A silly to do list?

Remember the ad that inspired this post?

Well, it turns out that there is a Western equivalent.

And Volkswagen has also launched a similar ad campaign!

Poor Trillium.  I see a lot more silly photo shoots in her future!

Pony spam

Trillium has moved again.  She's now sharing a huge pasture with three other horses.

It's a long walk out there to get her.  Fortunately, she's easy to catch.  I think she's figured out that I always have a carrot in my pocket!

Waiting for the saddle (and hoping for another carrot). 

One of these days I'm going to find somebody to take a picture of me actually riding her.  Until then it's just before and after photos.  This is quiet, droopy lipped post ride Trillium. 

Back in the pasture and poor Trilli has absolutely no idea where her friends were hiding.  The pasture is literally so large you can walk twenty minutes without seeing a single horse.

She called and called... 

and eventually headed off in exactly the wrong direction.  Oh well, at least she's cute!

As an aside, I've never seen a palomino with this much black on her legs.  She also has a black spot on her right side and lots of black hairs in her mane and tail.

Soft, fuzzy autumn dapples.

P.S.  I try really hard not to fill up this blog with a million and one she's so cute it makes me go "Squee!!!!!" pictures of Trillium, but every now and then I just can't resist.  Hope no one minds too much!

Tack errors that matter

Not all tack errors are created equal.  Some do matter.  In fact, some matter a lot.  

There are two major types of errors that can--and should--knock an entry right out of the ribbons.  These are: tack that is nonfunctional due to serious fitting or construction issues and performance entries that include prohibited items.

In the real world, the most regulated piece of tack is the bit.  Many associations have very specific rules regarding the size and shape of both the bit's shanks and mouthpiece.  Exhibitors may even be asked to unbridle their horses for a ringside bit check.

In this respect, model horse showers have it a lot easier.  Our bits don't usually have mouthpieces, and even the most thorough judge is not going to whip out a ruler and measure the shanks.

Still, there are a lot of ways to go wrong.  On the functional side of the equation, the bit must be  positioned correctly at the corner of the horse's mouth.  Also, if it's a curb bit, you've got to get the curb chain/strap in the right place.  

A missing or improperly placed curb strap is a major error.  A  curb bit must have one in order to function properly.  Depending on specific event rules, this may or may not be a disqualifying offense.  Under no circumstances, however, is it a good choice.

Here's why--I photographed this cute pony at a schooling show where the only rules were that tack be safe and non-abusive.  

While he was not disqualified for that missing curb strap, there's no doubt that it adversely affected his performance.  This was a nice pony with a good riding child, but they struggled throughout the day.  I'm betting a lot of their problems could have been fixed with the right equipment.

Other examples of errors that affect the function of the tack include girths that are so loose they don't touch the horse's belly and saddles that are so large they extend over the point of the model's hip. 

Onto the second category of tack errors--the prohibited items!

Once again, bits lead the way.  The bit needs to be appropriate for the type and level of competition.  When in doubt, check a rulebook.  Using a prohibited type of bit is a disqualifying offense.

Breastplates and breastcollars are legal--although not always fashionable--for all types of equine competition.  Martingales, tie downs and leg protection vary from discipline to discipline.  If in doubt, check the rulebook.  If you're still in doubt, it's probably safer to leave it off!

Another option is to specify that your entry is competing in an open or schooling show.  These types of events are often used as a "get out of jail free" card  because of their less restrictive rules.  That's ok but honestly, I'd rather see a Quarter Horse showing under AQHA rules.  Still, if you really want to show your trail horse in boots, this is the way to go!  

Tack is an important part of a performance entry, and no one loves beautifully made, in-scale tack more than me.  Still, it's important to remember that tack doesn't have to be fancy, trendy or covered in bling.  It needs to be safe, functional and legal.  That's it.

Matt's dressage bridle

Here's another kind of tack "mistake" that doesn't bother me when I'm judging a performance class.   

It may not be obvious on first glance, but look carefully at that browband.  It's sitting beneath the point where the throatlatch splits from the cheekpiece.  This is a not a standard arrangement, and there are some performance judges who will take exception to anything that falls outside the normal range.

Needless to say, I am not one of those judges.  Positioning the browband in this manner does not interfere with the function of the bridle.  Instead, it creates a little bit of extra space for the horse's ears.  That might not be a big deal for most horses, but if you've got one that's extra sensitive, it can be a life saver.  Note that Matt also wears his bridle number on the saddle blanket.  That's another accommodation for a horse with ear issues. 

Tack issues like this just don't matter in the real world.  What matters is performance...

and despite his funky browband arrangement, Matt--who shows under his registered name, Haidaseeker Playboy--is a top competitor.

Let me be clear--I'm not suggesting that performance showers set out to use mismatched tack or bridles that are assembled "incorrectly".  It's always better to get things as close to "perfect" as possible.  However, as a judge, I'm not going to throw out a superior entry because of minor tack errors.  As long as it's safe and functional, it's fine by me.

Paragon's black bridle

Yesterday the United States Dressage team won the Gold Medal at the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.  

photo by Mollie Bailey

Perhaps the brightest star of the day was Heather Blitz's giant Danish Warmblood gelding, Paragon.  At just eight years of age, this horse is already being touted as the next big thing in the world of international dressage.

photo by Mollie Bailey

And yet, if Paragon was a model horse I fear he would be overlooked on the judging table for the plain and simple reason that his tack doesn't match.  After all, everyone knows you should never pair a black bridle with a brown saddle!

I'm exaggerating, of course, but there is a tendency among certain hobbyists to over-emphasize the importance of perceived tack rules.  In truth, very few horse sports have extensive regulations regarding tack, and most real horse judges don't care if the bridle and saddle are different colors.  If the performance is good enough, they might not even notice!  

Matchy-matchy tack will always be in fashion, and there's no doubt that having everything "just so" adds to the visual appeal of a performance entry.  Still, I kind of love Paragon's mismatched show tack.    It reminds me that the best performing horse isn't always the best dressed horse.  If a combination of black and brown is good enough for the Pan Am Games, it ought to be just as ok at a model horse show.  Right?

Invincible

Darcy has been seizure free for one week. She celebrated the milestone with a long hike in the mountains.

My vet tells me that if my dog has to have a chronic medical condition, epilepsy is the one to have. I didn't believe her at first, but I'm coming around to that point of view.

Pile of Poles Hunters

The Wild Ranch Fall Challenge Hunter/Jumper show held earlier this month at the Colorado Horse Park had an entire ring dedicated to unrated classes for beginning riders.  These ranged from Walk/Trot and Walk/Trot/Barely Canter all the way up to 18" Hunter Over Fences.  Today's photos were taken during the five classes that made up the Pile of Poles Hunter division.

The Pile of Poles division is designed for riders who are just beginning their jumping careers.  Entrants compete over a course of "jumps" that can best be described as two standards with a pile of poles between them.  For safety reasons, the standards do not have jump cups.

The most common gait for this class is a trot...

but a few of the more accomplished riders chose to ride the entire course at a canter.

After the Over Fences classes were completed, everyone came back to compete in the Pile of Poles Hunter Under Saddle and Pile of Poles Equitation on the Flat classes.  

Even though this is a beginner division, lots of the horses were braided...

and most of the riders wore A show type attire.  

(If you look carefully, you can see the tall boots are actually paddock boots and half chaps)

Of course, some kids went a bit more casual...

or, in this case, a lot more casual.

Honestly, this is not a bridle I'd ever expect to see at a big Hunter show no matter what the division!  

It's not the Hunter Derby, but the Pile of Poles division can be a fun way to get a kind looking, slow moving model into the Hunter class.