I've Been Spotted aka Freckles the came from a ranch down in Eugene in March of 2016. I was told he was a schooling horse, but he needed a single owner. He had not been in consistent work for months, but had a background of both western and english disciplines. Needless to say I was shocked when first seeing him, unlike his pictures, a skinny, under muscled, and unkempt horse. His eyes showed very little light and personality. He had almost no mane and tail, he looked more like a feed lot horse than a former schooling horse. Though after one short ride I knew he had potential. His former name was Gambler, but when riding him I decided it didn't fit him, after a few days at Cantera I went with Freckles after a couple of baths revealed a body full of adorable freckles and spots. He got all the food and work he could ever want. Both my trainers and I soon learned he loved to work and especially jumping. He had a long way to go, he was still very stiff and needed more muscle, but time and patience was worth it. After about 6 months he stopped eating like it was the last time he was gonna see food and we finally saw his full personality. When bringing him home he was very quiet and when riding he was difficult only because he needed to be brought back to work. Now he's a very sweet, sassy and protective horse who is always down for an adventure, as long as there is food involved he doesn't care. He went to his very first busy hunter/jumper show in July of 2016, he was as excited and nervous as I was, after a few more shows he started to enjoy the extra attention and showing off in the ring. Thanks to Freckles, I can now compete in jumpers or hunters with more confidence. than I ever had before.
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Can you believe that January has already come to a close? And that means our first month of the book club has wrapped up too! If somehow you haven't read this book yet, or seen the movie Harry & Snowman, watch out there may be some spoilers ahead! I originally picked this book up a couple of years ago and read it then and I absolutely loved it! Rereading it flooding me with the same emotions all over again. The book starts describing the dire situations that both Harry de Leyer and the future star Snowman were found. Both worked hard and the grey plow horse bound for slaughter found his luck when Harry made the truck diver unload every horse so Snowman could come home with him. Originally hoping the grey could be a useful school horse at the all girls Knox school, Harry quickly found out the horse would excel at that job and so much more! Not only does this book outline Snowman's special story but it also gives you a history lesson on what the equine industry in America was like in the late 40's, 50's and 60's. Now it's hard to imagine any of our horses at the barn being used as a military mount but back then the memories were still fresh. Horses were in transition from tools of work to companion of sport. Another unique thread to this story is the pursuit of the American dream. Harry de Leyer and his wife immigrated from Holland and found themselves working long hard days to provide for their family that eventually totaled six children. One thing that I think rings true to this day was Harry's willingness to do whatever it took to make a career around horses. He spent his days riding whatever was around and doing all of the heavy lifting himself. But the top levels of the show jumping sport weren't far from Harry's mind, especially after Snowman showed off his ability by jumping out of a field with a tall fence to get back home. Once Snowman had made his point clear that he would not be sold and that he was Harry's forever, the two were inseparable. Going to horse shows became a new normal for the pair and even some exhibitions when Harry and Snowman would jump over another one of the de Leyer's horses. In two years time, from 1956 when Snowman was pulled of the truck headed for the slaughterhouse to 1958, Harry and Snowman had become sports celebrities after a huge win at the show at Madison Square Garden. Reading about the grandeur of the show, and the emotions Harry experienced after winning make any rider want to experience that themselves. And who knows maybe one day find their own $80 champion. The Eighty-Dollar Champion is a New York Times Bestseller, was written by Elizabeth Letts and originally published in 2011 by Ballantine Books. What was your favorite part about the book? Comment below to keep the conversation going! Sometimes horse anatomy lines up with other animals and some parts have unique names. Below is an image pointing out some of the most common horse specific parts. In the future we will dive deeper into some of these areas! For now, here are the parts that are talked about on possibly a daily basis. Poll - right behind the ears. Where the bridle and halter sit.
Mane - the long hair on the top of a horse's neck Withers - the pointy top of the shoulder Back - where the saddle goes Loins - the horse's weak lower back. Don't put the saddle here! Croup - basically the top of their bum Dock of the Tail - the muscle and bone of the tail Point of Hip - the pointy part that sticks out of their hip (I know, great explanation lol) Stifle - a joint about where the leg meets the body Hock - the pointy joint in the middle of a horse's back legs Fetlock - the ankle of all four legs Hoof - the horse's foot. The hoof is made up of the same material as our fingernails Coronet - the part right about a horse's hoof Gaskin - the muscly part between the hock and stifle Flank - the sensitive part of the horse that meets the belly to the back legs Elbow - the joint on the front legs that meet the leg to the body Knee - the middle joint of the front legs Pastern - the part between the hoof and the ankle Cannon - the part between the ankle and knee Shoulder - yup, that's their big ol' shoulder Are you enjoying your January reading of The Eighty-dollar Champion? I know I am! As February approaches it's time to announce our next book. This month we are jumping to the topic of rider improvement. Each month will focus on a different area, entertainment, riding advice and mental training. So, our book for February is How Good Riders Get Good by Denny Emerson a world class eventing rider and USEA Hall of Fame Inductee! The Barn Rat has partnered with Trafalgar Square Books to bring TBR readers a 20% off discount when the code BARNRAT is used at checkout! You will also receive FREE shipping and thanks for supporting a small equine business. Happy reading and be sure to check back in at the end of February for a book review!
Daily we handle our horses. Grooming them, riding them and loving on them. Sometimes, we need to do something with our horses that they aren't particularly fond of, like clipping, delivering medication, or leading them on a windy day. When those situations occur using a restraint technique can ensure both yours and your horse's safety. Below are an overview of the most common restraints. These restraints can very in severity and are to be used with caution and understanding. Being too firm with your horse can cause them to fear you and the situation, which no one wants. If you are wanting to practice any of these techniques look to your instructor or barn manager for assistance.
I'm so excited to announce that The Barn Rat will be launching a book club starting in January! There are so many amazing books out there that touch on riding techniques, rider exercises, mental toughness, training the horse, true stories and fiction. So for 2018, each month we will be reading a book from a different topic area. Mainly focusing on entertainment, riding advice and mental training on a rotation each month. Our first book will be The Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman, The Horse That Inspired a Nation by Elizabeth Letts. You can get your own copy on Amazon through the link below, we will start reading in January and there will be a book review at the end of the month. Happy reading!
Christmas is right around the corner and if you are wondering what to get the horse lover in your life consider a few items from my personal Christmas wish list below. There are many other things to get your rider friend other than anything with a horse on it. When you first start riding, the overwhelming amount information that comes at you can be intense. It can seem like you need lockers full of stuff that you might never use. Well, if you are just getting started with horseback riding lessons below is a list of equipment that will really help your skills progress.
There are many different brands of helmet out there of all different designs, fit, price points and features. Sometimes you are buying brand recognition, but many times the higher priced helmets have more to offer in terms of safety and comfort. Below the 9 most recognizable helmet brands are examined.
What is your favorite helmet brand? Let us know in the comments below or share you picture on Instagram using the hashtag #TheBarnRat!
There are mixed feelings about draw reins. Many think they are abusive and others think that when used correctly are an effective training tool. I can see both sides to this coin, just like many things in the wrong hands almost anything can be used poorly. The negative and positive about draw reins is that they are easily adjusted. To make them tighter you just shorten the draw rein in your hand. This is convenient over tools that you would have to dismount to adjust. When used correctly draw reins are a helpful tool to get a horse to use their back and accept contact with the bridle. Below are the steps to use draw reins, a correct working example and an incorrect example. |
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