Syfret: May 5th

Alright alright... I know I've been slacking. Ugh.
So, Im going to try post weekly. We'll see how it goes...

I've had Syfret for nearly 2 months now, and she's been going fantastic! Her canter has improved so much, I must say, it is very hard to hold it together, but we're getting there! And she's holding the canter on the left lead much better... Instead of 2-3 strides on the left lead, or not picking it up at all, I can usually make a lap around the arena before she switches...

We're also jumping more now! I find with her that I have to start out at the beginning of the ride with really little jumps and slowly move up... So far, we've jumped about 2'. I've also done courses of cross rails and she is learned to do lines; although she still does waver a little.

I did take her to a little schooling show, and while we didn't place (I didn't expect to as all the classes I took her in had elements I'd never worked on before such as Hand gallop, extended trot, etc.)
She was incredibly well behaved! Not once did she bat an eye at ANYTHING. She also didn't stress at all, as soon as she got into a stall after her class she ate about 3 flakes of hay and drank multiple buckets of water throughout the day.

I've also got her leg yielding in the walk and trot perfectly! She goes into a hunter frame soo nice.

Anyways, I got a few pictures I figured I'd post... She here ya go ;)

Syfret: Day 4 & 5

Today was the first ride!

Today was my first ride on Syfret! I got up this morning, and went to the barn quite early. I had to clean her stall, etc. Not to mention there was a lesson going on for about 1.5hrs. Oh! I have to say these two little quirks I've noticed she has, its quite cute really! So, when I walked out to get her from her paddock, she was munching on some hay. As I walked toward her I called her name, as soon as she heard me, she lifts her head and starts bobbing it. This is the third time she's done it :)

The other thing, is in the cross ties she sits there and she chews on the rope! I don't really correct her for it, since she's not doing any damage to the ties, or moving her body around.

Anyways, I finally got her all tacked up. I think I've already mentioned this, but, I absolutely love her tail.. Its so thick! Hahaha. I took her into the arena and put the side reins on again; I didn't let her run loose, or lunge her without the side reins today so she was a bit more frisky and sort of 'on the edge.'

I got her trotting and walking calmly eventually, she's getting good at responding to my voice cues, and after such a short time too!

So, before I give the details of my ride.. Here is a picture, and a video of her trotting!

Video of her trotting w/ Sidereins


And Here is a picture of her walking on the lunge line!

She was extremely good! I just walked without the lunge line; then I trotted and walked on the line.. She had one spook because snow fell off the roof, but other than that she was great.

Once again, Combining days :) So here are pictures of Day 2 riding... and day 5 having her. Videos of my riding will be added to this post later.

Here is a photo of us trotting..

Here is another trotting photo!

So, today (second day of riding) they were no spooks at all! She was a bit funny when I lunged her with the side reins going right, she kept throwing her head up and hitting them, which I thought was odd since she hasn't done that before, and they were no tighter. Yet, she relaxed after awhile. I also trotted without the lunge line today; as you see in the pictures. I'm very impressed with how quickly things are moving along! One thing I do notice, is that she's very unbalanced going right, which is understandable considering most of her work would've been done left. She sort of leans in around her turns, and likes to counter-bend. On the other rein though, she's perfect! 

More pictures & video tomorrow :)

Syfret: Day 2 & 3

Wow.... Today (March 12th 2013) has been a long day! I was at the barn where Syfret is at nine till one, then at another barn from one to three, then back with Syfret from three to six. But all in all, it was a good day! I thought I'd blend yesterdays and todays post into one, considering I did much the same thing :)

Honestly, I don't know what to say about this mare. She has been such an absolute dream to work with the past three days. I managed last night to get her a nice to blanket, unfortunately no Rambo or Amigo... This girl is broke! I also got her leather halter off, it seems her previous owners left it on 24/7 considering she has sort of a callous where the nose piece of the halter sits... Poor girl! Did I mention she also has an absolutely incredibly tail? SO THICK!!! I brushed through it today and I was in heaven. My other mare has the wimpiest tail.. Gross right? Haha.
 Anyways, yesterday I asked the barn owner to leave Syfret in, since I was going to be there early and the weather outside is absolutely disgusting! The paddocks are all extremely muddy. So.. I got there around 9:30. I was still reluctant to put her in cross ties as I didn't know if she had ever used them before, or what her experiences where with them. So, I led her out into the indoor arena, which is about  80 by 180. Took her blankets off and turned her loose. She trotted around and sniffed at the several standards that were in there. I then took my whip and got her cantering and trotting around for a few minutes. I then decided I was going to put my saddle on, I thought since she had been so well behaved... Why not? I just let her stand while I did up the girth, and she didn't move once. I then lunged  her for about 20mins.

So, today, I decided I was going to be brave and put her in the cross ties! She's such a character; I put her in them.. Once again, didn't move a muscle. I tacked her all up, she uses my 48 girth, but could probably use more of a 50.. Anyhow, I put the side reins on her! I left them quite loose as I had no idea wether or not she'd ever had them on before. So.. Since I don't have much time to type today I'll make a long story short ;)

SHE LOOKED ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!

When I pushed her into a trot she stretched right into the contact.. The lady whom owns the barn Sy's at looked over at us and said (she was riding at the other end of the ring at the time) "You've got a special one here!"

And I'm quite sure we do... I've got, so far, nothing but praise for this mare. She's just pushy on the ground, and at times she needs a chain.. But like I said before, thats fixable.


My plan tomorrow is to ride! First lots of lunging though. I have the utmost confidence in her though... Despite me having had her for only a few days, I've spent at least 4+ hours with her each day, and she's a joy to work with.

Pictures possibly later tonight if I get them uploaded, if not... Then you'll just have to be patient till tomorrow!


hope you all are having as great a day as I am!

Syfret: Day 1

Hello!

My name is Caroline, but thats not really important... Because your here for Syfret! Well, This is her rider talking. So, before we start, lets give you a little bit of information on her history.

DAY ONE:

Syfret was born on March 27, 2007. She is turning six in a few weeks. She's a beautiful bay mare; registered with the Jockey Club. Her earnings total to $66,000, I am told. Today, March 11th, 2013, is my second day owning her. I was lucky enough to come across her owners agent at an auction, and learned that she was interested in selling her. The lady actually approached me at the sale and said 

"I've been looking for girls in nice breeches!" I at the time wasn't looking for a project, especially not a off the track thoroughbred. I already had my hands full with a 4 year old Warmblood Cross. But, I managed to convince my mother to allow me to go see her at the farm were she was living. I learned that her owners had sadly passed away in December, and she was looking for a home. I went out to the farm and spent some time with her. I was unable to ride her considering the last time she was ridden was in July of 2012, by a jockey! Not to mention, there was no arena on this farm. She seemed to be a a very sweet girl, I rubbed down her back and legs without any fuss, as well as led her around. She also had gorgeous conformation, Something you don't come across everyday in a Throughbred. Considering her price was reasonable, and she seemed to be quite quiet, I was able to pick her up and bring her to the barn where I rode that day! (Yesterday being that day...)

When I arrived at the barn I ride, she was quite agitated. She didn't want to stand still.. But she wasn't spooky! Which I extremely happy with. Once we got her into the barn and let her settle into her stall for about 15mins we decided to take her into the indoor arena for a good run! As soon as we let her loose she took off trotting. The first thing that came out of both me and my mothers mouth was "Wow."

We watched her as she gracefully trotted around, flicking her little hooves. She was a picturesque hunter. The suspension and lofty trot she had was incredible! After a few minutes we asked her to pick up the canter. This however, wasn't nearly as pretty. She appeared quite unbalanced, but we figured, this wasn't anything unfixable. After she had a good run, We put her back in her stall for the night.

Here is Syfrets bloodlines:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/syfret

And here are a couple pictures..

http://oi48.tinypic.com/3539jlf.jpg

http://oi50.tinypic.com/14cea76.jpg