about it. Then didn't want to get off once they got to the show. Typical. He probably won't get off when they get home either.

Weather Report - it snowed there on Monday, was wicked windy and cold on Tuesday, I arrived late Tuesday afternoon and it was spitting rain, cold and miserable with the wind. Wednesday - horrid windy and cold. Had to keep the old lady dog on the golf cart wrapped in Scooter's old Stoney Ridge dress sheet. Pip was a good boy in spite of all of the wacky weather. Thursday was BEAUTIFUL, 70's, clear sky, light breeze and I'm sporting a very sunburned face. I left the sun block on the coffee table in the family room. So much for putting it out to remember to stick it in my bag.

He managed to go in the ring three times and not get stuck at the gate. He was wiggly down the lines, not fond of the ends of the ring, it is on grass in a field so there is a bit of a pitch to the ring he showed in. He got better with each trip, and was 6th in his second Baby Green class.

Thursday - he started out with the under saddle there were 18 in the ring!! HE WON IT!!! What a good boy, he behaved very well but decided standing in the line up was boring and started to dig. I'm so very excited about how he went and that he was used first, there were some nice horses in the ring. I was nervous that he wouldn't behave, but he did and he listened to Morgan.




Then came three over fences, he was a cheeky monkey as Morgan put it, his last trip was best but he didn't get used. He did some interesting things, like get to the end of the ring near the gate and decide he was done, kicked out at Morgan's leg. He jumped the jumps great but was doing baby things, and expressed his opinion to Morgan going down the judges line on more than one occasion. He is like a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to get.

Frank Willard was the Thursday judge and Brian Lenehan was the Wednesday judge. They are both on my good list.

William Sparks used him well at Mother's Day

So there you have it. His first outside show, with studs - there was a bit of "feet.won't.move." the first time he had them in on schooling day but he went around and got use to them. He was a very good boy although Jenni probably doesn't think so! She gets to deal with him first thing and he can be a pill. I'm very pleased. Morgan wants an animal communicator to have a chat with him. This should be interesting. I've got a line on two and I will probably try them both.

His beet pulp is soaking in two buckets in the kitchen sink for when he comes home. He loves his beet pulp.

On the road From June 9th

I think this horse really likes to go for rides. I also think that is the understatement of the year. He nearly ran Jose over to get on the rig and put himself into his slot. We are shipping commercially to Hood River. Air ride, 4 horses on a 12 horse rig, every one gets a stall and a half. He probably won't want to get off when they come home in a week.

I guess liking to go, correction, LOVING to get on the rig and go to horse shows is a REALLY good thing in a show horse. We have a pretty light schedule this year, I don't know what he would be like if he did this week in and week out but he does seem to think going is the best thing since beet pulp.

I'm going on Tuesday for two days with the old lady - Coltsfoot Pippi Longstocking. She went with me last year - the other two will be at the kennel. They don't mind too much, Kobe is never thrilled to go but he seems to like the people there.

Pip jumps some big ones! June 6th

Morgan went nuts. He started tiny. I built the oxers on the diagonals a little larger, 3 foot or there abouts. Then there was an oxer on the long side, and that went up once during the school. To nearly 3'6"!! My baby jumped it once and was SPECTACULAR!!!! He just marched on down the the biggest thing he has ever jumped, found the perfect gap and jumped the snot out of it.

As a reward for being such a good boy I didn't get on him for my little trot around the ring. Although I have added cantering to the mix. He didn't deserve to have to have me motor around on him.

This horse is the real deal. I'm pretty excited about him. Three more days until they leave for Hood River.

Pip gets cast - again From June 4th

Last night Pip managed to get himself upside down right in front of the door. Oy.

We were all talking at the end of the aisle and hear this tapping, tippy tapping. Chaps, Morgan's dog was quicker to pick up something was going on than the rest of us. I walked down the aisle to see what was up. It was Pip.

He started to scramble a bit more. Morgan managed to get in the stall, without getting hurt. Pip settled down, guess he figured he was going to get help. Morgan threw my cotton (yay for cotton!!) lead around both his front legs and pulled his front end around. Not an easy task, they were calling him a double wide earlier in the day! He only weighs 1150 lbs. At least it wasn't Abbie or some of the other HUGE horses we have in now. Pip sorted himself out and got up. Shook. Then decided Morgan needed to be chewed on. After Morgan checked him out and left the stall he stuck his head out and tried to suck on my hair. His version of a thumb. Then went back to eating hay.

He will be the death of me yet.

Next Horse Show Hood River!! From June 1

It's 8 more days until we pack up and head out again. This will be Pip's debut showing outside. He went to Hood River Classic to hang out last year and tried to leap into the blackberry bushes with Morgan on him. We don't know why. He just "does stuff".

This is a horse that doesn't spook, he startles which means he stops and stares at whatever it is, when he decides that it should not have bothered him and he now looks stupid he gets angry. If it is something he decides is interesting he will go over to it and examine it. He is very different and figuring him out is not easy. At least he has grown up somewhat and doesn't have melt downs anymore.

School over Fences May 31

Pip schooled over fences a couple of days this week. He wasn't paying attention and tagged the front and back of the oxer - he landed squawking at Morgan and cantered to the end of the ring. Then threw a fit. He acted like he was going to buck, he doesn't do that with a person on him, so had to be satisfied with stomping around, digging with one leg, and shaking his head. Poor Punkin' He didn't touch anything after that and PAID ATTENTION.

It's really hard being 4.

There is an Arabian Show at the farm this weekend - when they started arriving on Thursday he was in the cross ties watching them unload. He found them very interesting, they were like nothing he had ever seen before in his life.

People were complaining about our horses being turned out. Today the boys were going to get there early to throw the hard players out first thing. Pip being one of those. Apparently yesterday he found a stinky puddle in the turn out and was splashing around in it. Jose had to give him two baths! With soap.

Pip's World

I'm going to post Pip stories here. I don't know that anyone will care or read it but thought it might be interesting to do.

I actually cantered Pip for the first time since he did his airs above the ground with me. The longer I sit on him the more comfortable I am. He was a good boy. Morgan put a rail out for me to trot over - he jumps rails on the ground from the trot. So technically I also jumped him. Using the Vanessa Brown teaching method of "grabbing mane and bending over" It works!

From May 30th 2008