First show over fences

We are getting there. I'm not sure where "there" is, or even if I'll know when I'm there, but progress is happening. No blogging lately because I just haven't had the time! But here is an update on my mare Mazzy. She is progressing great! She now has a few shows under her belt. Last weekend was my first time showing her over fences. She was great. The first time I had actually jumped a legitimate course on her was the day before the show. That is enough practice, right?

Mazzy has alot of great qualities. She is very sweet, and has a good work ethic. She is a pretty quick learner and wants to do the right thing. She has a great mellow personality, and not much phases her. New jumps aren't a problem, and she isn't spooky. My wish for her becoming something great is starting to become a reality. I'm really happy how she is turning out so far. We have come a long way since the day she was born! Showing her over fences for the first time is a pretty big deal for me.

At the show Mazzy was really good, she did exactly what I told her, however, I told her to go a bit too fast. Her stride is quite a bit bigger than I am used to, so going at the correct pace for her large stride feels very slow to me. Nerves of showing her for the first time added to this. At home I can monitor her stride better, but I got a little frozen in the ring and made it down the lines way too easy. In my equitation class, there was a bending line (first one I had ever done on her) and I left a stride out. Oops. It was supposed to be 8 and it was right there in seven for me. I should have broken the line up more. It wasn't bad, just not the plan.

There was a little hunter derby at the end of the day, and she marched around all the natural obstacles like a pro. The course included a trot jump, getting mail from a mailbox, and we had to hand gallop the last jump. Fun, fun!

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Mazzy Update

Saturday was a huge milestone for Mazzy and me. I did four leadchanges and jumped a few crossrails. First time for both (with me) and she was perfect! Unfortunately no photos or video of the momentus event. The lead changes were pretty easy, which I was glad because I have seen horses that have sticky lead changes and that is just something else to have to worry about when trying to navigate a course. I'm lucky with Kylie, I don't think I even ask for changes, she just does them automatically, unless I need to get one in a bending line, then I have to ask. There are too many other things to have to think about aside from whether you are going to get a clean change in the corner.

Sunday we had a schooling horse show at the barn. I did the two Jr/Am flat classes with Mazzy and she was good. The competition was a bit out of our league, including horses that have won at indoors, A/O hunter champion, etc. and I am sure all the horses had at least 3 or more years on us, but it was great experience. They were all my barnmates, so I warned them ahead of time that if I cut them off I apologize, but my stearing sometimes out of whack. Luckily, I picked up the correct lead in both directions, and I didn't pass anyone or have to circle. Funny the things you take for grated on a trained horse! I need to work on keeping her head in a better frame at the canter, but sometimes this makes her break into the trot, so I figured it was better to keep her cantering with her head higher than I would like, instead of chancing a break into the trot. Good progress, but so much to work on.

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Mazzy jumps a crossrail

Mazzy's training is coming along well. Some days are diamonds, some days are stones. She had several really good days in a row and my trainer popped her over a crossrail, she was completely unfazed. I almost wish she was a little more impressed with the jump, but I am happy she is so calm.

Every horse has one side that is better than the other, just like humans. For a horse, a preference for one side means that he can bend in that direction more easily, his balance is better when turning in that direction, he finds it easier to pick up that lead in canter, and he is just generally better at everything on his preferred side. Mazzy's is definitely the left, so I am constantly working on softening up her right side, and trying to build her strength so she can hold herself up that way.

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Mazzy's progress & Kylie's hives

It is always something with horses isn't is?


Mazzy's football sized hematoma that required two vet visits (and no treatment) is gone. Still no explaination of what caused it, but at least it is gone. She is finally getting back into a productive work schedule now that my trainer is back from the busy year end showing schedule and all of the awards banquets and holidays are behind us. It is really nice to get on Mazzy after my trainer and feel a HUGE improvement. I guess if I didn't I wouldn't need the the help! Some days her trot is rhythmic and it feels fantastic. She is getting the hang of bending and softening and when she relaxes her neck and back it feels great! Her transitions are improving. Her canter is also coming along. I'm starting to be able to regulate it, a little bit, but it still feels disorganized and strung out. I am sure it will be years before she feels connected. I wish I kept a journal of Kylie's progression as a baby to compare. I do have alot of videos of her training which I am going to dig out one of these days.



"Your horse is telling you there's something wrong; the problem is, it's in Braille." Poor Kylie has hives, referred to as urticaria. Inflammation induced by allergens causes small veins to dilate and increase capillary permeability in the skin. “Fluid” leaks into surrounding tissues to form wheals or plaques of edema (fluid swelling). Hunting down the cause of hives is often a challenge. Because hypersensitivity reactions take weeks to months or even years to develop, a sudden onset of hives is not necessarily a result of a recent change; this makes it difficult to pin down the actual source of the problem. I did what I could to eliminate anything that could be causing it anyway. I dug out her stall just in case there was lurking bacteria (which I am sure there was plenty of) that was irritating her. I took her off all of her goodies (supplements) so she is just getting hay and beet pulp....blah. Washed all her clothes and pads, scrubbed her boots, cleaned my tack (which I should be doing anyways). The causes are limitless as I read in an article on thehorse.com:

Many different medications, such as antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or topical agents can be the culprit. Other causes range from a rapid change in temperature, stress, or an autoimmune disease. Santoro also noted that allergies can play a role as well; "a horse could be having an allergic reaction to food, flies, mosquitoes, or something in its environment." Of course, just as in humans, horses can have a seasonal reaction to pollen or molds.

This has been going on for a few weeks now. They have gotten so bad that I have had to give her Dexamethzone, because I am concerned about her airway closing up. Thankfully, the Dex clears them right up.....only to return again a few days later. Argh! She doesn't appear itchy or bothered by them which is good. The only other suspicious factor is that she is not the only horse at the barn who has developed them lately so it could be something in the hay. I have my fingers crossed that there are no hives left on her tonight, that will be four days hive free.

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Lucas: GRATITUDE FOR AN AMAZING HORSE

How about some uplifting news on a slow Wednesday?

By SUE MANNING
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WALNUT — Lukas was all bite, buck and bitterness before Karen Murdock adopted him six years ago and made him an Internet star.

Murdock introduced the 16-year-old Thoroughbred to carrots and kindness, helped him forget years of abuse and taught him tricks: He can smile, yawn, kiss, nod, identify shapes, numbers and letters, fetch, wave, salute, pose and stretch — and he does some of it with his front feet on a pedestal.

The 1,200-pound gelding has a Web site, is a star on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and has been on TV. He and Murdock get up to 200 e-mails a day.

The story of Lukas has to be patched together in places. California bred, he ran in three races as a 2-year-old under the name Just Ask Mike, but "he was a back of the packer. His heart wasn't in it," Murdock said.

Between 1995 and 2001, he probably changed hands a couple of times. When a Southern California horse trainer saw Lukas in a yard, "He was malnourished, neglected and emaciated. His tail was a solid mat of mud and debris," Murdock said.

The trainer bought him, then sold him to Murdock for $2,000 in 2003.

"I had to let his mane grow long so I would have something to hold on to when he did this wild, spinning, bucking kind of thing," Murdock said. "He would spook in his own stall. He had a whole lot of fears and phobias. You couldn't touch his ears. There were no scars, just mental worries, apathy and mistrust."

It took her a year to untrain him.

"I use trick training as a tool to bridge what is not right into what I want," said Murdock, who has been working with horses since she was a teenager. "Lukas flourished. He cannot get enough of learning. He's like a sponge."

Now he is a liberty horse (performs without tack) who can do the Spanish Walk (front and back), passage (a hesitating trot) and jambet (a three-legged pivot). He also does the bow, obeisance (curtsey with his face between his legs) and rear (goes up on his hind legs).

The Human-Equine Alliances for Learning in Chehalis, Wash., which offers programs in psychotherapy and personal growth, asked to study Lukas. Lukas and Murdock show the "connectedness" that enables horses to be so therapeutic for humans, HEAL spokesman David Young said.

But it's unlikely the study will clear up history's mystery question about smart horses.

There is no scientific data to support the notion that horses have the cognitive ability to count, spell or read, Dr. Emily Weiss, the ASPCA's equine behavior expert, said in a telephone interview from Benton, Kan.

She looked at Lukas' Web site.

"What is more amazing and more astonishing (than intelligence) is that this horse is so cued in, has such an incredible bond with its owner, such a great understanding of his human. The way they interact is pretty profound," she said.

There have been parallels drawn between Lukas and Beautiful Jim Key, an Arabian horse who may have performed before as many as 10 million people from 1897 to 1906 because of what seemed to be his ability to read, write, spell, count, tell time, sort mail and use a telephone and cash register.

Weiss also tells the story of Clever Hans, a horse in Germany in the 1890s owned by William von Osten. He was said to be able to spell or solve any math problem by simply stomping his hoof with the answer.

"He was all over the news. It was astounding," she said.

Clever Hans was challenged at every turn — there was even a Hans Commission. Professor Carl Stumpf and a man named Oskar Pfungst tested Clever Hans and determined the horse was getting cues so subtle that even the questioners didn't realize they were giving them.

"It wasn't that the horse knew math, he was just very cued into human behavior," Weiss said. "The horses are reading the behavior of their person instead of understanding the language of science."

Murdock doesn't care why Lukas does his tricks or the reasons for their bond.

When she arrives each day at the Brookside Equestrian Center in Walnut, about 25 miles west of Los Angeles, Lukas greets her with big, sloppy kisses. The Montana native and trained psychiatric nurse doesn't own a whip. Lukas performs for love and carrots — he eats 5 pounds a day.

Lukas recently became the spokeshorse for the Southern California chapter of the Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER), a national volunteer group that helps racehorses find second callings. Every year, the careers of about 37,000 U.S. Thoroughbreds come to an end. About 2,000 of those ex-racehorses come from California and too many end up abandoned, abused or sent to slaughter.

Bonnie Adams, the Southern California chapter's director, believes Lukas is the perfect spokeshorse because of his background and turnaround.

"He's a very kind, quiet horse. But his eyes never leave Karen. You can see the love in his eyes," she said. "It shows people that horses really do have deep feelings. They are not throwaway animals."

Visit http://www.playingwithlukas.com/ to see photos and videos of Lukas.


"In California every year there's about 2,000 that leave the tracks that need homes," said Bonnie Adams, director of the southern California chapter of CANTER. "It's an unending supply of racehorses that retire from age 2 to 6. They're young, healthy vibrant horses that really love to learn and love having a job."

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Good Mare, Bad Mare

Strangely, and not by choice, I have only owned mares. Here are the stories of the first and the worst...

The first mare I really bonded with was Shadow. She was orphaned and bottle fed after her mother was killed in a barn fire. Perhaps that is why she was so amazingly sweet. She was a bay Appaloosa that came from my dad's friend's back yard to occupy me for the summer and we loved her so much, we never gave her back. I arrived at my dad's farm in Vermont to spend the summer and was welcomed by what would become my perfect companion. I had been riding for years, but this was the first time I wasn't under the watchful eye of a trainer with a horse I could do whatever I wanted with. So the first morning after I arrived my dad rose early and anxiously awaited for me to wake so we could go out and feed the horses, but after waiting for about an hour he decided to go ahead and go feed them without me. When he got out to the barn he found me already into my second hour of grooming! Are you kidding, sleep in when there is a horse on the property...no way! I rode hundreds of miles on her that summer. We went everywhere and did everything together, I probably rode her 4-5 hours a day, and groomed and bathed her for several more. We went swimming together, rode through the forests together, played high jump, went to horse shows, and to pony club camp. The topper was we competed in a 3-phase event that first summer and won! I had no idea what I was doing (coming from the hunter/jumper world), but I studied my dressage test over and over and came out first, then I figured it was a breeze after that. I knew nothing about time allowed so I plowed through the cross country course as fast as Shadow's legs would take me, through the water, sailing over jumps and ditches, and well within the time allowed. No trainer, just me and my dad. She truly was a saint. I had no fear, and neither did she. And neither of us had ever even been on a cross country course before. The stadium phase was at least familiar to me, as it most resembled the only kind of showing I had done before. She was fast and clean and we took home the blue ribbon! I remember talking to a few girls at the awards presentation and they asked me where I trained, they weren't too happy to hear I was winging it and beat them, when they had been training all year for this event. Ignorance is bliss. She was probably the kindest horse I have ever ridden. Never once did she say "no", her response was always "OK, let's give it a go". She just forgave all my mistakes and kept on being a nice mare despite everything I did wrong. That was the first of many fun years we had together!
My dad bred Shadow and still has her baby, Summer, who is now in her 20's and a happy trail horse living on my dad's farm with the same wonderful temperament as Shadow. Shadow lived into her 30's and is buried on my dad's farm.

A really nice mare is as good as you will get. But a really bad mare may be as bad as it gets.

Evil...enter Stevie. I saw her and just had to have her. I thought she was beautiful! Dead green, but great breeding (sire: Hall of Fame) so there was potential...right? She was a six-year-old broodmare, but I thought I could make her into something great. My other mare, Kylie, was pregnant, so I was looking for something to keep me riding while Kylie was out of commission. It was a bad idea from the moment she stepped off the trailer, feet planted and wouldn't move. She was big, 17 hands, and strong, and opinionated. The fitter she got the more she bulked up and the stronger she got. It was exhausting to tack her up, she was deathly afraid of clippers or the vacuum, hated her legs touched, and she constantly reared up and broke out of her halter taking off at a full gallop. She had no regard for human life. I was determined so I rode her everyday, two steps forward, one step back. Each day was a struggle, and many of them included a dirt sample. I remember the first horse show I brought her to, it took three people to hold her still while I tried to get her saddle on. She was leaping into the air, fighting the whole idea of behaving nicely. I almost gave up at that point wondering how I would ever get on her, but somehow I made it on and did not get off until I was done showing for the day.For two years I tried to make it work, one trainer I had her at rode her beautifully, jumped her around 3'6" with ease, which made me keep her even longer trying to make it work, but she was the only one who could do that. The last of the three trainers I brought her to (to be sold) finally told me that she was just too dangerous and no one wanted to handle her. She is now doing what she is best at - mothering. Not every horse is meant to be a show horse, and she just had too many of her own ideas.

I have not lost my faith in mares. I have two. I know not everyone is a fan. I know people who only want geldings because they believe they are more reliable. They point out that geldings do not have serious mood changes or interpret things differently from day to day because of hormone swings. So they have got a bit of logic to back up their prejudices. I guess the thing with mares is they decide whether they are going to pay any attention to you at all.

Old time horse trainers know there are only two ways you can argue with a mare and neither one works.

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Stable Spotlight: Springfield Stables

Since my friend Jenn was just here for a visit I will showcase her beautiful barn, Springfield Stables in Mettawa, IL. Springfield Stables is a new state-of-the-art facility nestled on Chicago’s North Shore. This full-service equestrian facility specializing in hunters, jumpers and equitation, focusing on quality care for the equine athletes, as well as quality instruction and training for the competitive rider at all levels. They aim to provide a positive experience that produces polished, successful horse-and-rider teams. They are just started a blog so go check it out, and become a follower: http://springfieldstablesil.blogspot.com/

• 11 grass paddocks and 8 all-weather paddocks
• Large outdoor arena and a new course of jumps
• Indoor and Outdoor Arenas feature special blend sand footing and are maintained daily
• Plus a great hunt field and access to trails• 3/4 mile track
• State-of-the-art Euro Walker
• Complete 24-hour Security System

• Two large wash stalls with hot and cold water• Large industrial fan above each stall
• 40 matted stalls with automatic waterers
• Radiant heat throughout the main barn
• Dutch doors on stalls facing the outside of the barn
• Two large grooming stalls

• Grain offered 2-3 times per day with unlimited hay.
• Large, heated indoor arena
• Two large and comfortable lounges which look into the indoor arena
• Wireless internet in all areas of the facility

Jenn, manager and head trainer, grew up riding and showing on the prestigious, East Coast, A-rated circuit. As a junior rider, she qualified for and earned ribbons at the USEF Medal Finals held at the Penn National Horse Show, the ASPCA Maclay Finals held at Madison Square Garden and the USET Finals held at the United States Equestrian Team. Jenn also rode horses to top honors in the junior hunter and junior jumper divisions at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Devon and Lake Placid. Early in her career, Jenn rode with notable equestrians Emil Spadone and Leo Conroy, and later went on to work with Cynthia Hankins, Ellen Rait and George Morris.

While running her own successful operation in New Jersey, she coached riders to major wins at events such as the USEF Pony Hunter Finals, The National Horse Show, the USEF Medal Finals, the ASPCA Maclay Finals, Zone II Hunter Finals and Marshall & Sterling Finals. Jenn also rode many horses to wins in the Pre-Green, First- Year and Second- Year Green Hunter divisions. In addition to the hunters, she also rode many horses to top ribbons in various jumper divisions up and down the East Coast.

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My little three year old

Although over the past couple of weeks, Mazzy hasn't been able to be ridden much do to rain, loosing a shoe, etc. she was awesome yesterday and today! My trainer rode her yesterday and I got to watch, which I haven't been able to do lately because I am at work when she rides her. Then I rode Mazzy today and she was phenomenal. Her canter is getting much more balanced. So far she has been making great progress. I have my fingers crossed that she continues living up to my expectations.





Mazzy's puncture wound is getting better. I have been cold hosing it for 20-30 min a day, treating it with triple antibiotic ointment, and giving her oral antibiotics. I am hoping it will close up by next week. I switched her stall to a hopefully safer one where she won't impale herself. However, I couldn't find what she injured herself on.

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Stable Spotlight: The Oaks Equestrian Center

The Oaks Equestrian Center in Lake City, Florida, is the inaugural O'Connor Signature facility and the first branded equestrian resort in the world. The 76-acre Equestrian Center is a private facility nestled within The Oaks Equestrian Community and caters to the community's residents and their guests.

33-12' x 14' stalls by Classic Equine 4 wash stalls 3 feed rooms 3 hay rooms 2 boarder tack rooms 1 lesson tack room with a revolving tack wall 6 grooming/tacking stations Vet/farrier station Storage rooms Office and merchandising area 65-acres of pasture 11-acre cross-country course 62' covered round pen 120' x 220' covered arena with lounge 150' x 250' outdoor arena

Promat flooring systems in the stalls Rubber equine pavers in the aisleways from Abacus Sports Padenpor coating in the wash stalls Customized O'Connor stablewares Equine lighting by Orion West Custom tack lockers Black 4-board rail fencing from LifeTime Lumber Automatic Nelson waterers in the stalls and pastures Competition-quality footings by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces Hay shed designed to store 1,000 bales of hay for ensured availability Equipment shed Manure shed Manager's residence

The Oaks community, home of The Oaks Equestrian Center, boasts 15 miles of looped trails and 5 equestrian recreation areas for residents and their guests.

In early 2008 the O'Connor Signature at the Oaks Equestrian Center joined as a pilot member of the Audubon Lifestyles Sustainable Equestrian Facility Program, a voluntary program that is setting the standard for sustainably-managed equestrian facilities. The facility was recently recognized by Audubon Lifestyles as the epitome of sustainability by receiving a Five-Star rating. In doing so the O'Connor Signature at the Oaks Equestrian Center became the first equestrian facility in the world to receive the designation.

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Springfield Stables to Launch its State-of-the-Art Riding Facility in Mettawa, Illinois

My best friend of almost 30 years is starting a new chapter. I am so proud of her and know she will be extremely successful! I know this opportunity will really let her shine. Here is the press release for her new venture.

Mettawa, IL – August 11, 2009 - Springfield Stables is a full service equestrian facility specializing in hunters and jumpers that will soon be opening its brand new, state-of the art riding facility in Mettawa, IL. Jenn Tirrell has signed on as the manager and head trainer of Springfield Stables, bringing years of experience to this exceptional new facility, which is set on 22 beautifully maintained acres near the North Shore, a short distance from Chicago.

Owner Gregory H. Sachs has put a lot of time and focus into every detail of Springfield Stables and he is thrilled to open the doors to the brand new facility. “I am very committed to providing a top-shelf environment where riders of all ages can learn and enjoy the wonderful experience of working with horses,” Sachs stated. “Mettawa is a terrific community and I am very proud to have an equestrian facility there.”

Springfield Stables focuses on unmatched integrity and quality care for both horse and rider. The stable features a training program tailored to meet each rider’s personal goals, providing exceptional instruction and training for the competitive rider at all levels. The program is led by Jenn Tirrell, an experienced horsewoman who grew up riding and showing on the prestigious East Coast ‘A’ circuit.

Jenn Tirrell has ridden and trained in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation throughout her career, and worked with a number of top professionals as a junior and professional rider. Jenn has ridden and trained for Stepping Stone Farm in Ridgefield, CT and West Riding Stable in Middleburg, VA, and has established herself in northern Illinois over the last year. She also had her own very successful hunter/jumper business in Bedminster, NJ, called Signature Limited Stables. Jenn is now bringing her experience to Springfield Stables and is very excited to make Springfield a wonderful environment for both the horses and the riders.

Mason Phelps, Jr., Founder and President of Phelps Media Group, Inc. International (PMG), is pleased to have Springfield Stables as the newest addition to the PMG clientele. “Jenn Tirrell is a very knowledgeable and experienced equestrian and I know that Springfield Stables will be a huge success with her excellent leadership,” Phelps stated. “We are very happy to have such an exceptional new client and we look forward to promoting their growth and achievements.”

Springfield Stables has an outstanding training program that is tailor-made to fit each individual rider’s goals and experience. The training is positive, and emphasis is put on producing a rider who is skillful and successful. A focus is placed on competing at shows that will benefit the programs which have been developed for the riders.

Springfield Stables welcomes riders in the hunters, jumpers and equitation. Riders will have the opportunity to compete at 'A' rated shows both in and out of state and many strive to qualify for top shows such as ‘Indoors’, Devon and Pony Finals. Many of the riders compete in the Junior, Amateur, and Pony Hunter divisions as well as the Equitation and Junior Jumper divisions.

Along with the excellent training program, Springfield Stables offers a full care boarding facility. A lot of care and detail went into making Springfield Stables special and the features speak for themselves. The main barn has 40 matted stalls with automatic waterers so the horses have fresh water available at all times. All of the stalls have large industrial ceiling fans and the stalls facing the outside of the barn have Dutch doors for the horses to take in the view. The main barn has radiant heat throughout and there are two large wash stalls with hot and cold water. Riders have access to two large and comfortable lounges which look into the large indoor arena, which is also heated and features state-of-the-art footing. There is also a 10 stall barn that is 100 years old, which is being restored to match the main barn.

Outside, the property features 11 grass paddocks and seven all-weather paddocks for the horses to play in, plus a large outdoor arena with state-of-the-art footing and a new course of jumps. Riders have access to a 3/4 mile track to ride on or cool out on after a ride and there is also a great hunt field to ride in and lots of trails to enjoy. Springfield Stables’ website is coming soon, where all of the exceptional features and programs will be available for viewing. For more information please contact Jenn Tirrell at (312) 925-4672 or jtirrell@springfieldstables.com.

Photo Credit: Jenn Tirrell, pictured with Jewel’s Excaliber owned by Sarah Stein, is the manager and head trainer of Springfield Stables, bringing years of experience to this brand new state-of-the-art facility. Photo by Richard Killian.

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My girls

Both my girls were so good today. They both got a schooling session from my trainer. Here are a couple jumps with Kylie. I haven't jumped her much lately so she was a bit excited, but behaved well. I only have a point and shoot camera with a little video feature so the quality is mediocre and the battery is short lived, so I only take clips here and there....


It is amazing the progress Mazzy is making from day to day. She was such a good girl today!!!




I am also featured in a treasury chosen by Artwolf from ETSY Whoa Horse Artist Group
HORSES...EVERYDAY, They pop up everywhere!!!

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