Lost the first blog, take two here.
Got smoother this week.
Anton went lame Wednesday, but upon visit to the vet I could not be blame. They blocked his foot and lower leg three times, then used ultrasound to determine that he had a strained suspensory ligament. The vet determined that it must be from suddendly turning and going the other direction, which he does all the time to the left when he ducks out of jumps.
Cover Charge (CC) was subsequently leased for Antons 14 yo owner Alexa to show for the week. This is one thing that amazes me: there are so many horses around waiting for someone to leas Ethen and ride them. For me, the relationship with the horse is above and more important than showing, and if you don't know he horse it's not worth showing. It seems very callous and inconsiderate of the emotions of the horse to just throw them around to whichever person wants to show this week.
CC will be atayig with us for another week for 12 yo Liza, who arrives tomorrow. Anton went home monday and his owners the day before.
Paula, the biggest client, came Saturday finally after being snowed in in MD. We could tell she's the biggest client because Elizabeth went on another round of lectures on keeping everythig clean, "like a five star hotel". Paula is the nicest little lady,however, and her daughter Kristen is supposedly just like her. Kristen also comes tomorrow or the day after, after talking the Bar exam today.
So this week was slow with so few people showing. Really, it was just Mel and Alexa and some horses for Elizabeth. Next week will be big: Paula, Liza, Kristen and Mel, as well as all Elizabeths.
Paula has one of the leased horses, Santi, who was childrens hunter champion everywhere and is as easy as pie. Paula is a nervous rider but really likes him right off the bat. We talked onthe way to do warm ups today about how we have to get comfortable with a horse before w jump a lot. However in the ring, Elizabeth said "go to the red flowers" and he headed to the big oxer, not the little obvious single, to which Elizabeth says "she must be comfortable, she would have protested." I think she should buy him if she's that comfortable, because he's a one of a kind easy horse, and Paula loves all her horses so he would have a great home.
Monday should have been easy, but then the farrier came, then the skies opened up and the heavens poured down. Our isle nearly flooded and the tent poles were moving so I ended up being late getting into town to find Internet and do work, hence why this post is late.
Today Mel showed in the grand prix ring, but otherwise it was an easy day, and tomorow should be similar. All hell will probably break loose this weekend, when Shine, who is horrible with in gates, enters the $10000 junior hunter classic in the prix ring Sat or Sun night... And her behavior out of the ring ( or I should at anywhere between the barn an the ring, since she's an angel in the barn and once she's survived the in gate) that were all supposed to take valium. Oh joy...
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Week 3
This week began ok, got pretty bad, and ended better.
Show began on wednesday but really, work is all week. Monday is "easy" and we only feed, turn out and wash their legs afterward. Tuesday there are "ticketed warm ups" and "warm up classes". Ticketed warmups are paid entry to a show ring with a limited capacity to school over the show jumps and dress is schooling tack. The warm up classes, on the other hand, are actually judged and are show atire for horse and rider, but no braiding. Classes run wed thru sunday.
I was grooming this week for three horses instead of the two I was expecting. One rider was going to do her own grooming and simply have me hold him while she walked her jumper course, but it ended up with me entirely caring for her horse all day, when she had been doing it up until the show. She was to show every day so that was an unexpected stress. Additionally, a client new to elizabeth was very harsh and berated me once for the inconclusive info I had. The next day (Friday) I got exact instructions and was again berated. At his point I was frustrated to tears and went to Elizabeth, but before she could say anything the client again exploded on me, this time in front of another client, who independently went to Elizabeth and unknowingly confirmed my accusations. Things worked out Saturday and Sunday, when the client actually showed, but I think I'm especially careful to do this clients horse as a priority, which could be unfortunate in the coming weeks. Grooming for three horses in one day was stressful when I first looked at it, but Saturday ended up being comfortably stretched out so none showed at the same time. I'm required to tack for their schooling in the morning, clean them for the show, walk the horse to the ring, remain while they show and take the horse back and clean it up afterwards. This could be a few hours per horse. Sunday everyone showed early, but Manuel helped get Lennon ready and Georgette put Anton away while I was at the ring with Artie.
The end of the week was definitely better than the beginning. Five days went from horrible to merely stressful with a rhythem. Nonetheless I know I will never ask to do this again. I'm not getting paid nearly enough to make it worthwhile. I miss my own horses, my friends, and it's not any warmer here in the morning; the hose was frozen when I went to wash Anton's legs at 7am. Five weeks cannot to by fast enough. Friends here might make it bearable, or riding, or a dog, or maybe a stuffed animal. Unfortunately I have none of those.
So things learned this week: wrap your own horses and care for them, so we know who to blame. Make sure they have hay and water, and if someone elses horse is lacking you do that too. I was pretty annoyed, since it seemed that we were all helping, then I was told to do my stalls, then told that we all help the next say. Spray the soles of their feet with bleach daily to avoid rot, and wash legs often with betadine wether or not they have fungus. High level shoe horses get a whole cocktail of legal performance drugs to enhance performance. And I'm the one in charge of that, so I'm making sure I learn what each does. Robaxin is a muscle relaxer, "dex" (don't have the exact name with me) is a calming agent, and were giving some horses either banamine or bute for soreness. Anton gets "perfect prep", a paste calmer given like wormer, about 60 to 90 minutes before showing.
I'm at least trusted to take out braid and clip ears and white legs. Also to lunge, now that I know how long she wants them lunged.
Show week one is over, week two begins tomorrow, and hopefully it can only get smoother, if not easier.
Show began on wednesday but really, work is all week. Monday is "easy" and we only feed, turn out and wash their legs afterward. Tuesday there are "ticketed warm ups" and "warm up classes". Ticketed warmups are paid entry to a show ring with a limited capacity to school over the show jumps and dress is schooling tack. The warm up classes, on the other hand, are actually judged and are show atire for horse and rider, but no braiding. Classes run wed thru sunday.
I was grooming this week for three horses instead of the two I was expecting. One rider was going to do her own grooming and simply have me hold him while she walked her jumper course, but it ended up with me entirely caring for her horse all day, when she had been doing it up until the show. She was to show every day so that was an unexpected stress. Additionally, a client new to elizabeth was very harsh and berated me once for the inconclusive info I had. The next day (Friday) I got exact instructions and was again berated. At his point I was frustrated to tears and went to Elizabeth, but before she could say anything the client again exploded on me, this time in front of another client, who independently went to Elizabeth and unknowingly confirmed my accusations. Things worked out Saturday and Sunday, when the client actually showed, but I think I'm especially careful to do this clients horse as a priority, which could be unfortunate in the coming weeks. Grooming for three horses in one day was stressful when I first looked at it, but Saturday ended up being comfortably stretched out so none showed at the same time. I'm required to tack for their schooling in the morning, clean them for the show, walk the horse to the ring, remain while they show and take the horse back and clean it up afterwards. This could be a few hours per horse. Sunday everyone showed early, but Manuel helped get Lennon ready and Georgette put Anton away while I was at the ring with Artie.
The end of the week was definitely better than the beginning. Five days went from horrible to merely stressful with a rhythem. Nonetheless I know I will never ask to do this again. I'm not getting paid nearly enough to make it worthwhile. I miss my own horses, my friends, and it's not any warmer here in the morning; the hose was frozen when I went to wash Anton's legs at 7am. Five weeks cannot to by fast enough. Friends here might make it bearable, or riding, or a dog, or maybe a stuffed animal. Unfortunately I have none of those.
So things learned this week: wrap your own horses and care for them, so we know who to blame. Make sure they have hay and water, and if someone elses horse is lacking you do that too. I was pretty annoyed, since it seemed that we were all helping, then I was told to do my stalls, then told that we all help the next say. Spray the soles of their feet with bleach daily to avoid rot, and wash legs often with betadine wether or not they have fungus. High level shoe horses get a whole cocktail of legal performance drugs to enhance performance. And I'm the one in charge of that, so I'm making sure I learn what each does. Robaxin is a muscle relaxer, "dex" (don't have the exact name with me) is a calming agent, and were giving some horses either banamine or bute for soreness. Anton gets "perfect prep", a paste calmer given like wormer, about 60 to 90 minutes before showing.
I'm at least trusted to take out braid and clip ears and white legs. Also to lunge, now that I know how long she wants them lunged.
Show week one is over, week two begins tomorrow, and hopefully it can only get smoother, if not easier.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Week 2
welcome to week 2.
This one was a blur. Remember the three horses that showed up? Yeah, and we leased two more. So now we've got ten horses for three grooms. Woo...
This past week was horse exercising every day. Many rounds, four per day at least. Manuel and I did the tacking and cleaning, Elizabeth and Georgette ride. We've managed to start feeding by 7 each day, and finish the riding well in advanc of feeding dinner at 4.
Morning routines, since I can't remember if I elaborated and don't feel like looking, are dumping the feed from small buckets set out the night before into their stalls, picking stalls, dumping two buckets per horse out and refilling them with water, raking/sweeping the isle, medications if necessary, setting out tack to ride, cleaning/dusting/organizing the tack/sitting area, and beginning to tack horses. Then it's hand horses off to riders, get the next set ready, and turn out the ones that aren't currently working in our single paddock. Horses get 30 min to an hour alone in the turnout. When they're done being ridden and turned out, they get their legs washed, stand until dry, and anyone who did major school jumping gets either poltuced or alcoholed, feet packed with some red pastey stuff and wrapped with standing wraps. I'm trusted to know how to do this, so I feel a little happy. Sometimes elizabeth will have me come to the ring and set jumps when she is schooling over them, which is so far the most I've gotten to watch and learn by listening to what she says and observing her.
Back at the barn, Manuel is a hoot. I'm learning all the little things to make life easier when the show starts. For instance, if you've got a moment, go through the barn and put poop piles under the buckets so they don't get torn apart and are easier to pick later. Rubbing alcohol erases sweat stains. As soon as a bit comes out of a mouth, rinse it in water so they don't get dry and crusted. Small buckets and leather soap are located in each of the two grooming stalls under the bridle hooks to clean all tack when it's done being used. Bridles after they're off their last horse, saddles after the last horses. End of the day is putting all tack away, cleaning up the grooming area, washing and putting away boots (everyone gets galloping boots and bell boots to go out and to be ridden), and general straightening up and locking everything in the trunks.
At this point, we're basically finished cleaning and putting away. Feeding is about 4pm, no earler but will be later when showing runs late. Most supplements are fed in the night, unless it's both a morning and evening supplement. I got officially put in charge of food, supplements, and medications, but everyone's kinda helping out. Stalls get picked, horses get hay if needed, and water too. Then once their feed is in their buckets (dumped from individual buckets dosed out in the feed room), the small buckets come back and get their morning feed and supplements and get stacked away. Blankets get put on if necessary, then we go home by 5. At this point, I'll take a shower, go out to dinner or make it at home, and sleep by about 8 or 9.
Extra tasks i took on this week were a trip to the farrier when Lennon threw a shoe (immediately after he threw it in the paddock on his first day off) and a trip to the vet yesterday for Chique for a sore back. Vet and farrier are about a 10 minute walk across the grounds. The shoe was easy... tack it back on, no foul. Chique ended up getting 4-6 shots in her spine.... ewwwwww.... and some shots to be given subq. for 5 days. My job.
I got put in charge of 3 horses: Lennon, Anton, and one of the leased ones named Wildcat. Lennon is a pushy gelding who has been there, done that in the hunter ring. He likes to walk through cross ties and has the thickest longest tail here. He's thicker, more pony-shaped in a nice way of saying chunkey. Anton is owned by a girl named Alexa who does the childrens' hunters, and just started riding with Elizabeth in October, so this is her first show with her. Anton is a chicken, to put it nicely, and will spook onto you if you're leading him and he sees anything unnatural. He's not mean, but just scared. Wildcat is a gorgeous jumper with the biggest feet. He's appparently horribly uncomfortable to ride, but is cool to jump. He's also sweet and apparently used to being new places, but needs to be led (not ridden) to the ring, so I get to walk him up each day. He also wears a hairnet over his nose to keep out dust.
Overall this week was a bit of a blur. Fast paced, much of the same every day. I got the joyous task of dumping and refilling water buckets each morning. Not exactly going to jump for joy for the next 6 weeks, but oh well. Got homesick earlier than I've ever gotten when away from home... took a total of a week and a bit, and I usually last much longer. I think it's watching the riding, and the horses, and missing doing it myself, and missing my horses. When you're around them so much all the time, it's hard not to remember what you left behind. I miss my horses and my friends much much more and much much sooner than I expected, but the shows start wednesday so as busy as I've been, it'll get much busier and I won't have time to remember.
This one was a blur. Remember the three horses that showed up? Yeah, and we leased two more. So now we've got ten horses for three grooms. Woo...
This past week was horse exercising every day. Many rounds, four per day at least. Manuel and I did the tacking and cleaning, Elizabeth and Georgette ride. We've managed to start feeding by 7 each day, and finish the riding well in advanc of feeding dinner at 4.
Morning routines, since I can't remember if I elaborated and don't feel like looking, are dumping the feed from small buckets set out the night before into their stalls, picking stalls, dumping two buckets per horse out and refilling them with water, raking/sweeping the isle, medications if necessary, setting out tack to ride, cleaning/dusting/organizing the tack/sitting area, and beginning to tack horses. Then it's hand horses off to riders, get the next set ready, and turn out the ones that aren't currently working in our single paddock. Horses get 30 min to an hour alone in the turnout. When they're done being ridden and turned out, they get their legs washed, stand until dry, and anyone who did major school jumping gets either poltuced or alcoholed, feet packed with some red pastey stuff and wrapped with standing wraps. I'm trusted to know how to do this, so I feel a little happy. Sometimes elizabeth will have me come to the ring and set jumps when she is schooling over them, which is so far the most I've gotten to watch and learn by listening to what she says and observing her.
Back at the barn, Manuel is a hoot. I'm learning all the little things to make life easier when the show starts. For instance, if you've got a moment, go through the barn and put poop piles under the buckets so they don't get torn apart and are easier to pick later. Rubbing alcohol erases sweat stains. As soon as a bit comes out of a mouth, rinse it in water so they don't get dry and crusted. Small buckets and leather soap are located in each of the two grooming stalls under the bridle hooks to clean all tack when it's done being used. Bridles after they're off their last horse, saddles after the last horses. End of the day is putting all tack away, cleaning up the grooming area, washing and putting away boots (everyone gets galloping boots and bell boots to go out and to be ridden), and general straightening up and locking everything in the trunks.
At this point, we're basically finished cleaning and putting away. Feeding is about 4pm, no earler but will be later when showing runs late. Most supplements are fed in the night, unless it's both a morning and evening supplement. I got officially put in charge of food, supplements, and medications, but everyone's kinda helping out. Stalls get picked, horses get hay if needed, and water too. Then once their feed is in their buckets (dumped from individual buckets dosed out in the feed room), the small buckets come back and get their morning feed and supplements and get stacked away. Blankets get put on if necessary, then we go home by 5. At this point, I'll take a shower, go out to dinner or make it at home, and sleep by about 8 or 9.
Extra tasks i took on this week were a trip to the farrier when Lennon threw a shoe (immediately after he threw it in the paddock on his first day off) and a trip to the vet yesterday for Chique for a sore back. Vet and farrier are about a 10 minute walk across the grounds. The shoe was easy... tack it back on, no foul. Chique ended up getting 4-6 shots in her spine.... ewwwwww.... and some shots to be given subq. for 5 days. My job.
I got put in charge of 3 horses: Lennon, Anton, and one of the leased ones named Wildcat. Lennon is a pushy gelding who has been there, done that in the hunter ring. He likes to walk through cross ties and has the thickest longest tail here. He's thicker, more pony-shaped in a nice way of saying chunkey. Anton is owned by a girl named Alexa who does the childrens' hunters, and just started riding with Elizabeth in October, so this is her first show with her. Anton is a chicken, to put it nicely, and will spook onto you if you're leading him and he sees anything unnatural. He's not mean, but just scared. Wildcat is a gorgeous jumper with the biggest feet. He's appparently horribly uncomfortable to ride, but is cool to jump. He's also sweet and apparently used to being new places, but needs to be led (not ridden) to the ring, so I get to walk him up each day. He also wears a hairnet over his nose to keep out dust.
Overall this week was a bit of a blur. Fast paced, much of the same every day. I got the joyous task of dumping and refilling water buckets each morning. Not exactly going to jump for joy for the next 6 weeks, but oh well. Got homesick earlier than I've ever gotten when away from home... took a total of a week and a bit, and I usually last much longer. I think it's watching the riding, and the horses, and missing doing it myself, and missing my horses. When you're around them so much all the time, it's hard not to remember what you left behind. I miss my horses and my friends much much more and much much sooner than I expected, but the shows start wednesday so as busy as I've been, it'll get much busier and I won't have time to remember.
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