Where did this year even go??? I feel like so much has changed and yet I got almost NOTHING done this year.
For a recap- this year started with Bacardi getting what we suspect was an SI injury after a fall on the lunge line. We spent the better part of the spring doing rehab and scrapped our plans for EI in the spring. Shortly thereafter, we ended up moving barns not once, not twice, but 3 times in the space of about 2 months. We are now in an amazing facility which has everything we need. We also very successfully competed at the one show we went to and brought home our first blue ribbon! However, we have spent the last two months similarly laid up, with time off after a show, me getting COVID, Bacardi having a hoof abscess and then having a face abscess… oh yeah.. a FACE ABSCESS.
I went out to the barn about two weeks ago, super excited to go ride and get back to work with my pony, however, the horse gods had other plans it seems. I was almost tacked up and was about to put in a bridle when I noticed a sticky substance on his chin. I followed it up his face and found a LOVELY massive hole in his face, on the underside of his jaw. It smelled awful. I quickly untacked and jumped into first aid mode. I cleaned up his face as best I could and called the vet. The on-call vet seemed to think that it was an abscess from my description and said to monitor his temp and that I did everything right, first aid-wise. That Monday, my barn manager called and said he wanted to have his vet out to culture and ensure that it was not a communicable illness. On Friday before going out of town for the holiday, I got the call that it was not a communicable illness but an abscess. As of today it is healing pretty well and has closed up enough that I can no longer insert a syringe to flush the opening.
So I have maybe ridden 10 times since our show in October, so that’s been great.
Also, if you have followed along this year, you know bought Ruffi back out of a less-than-ideal situation. She is doing much much better and we are bumping her up to two training rides a week with our barn manager. She has gained back all the weight that she had lost and is looking PHENOMENAL! We are super excited about what this next year holds for Miss Mare.
In the name of tradition for this blog, let’s take a look at our goals from last year and see how we did:
- Lets return to that derby thing – Bacardi and I are planning on making our 3 day debut at the end of May 2023 at the EI Horse Trials at Intro level. Yes. Intro. Baby levels. – This didnt happen, due to injury and rehabbing
- XC Schooling – again revisiting. In order to be successful at the Intro level, B and I will need to have some XC schooling in. Also! We are hoping to build some XC-style jumps at home to practice in the fields with. – This KIND of happened? we did make it out onto the XC course at our new farm a couple of times and tried out a few jumps – but it will be better this next year!!!
- Work more on our flat work. I feel like the last several years our goals have been jump-based, but really in order to have a ratable horse, he needs to be sensitive, uphill, and moving correctly. Also for the sake of his longevity in the sport. – I feel like I accomplished this one. It was brought to my attention this year that Bacardi doesn’t move “straight” and so this was a big focus of ours this year. I would say we maybe jump-schooled 10 times this year. A lot of flat work this year. AND WE GOT A NEW DRESSAGE SADDLE!
So I would say the biggest thing that didn’t happen was our 3 day debut. However, that was out of my hands and couldn’t be helped. I feel like we made up for it this year by doing REALLY well at Ride for the Roses. I would call it a pretty successful year overall. Now enough of the past and let’s take a look at the future. My goals for this year are as follows:
- WE WILL START OUR FIRST THREE DAY THIS YEAR! Really. We will. I will be very sad if this goal doesn’t happen this year.
- More flat work.
- More jumping. I don’t think we did enough this year and I really would like to stop being a coward and jump a little bit bigger and be a bit more confident for my horse over fences.
- Start riding Ruffi. Right now the plan is to have her under saddle 2x a week and maybe full training in Feb/March. However, come spring time I would like to be consistently riding her 3 times a week. Get her on track for a dressage debut in the sandbox the following spring or even maybe late this fall.
- Also, I want to post here more. I try but sometimes there are lulls or I don’t have inspiration to write. Ideally, I would like to post every other week, but a minimum of once a month.
I mostly do this to keep myself accountable and allow myself to reflect at the end of each year. Thank you to everyone who has helped me this year. I have made some WONDERFUL new friends who I cherish and deepened my friendship with others. Thank you to everyone and your support with my horse. It really takes a village. For now, thats a wrap on 2023 for Winter Dance Thoroughbreds. We will see you in 2024.
Happy New Year,
A+B+P+R