The manifestation of my dreams

Dear Horse Lovers,

I am in awe! Since I had gotten Eagie I have had this dream about my riding and where I saw myself going with my riding, even though I learnt a lot about natural horsemanship with him I never really got close to what I had in mind and I didn't really have any direction with my ideas. Now, when I got Island, I had very clear direction in my mind with what I wanted to do with him. I had this idea, this dream but I had no clue where to start or how to put this dream into action!

My dad had asked me what I wanted to do with Island and I had this idea in my head but I didn't really have the words to describe it. I said to him that I wanted to be able to do everything and anything with my horse and that I wanted to build an indescribable bond with him. And of course I also wanted to compete in dressage (and kick imported Warmblood ass on my OTTB, no offense to imported Warmblood owners, people just always put OTTB's down and they are actually pretty awesome :) ).

This wasn't exactly the picture I had in my mind but these were the best words I had to describe it. My dad, and not for lack of trying, didn't understand. He said that, that wasn't really horse riding and that he didn't understand, he felt that I was contradicting myself and couldn't make sense of my plan. Well, even though I had a clear idea in my head, I couldn't make realistic sense of my idea either.

Being a law student and having a complete lawyer brain/personality, I jumped onto the internet and started researching all the components of my idea, trying to find a way to piece them all together. And it was in this research that I discovered the realization of my dream. It was through this that I found everything that I had needed for this idea, this dream to become a reality, and all this right on my back doorstep. And that the reality of it was in actual fact much greater than what I had ever dreamed of.

It was through this research that I discovered Xenophon Equus Centre. Where I read articles found on their websites and watched videos of the work that is done there and I saw my dream in action. Well my dream and more! This idea of mine had manifested itself and I am super excited to announce that I will be moving my horse to this stunning yard at the end of the month.

To top off the way that they train and all the things I am going to learn, it is the most beautiful yard I have ever seen. Beautiful surroundings of mountains and Sir Lowry's Pass; big airy stables with an almost grecian theme; enormous paddocks filled with lush grazing and the most stunning indoor arena I have seen to date!

Just to give you some idea of how this has happened and how opportunities are all around us, if we dare look for them, and of course once you find them, if you dare take the leap of faith to actually take them!

I was researching straightness training (mostly the liberty part of it, I didn't really understand the full extent of it at that stage) and I came across an add for a straightness clinic and I have no idea why but I decided to take a look at the Facebook page of the yard where the clinic was being held (at this point in time I didn't even know the yard was in South Africa).

So I was looking through their page and I was so impressed by the photos and articles and I thought to myself I'd better like this page so I can read all these articles because some of them are in line with my ideas. Then my eye caught a comment that said "even though you are far away in SOUTH AFRICA..." and my mind went OH my gosh, I didn't know places like this existed in South Africa, it's probably some fancy Johannesburg yard.

But I was curious so I looked at their "about" section and it said Sir Lowry's Pass. Now my mind was going crazy, like how could this even be, I must be dreaming!! I then went onto their website and the more I read the more I understood that my idea is only a part of what they do and that I had to change my way of looking at riding (and my way of riding too).

So I contacted the owner and she informed me that they have a space for livery. So at 10am this morning my dad and I set off to view the yard and chat to the owner. I fell in love with the place. The owner is also very nice and I can see myself building a relationship with her and working with her for many years to come.

I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that if you believe and open yourself up your ideas will manifest themselves in the world around you in ways you cannot always fathom.

Island and I are going to a place where he and I can learn and grow together. Where the "indescribable bond" I had dreamt of will be formed and cultivated. I read on their website that someone had said: "she didn't fix my horse, she fixed me" and that sentence just confirmed what I believed.

For a very long time I have believed that horses were constantly trying to communicate with us but that we could only understand the surface of what they were telling us. I believe it was that iceberg theory, we chose to only see the top little tip and I wished that I could become a horsewoman that could read into the rest and also communicate accordingly, and this is the place where I will find those skills. Where I can explore my inner being while getting to know the inner being of Island, so that we may co-exist in a beautiful relationship.

I am ready to open myself to going beyond what I had dreamed of and to learn everything that this amazing place and the people who work there have to show me. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and I cannot wait to see what the future may hold!

Watch this space world, Island and I will become a force to be reckoned with!

Love and blissful excitement,
Jana and Island

Saddle Fitting

Hello Horse Lovers,

So today my dad and I missioned to the stables so my dad could see my bubba in his new home and so that I could see my instructor to devise a plan for training and to fit his saddle and bridle so that we can get him onto work!

We got there as the groom set out his lunch, 2 slices YUMMY oat hay, so obviously he paid us no attention. I must say though that I realized today how absolutely amazing it is, and how very thankful should be, having a horse that is not possessive over or nasty with food!

 We put his bridle on while he was chomping down, lifting his head when asked to and we made all the necessary changes without him even batting an eyelid! Can I just add that my absolute favorite part of fitting a bridle is counting the little mouth creases!! After fitting the bridle, we moved on to the saddle, and again, he stood rock still. the only movement out of him was to chase flies and he looked around once when we tightened his girth! Unfortunately, and as expected his saddle does not fit, but lucky me cause I have a saddle with an interchangeable gullet so we will be changing that ASAP.

SO with a fitting bridle and a not so fitting saddle we set off to the barn to put my tack away and then returned with a camera to take some pictures of my model boy! Still not paying any attention to us... But at least I now have an album full of photos of my little pig stuffing himself on oat hay!!

Even my instructor commented on how easy it is to work with him and what an amazing temperament he has. That line that people throw: "All OTTB's are crazy, I'd never buy an OTTB because they have the worst temperaments etc" is now thoroughly debunked and I call TOTAL BS!

My boy has been off the track for little over 4 months, has had a three month letting down period and has been in work for little over a month now and he is the most chilled, sound minded horse I've seen in a long time! He boxes like a dream, he stands for the farrier, he isn't nasty with food, he is ridden in a HALTER (because contrary to popular belief OTTBs actually do have brakes, especially if you school them properly from the ground up) and he is such a pleasure to work with!!

Like with any horse, we are going to have off days and fresh days and silly days and naughty days but that you get with ANY horse and not just OTTBs. So to people putting down these amazing creatures, I say go screw yourselves, own one and then we will talk again. 99% of people I have spoken to who have owned or still own an OTTB, ONLY have great things to say about them. The nasty comments usually come from people who aren't familiar with OTTBs. Obviously you do get silly ones and I would not recommend them as a novice/first mount, but with patience and time you will have a great competition horse with a quick mind, unbelievable work ethic and a huge heart to give!!

Tomorrow we start his retraining officially, focussing this week on everything he already knows, to get him use to the new surroundings!! Our adventure is finally starting and I am now more excited than ever!! Watch this space!!

Love,
Lawquii and Island Ridge

Dear Horse lovers,

Today Island moved to his new home, Alpha Equestrian! My morning started out very early; I woke up, got dressed and went to fetch 4 bales of oat hay to keep Island fed till the next load gets delivered. Luckily my dad is not home at the moment else he might have had a heart attack at the state of his 4x4 after picking up the hay! teehee Ill need to get that washed tomorrow!!

Then, with the lovely scent of hay in the car I set off to the stables to meet the transport people who where boxing him over to Alpha. I must admit that I was beyond curious to see how he boxes and to see how he reacts to the change in environment.

I got there and met the man from the transport company. He then introduced me to the groom and we set off to the paddock to fetch Island. The groom had a bridle for loading purposes and again, I was very curious to see Islands reaction to a bridle as I have never ridden him in one, I have only ridden him in a halter.  Nonetheless, we get to his field and get the bridle on hassle free.

It is nice to still be in that curious stage with a new horse. That time where you are still feeling each other out, getting know each others quirks. You are still going to hear me say "I am curious" multiple times over the next few blogs as Island and I find our feet together as a team.

At 10:07 we get to the box and by 10:10 he is loaded, box is closed and we are on the move to his new home!! I am immensely impressed with my boy! He boxed like  an absolute gentleman! All the way to Alpha he continued behaving himself. We got there and opened the back, he slowly and ever so carefully backed out and observed the new world around him. Without a flinch or a moment of hesitation he then walked after the groom to his new paddock.

Chilled as a cucumber and not a hair of worry on his back! I am too proud! It is nice to still be in that curious stage with a new horse. That time where you are still feeling each other out, getting to know each others quirks. You are still going to hear me say "i am curious" multiple times over the next few blogs as Island and I find our feet together as a team.

After the transport company left I set off with 2 yummy slices of oat hay for him. I set it down in the shelter in his field and watched him as he started making friends with a SPCA horse, Micheal, across the fence. He didn't even look at the oat hay, he started munching on the green grass under his feet.

Just a bit of background, at racing stables the horses are kept in the stables all day unless they are out training, so he never knew the joys of grazing there, and the amazing rescue place where I got him from unfortunately is situated in a very sandy area so he also had no grazing there, even though he was turned out. He was also stabled his entire life and will now be living out. I can just imagine his excitement to be able to move around freely (instead of having to trudge through sand) and to be able to graze as any horse should!!

Being so elated must have made my brain fuzzled as I walked all the way down to his paddock without his flymask and then had to walk all the way up to fetch it. As I walked back down he immediately raised his head and walked toward the gate to greet me. I felt so loved :). I then decided to test this and see if he would follow me to the shelter (he seemed a bit skeptical of it) but after walking a few meters he just stood there and watched me, unsure of what it is I want. I clucked at him and he set off after me. To test if he really was walking after me and not just on a whim of his own I walked a few moe meters and the stopped. Although his reaction was slow, only coming to a stop with his bum next to me, he stopped. And again proceeded to walk once I did. It's moment like these that makes me feel special.

I left him eating and happy. I think I was more worried than he was about spending the night out. It is still difficult to get it over my heart that he will be living out but seeing how happy all the horses at my yard is I think he will love it too. I just need to get over it!

Some time this evening I messaged the yard owner to check in and she said that he was relaxed. She also said that when one of the riding school children was jumping in the yard he got all "ye-ha ish" wanting to join in! I feel that this is a good sign as he is not distressed and just getting excited about friends and the workings of the yard.

We will give him the weekend to get use to the yard and his surroundings and the comings and goings of all the people and on monday we start the serious work!

I am honestly so excited for this journey and I look forward to all the new thing I am going to learn. Most of all I look forward to the bond I will be forming with Island Ridge. I also hope to gain many followers on this blog who learn to love Island and who will share their insights and experiences with me!

Love,
Lawquii and Island

P.s I will post pictures soon!

Warms my heart! :) So glad I met you

Hello Horse Lovers,

Just a quick bit of happiness from my side, I received this email from a lady working for the Western Cape Equine Trust just after Island's rehoming was finalized! It honestly makes my heart sing :) 

Hello,

We love to share good news with all of you when one of our horses is re-homed! 

ISLAND RIDGE has found his new ‘Mom’ and is already progressing in his schooling with her.  He will be moving to his new home shortly, where he will meet equine friends and no doubt, be very happy in his lovely surroundings.

We extend our sincere appreciation and say many thanks to the person who will give Island Ridge the love and care he deserves.  May you have many happy times with him!

Kind regards

on behalf of the

WCET Rehoming Program

Windy days and scary monsters

Dear Horse lovers,

Just to give a bit of background, I found Island through an organization called the Western Cape Equine Trust and there is a man working for them that starts re-training the horses before they are rehomed, and I have decided to keep Island at the stables from where he works for three weeks, so that we can all work together to boost Island’s training. So I am now working with the man every time that I work with Island so that he can show me what he has done thus far with my boy and so that I can learn the aids and cues that he uses with Island.

Today we had a VERY windy day. I always find it interesting to see how different horses react to changes in weather. In my experience, windy or rainy conditions make horses more “edgy”. So I was very curious to see what the wind would do to Island’s chilled demeanor. 

I went to fetch him from his field and as we walk down the path to the arena some big scary monster (a leaf of some kind) blew into his but and he shot forward, but bless his heart as soon as I said “WHOA” and tugged a little on the halter he slowed right down to a walk and continued walking happily to the arena.

As he is still in his first week of AHS vaccines we decided to only do a little lunging. The man I am working with started him on the lunge, with us both being in the ring, and did walk and trot transitions on both reigns and the gave over to me to continue. Island was perfect in every way, responding to every cue and walking and trotting beautifully. The wind made no difference to his working state. He was focused, albeit a bit lazy, but he did what we asked of him. I am starting to realize this is so typically him, always wanting to please.

I feel very happy with how he went on the lunge and I only hope for every session to at least be able to end on this note. Island was a bit grumpy today, I think because of the vaccines and probably the wind, but apart from having his ears back there was no change in his attitude. He worked hard and welcomed a cuddle so I am very happy.

After lunging we ended our day with a lovely grooming session while he was hand grazing on a patch of grass outside the arenas. He is a little fart when it comes to eating as he literally tries to stuff all the grass available into his mouth before trying to chew or even swallow. So I had a good laugh at him and often had to lift his head just to give his mouth some time to chew his food properly! 

After having groomed him it was off to the paddock again and we had a relaxed walk back. As we got to his paddock I walked him in and turned him around with me to close the gate and as I turned to close the gate he got a fright from something and pulled backwards, I immediately tugged the halter and said whoa. He stopped, and stood still. I then made him walk a reluctant step or two towards me and then rubbed his face and neck. I took off his halter and he took another two cautious steps backwards before walking towards his hay.

I walked off to close the gate properly and to get his fly mask. I walked back and gave him a rub, put his fly mask on and bid him adiue.

I was very happy to see that the wind didn’t change his attitude, although he was a bit grumpy he still wants cuddles and still works hard and apart from the completely understandable frights he went really well today

I must say that I still need to find my cool when he gets a fright, as it is more intimidating for me on the ground than it is when I am on a horse. I always have a fear of a horse bolting straight over me. Although I feel with Island that his frights are justified and not silly, and that it is still early days with us so we will learn to trust each other and then thing should be much more comfortable and easy. 

Like any relationship, trust is earned and so far I think we are both doing very well. Even though we both get frights we are still considerate of each other (he listens when I say whoa etc) and we both calm down relatively quickly after a fright so I think that the trust is already building, we are seeing that we can trust each other even when danger lurks.

Someone said to me today that I have a sparkle in my eye when I talk about him and it made me think that even though we have only been in each others lives for about a week and a half, it was “love” at first sight and I instantly knew that he was the horse for me when I got on him and the man who was working with him also said that he responds well to me and seems happy in my presence.

I believe that your relationship with your horse is the same as any other relationship you have in your life. It is based on certain pillars: love; respect; trust and communication. It starts with the communication, we need to learn to speak the language of horses in general and then more specifically the language that your own horse speaks. 

Secondly comes respect, your horse needs to learn to respect you as the dominant alpha and needs to respect your leadership and should then submit and become your follower; but you also need to respect that in the end you are working with a 800kg animal that has a mind of its own and ingrained in that mind is a very strong sense of self preservation and a very keen sense of flight rather than fight. 

From this respect flows trust, because as soon as your horse accepts you as his leader he trusts you to keep him from danger just as you should trust him to do the same for you. 

All this then becomes love and attachment, you and your horse become a little herd of two. Many people believe that horses don’t grow to love their owners but I beg to differ. But what ever you may believe, if there is proper communication, trust and respect there is a form of love. And as the other three pillars get stronger so does the forth. They are all intertwined and you need to work on them all on a daily basis and this is where lunging becomes an integral part of training. 

So another day has passed where we learnt something from each other and each day is an opportunity to build on that. 

Love,

Lawquii and Island

Farting Kick Bucks and chasing dogs.

Dear Horse lovers,

Today I come home with mixed feelings, proud, in love, excited and a bit concerned.

I spent most of the day with Island (for whom we are still searching a well suited stable name) and our day did not start out on the right foot. 

I went out to catch him in his field, yielding the brand new, very handsome halter I had bought for him and to my delight it fit perfectly and looked great. So with a happy heart we started making our way towards the arena so that we could get some ground work done (I did not ride today as we are in the first week of AHS vaccines and they should not be worked too hard during this time), but half way there some inconsiderate woman had two completely crazy dogs that attacked us. Me, being very afraid of dogs (especially this certain breed because I was bitten by one as a child) got a very big fright, Island on the other hand was a real brave hero, instead of being scared or spooking he turned and kicked at them, and thus chasing them away. My heart swells with pride.

But I do want to rant about inconsiderate people for just one paragraph. If you own dogs and you want to take them with to your stable yard keep them on a leash so that they are under control AT ALL TIMES! Had it not been Island and his ever placid, ever chilled nature, but a spooky horse, someone might have gotten hurt, and it probably would have been the person leading the horse. Even though we all love horses and work with them everyday they remain unpredictable and dangerous and people who are so inconsiderate actually should not be allowed near horses, never mind a yard where she is putting others at risk. Rant done.

So after this little incident I walked him over to the arena, asking him to “whoa” and “walk on” a few times to reiterate the voice commands. He was a champion at doing what he was being asked. We then did a few exercises with poles on the ground, which really took a lot of concentration, but at least I know that he has some idea of where his feet are. Bless his heart.

After plenty of bending, “whoaing” and walking over things I thought I would end the day with a little lunge. Well a little lunge turned out to be a whole lot of running around and high, tense atmosphere. 

I have never been the best at lunging, I suppose my prejudice against it came from being forced to lunge a very young (IMO rowdy) horse as a very small kid, where the horse completely bombed out, charged me (I luckily got out the way fast enough and immediately got out the arena as well, being a very novice rider and no clue on how to handle situations like these), the horse then proceeded to buck and fart and kick around and eventually jumped the ring and ran off, running through two fences and completely freaking out. I also got severely scolded and was “in the dog box” for the rest of the three day camp. I hated every minute of it. 

So him giving a farting kick buck and a good run had me a bit upset, I think more so because of his AHS than him acting up but he then fed off my energy and I off his and the vicious circle began, but I asked him to stop, which took some convincing, and asked the trainer to help me. Even though he was still too forward and still took off once or twice, we managed to end the session on a better and more controlled note (I am a firm believer of always ending on a good note). So my concern is getting myself to be a more relaxed lunger.

I then took him to a small open patch of grass and let him have a graze while I groomed him, which I consider an important bonding tool. Well groomed, feet cleaned and happily munching on yummy grass we set off to his paddock to let him chill out the rest of this lazy Saturday.

Love,

Lawquii and Island

The start of our adventure!

Okay so let us start at the very beginning.

I wasn't really looking for a horse when I came across a fantastic Facebook page, Western Cape Equine Trust, where an amazing group of people are rehoming racehorses who have just come off the track. And the first picture on their feed was of this extremely handsome, yet incredibly adorable gelding and it was love at first sight.

The description read: 

ISLAND RIDGE, is a 3 ½ year old, 17hh TB gelding.

He has been away from the track for a couple of months, is sound and healthy; a kind, gentle boy who is willing and responsive to everything we ask of him. With his long, smooth strides and good transitions, he is a comfortable ride and with proper schooling, he has the potential to excel in various disciplines.

BLOODLINES:
DAM: CATALINA
SIRE: TIGER RIDGE (USA)
GRAND SIRE: BADGER LAND (USA)







I immediately emailed them and requested to meet Island and we set up a meeting for Saturday the 26th of April 2014. (Which is also my birthday)

On the morning of the 26th I set off to go see Island and as soon as I got there I was sure that he was the horse for me, however, being a more logical person, I waited to see him being ridden and rode him myself before I made the final decision to buy him.

So I watched a 13 year old little girl get on the back of this giant, and often described as “crazy” off the track thoroughbred… tum tum tum… Although, never fear when Island is near because being the gentleman that he is, he behaved perfectly. I then arranged to see him again the following Tuesday so that I could ride him myself and lunge him and just spend some time with him. 

I counted off the hours from Saturday till Tuesday when I could see him again. When I got there we went to catch him in his field and then walked him over to the lunge ring, in my heart I knew that thing would go well and that we will end up together.

He lunged perfectly, even turning his inside ear on me and licking and chewing as he went round in circles. Exactly how he had been doing it in my head all weekend long. I thought this must be a dream.

I then got on him. From the word get go he behaved himself like an angel, standing for me to mount, listening to my every command and moving forward in a good rhythm. Might I add that he is ridden in a halter (and yes, that does mean NO bit). Not quite the “crazy OTTB” everyone would expect.

As soon as my feet touched the ground when I dismounted I knew that, beyond any doubt, this horse was my “meant to be” or “happily ever after” or any one of the other cliches. 

I asked them to set the rehoming or adoption process and so our journey together started. We had to pass vet checks and home checks and bonding scrutiny but we passed them all with flying colors and as of the 1st of May I am officially the proud new owner of Island Ridge and I could not be happier.

In between Saturday and Thursday I have read dozens of articles and found even more books on the retraining of OTTBs and I have a lovely instructor, Colleen, who will be helping me every step of the way.

I will try and post every time after I have been to see him, may it be a bonding session or a training session and I will add photos as often as I am able. This is also my first blog, so please be gentle, as with Island I am learning as I am going.

Love,

Lawquii and Island