100 Hours

Indy’s Post, Part 2

November 22, 2018otrbreyersLeave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving! Since I’m traveling for the holiday through this weekend (I won’t be getting to my computer for the next couple days) I thought I would share the rest of Indy’s post with you. Enjoy!

It wasn’t until after an exhausting lesson one evening that my trainer made the offer to my mom. She agreed to sell Indy to us as well as one of her western saddles that my mom wanted. I had just taken the lesson horse (I can’t remember which one) out to the paddock and a halter was slung over my shoulder. I heard the offer, and then gaped and looked at my mother, then looked at Indy, grazing happily in the distance.

The day before we bought Indy, mama took me to see the symphony orchestra downtown. Being a cello player myself, I enjoyed going out to watch the experienced perform. I dressed up in my favorite heirloom jacket and brought along my favorite horse-printed umbrella, since it was raining. I expected nothing but a nice afternoon at the symphony. We were in the car on the way to the theatre with our tickets when I turned around and noticed that mama had bought a stall toy: a bright green jolly ball attached to a plastic apple stall snack holder. Still expecting nothing, I said “That’s cute. What’s that for?”

That’s when she told me that it was for Indy, our new horse. Against all odds, I was now a horse owner. The next day, we went to the barn and signed the papers.

I was eager to learn more about my new horse. Many people that own retired racehorses have detailed records of their winnings, maybe even pictures of them on the track. I wanted the same for Indy. I researched her pedigree and studied her jockey club papers, and I searched the internet for any information I could possibly get. However, I found nearly nothing about her. She had no picture and her name was not under her sire or dam’s racing profile. All the horses there had made winnings racing. Indy made barely anything, according to her papers. That must have been why she was so hard to find. I couldn’t even find the website of the farm where she was born. The industry that had been her home for the first few short years of her life had absolutely nothing to say for her. They just gave her a ridiculous racehorse name, raced her, and threw her out. And she ended up with me.

They named her Sassy Sheila. I laugh about it all the time; how it is ridiculous and yet hilarious, like the farm where she was born had cranked out fifty foals in the past month and were running out of names. I wonder what her owner’s words were. “Sassy Sheila? Oh well, sounds good to me. I don’t care if she has a good name, as long as she can run,” or “You decided to call her what!? Oh well, what’s another crappy name when we’ve got fifty other foals at the place.” Oddly enough, however, we tolerate it and even embrace it. Indy’s first leather show halter says Sassy Sheila. If I ever take her to a thoroughbred makeover, I can take the name. I’ll just laugh it off and say, “Watch out, fancy boys, here comes Sassy Sheila.”

The racing industry thought that horses like Indy were useless. But almost every equine professional (The vet, my trainer, the farrier, et cetera) that has met Indy agrees that she is a rare gem of a horse. She is a ballerina, having a fine-boned baby body that is graceful and calm. Unlike other off-track-thoroughbreds she does not bolt or buck. If she feels uncomfortable with something she would rather stop than go faster. She takes care of her rider as if she was a lesson horse. Once we were playing musical stalls and the girl on the huge warmblood steered her horse toward Indy. I did absolutely nothing, but Indy backed herself out of the stall so she could avoid being run into by the warmblood. She wants her rider to be safe and doesn’t hold grudges if you do something wrong.

Of course she has her baby moments: She wiggles and needs improvement in her movement from flaws in her racing days, she has little-girl moments. But that’s because she is still in training. I ride her whenever I can, doing my best to compensate for her and training her. Bethany rides her sometimes. Even under saddle, she is a true gem.

She also happens to be a lovebug and a huge goofball. She loves to put her nose in your face (especially for selfies), meet new people, beat her pasture-mates to the gate, lick her stall-snack (which doesn’t last long), push the other mares around, be silly and dramatic, and sniff things with her soft nose so that she makes an adorable sniffing sound.

I have a really special and loveable horse. Indy is a character in many ways, and I enjoy being around her whenever I can. She is my friend and my partner in crime. We keep making progress every day. No matter where my equestrian life may lead me in the future, I will never forget the first horse that made a lifelong dream become a reality.

Indy’s Post

November 21, 2018otrbreyersLeave a comment

Since my first two rides have been on Indy, I figured I could give you all a little more background on her.

Indy is my first horse. When I came back to Feather Run Farm, she was there. Bethany and Becky bought her off the track when she was three or four, and she was trained for all the time she was there. She started six times racing in Indiana, failing every time. It was evident she did not enjoy racing. I met her in the paddock, and when I walked back down the barn aisle I saw her for sale ad on the bulletin board. I pointed it out to my mom almost sarcastically but somehow feeling like someday it may work. Reasonably, she shrugged it off. I wasn’t surprised, and it didn’t phase me, so I moved on.

Throughout my days of riding back at Feather Run, my confidence turned from down-the-drain to the best it’s ever been. In the process, despite my dreams and whimsies, buying a horse (especially Indy) became completely off the board. And yet, as I went through with my first lease, I talked to my mom and my trainer, spilling my daydreams about owning a horse. I forgot who said it, but one of them said “Who knows. Maybe your horse is on this farm right now.”

Eventually, both myself and my mom were feeling very confident in the saddle. We went online and bought a green rope halter. As she pulled it out of the box, she said that the halter would hang in our house until there was a horse that belonged to us to wear it. I was enthralled and excited beyond belief that we were actually going to buy a horse. But the way she said it hinted that this said horse was going to be far in the future. It was funny that this horse was in the paddock right in my own barn the whole time.

I had wanted a horse for my entire life. Even if I didn’t know, my parents knew when I was small that owning a horse would never happen. None of my parents ride or were involved in the horse business at all, although my mom took lessons as a kid. The next best thing was taking lessons, but that never happened either. I didn’t know why, and I sat, jealous and horseless, until I started taking lessons in sixth grade. The stereotype is that all good riders grew up in the horse business, but I consider myself an exception to that stereotype (but that’s a story for another day).

Back to Indy. It was in January of 2018 when it started becoming a possibility. Defying all odds, mama came to me and said, “Let’s go look at Indy!”

When I met Indy in the paddock again, this time actually convinced that she may be a possibility, I instantly fell in love. She was only five years old, and green as grass. I was still a novice rider. Every reasonable fiber of my being said that buying a green off-track-thoroughbred probably wasn’t the best fit for me, but after touching her sweet nose and her baby silk young-horse coat, all my doubts went instantly down the drain. Indy was perfect.

(Pictures that we took on that day)

To be Continued…

Hour 2

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018otrbreyersLeave a comment

Today was a practice ride with Indy and two of my barn buddies. Since no other easier horses were available to ride, I chose to ride Indy. I was kind of skeptical about riding her with two other horses in the ring, but I figured she would be fine because she knows how to take care of herself. My two friends, Mia and Mary Hampton, were riding Tia and Huckleberry.(Indy and I are on the right).

We spent the majority of the ride doing simple trot work, since Bethany told us to steer clear of the jumps (due to a previous incident). I wanted to practice cantering, despite my whole existence telling me not to. I cantered successfully (for the most part) in circles and down the long side a couple times. Indy handled herself around the other horses (who were also trotting and cantering) very well, and I was happy with the way it was going. Until we were cantering and found ourselves stuck in the corner.

I was stuck in the corner with Indy, and both of the other horses were in the same corner as well. The pony, Huckleberry, was having difficulties with steering, so I immediately regretted my decision to steer her into that corner. I began to turn in a circle instead of squeezing between the jump standards and the rail with two other horses. But, while still cantering, Indy decided to get out of the situation for me. Her relatively collected canter turned into a bolt for one or two strides. Then, freaking out inside, I decided to pull on her mouth to slow her down. In hindsight, I should have done a one-rein stop. That’s the only time I had ever felt the need to do something like that because I had never been mounted alone on a spooking horse. So, I did the super wise thing and proceeded to pull on her mouth. Then, Indy started hopping in reaction. She was not a bucking bronco, but it was a first for me, having never been in the saddle for such a thing (except for the time when my friend persuaded me to ride doubles with her super green appendix mare, but that story is for another day). By no means whatsoever is Indy a horse that bucks and it wasn’t an actual buck, it just shocked me a little bit. When it was over, having shouted whoa countless times through gasping breath, I let myself hang limp and sigh with relief.. And the most shocking part was that I was still in the saddle.

So, on my second hour of riding, not only did I survive Indy’s little number, but I learned a lesson. I should have stuck to trot work when I was riding, simply because there were other horses in the ring that were actively working and no riding instructor. I guess, since I had only just met these friends, I was trying to prove myself and maybe even show off. I may have also felt the urge to canter because I knew that as a rider I was beyond trot work. I was ready, but obviously my horse was not. Just because I can, doesn’t mean I should. Another thing I wish I had learned beforehand is to make good choices in the saddle. Not only should I have done what’s right for my horse, but I should have been aware if where the other horses were in the ring and payed them respect and space. When Indy went into that corner, I should have slowed her down to a trot to safely navigate out of the situation and give the other horses space. But I chose to keep the canter and attempt to turn. It didn’t end well. (looking at my face in horse pictures makes me laugh. It is evident that it was taken after Indy’s little number.)

Every ride teaches a lesson, whether it be through the words of an instructor or one’s own personal experience. My trainer did not see the incident (She was teaching a lesson in the outdoor arena) so it left me time to reflect on it myself. The most important thing was that as soon as Indy calmed down, she forgave me. She doesn’t hold a grudge, so I shouldn’t either. The next time I get on Indy, I will act as if nothing happened. Because as far as Indy goes, nothing did.

Hour 1

November 19, 2018November 20, 2018otrbreyersLeave a comment

I had a lesson with Indy today. Indy is a green thoroughbred mare that’s six years old. Since she has been at our barn for the majority of her life, even before we bought her, she has had the advantage of having correct training by both myself and my instructor, and she’s progressing nicely! She’ll get her own post later, since she’s such a good girl!

Most of the lesson was trot work, that being where she’s at right now. I concentrated on keeping her busy but not doing too much with my hands. We are working on building

her topline, improving her balance and movement, and getting her to stretch into a nice frame while giving in to my contact. I struggled a little bit at the beginning, trying to get myself into focus and prevent her from wiggling, but I was able to get a hold eventually. I had just bought my new saddle from my trainer and it fits Indy so much better than my other one, so that was extremely useful in helping to keep good balance.

After trotwork we moved to a set of three poles between standards at the trot. My instructor, Bethany, and I were pleased with how confident she was. Again, for any other horse trot poles are normal and easy, the same for me (I jump bigger things a lot), but for Indy obstacles are still fairly foreign. Next, we moved to a small cross rail. I had never actually jumped her into a canter (I have only trotted her over a cross rail in the past), but I have seen Bethany do cross rails and even a flower box with her, so I was confident that she could do it. The first time she simply trotted over, but the next two or three times she cantered on the other side. The last time i did it, she actually popped over it, coming out in a proud canter on the other side. As with the poles, We were pleased with her confidence (especially since I don’t have much experience jumping her). It turns out to be yet another reason to love my little girl: she’s not nervous, she’s bold and will do anything you ask her if you have enough confidence. What a good start for my first hour!

A Bit More About Me

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018otrbreyersLeave a comment

Hello again! Before I start documenting the rides I have gotten over the past few days, I think it would be wise to give you all a little background on where I have been up to this point. So here we go!

I started riding about five years ago, but really I have been into horses my whole life. My first horse was a hobby horse named Cocoa.

Feb 2007 011

my grandmother used to have miniature horses that I loved so much as a tiny tot. Their names were Marble, Feather and Sugar. 100_2035

In fact, I loved the minis so much that I had them come to my front yard for my fourth birthday party. That’s when I had my first fall: Breaking my arm because the girth wasn’t fastened when I got on (And that kids is why you always fasten your girth). We’ll come back to that later.

A few good years later, I went for my first real ride with my mom’s old friend and a humble bay mare named Annie.

I remember my grandmother cheering when I got into the saddle. It was going through my mind that when I sat in the saddle, that I was an official equestrian and I had just transitioned from wannabe to rider.

After that day I didn’t get to ride for a long, long while, but I was convinced that I was now a part of the horse world. I was horse-obsessed more than ever.

I actually started taking lessons when I was in sixth grade at Feather Run Farm. The first horse I ever rode there was Thasia. Mama took me there because she decided to take a drive one day and she drove past my future home away from home. She had heard about it from a saddle fitter who lived down the street from our house in the suburbs.

I believe this photo is from my first lesson. My trainer to this day, Bethany, is holding on to Thasia for me. The funny thing is that the saddle i’m in is the saddle I actually use to teach my six year old brother…

I progressed and rode at Feather Run Farm for about a year. I even got my brother into it. Tia, a Pintabian, and my brother, Robert (there are two bros). Becky is helping him pick Tia’s foot. I made so many memories when I was there that first year. Only one thing was wrong: I lacked confidence and never cantered once when I was there.

After a full year, Feather Run Farm moved. I was devastated.

Luckily, my friend Elizabeth hooked me right up with her instructor, Erika. I started by riding a little Welsh mountain pony called Maggie. Elizabeth is on her bay mare, Ice, in this picture.

At this point I had little to no confidence, even though no fall had happened to me since that fourth birthday party. I guess I was just naturally that way. I hated being scared and it only got worse.

I had always wanted to compete in a horse show my entire life. I was riding a bay Dutch Warmblood named Callie at the time, and I was very excited to try a walk/trot flat class. But I was also dreadfully nervous. On my first show day, I was so nervous I wanted to cry. I got squeezed in between a pony, a jump and the rail, a truck drove down the road, Callie started cantering, and I fell off. At my first horse show. (You can tell by my face.) This is before it happened.

Of course, that only made things worse. I dreaded every lesson, and when I trotted the only thing that would go through my brain was “Don’t fall off, Don’t fall off.” Even trotting was a scary, scary thing for me. I even almost cried when I rode Maggie down a hill at a walk. I was a hot mess.

And yet, I stayed with it. That’s what amazes me. I could have quit at any time, but in my mind that was not an option. I made it through a couple more shows with Callie, a schooling show and a show at Clemson. I had just bought a new show coat and was very proud of it. But I was so nervous during one of my trot-pole rounds, I quit it. I was always overcome in a fit of jealousy for my fellow students who won literally everything.everything’s cool here, except for my face. I can tell the judges are super thrilled.

After Callie, there was a disagreement between my instructor and the owner of the barn, so she agreed to move to Elizabeth’s house, where I began riding her appaloosa, Jeffrey. I was still a nervous wreck, except I was cantering and jumping. Of course, I didn’t want to do that, and I still dreaded lessons, but I did it anyway.

The shows that I did with Jeffrey were good. In fact, I ended up raking in the ribbons. I guess the schooling show judges liked his cute spotty booty.The only problem was that even after a couple years of riding, my nerves limited me to the walk-trot class, competing and often losing to kids that were more than five years younger than me. I always let my age get to me. I hated that I was competing in a class with five year olds but didn’t have enough courage to move up. I was still a nervous wreck in general.he’s so adowwable though.

The worst lesson of my entire life took place in Elizabeth’s small arena, doing a crossrail at a canter that was situated on the short side. I mistaked the turn. I ended up falling off three times. Surprisingly, I was left unhurt, although I got sick afterwards. As we pulled out, there was still sand in my mouth and even my voice had been knocked out of whack.

one day, my mother told me that she heard through Facebook that Feather Run Farm was coming back. I was surprised beyond belief, but I never thought I would be going back.

I was in eighth grade at the time. When they turned us out to the track at school, I sat alone on the bleachers (like I usually did), tore out a spare piece of sketchbook paper and wrote a long, heartfelt letter to Bethany and Becky. I sent her pictures of me riding Jeffrey. I sent it, and I waited. Eventually, mama reached out to them through social media, and I went to go visit. Here I am on Thasia, in the same arena, three years later.

The rest of the story is simple. I have been back at Feather Run Farm for over a year, and my confidence went from complete and total rock-bottom to the best it has ever been. I am riding and owning a green thoroughbred with ease, and jumping verticals…for fun! I know it sounds super easy for most riders, but personally I am very, very happy with where I am at. I will start going over fences next show season, and I will do it proudly and calmly. I have even been completely calm at recent shows, even after taking a spill with Finn. Nerves do not exist anymore, even when I am learning something new.

a ride that I had a couple weeks ago

That’s why I am taking the next step. I am watching myself progress by cataloging my rides. I know that i’m ready to tackle something new and exciting. It’s been, well, a ride, but I would not have missed a single minute! I’m ready to share my riding adventures of the past and future to anyone who wants to listen. I am ready to get started!

The Journey Begins

November 18, 2018November 18, 2018otrbreyersLeave a comment

Hello!

My name is Anna Ruby!

today I decided to start a new blog to document my 100 hours of riding that are required for US Equestrian’s lettering program. Since I already have been riding for a good while, this does not signify the start of a journey by any means, but it is another big step and I thought that it would be a good place to start a new blog so I can share my experiences with everyone.

I will document each hour of the hundred hours in a post, with a picture and summary of each ride. I also hope to make posts about horsey experiences I have had in the past and advice for riders just starting out. I may even post some horsey DIY’s or how-to’s!

The equestrian world has been my home for pretty much my whole life so I have a lot of stories to tell, but there is much, much more to come in the future and I am excited to share it with all of you!

I am really excited to get this show on the road ! Thanks for visiting!