Hunter Creek Classic 2025: Pro Days

 Our summer show plans were slightly interrupted by Cinder's shockwave sessions. We had originally planned to haul in to one of the local rated shows for a day or two the week of her first shockwave, but USEF rules prevent the use of shockwave 3 days before showing. She got shocked on a Wednesday, so we would have been ok to haul in for Sunday, but we decided to wait to see how she'd handle the shockwave. And it was a good thing we did because a massive storm rolled in that weekend dumping rain and dropping temps by 25 degrees. 

All photos from McCool Photography. This show charges a $50 per entry photography fee and you get all digital downloads for free. It's one office fee I'm happy to pay. Cinder and Trainer M

The only other rated show series in Oregon cancelled their two weeks of showing, and our local venue picked up one of the weeks. They were already scheduled to host an outreach show that weekend that I was planning on going to, but I decided to switch to the rated show to give Cinder more experience. This would be her second rated show and since (spoiler alert) we're going to Tbird next week, I wanted to get her out at a rated venue for the exposure. 

There was one other amateur showing at the rated show from our barn, so the two of us took all our tack and show set up over on Monday and prepped the stalls. Both of us had work commitments and couldn't make it out on Tuesday so Trainer M hauled the girls over and schooled them for us. I got a report that Cinder spent the first 15 minutes rearing and spinning, then was perfectly well behaved once she started jumping. 

Trainer M entered Cinder in the USHJA 2'6" hunters on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as a schooling round before the division classes. Wednesday was the hottest day of the year (so far) so the show tried to start early and Cinder's projected show time was 9:40. I busted my ass at work for two hours then drove like a madwomen the 1hr+ to the show, only to see that people hadn't gotten their asses in gear and her class had been pushed back an hour. Which of course created a conflict with the other horse from our barn who was showing in the jumpers. After sweet talking the back gate people, we got our order of go settled and everything worked out. 

Cinder warmed up well, and their schooling round was pretty nice, earning an 6th out of 12. In their second trip, first round for the division, Cinder spooked at people clapping and hooting at the derby ring and bolted across the diagonal line. In her third trip, she spooked at a guy on an electric bike, stopping and then running sideways, causing Trainer M to have to circle. I told her as they came out of the ring that she's supposed to get better with every round, not worse. But that's why we came to this show, to get experience and to get her out. 

Thursday Cinder seemed a little more settled and they again had a schooling round and two division rounds, plus the under saddle. They pulled out a third in the schooling round, but missed a lead change in each of the division rounds. They did manage to snag an 8th in one of the rounds. But Cinder didn't spook and was much more comfortable in the ring which is what we were going for. The under saddle went really well and she earned a 4th out of some very nice horses. Despite her antics the day before, I was happy with how much Cinder learned and grew with each round, and with Trainer M's rides. 

Summer Shocker

 When we last left off over a month ago, whoops, Cinder was just back from getting her hocks and stifles done. She was feeling great, we had a plan for summer shows, and she had just gotten moved to a bigger paddock with more grass and was loving it.

I then got a call from Trainer M that Cinder was off. The vet was there for another horse and did a quick look at her and said she could come back two days later so I could be there for the exam. In that day between vet visits, Cinder got her feet done and by the time the vet looked at her she was 95% sound. Her feet had kinda exploded from the new grassier paddock and she probably should have been done on a 4-5 week schedule instead of a 6 week schedule. 

Her paddock is actually the one on the right in this pic

Cinder did get a chiro adjustment at that vet visit, and Doc wasn't super happy with how tight her whole topline felt. I don't know if I've mentioned it, but about two years ago Cinder started cribbing after being stalled across the aisle at our old barn from a horse who did it. Doc thinks the cribbing was causing her neck and back muscles to be super tight leading to her being out of alignment, and why she had a hard time really dropping down into the contact under saddle. 

Chestnut mare wonder twins, Cinder and Libra. Libra is the smaller, jumper version of Cinder. 

To try and break the cribbing cycle, Doc put Cinder in a grazing muzzle 24/7. We got a Flexible Filly one and cut the center hole a little bit bigger so she can eat her grain while in it. The first week or so Cinder was definitely going through withdrawals and was big mad. She has however gotten short periods without wearing the muzzle and hasn't cribbed, so it seems to be working. 

post shockwave drunk

To combat the tightness across Cin's topline, Doc wanted to try shockwave. She just got a new, top of the line machine that's the quietest shockwave I've ever heard. I was shocked (pun intended) at how powerful but quiet this thing is. For the first treatment we did Cinder's neck, back, and hips and then did two more treatments just on her neck. This was a total game changer. After the first treatment she was almost more lame than she was before, but once she was in front of your leg and moving correctly she felt good. Doc described it as breaking up scar tissue and having to work through the discomfort of going how she's used to going and fighting moving correctly. 

After the second treatment, she was moving absolutely wonderfully. Really dropping down and stretching in the trot, with a bigger more fluid canter. It felt awesome. Trainer M had been out of town for her best friend's wedding and hadn't seen Cinder go until after her third treatment and I got a phone call with how amazed she was with the transformation when she got back. I'm incredibly happy Doc suggested shockwave and with how well it worked. 10/10 would do again. 

Friday Foto Catchup

Instead of trying to remember, and in some cases not wanting to remember, what happened over the last couple of months, let's just have some pics instead. 

Cinder has had feelings about the tarps (barley visible in the right side of the pic just above the arena fence) that the barn owner had over her burn pile and garden this winter. Cinder is pretty sure they are death tarps and was very exuberant in her refusal to go anywhere near them. We have slowly (somewhat) conquered our fear of tarps and that corner, but the battle wages on. 

Trainer M aboard

We attended another show in April, and Cinder was fantastic. My riding left a lot to be desired. Friday Trainer M used Cinder as the guinea pig to see how the jumper courses rode and Cinder happily bopped around like a pro. Saturday I was supposed to do a 2'3" hunter round as warm up, then two 2'6" rounds, but I completely forgot how to see a distance, panicked, started to doubt every single life choice I've ever made, and then went and cried in my truck. You know, your normal amateur things.

M and Cinder again

Sunday I told M I just wanted to trot some cross rails in the warm up ring, and that's exactly what we did. And then I cried in my truck again. We hadn't really jumped a whole lot in the month between the shows, and nothing really at height, and I think between that and Cinder's inability to function in the outdoor due to the tarps, I didn't feel prepared and got overwhelmed. Trainer M schedules quarterly goal check-ins with her clients and we talked and made a plan going forward so hopefully future shows will go better. 

We lesson with Lily, the gray mare poking her head over the wall, on Thursdays and she and Cinder have a love/hate relationship. This day they were very much in love

 

Cinder got her annual hock and stifle maintance a couple of weeks ago. Last year she got them done in July and August, but we're hoping to show more in those months this year so I talked to our vet and moved them up. Our vet's pretty conservative with her rehabs, so Cinder got a week of hand walking, a week of walking under saddle, and we started trotting this week. If all continues to go well we can canter and I think even jump next week. 

Our assistant trainer barrel races and had set up the barrels for some of the lesson kids and Cinder walked the hell out of the pattern during her rehab

We have a tentative show schedule planned for summer, but we're waitlisted for Tbird in August (and who knows what crossing the border/the tariff situation taking horses across will be like) and my work schedule has shifted so I'm working six days a week every other week so fingers crossed we can actually make it to some shows.  

MDTE March 2025 Show Part 3

 Sunday arrived with a windstorm that wasn't predicted. Thankfully the rain held off till the end of the show, but the wind was brutal. Cinder was not amused during our hand walk in the ring at the big doors banging on the far side of the barn. There was much spooking and spinning involved. Thankfully someone closed and latched the doors by the time I rode. 

Both Cinder and I were tired but we kept to the plan and stepped into the 2'6" equitation. We were supposed to do two over fences, the flat, and the 2'6" medal. She warmed up great, really moving forward and jumping me out of the tack a bit. Our first round was going really well for the first three quarters, until I ran at the long approach single diagonal, saw it was going to be short, and then proceeded to do absolutely nothing to help Cinder out. Thankfully she saved my ass and chipped it, but that kind of took the wind out of our sails. The last two fences were nice, but a little underpowered. We earned a third out of four for that round.

purchased from Philippos Photography

Cinder was definitely tired and behind my leg for our second round and we added a stride in the one line on course. I knew I didn't have enough horse to make the strides, so at least this time I planned on the add instead of chipping it. Coming to the second to last fence we got a stuck in the corner and just didn't have enough power to find a distance to jump and had a stop. I circled and really dug into her and we made it over but it wasn't pretty. We rightfully came in last. 

As we came out of the ring I told Trainer M that we were done for the day. Cinder had been so good all weekend and was obviously out of gas and there's no point in making her do more. We had met all the goals I had set for us and there's always another show. M agreed and we scratched the flat and medal. I'm sad we didn't get to do the medal, but I'm so, so proud and happy with how the rest of the weekend went. 

MDTE March 2025 Show Part 2

 Saturday was my turn to show. Jumpers were in the morning with hunters in the afternoon. I got to the show midmorning and took Cinder for a walk and hand graze and watched some of my barn mates show in the jumpers before grabbing lunch from the taco truck. I ate lunch on one of the comfy couches in the show office and talked to the woman running the desk. She had figured out how to hook her phone up to the sound system and was making playlists for the show and she said if I had a song I wanted played when I showed to let her know and she'd do it. Since Cin's show name, Bright Side slightly came from Mr. Brightside I had her put that down for us. 

All photos bought from Philippos Photography

We were showing in the 2'3" hunters on Saturday and planned to do the 2'3" hunter derby as well. Cinder was super relaxed and warmed up really well. The show ring was open for schooling and we schooled a few fences but not the whole course since she was being so good. As I was picking up the canter for our first round, I was able to hear our song playing and started singing along under my breath as we cantered up to the first fence, which we hadn't jumped in warm up. For whatever reason Cinder spooked at it like 3 strides out and I had an "Oh shit, I actually need to ride my horse" moment. I sat up and closed my leg and we made it over. The rest of the round went well and we earned a 3rd for our effort. Our second round contained zero spooks and we nabbed second. We then flatted and got another second earning us reserve champion for the division. 

There were only 2 of us entered in the  2'3"derby and 3 in the 2'6" derby, so they decided to combine the classes. It was the same course, a hunt and go format, for both heights so most of the fences stayed at 2'3" with a couple being bumped up to 2'6". Our plan for this show was if the 2'3" went well and felt small on Saturday, I would move up to the 2'6" on Sunday, so having a combined derby was perfect for me. I ended up going first because and had a decent round. Cinder was a little confused at why I brought her down for the trot fence and we landed on the wrong lead off it and had to counter canter a rather tight turn to the next fence, but I was pleased with the round overall. I didn't watch anyone else go, as I had to pee so badly and pretty much jumped off right after my round. 

spoiler alert

I was just starting to untack when the show manager came out with ribbons and yelled at me that they wanted us mounted for pictures. I asked if I could just hand walk Cin in the ring as I didn't want to get back on, and she very firmly told me to get back on because I would want pictures. They had us line up in the ring and announced placing in reverse order and what do you know, we won! And yes I was very glad I got back on for the pictures. 

We got to lead the victory gallop for the first time

MDTE March 2025 Show Part 1

 We had our first show of the season last weekend. It was the first in the series that our barn hosts at the fabulous Heirloom Equestrian Center in Washington. This year they adjusted the format so it was a three day show instead of two, but since our barn was running it, we actually went up on Thursday and made it a 3.5 day show. 

We had 6 mares (now collectively known as Estrogen Acres) from the barn going, 5 in Trainer M's trailer and I hauled Cinder in mine. We also fully loaded both tack rooms and truck beds with supplies and hay and headed up Thursday afternoon. We unfortunately left during the height of rush hour so by the time we got to Heirloom and got done unloading, it was 8pm. I grabbed dinner and headed to my hotel to get some sleep before heading back to the show by 8am the next morning to help set the course. 

Blurry screenshot of Trainer M and Cin

The new schedule had the show starting at 1 with just jumper rounds on Friday. After setting the course I played groom and lunged Trainer M's project mare who was having a meltdown and trying to climb her stall walls. Cinder was her neighbor and thought Trillium was being way over dramatic and was very happy to see her leave. Then one of the other mares lost her mind that Trillium was gone and that's when we decided that we need to bring an emotional support gelding next time. There was a lot of big feelings all weekend from most of the mares, but I'm very happy to report that Cinder did not feed into any of them and was one of the better behaved mares in our group. 

Obviously Cinder is not a jumper, despite our outings to Jumper Nights this winter, but I wanted her to go in the ring and do some schooling rounds on Friday with Trainer M. I wasn't sure how Cin would react at the show, since she was an idiot in warm up at both Jumper Nights despite having been to Heirloom multiple times. I took her for a hand walk in the ring during the cross rail warm up and she was totally chill. Trainer M was going to take her in the first 0.70m clear round and if she was good, do a second clear round at 0.80m, or do the 0.70m speed round if she was nutty. 
 

I promise there will be some pro photos in the next post

The outdoor arena was closed since it had been pouring all week, and off and on raining all day on Friday. Trainer M had wanted us to hand walk the horses for 10-15mins prior to her getting on to school during the breaks in the indoor, but right when I went to start walking Cinder the skies opened up and it dumped rain and wind on us. We retreated back into the stall and by the time it stopped, Trainer M was ready for Cinder. They warmed up great; Cinder was nice and relaxed and wasn't feeding off of other horses. Their 0.70m round was lovely and clear, so we scratched the speed round and put her in the 0.80m clear round. Their 0.80m was clear as well, but Cinder took a couple of peaks at the oxers and planks that hadn't been there in their first round. It was more of a "Oh, this is bigger and there's more stuff under here" situation and not that she was spooking. She got lots of cookies and praise for being so well behaved while I untacked her and put her up for the night. 

Jumping into Spring

 Spring made a brief appearance for a few weeks and thank goodness. We got some days in the 60s and some much needed sunshine, which lead to some much needed longer turnout times for the horses as well as the first baths of the season. 

Cinder was not nearly as amused as I was about bath time

Trainer M took a much deserved vacation, so assistant trainer I was doing the pro-rides and teaching lessons. AT I has a diverse equestrian background, and I really like her lessons as she takes a little bit from every discipline and has some fun and different exercises. She also really likes Cinder, as her own mare is almost exactly like Cin to ride, just in an Arabian barrel pony body. She made Cinder her pet project while M was gone, and the results are great.

We got to ride outside!

We had one ground pole lesson focusing on lead changes, and Cinder is about 80% of the way there. We can reliably get them over the poles, but I still struggle to get them without the pole while M and AT I can get them. I can either get her forward but lose the ability to move her laterally, or I can move her laterally but then I lose the impulsion. Doing both at the same time is hard. But thankfully now that it's warming up I can carry a whip or put on spurs, without Cinder blowing up, and that will help with the impulsion and lateral movement issues. 

I jumped the scary (to me) wall for the first time

 In prep for show season starting at the end of the month, we've been jumping a bit more as well. AT I set a fun gymnastic course for one lesson, mainly larger cross rails with bounce cavalettis on either side. Cinder really started using her hind more and I can feel more power in her jump. This past Saturday's course also had some large cross rails bounces, a couple oxers, and the wall. She actually jumped me out of the tack over one of the bounces and was really sitting on her haunches and just flipping around my leg in the turns. It's definitely the best she's felt and gone in a long time. 

Cinder gets her teeth done this week and then her Coggins and EEVCI next week and we should be good to go for the start of show season!