The poor $ Clydesdale

The idea of being broke from schooling shows before the show season has even started crossed my mind the other day ...... unfortunately the term "money doesn't grow on trees" also means, money doesn't come out the other end of my horse when i feed it green hay....... 

A little back story of Charlotte's owner's life.... She works full time as a 911 dispatcher and takes any and every bit of overtime that she can to pay for the luxurious horse life. This also makes sure that Charlotte gets everything she needs, she has never gone without something important to her health or wellbeing. Her owner even picks up small odd jobs dog walking to earn extra cash. With that said, the equestrian trying to make it through the show season is pretty busy and most likely a bit stressed at times. It also helps to have a wonderful trainer that will go easy on you and help out at times, or find things that she may need help with to counter out hauling costs etc. I feel that there are two different types of equestrians trying to stay above in the horse world. Not to say that either type is better than the other, I'm just writing from my stand point. I don't know how the other half lives, but I know they have there own challenges, as do I. Please, my blog is not to make anyone upset just write about my experiences. 

With that being said, this particular "Poor $ Charlotte" blog starts .....

As I mentioned the schooling shows coming up. These particular events we sign up for don't necessarily count toward Rebecca but in a way they do. Every small training opportunity that arises will benefit and help Charlotte and myself grow to become the best we can be in Montana at the Rebecca 3-day. Just for the month of March we start with a clinic taught by Hawley Bennett the very first weekend. Two weeks after that is the Donida combined Schooling show that cost almost as much as a regular entry for a recognized event but will be an amazing experience and our first outing in the Novice level. Following that the very next weekend is the Aspen derby. 

After shelling out multiple checks to multiple places for the month of March on top of our normal bills like board, extra grain, farrier and all "human owner expenses" I felt like all my over time for the month of March that hasn't even been worked yet was already spent. But the reason I work the overtime and the reason I continue to work a full time job on top of keeping Charlotte and myself fit is for the experience. Dedication to the sport and my team! Most people live there life saving for the memories they want, while I'm out living the memories as they come.

This is what I love to do, this is why I work, Charlotte is the reason I work so hard. Charlotte has the potential and I want to make sure that she gets the chance she deserves. 

In my line of work as a 911 dispatcher we work odd hours and just one of the many sacrifices I made this year was to work 1am-11am so that I could have weekends off. This shift is difficult but we make it work, and on top of that I make sure to ride and stay dedicated to the sport of Eventing. I am extremely happy in my choices and continue to make each day count with the love and support of my friends and family. But I also work my ass off the provide for Charlotte so we can make it to Rebecca. The #roadtorebecca2018 is not just a show for us, it's a dream and one of our many goals and we will continue to strive and work hard to reach it!

In conclusion ... we may be broke by the end ... but we will be at Rebecca and we will succeed! 

 

Her inner Thoroughbred

As we all know, Charlotte is 100% full Clydesdale, however yesterday during our ride I could have sworn I was riding a Thoroughbred ... 

Charlotte normally gets 2 days off, Sunday and Monday, so I knew going out to the barn that she may be a little "fresh". I don't know if it was the cold weather, 2 days off, or her new found love for the Alfalfa added to her diet or a mixture of both. Charlotte was crazy! 

Our normal Tuesday is spent getting back in the swing of things with her usual "Monday morning" work through. Like most of us we dread Monday. Not this Clydesdale! Usually I have to persuade her to move forward and under her self ... Not yesterday! Walking was a challenge to keep her slow and steady without pacing, trotting felt like riding a jack hammer or a llama. Our transitions were like a the first time teaching a new driver how to accelerate and break! Don't get me started on all the "spooky monsters" around every corner.

After many failed attempts of stretching circles and trying to get her to relax, she continued to strut her stuff like a camel in the desert. So we started cantering.... get a little energy out changing up our canter patterns, making her really use her brain. Slowly but surly she started to relax but we had a while to go. Along with all of her new found muscle and tools on how to use and support her body, comes the much added strength! And with the added strength came a few pretty high bucks from the draft horse!

Jenny, our trainer and savior! walked into the arena just in time to see Charlotte at her best. After the nice comment from her, making me feel confident in all the things she has taught me. However, I needed help! Confiding in Jenny she suggested lots of canter, and then start adding in leg yielding at the canter. I had to stop and think about this, my Clydesdale doing leg yielding at the canter? Can she even move that big butt over like that??? "if she wants to act like a thoroughbred, treat her like a thoroughbred". Make her brain work, use that energy and harness it in your canter work. Charlotte quickly got in the swing of things and really enjoyed the new challenge. Soon, we were back on the road to success.

After lots of cantering and multiple beautiful leg yields, she finally started to relax and "blow out" and look like a normal horse. Not a fire breathing dragon! We ended our very educational ride with a cool out up on the track in the trees. Half way around the old track it started snowing. Thinking about the things I did that worked and the things I could have done better, makes me really enjoy Charlotte's spunk. She is not the typical draft horse that will babysit and carry you along the way, she will challenge you and voice her opinions on different matters. She has a very unique personality and I wouldn't want anything different.

So now since I got all the wiggles out of her, I'm hoping she will be perfect for Jenny's schooling today! It's very refreshing to have a trainer you can talk to about your struggles, one whom will keep those in mind while she rides. Jenny has helped improve my skills along with Charlotte's by riding her once a week. I'm still learning and trying to teach Charlotte was a challenge sometimes. Jenny is able to ride Charlotte, show her what the aids mean while teaching me how to properly apply the aid. I am beyond greatfull for the partnership and friendship between the three of us!

" All bonds are built on trust, with it you have nothing"

Weekly schedule

I'm so excited about this blogging idea that you guys are getting another one - 2 days in a row - Don't get use to this 😉

Since I am going to ride Charlotte after my work shift today, I thought maybe I could touch base on her training schedule. Being that she is a draft horse, she needs extreme conditioning if she wants to try to keep up with all the thoroughbreds and different crosses.

Here is a normal week in the life of Charlotte ....

Sunday : Hill/ Endurance training
Monday : Day off
Tuesday : Dressage or Day off depending on the severity of the week.
Wednesday : Trainer Jenny rides
Thursday : Dressage/Flat work
Friday : Dressage/Flat work
Saturday : Jumping Lesson


Her March schedule is already packed with 1 clinic with the amazing Hawley Bennett, and 2 small schooling shows to get the season started off right!!

The dressage days we usually work on stretching and bending as warm up then perfecting our dressage tests that we have to memorize. One of my goals this year is to be able to sit my entire dressage test at a show.

Being able to sit the test is going to take core strength and lots of practice from me. Currently I am strengthening myself as well by doing home exercises, running, and kickboxing! Its very important to not only keep up your horse's physical skill level but your own as well. I realized very quickly that Charlotte was starting to get stronger than me and that in order to help her succeed I had to up my physical skill level as well. I started getting tired before she was even sweaty and I do not want to be the one that holds her back or sets her up for failure.

" Set your self up for success, give yourself no excuse. Prepare for greatness, because when you prepare, you make things happen! "

Charlotte the eventing clydesdale

Charlotte is the very first Clydesdale on the road to compete in the Novice 3-day in Montana at Rebecca Farms. This blog is her journey.....

For those Charlotte fans that don't know her back story, I dedicate this first blog entry to you.
Charlotte is a full breed Clydesdale, her registered name is HBR's NW Commander's Caden. But we all call her Charlotte! She will be turning 10 on May 10th, her golden birthday this year. Which is why I am determined to make this a year we will never forget, making memories on the road to Rebecca Farms.

Charlotte was bred by NW Clydesdales and sold to a farm called HBR (hence the long name). She was then started by a family member associated to HBR and later sold to a gal in fall city area. Due to a new baby at the time she leased Charlotte out to me. After about a month of the lease, her owner was going to sell her. Out of the kindness of her heart we made a deal and a payment plan so that Charlotte could stay in my life. When I first started looking for a horse, I was not in the market to buy. I didn't even know what kind of riding I wanted to do anymore. Buying a horse so soon was a shock!

I grew up competing mostly in vaulting and riding dressage on the side.... after my trainer relocated to another state I didn't know where I wanted to go next. Until finally I met Charlotte and everything changed. I decided to start up a new Vaulting team in the area with the helps from a few friends. Charlotte seemed confused with the task I was asking her, she has always tried her hardest in anything you ask her but, she did not seem to enjoy being a vaulting horse. I took a break from that and we enjoyed each others company on long trail rides. Mean while, Charlotte continued to jump out of her pasture! I kept thinking how is this lovely, large draft horse jumping all the way over the fence? So we got her a new pasture buddy, Templeton .... ( See the Charlottes web reference. LOL )

Templeton is a 40 year old draft mule that I rescued from the feedlot in eastern Washington. I was told by my vet at the time that he may not make it through the winter but I was determined to give him the best summer/ fall that he has ever had. Charlotte let me pony Templeton through the trails, which is when we found out he use to be a pack mule. Well the winter came and went... and then 3 more winters came and went and Templeton is still happy in his retirement  and will continue to live a long and healthy life!

Back to Charlotte, so I have never jumped before I got her. Besides the small cross rails and the hay bale or log on the trail I have never really jumped or had a jump lesson. Charlotte continued to jump out of the pasture even with her new friend Templeton and she enjoyed jumping logs on our trails so we were in search for an eventing trainer.

We met Jenny Holbrook of Lodestar Training in Monroe, WA. Without Jenny's help and encouragement I don't believe we would have come this far. She believed in us when other doubted, she continues to push us to strive for our goals and reach the stars. We work as a team to make sure Charlotte is getting the care and exercise she needs to make it to the top! Which is where we are now... on our way to becoming the first Clydesdale to compete in the Novice 3-day at Rebecca Farms.

Follow us on Instagram eventing_clydesdale or twitter eventing_clyde or email us with any questions or comments at anytime to eventingclydesdale@gmail.com

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