So very brief update. Last week during our lesson we practiced on flat work and doing some practice dressage tests. I have to say at first I thought - this is going to be freaking boring! But in all honesty I found it quite enjoyable. Oz probably not so much so. He was a wee bit miserable - no jumps, and no speed. I swear he thinks of himself as a warmblood/tb, either its up or its speed. This walk / trot stuff is way too boring for him. I found it not near as easy as I originally thought. It was like steering the Queen Mary through the False Creek Channel area. At E you want me to do what... well I needed to start that about a mile ago! Although I have to say Oz was getting it, frankly he was listening better to Brianne reading the test then I was.
After this we decided there was an up coming test fest coming up at the Kelowna Riding Club through Cadora. Now we were late in entering, and knew it was a long shot.... but we never did hear back from anyone whether we were accepted or not - thus our plans to attend the dressage show were cancelled. As it was this was probably for the best as it was changing between sprinkling and raining on Sunday - and as all Ozzy fans are aware, Oz melts in the rain. So not only is he going to be on the KRC grounds, where he's used to jumping, he won't be jumping but doing flat work AND in the rain... yeah that would have gone over like a lead balloon.
Our next lesson is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to it. And we have a show coming up in a couple of weeks in Salmon Arm. Poor Oz is probably thinking, well the weather has changed - I feel Fall in the air, and usually at this point I retire till spring - maybe April or May... Ummm well hate to burst his bubble, but poor Oz will be worked through out the winter. We'll be dropping down to 3 days a week, but no more full retirement, and back on 4 days a week come March. Poor poor abused Oz... how he suffers! I'm such a mean mean owner.
On a completely different subject but not really. I just found out that Ozzys breeder has finally got an email connection/address. I am absolutley thrilled and hope that he will have a website soon - in fact I may have to volunteer my sons services for that - or at the very least if I can put up some shots of his offspring. Roger at Greenleaf Farms has always been so supportive of myself and Oz, and has three amazing lovely daughters, that continue to show some of the best Clydesdale stock in Canada. Continue to view this website and the photos page, as I'll be bugging them for images of stock that they have for sale - and maybe if I'm lucky an image or two of Ozzys own bloodlines.
I know I've been bad about keeping up Ozzys fans with his progress. I have been away for the last three weeks due to holidays and training for a new job, so Oz has had in essence a holiday for those 3 weeks. Brianne has been great about riding him, and using him while I've been away. I'm back (for now, although I think I'm off again for more training in a couple of weeks) But I will promise to keep the updates more regular, or at the very least update the photos.
Our last event was the Jump nite at Kelowna Riding Club in August. Poor Ozzy was such a trooper, as we had such a surge of a heat wave - I think it was around 32 degrees that evening. It had been cooler up at the farm, so we got down there and relized how warm it was.
After a very quick warm up, which by the way I feel I should mention this, if you are in a ring and your objective at that moment is to sit on your horse like a couch and chit chat with your friends, then get the HELL OFF THE RAIL!!!! for the few of us that are trying to ride.
Then we went off for our jump rounds. It was a while back now so I can't remember all of it, other then there were some jumps out of the 10 that were up, that felt AMAZING! That it wasn't just all Oz, that I was doing things right also, and we were working as a team. In fact at one point I relized that I was actually seeing the strides up to the jump and instead of having him decide, I was urging him on at the right time. Kinda shocked myself, but was such a GREAT feeling.
We jumped about 4 or 5 times around and then called it a night, as he was sweating badly, and it was just too hot and I didn't want him over heated.
That was our last jumping time, since then I've been on holidays and traveling and only home for parts of some weekends. Those times I do rush out to the barn and put in some time on him. This past weekend was the first time that I really felt he was getting out of shape. So I'm pretty impressed that it was 3 weeks before he started to fade. That said, he doesn't forget a damn thing. When I did ride on those few weekends we did some jumping and some flat work. I started him with some cross rails and some low verticals which my aunt was there to take some photos of. I noticed a new behaviour that had me near tears. He's dropping his front legs, big risk of hitting the rail. I was worried he had peaked. But I raised up the bar to a higher level and then his legs went back up.... I guess this is his way of saying, done with 2'0 I want to move up.
Thats my boy, had we not had the holiday I'm pretty sure we'd be schooling at 2'9 right now at home. So fusterating for both of us, but also he's not going to be getting a winter holiday for 4 - 5 months like usual. Although once snow hits, we will probably only be jumping once a week if we can get a pass for the local indoor, and riding will go from 4 days a week probably down to 3.
This weekend there is a local dressage test/show/event - I'm not really sure what its called, as I wasn't planning on doing dressage, but hey we all know Oz is the truly versatile horse.... so off he's going to do a entry/beginner test. Cantering on a small metre circle isn't going to happen yet, so we'll be doing just walk/trot.
In October, October 11th-12th to be exact we will be at Topline showing at their fall event. I'm looking VERY forward to this, as it will probably be our last show of the year.
In I believe the new year, although I best check, as it may be November, there is a South Okanagan Horse Ladies Dinner, that I've been asked to speak at. I am so thrilled at this honor, and should start working on a plan. We all wish we could bring Oz down to the event, but seeing as its a dinner at a local hotel banquet room I don't think they would appreciate Ozzys guest appearance. I will post information on this once I have it all down.
I do have to say a HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Brianne and Jimmy. Quite honestly never in my partnership with Oz (I can't say ownership, as I truly believe Oz owns me and not the other way around) could I have felt comfortable leaving him for 3 solid weeks without either being in complete panic or constantly calling the caretaker and checking up on him. But not once in those 3 weeks did I have an opportunity (didn't have a cell or blackberry or access to online for that time) to contact the farm and see how he was doing. And yet, although I missed him very much, not once did I worry about his care or well being. And its not till I was home did I relize that I didn't have once stressful moment while away from Oz. Quite honestly I'm not sure many other horse owners that need to board have this much trust or faith in their boarding facility. As I told both Brianne and Jimmy as long as I live in Kelowna, thier farm is his home and he won't be going anywhere else. So if you see the ad for Bresing Farms and board available, this should also say the Official Home of Ozzy. I cannot say enoough about the superior level of care and the quality of care and kindness that they show. And they are a huge part of the reason I could take this new job, and not worry about being away about Oz.
Not to forget the support staff of Kim, Sandra and never to forget about Andy - chief mascot and security.
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