One of Those Days

When I rode horses there was the odd day I would be pitched off. An element of riding is that a horseman or horsewoman always gets back on, no matter how afraid you might be. Even if it's only for a few minutes, then you can get off and go do something else for awhile. It's important to get back on to quell any fears before they take hold after the shock of hitting the ground in an unflattering position.

When the rider returns to riding the horse they had the spill on, it is important to be firm but fair, while working on the area that caused the pitching. If the horse was being willfully disobedient, then perhaps the trainer asked too much of the horse. It is then necessary to go back to the beginning and work through the steps again to offset any future mishaps.







Photo Credit: Isulde Mulder.

Winter Perils

Toronto is getting a real blast of winter weather today: 10cm (4 inches) of snow, wind producing a frigid day to go out in: -18C (windchill) /0F. (Though this is balmy considering the frigid weather currently on the prairies. Winnipeg two nights ago had an overnight low of -38C. (-40C = -40F) Instead of venturing out I’ve decided to do some baking and listen to seasonal music.

Update 11:30pm: snowfall reported at 15cm to 20cm.

Outside my window the school bus driver got stuck trying to turn around. Spinning the back wheels like crazy. It will be interesting when he returns to find his parking spot drifted in with snow.

Every year drivers get stuck on the side street bordering my place. Most don’t have proper winter tires, or chains, or carry emergency items in the car trunk: shovel, spare gloves, thermal blanket, bags of cat litter (for ice), beeswax candle, packages of mixed nuts/trail mix, chocolate, candy; despite knowing every year there is snow, sometimes record amounts of it. They think winter radials are all they need and it’s just a short drive to the store.

Getting unstuck with horse power:



The notation with the video: “Some Floridians came by the Ski Farm for some cross country skiing but wound up in the ditch. Fortunately Max and his team of Percherons was there to save the day, and unblock the driveway. Western Maryland Backbone Ski Farm.”


Here’s slightly different version of Winter Wonderland with snow covered landscapes that I expect winter to have.



Time for hot cocoa.

Vienna Hofburg Imperial Palace

My previous post was a book review on The Memorist by MJ Rose, with a Vienna connection.

"Merisi's Vienna for Beginners" honoured me with a dedicated post on the courtyard of the royal stables at the Hofburg Palace where the Spanish Riding School is located (a click on the title of this post will take you there).

I first visited Vienna in 1970 and was fortunate enough to be able to tour the facilities at the Spanish Riding School before the stallions were taken to their summer residence.

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna was founded in 1572, where classical dressage is practiced in its purest form. The original horses were of Spanish origin. The Winter Riding School in the Vienna Hofburg (Imperial Palace) is the location where the riders of the Spanish Riding School train the horses and where they perform. A portrait of Emperor Charles VI hangs above the royal box, which the riders salute when entering the arena.

The video below is an appealing advertisement for Vienna.




The “haute ecole” movements and those leading up to these exercises are those used in training and strengthening the military horse for battle. War horses through the ages were taught to attack. The work-in-hand with the short reins and long reins is for obedience and producing suppleness.



There are five strains in the bloodlines of the Lippizan horses, if my memory serves me correctly after forty years: Pluto, Conversano, Maestoso, Neapolitano and Favory. The Favory line is slightly smaller and more refined than the previous four due to its Arabian influence. The Lippizans are known as the White Lippizans, although they are foaled black or dark brown and through the years turn to a dapple gray and then to white. Due to tradition of the Spanish Riding School there is always one bay stallion trained to be presented with the other stallions (in the following video).




My intention for this post was to provide a brief overview. There is a fascinating history surrounding these wonderful horses, not the least of which is General George Patton in May 1945 assisting Colonel Podhasky in removing the stallions from Vienna and mares and foals to other locations to save them from the advancing Russian army.



The above is an excerpt from a 1945 film with General Patton being given a riding demonstration by the officers of the Spanish Riding School.

Favourite Places to Relax

Travis Erwin posted today about his three favourite places to relax and recharge his energy.

First and foremost, my favourite places begin with Banff National Park. The photo below shows Mt Rundle set behind the Vermilion Lakes. My next visit there will be to attend a writers workshop at the Banff School of Fine Arts.

[1]

My second favourite place is the National Art Gallery in London, England where I spent two Sunday afternoons per month when I worked overseas almost ten years ago. It was a good place to view the masterpiece works of art, see the special exhibits that came from Europe which included the Dutch impressionists, and sit on benches near a portrait or a scene of any particular piece. They were all wonderful.

[2]

The National Gallery, located on the north side of Trafalgar Square, has over 2,300 paintings, most on permanent display. The collection ranges from early works by cimabue, in the 13th-century, to 19th-century Impressionists, but its particular strengths are in Dutch, early Renaissance Italian, and 17th -century Spanish painting.

The gallery has flourished to international reknown since its inception in the early 19th-century. In 1824 George IV persauded a reluctant government to buy 38 major paintings, including works by Raphael and Rembrandt, and these became the start of a national collction. The collection grew over the years as rich benefactors contributed works and money.

One of my favourite painters is George Stubbs and this painting of Whistlejacket was on exhibit while I was in England. The National Art Gallery rotates their paintings for display as they have more paintings than available space.

[3]

A third favourite place I go for relaxation is the Bruce Trail System which runs along the Niagara Escarpment.




[4- Niagara Escarpment near Campbellville]



[5-Niagara Escarpment - Bruce Trail with hawk soaring - click to enlarge]



[6-Bruce Trail on the Niagara Escarpment]







These photos are taken on the Bruce Trail near the Town of Campbellville (northwest of Toronto).

The Bruce Trail System is the longest public trail system in Ontario from Queenston to Wiarton of 845 km of main trail. My favourite hiking spot is from Milton to Beamsville where the trail hugs the ancient shoreline of Lake Iroquoia, an area famous for waterfalls.

Photo Credits: [1]-Cuppojoe CC=nc-sa-flickr, [2]-wallyg CC=nc-nd-flickr, [3]-courtesy of wikipedia, [4][5]-bobcatnorth CC=nc-sa-flickr, [6]-Stephen Downes CC=nc-flickr.

Where My Soul Really Soars

After joining Travis Erwin's My Town Monday, my soul really soars to the wide open spaces out west, where my roots lie. I've been feeling it's time to return, but I will content myself with photos like these for the time being.

My mother would tell me stories about the times when she was younger: of seeing herds of cattle arrive from the south, as far away as Texas, to graze on the open prairies of central and southern Alberta; of how the trail hands were upset that the grazing land they had been using for many years had become settled and fenced; and of the fine horses that came with the herds. One type she took an interest in: a stocky white horse with Peacock and White Cloud breeding and Arabian blood to make it hardy.





Photo Credit: Second photo by space_ritual CC=nd flickr commons.

The Necessity of Preparation

Many riders find that jumping horses or ponies is an exhilarating sport.

The initial training of a young or older horse to jump should be done gradually, beginning with ground poles spaced apart to fit the length of stride of the animal. This can be graduated to using cavaletti, which is simply a pole set on 2 x's that give you three training heights: 7", 12" and 17" for gymnastics. Four to six cavaletti set in a line at the lowest level can improve a horse's trot; and set at the highest height they can make a small bounce jump.

Used reguarly, cavaletti can be an integral part of your training. Variations can be set up to keep the horse/pony interested in the work.

Later, once horse, pony and rider have accomplished these varying heights without over practising, they can move on to small jumps with a few poles and a ground pole. A ground pole provides the horse or pony with a distance marker to judge when they should begin to jump. A ground pole set too far from the jump confuses the horse or pony and there may be an accident where the rider and animal crashes through the fence.

Before raising the height of the jumps or cavaletti, it is of benefit to make a spread jump in the early stages. It is easier for a horse to jump wide than to jump higher.

Often, riders think they have prepared their mounts properly at home before shows. If a rider jumps their horse or pony too much, the animal will become "sour" (not wanting to jump) and will often act out their frustrations in the show ring. Apart from being embarassing, the rider could be bucked off resulting in injury. Also, jumping a horse/pony too high too soon before it becomes comfortable with an easier height will often cause refusals at the fence.

It takes time to train a horse/pony to jump properly and consistently, which is why the jumping levels at shows: pre-green hunter/jumper, green hunter/jumper, are set at graduating levels to prepare a rider and horse for the next level. Often, I have seen riders and horses not ready for their level and need to take more time at home with practice which should include long hacks to break up the intense training. Horses need breaks from their work just like humans do. Too much repetition makes for cranky, reluctant workers: humans and horses or ponies.

The video section shows what happens when rider and mount are prepared or not. Another good video of using bounces at a show in practice can be seen on You Tube: Girl Doing A Bounce.

Sport Ponies

I previously posted on "Theodore O'Connor", a pony who is representing the U.S. at the Beijing Olympics, and ponies who are used in combined driving.

Some breeders of sport horses also like to breed warmblood horse lines into their smaller counterparts to produce a mount for children who are not at the age to be able to manage a much larger horse. Some adults could fit into this category, including myself, especially when it pertains to riding warmblood horses.

European warmblood horses come in a variety of sizes, although the majority are large and larger: at 16.2 hh or 17.2 hh or even 18 hh, with the weight to go with it. For those not acquainted with measuring horses, a hand width of 4 inches makes up 1 hh; therefore 16.2 would be 16 x 4 plus 2 inches = 66 inches to the top of the horse's shoulders (withers). These are totally unsuitable for children to even consider riding, so the German breeders developed a sport pony which they hold in high regard.

A common breed of pony used to cross with warmbloods are the versatile Welsh, which come in four different sizes, set in sections: A, B, C and D. The Section D ponies are usually cobs being more of a sturdy, well built small horse size up to 15.2 hh.

From You Tube video three representatives of well presented sport ponies: a buckskin from Germany, Der Kleine Prints,



not embedded here,

and two from the United States Wedderlie Mardi Gras (an imported Welsh Pony stallion, Section B),



not embedded here,


and an approved American Sport Pony Registry stallion,

Hot Shot MRF who is a Welsh Hanoverian cross) below:



For those unable to view embedded see here.

Combined Driving

The equestrian sport of combined driving is similar to 3-day eventing (which I discussed in an earlier post). There are regional and international competitions with a single horse in harness, a pair, two pairs and three pairs (the latter being quite the handful with the reins).

A good friend of mine has wanted me to go in with her for such a competition. She's even gone so far as to consider what kind of horses would excel at such an event. Actually, all breeds of horses are capable; but she was thinking of specific ones.

The horses in the You Tube presentation of combined driving held at the 2005 Laurels are Norweigan Fjord Ponies. These ponies are a draft type that have evolved over the centuries in Norway.

But, my friend was looking for something different; something unique. She feels a kindred spirit towards the draft breeds. I told her that Shires, Clydesdales, Percherons, Belgians all need extra large stalls, extra large horse shoes, extra large harnesses, considerable more hay and feed than other horses, notwithstanding the wagon one needs to purchase to have a pair or two to pull, or the horse trailer to haul them to shows in. Too bad draft horses didn't come in pony size.

Well they do. There are a variety of draft pony types of draft horse breeds crossed with ponies. The unique draft ponies come in a colour variety of pintos, paints, appaloosa spots; apart from the regular colours.

Now I wait to see if my friend goes out to purchase a pair, and wait...

Winter Is Meant To Be Cold and White

Winter has turned the prairies into a frigid, unhospitable region with severe sub-temperatures and windchill factors. Although Toronto has escaped this weather for now, I recall being in Edmonton, Alberta in 1969 when cold winter weather set records. The Edmonton Journal printed up certificates for people who withstood the 6 week period of temperatures not rising above -25F.

Winter brings memories of a sensible quarter horse gelding standing in his stable rug with his tail to the wind and his face buried deep into a round hay bale, while a Thoroughbred stood with the wind in his face.

One winter I spent in rural surroundings, 80 miles from the city, on a farm where there was a hand pump to the water well and if I pumped it twice per day the pump wouldn't freeze up. My living accommodations were rather primitive: a cedar house with only electricity, a wood stove, a telephone and R40 insulation (thank goodness). I liked living that way then as I had my horses and my dogs.

Winter is snow that crunches underfoot, cold air that makes your exposed skin tingle as the feeling leaves, and telephone wires sing. Wearing proper mittens, not gloves so your fingers don't freeze or stiffen up. Scarves to wrap around your neck and face with a toque pulled down as far as it will go, only your eyes peeking out. Woe betide you if you wear glasses: they fog up going outside and inside.

Winter is double block heaters for your vehicle's transmission, and an inside heater for your comfort before leaving on your drive. Square tires that thump when you start driving. Wipers and defrost blowers that fail to remove the frozen frost on your windshield because it's -35F with humidity of 95% in February. So, you drive hunched over, peering through the little hole just over the steering wheel -- and hoping the mounties don't pull you over due to poor visibility (yours not outside the vehicle).

What are your memories of winter? Do you enjoy the cold, or would you rather go to a tropical beach and forget the chill?

Size Isn't Everything

Almost anyone who rides horses or is interested in horse sports knows about the Rolex 3-Day Event held in Kentucky. Eventing is a tough sport; it separates the man/woman from the regular riding crowd. The cross-country fences are solid and usually wide. Three-Day Eventing originated as training for military horses in Europe, which began declining when motorized weaponry became utilized. Most horses that compete in the sport of eventing are 15.2hh to 17hh, a hand being four inches; and are a variety of breeds or breed crosses.

Recently I came across a video of a pony named “Theodore O’Connor” finishing third at the Rolex in the spring of 2007,



For those unable to view embedded videos see here. This course is difficult for the big horses and this little guy makes it look easy.

and going on to win the individual gold medal in eventing at the Pan American Games in the summer of 2007. Teddy, as he’s also known, is going to the Beijing Olympics after earning a place with the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team. Teddy is only 14.1hh tall, and is exceptionally capable of jumping courses larger horses have difficulty with. This little guy does clear rounds.

The only other pony to have done well at international show jumping was Stroller from England. Stroller was slightly taller than Teddy, standing at just under 14.2hh (which is the cutoff measurement between ponies and horses). I remember hearing about Stroller when I was a child, and thinking it was a wonderful thing a pony could hold its own with the big horses.