Onward

Time to stop by and fill in on the last month’s + happenings!

Soccer has come to a close for the spring with both kids playing in the Sunburn tournament Memorial Day weekend. Skyler’s rec team was bumped up a level to compete against tougher teams as they were undefeated throughout the regular season, only letting a few goals by for it all. Not only did they get bumped up, but ended up playing against the best of those Challenge level teams. The girls didn’t let it get them down and fought hard. While they lost all 3 games, in two of them they scored a goal, and certainly made the other teams fight for the win. Super proud of them.

Asher’s Challenge team snagged a few guest players in order to have more subs, who turned out to be just the “oomph” the team needed to come together for the games! They won both their Saturday games in cold, wet and windy weather. Both of Sunday’s games would end up being against the same team as they were the top 2 after Saturday’s results. It was a very rough Sunday morning game and they lost (bad referee who didn’t call the personal fouls of the other team didn’t help), but our guys dominated during the second half not allowing the ball to cross to their side but a few times. They came back a few hours later angry and with a plan, and a great ref who set the rules early on calling the other team on their wrongs. The Whitecaps ended the season with a hard fought 3-2 win and Champions of the their Tournament division! What a stressful weekend for all the parents though, lol

Navy Sharks post 3rd & last game together

Scooby has continued to blossom mentally and physically, though I had to have the vet out to check out the left front as he came up severely lame (3 legged, not wanting to use it) and swollen. Determined it was STILL an abscess issue, we then had the farrier out to relieve the pressure. He has a good strong hoof, but unfortunately that also means the abscess was having a hart time bursting even with soaking, and our dry spell wasn’t helping either. Jarred was able to find 2 tracks over two different trims a week apart and get it draining again. He’s still a little sensitive, but walking around much better and now not dropping weight from the pain of the pressure. I ended up ordering him a set of Cavallo Trek boots (neon green!) for his fronts to wear in the pasture and eventually when out riding. He also got to enjoy a massage session, which I’m sure he needs more of as his body is still so tight and many muscles are knotted. I plan to have him worked on by Jessica for Osteopathy when Sully has his next appointment too. He is quite a character and has no issues letting you know you are in a “good spot.”

Since April’s update I have managed to get Sully out for some riding on the weekends and he is feeling more solid in the hind. I don’t see us making it to any endurance rides at a competitive level until late summer or fall, and as such my plan is to drag or do the intro ride at Old Dominion for more conditioning of that hind end.

Right after the tournament ended, Sully and I hauled out to Warm Springs for another clinic with Emily Kemp hosted by Jaime / Hope Horsemanship. The first thing we assessed was the saddle, and it was discovered he has outgrown his Nexus Dressage regular tree saddle! Thankfully Amy had left a few of her saddles for folks to try on and we moved up the X width with great success. We worked on his “falling in” right side when doing ground work and how to keep him out better on the circle that direction. Under saddle we worked on leading off on a hind foot and slowing his front end down, as well as backing. More things to help with his stifles! For me, it was learning the feel of the hind end first, speed matching front and hind movements, as well as softening and evening out my seat. With the wider saddle and riding in low boots now I was also re-learning how to post his trot. He only had a few stifle slips on Monday’s lesson, but none on Tuesday, and he was tracking nice and under vs. wider. Amazing what a saddle change can help with! In the end I left my regular tree Nexus behind for Jaime & Iva to use and I have Amy’s X tree Nexus to work with till I find my own and decide on it versus the Felix 8X.
I also got some tips on working with him on the field catching issue (which is only a problem at home), and how to start off with Scooby who seems pretty clueless about ground work itself 🙂 Looking forward to the August Clinic and maybe taking both of them out there!

Lastly, we have been slowly and sporadically getting the “Big Red Trailer” up and running. I think I’ll officially be able to make the switch soon!!

We all keep trekking onward!