Chance has never taken his flat work very seriously. Flat work is very important for jumping disciplines, but he just doesn't buy it. He simply likes to plop around like a plow horse, until I point him toward a jump. Then he takes life seriously and goes to work. After only flatting for over a month at …
Category: Equestrian
Show Horse Life
Yesterday, Chance and I finally made it to a show! He has managed to injure himself before every show so far this year. Not yesterday though, so maybe that streak is over! We went to simply school and hang out. If you have been following this blog for a while, you know that we have had some serious …
It’s Not Just About Height
I notice a common theme among riders, myself included, that the perception of success in the hunter jumper world directly relates to how high we jump. Obviously, grand prix riders - as well as high level hunter riders - are extremely skilled at the sport. However, jumping lower does not mean that we are not skilled …
Healing Trust Issues
Trust is absolutely key to a horse and rider relationship. When it is lost or broken - whether by horse or by rider - it is very difficult to repair. However, I am learning that healing trust issues is possible. Many of you know of the major struggles I have had with Chance; many bad …
Farm Life
As I stooped to pick up yet another pile of sticks while cleaning up the trails my dad has been cutting through the woods on our property, I thought to myself, "this is what being a horse person is all about." Horses and farms are glamorized in movies and books. I am constantly posting pretty pictures of …
Field Trip
Yesterday, my trainer and I took Chance to a neighboring farm to school. We are trying to get him off the farm in low stress situations to see if that helps his horse show anxiety. He was wild-eyed when he got off the trailer, but instead of throwing him on the lunge line I took …
A Little Height
Chance has been back to full work for a while now. We have even been jumping 3' again over the past few days, and he has rocked it! It has been a while since we have jumped any sort of height. With working on his behavior all fall and winter, him having time off with …
Having Fun
I find that I often get so caught up in my goals and ambitions that I forget to actually enjoy riding. Horse riding is, in fact, pretty fun. Yet, getting so caught up in perfection can really suck the life out of the sport. A bad ride becomes the end of the world. A head toss is absolutely devastating. Sounds pretty dramatic …
Realities of Horseownership
Horses don't always do what we want. They get hurt and sick at the most inconvenient times, which can often put a damper on show plans. They can be tough to train, have annoying quirks, or even have physical problems that make it impossible for them to perform the way we need them to. …
Riding Through It
Chance is not an easy horse, by any means; he is one of the most difficult horses I have ever ridden. There have been times that he has truly scared me. For so long, I would have constant flashbacks of those frightful experiences. Fear has no place on horseback. It makes things worse because horses can …
Laurel Ashton Equestrian 