From Gymkhana Beginner to Gymkhana Champion

We did it!

This year we competed in the full Fullerton Recreational Riders Gymkhana season. In the beginning of the season we showed in the Open Division, taking high point at the first show of the season.  After the first show, based on your times from each event, horse/rider pairs are placed in a temporary division. Last year our temporary division ranking was 5. This year we were placed up one division into CSHA Division 4. After three shows have been run, the CSHA (California State Horseman's Association) gymkhana rating secretary will rate a horse/rider combination into a speed division. We were placed into Division 4 formally after the third show of the FRR season.

We ran in Division 4, against many seasoned gymkhana riders and horses. Early in the season, we were winning consistently, and gaining a lot of points toward the year end high point. Near the end of the season, some very talented and fast pairs from Division 5 ended up moving into our division. At the last two shows of the season, it looked like the former Division 5 pair, a quick quarter horse named Poison and Sophia Delgado, might pass Gigi and I up on points. It was neck and neck between us in the end, but Gigi and I just barely held our lead:

Final 2015 FRR Points Standings for Division 4 Gymkhana

My fast little thoroughbred was able to win the Championship buckle our first full season!

2015 Division 4 FRR Gymkhana Champions: Gigi & Jessica

Jessica accepting the award at the FRR Holiday Banquet

Gigi was also featured on the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Off Track Thoroughbred blog for her talent in Gymkhana:

Broodmare, 21, is Calif. gymkhana champ
At 20, a t’bred full of surprises tackles gymkhana


Gymkhana was a fun switch from the world of hunters/jumpers/equitation. Gigi seems to enjoy doing something a little different now and again. I have been taking jumping lessons again with Gigi, and we may try a little of both next year: jumpers and gymkhana. Show goals for next year: compete in the The Thoroughbred Classic horse shows!

Gigi's First Gymkhana

Turnin' and Burnin'

Running for Home

Bending

Historically, I have been more of an English rider, but I am always open to trying other things. It has always been clear that Gigi enjoys speed more than slow and steady, and this is one of the reasons we competed in jumpers. I had always thought about trying gymkhana, but I didn't have access to the equipment or access to a western saddle.

Last year that all changed when we moved back to Anaheim. In October, the stables hosted a "Play Day," or basically a non-rated gymkhana. It was SO FUN, and Gigi loved it! Since it was near Halloween, everyone wore costumes and we had a costume parade. I was Little Red Riding Hood, though I had to take off my cape for the events, it was too heavy to ride in! And yes, we did all the events in my English saddle.

There was another Play Day a few months ago, in June. I was very excited to try out the gymkhana events again, and this time we practiced a little before the Play Day. I borrowed my friend's western saddle this time.

At the June Play Day, I had told some of the other boarders that I was interested in going to a real gymkhana someday, and I got my chance this past weekend! I was invited to go with one of the other boarders to a gymkhana in Fullerton, when one of the other girls who usually goes couldn't make it. I again borrowed my friends western saddle, and I bought a western style shirt to show in.

This is a CSHA sanctioned gymkhana. I showed in the Open division, in good company with other non-rated riders. Gigi and I tied with another pair for Champion for the division. After this gymkhana we will get a temporary rating for our next gymkhana in September. Gigi did so well, that my barn mates insisted I come to the next Gymkhana in September! I hope to show a complete gymkhana season next year, and go for a buckle!!!

2014 Hunter Jumper Shows at Anaheim Equestrian Center

The 2014 show season for the Hunter Jumper show series at Anaheim Equestrian Center came to a close last weekend. When the season started, I had planned to show in the Jumper division, but things change! We ended up doing a few flat classes in the Rusty Stirrup division at the first show to fill the classes. The jumper division at this show was quite high, 2'9 was the lower class. After attempting it at the first show, I just didn't feel she or I were comfortable competing at the height. Gigi is 19 now, and on joint supplements for arthritis, so I am more comfortable jumping her under 2'6.

We continued the season competing in the Rusty Stirrup division, which is a hunter and equitation division. The fence height is just 2' without oxers. I am really pleased on how well Gigi did this year, especially in the flat classes. The first few years I showed her, the flat classes were a nightmare (no pun intended). I think moving to the Anaheim Equestrian Center did a lot of good for her flat work because it is such a busy place and when I ride. Usually there are other people or horses in and around the arena. At my last barn, I rode late at night a lot of the time, which made for many lonely rides. At AEC, Gigi has become desensitized to being in the arena with other horses, and we often ride with people and commotion along the rail.

I have gotten lots of complements lately on Gigi's movement under saddle, and I think it shows, since we have finished in the top 2 of every Hunter Under Saddle class of this show series.

Hunter Under Saddle Results

March - 2nd

May - 2nd

June -1st

July -2nd

We took home the year end championship for the division!

I always wanted one of these giant ribbons!

Why We Shouldn't Be So Hard on Mares

I see a lot of people post on various social media with typical "mare problems" and I just wanted to give a little insight on why I think we should be more sensitive to our mare's little idiosyncrasies. In my opinion, and I think many would agree with me, mares and geldings are very very different creatures. I have worked with both over the years, and it is apparent that mares have special needs. But ladies, don't we have special needs as well? I relate my mares "problems" to my own issues as a women. We have our "times of the month" and times where we become super hormonal or sensitive for no apparent reason to our male counter parts. We must acknowledge that many of these "problems" our mares are facing, are the same that we deal with, only they don't have chocolate to eat or Romantic Comedies to watch. For Pete's sake, they don't even have Nicholas Sparks on their side!

What I can tell you from my experience in owning a mare for over three years, is that they need to be handled differently than geldings. The old saying "tell a gelding, ask a stallion, discuss it with a mare" is true to the core. Remember people, discuss things with your mare! Be sensitive! 

Contrary to what my equestrian friends may say, my mare is pretty easy to handle and ride compared to some real doozies out there. I have heard horror stories about mares being as "bad" or unpredictable as stallions (which I have never really worked with stallions, so I am not an expert by any means in that area). That being said, my mare is 19 and still acts like a green horse often. She is very opinionated and will let me know very clearly if she is not going to tolerate the situation. She has broken many halters in our "discussions" about whether she would allow her ears to be clipped, or if she actually ties in general for that matter. Her ground manners are only good about half the time, she tends to drag me around on the lead line most of the time. Some days she is perfect under saddle, and other days she is clearly not having it. Maybe she has cramps that day, you don't know! She gets cranky, and since she doesn't have the aforementioned Nicholas Sparks novels or chocolate brownie ice cream, she races to her stall to take solace in her gelding neighbors. I can't blame her, sometimes I just need a hug or to spend a day snuggled in bed too.

This all being said, I know my mare isn't perfect, but it really bothers me when people call her "crazy." I honestly find it offensive. If she is crazy for just being a female horse, then its a wonder more of us female humans have not been locked away at the looney bin. I get sensitive and new things often give me anxiety, I am pretty sure my mare is feeling these same things.

2013 Show Season Recap and Recent Updates

It has been over a year since I posted. So here are the main points from last year's show season as well as recent updates.

Since our first shot at beginner jumpers at the IEHJA Fall Festival 2012 went so well, Gigi and I continued to show in the beginning jumpers division throughout the 2013 show season. We showed at Pepperglen Farms (Norco, CA) , Parkside Horse Shows (at Ridge Riders Arena: Covina, CA), and Horseshows U.S.A. (Norco, CA) We did very well!

Our first Beginner Jumpers show of the season was in February in Norco at their big city arena the George Ingalls Equestrian Center. This was our first time showing at this facility. I was very nervous, as this way only my second time showing jumpers EVER, but we managed to end the show on a good note with a second place in the Power & Speed round. We had rails down in the other rounds. Here we are after the show:

Horseshows USA at the George Ingalls Equestrian Center

We went to two of the three shows in the Parkside show series and we ended up end of season Reserve Champion for the series! At Parkside we took home Champion in the first show of the season and Reserve Champion in the second! Gigi was awesome! Here we are taking home lots of blues and the Championship at the first Parkside Show of 2013.

Champion in the Beginner Jumpers at the April 2013 Parkside Horse Show

Here is our Power & Speed round from the first Parkside Horse Show back in April 2013.



We also showed in the Beginner Jumpers at Pepperglen Farms. Prior to the Pepperglen show, we trailered in for a day of schooling. We played around with some interesting jumps: including the bank jump in the middle of the main arena and this triple bar that Gigi felt the need to soar over:

Gigi took flight over this 2'6 triple bar liver pool

My leg slipped back a bit over this jump because I wasn't expecting her to over jump it by 3 feet! The jumper courses for the Pepperglen show were EXTREMELY challenging. The most challenging combination was a jump up onto a bank, over a vertical on top of the bank, down the bank, then over a natural fence.

Below is one of the videos from that show, the tricky combination is near the end of the video. This was the Power & Speed round. We had a rail down (the vertical on top of the bank) and also failed to pass through the timers so we got DQ'd. MY BAD! It was still fun though.:



In summer 2013 I moved Gigi to a stable closer to my house due to on going car issues. We moved back to the first barn I had her at: Anaheim Equestrian Center (aka Rancho del Rio). Lucky for me they started doing a show series there! Last year they didn't have a jumper division so we just did the Low Jr/Am Hunter division. We were only able to make one show in for the AEC 2013 show season. We managed a 1st in the equitation over fences for the division. It was kinda nice to wear a hunt coat again.
 

Our new/old home at Rancho del Rio

1st in Equitation Over Fences

They did add jumpers to the AEC shows this year for the 2014 season, but the low division is 2'9! That is way higher then we are used to showing at. Beginner jumpers is only 2'3. At the first show this season was at the end of March. We filled some flat classes in the Rusty Stirrup division and did really well! Gigi has historically not been good in flat classes, she tends to get too fast (hence our switch to jumpers). I think it helped that he hadn't done any jumping yet for the day, so Gigi was fairly calm for the two flat classes, we ended up taking Champion for the Rusty Stirrup division! The jumper division was 2'9 and although we only showed at 2'3 in our previous jumper shows, we gave it a shot and hoped for the best, here is the video:



We had a refusal near the end of the course, but honestly it was my fault. The turn to the jump was tricky as the fence was not far off the rail. I didn't prepare her enough for the jump. Oh well, as they say, better luck next time! The next show is at the end of May, I think we may forgo the jumper division, as 2'9 is a wee bit high for my poor arthritic 19 year old mare! I think we will try our hand at hunters again, and go for end of season champion in the Rusty Stirrup division.

I promise to post more this year!!!

Beginner Jumpers Reserve Champion!

Our show season ended at the end of October with the IEHJA Fall Festival Horse Show. I am so proud of how far she has come along since the begining of 2012. We showed in the jumper division for the first time! Here are our results from the show:

Green Rider Hunter over Fences - 7th
Pumpkin Patch Hunter Derby - 7th (out of 17 riders!)

Beginner Jumpers Table II Section B (first section) - 4th
Beginner Jumpers Table II Section B (second section) -4th
Beginner Jumpers Table II Section C - 1st

Reserve Champion Beginner Jumpers

Gigi has been showing potential as a jumper more so than a hunter. Next show season we will be showing more jumper classes!



Here is our winning round!!!

Bit Choices

So one important factor in transforming Gigi has been changing her bit. Finding the right bit for a horse can be extremely tricky, especially a sensitive horse like my mare! There are so many choices of mouthpiece, cheek piece, curb, curb chain, conventional, unconventional... it's a lot to take in. And each one does something slightly different, and trying to figure out what that something is has been a nightmare. I have looked at books on bits, I have read everything I can find on the internet, and I have even consulted a trainer. The majority of what I have read seems to indicate the simpler the bit the better. However, these people have not ridden my mare!

Loose Ring Snaffle

When I rode Gigi for the first time out in Cherry Valley her old owners had me ride in a loose ring smooth snaffle. This is a very mild bit. The mouth piece is smooth and jointed. The loose ring cheek pieces allow for a lot of movement of the reins, allowing for a soft contact. Mare was running away with me with her head in the air. She would brace against the bit, chomp, and canter around with her mouth open while I tugged on the reins.

French Link Eggbutt Snaffle

After riding in this bit for a long time and seeing that it was not working, we changed to the eggbutt French link. I got this bit after reading about how some horses find the single jointed bits uncomfortable. The joint causes a "nutcracker" effect which slams into their palate, causing pain. I had a feeling this may be happening to her. So we switched to the French link. She seemed to be more comfortable for a while, but we were riding in an extremely small arena at the time, so she couldn't really run away either.




Once we moved to our current show barn, I had the help of a trainer. She suggested I try riding in a bit with leverage. Leverage bits not only exert pressure on the bars and tongue of the horse, the also distribute pressure to the horse's pole. Since Gigi was running around with her head in the air, pole pressure was much needed. After speaking with my trainer, we decided to try a jointed kimberwick. Not only would it apply leverage, this bit also has a curb chain. So on top of the extra force from leverage, the curb action of this bit makes every 1 lbs of pressure on the reins feel like 10 lbs of pressure in the horses mouth. And the outcome of using a kimberwick on Gigi? Mare with breaks! The first day we put it on she slide stopped dead between two fences. After riding her in the kimberwick for about 6 months though she really started figuring things out. The kimberwick did wonders. I felt like I had control over my horse. However, over time Gigi has learned how to avoid the curb action by sucking back and over bridling. So it is once again time to change bits.

Jointed Kimberwick

Also, a kimberwick is not a long term solution to the problem. Kimberwicks are considered "unconventional" according to USEF/USHJA rules. For show hunters the bits allowed are snaffles and pelhams. That's it! Some websites I looked at said that it is possible for a judge to mark you down for using a kimberwick, others said its not an issue. I think it probably depends on what level you are competing at. At my teenie tiny local shows I go to, in the 2ft. green rider division, the judge probably doesn't care that much. But I don't want to risk this being a factor long term. Plus I don't like the way the kimberwicke looks on Gigi. The curb chain is ugly.

Enter the full cheek slow twist. I have ridden many horses in a slow twist. It is by no means a strong bit, but the twist makes it a little more powerful than say the loose ring smooth snaffle. I really like the look of the full cheek. Depending on who you talk to and what website you look at, the full cheek feature doesn't "do" anything very different from any other snaffle cheek piece. The main function of the full cheek is so that the bit cannot be pulled through the horses mouth. Some people believe that the smaller full cheek rings allow for a small amount of leverage you wouldn't get from any other snaffle cheek piece. I am not really concerned with leverage anymore since Gigi has learned to keep her head down, and I would really like to move back to "conventional" hunter bits. So I go with the full cheek slow twist.

Full Cheek Slow Twist

At first, Gigi responds really well to the slow twist. She seems just as manageable in it as the kimberwick which makes me really happy. After about a week of riding in the slow twist, she becomes sensitive in the mouth and jiggy (at the walk). I don't know if it is the harshness of the twisted mouth piece or just bad riding on my part but I decide to take the safe route and graduate her back down to the French link. So for now we are riding in the French link, but I think I may be switching back to the slow twist for shows. I am hoping to avoid using the kimberwick for now!