Wizard Ride 211: A Leg at Each Corner
Monday, 1/10/11
FINALLY! Back in the saddle! It was a bitterly cold night, but I headed out to the barn with a mission- my back was feeling better so I was determined to ride. I free longed Wizard, making sure he walked, trotted, and cantered in each direction and then I tacked him up. Our ride was pretty brief, about 25 minutes in the saddle, mostly walking. I trotted Wizard for about 5 minutes- I did not want to over-do things for my back or for Wizard. It’s amazing how quickly riding feels foreign- I forgot what girth hole we had been using and felt a little out of practice. I guess I’d better get back in practice!
After my ride, I sent a text message to a co-worker of a photo of Wizard that I took from the saddle.
She texted back: Did you keep a leg in each corner?
Thankfully, I did!
Thelwell
The Wizard
Wizard’s left front and left hind legs look great. He’s 100% sound when I free longe him. He’s enjoying the snow and cold air with his buddies JR and Indy. And he put weight back on (he looked a little thin in November).
In typical Murphy’s Law fashion, I threw out my back and have not yet ridden a horse in 2011. I’m able to get to the barn and give Wizard his hay cube soup and get him out into the arena to let him stretch his legs. It’s not hurting Wizard to give him a little more time off, but it’s making me crazy! Hopefully my back will mend soon so I can get back in the saddle.
Misty morning,clouds in the sky
Without warning,the wizard walks by
Casting his shadow,weaving his spell
Funny clothes,tinkling bellNever talking
Just keeps walking
spreading his magicEvil power disappears
Demons worry when the wizard is near
He turns tears into joy
Everyone s happy when the wizard walks byNever talking
Just keeps walking
spreading his magicSun is shining,clouds have gone by
All the people give a happy sigh
He has passed by, giving his sign
Left all the people feeling so fineNever talking
Just keeps walking
spreading his magic
Miss Tuesday Ride 1: Start!
Thursday, 12/30/10
Wizard is recovering from a gimpy left front leg (he also banged up his left hind in the meantime, but that is all better now). I officially pronounced him sound on Sunday, Jan 2, but I want to give him a little more time to make sure whatever was bothering him is completely gone. We’re just doing some fun liberty work and clicker training in the meantime.
Meanwhile, at another barn, my friend is recovering from knee surgery. So since I’m horseless and my friend cannot ride her mare, my friend asked me to ride Miss Tuesday.
Miss Tuesday is an unraced Thoroughbred, foaled in 1998. Her registered name is Stormin Miss- here’s her pedigree (great name!).
My friend has been working with Miss Tuesday for a few years, and they have made great progress together. For groundwork, my friend has utilized Parelli Natural Horse Training. Since I do not “speak” Parelli, I had to learn how to communicate with Tuesday. I learned how to guide her front end and hindquarters, and how to ask her to move forward and back. I did some longeing (circling) to get acquainted with her, since she had a few weeks off from riding.
We kept our ride short, since my back felt a little sore from shoveling snow and since Tuesday was out of shape from the time off. We started with walk work, and did two sets of trotting. It took me a few minutes to get in sync with Tuesday- I take a little while to get used to horses. Tuesday rides in an eggbutt French link snaffle, and she has a wonderfully soft mouth. She seeks contact and stretches into the bit. She does not chomp on the bit like Wizard does, so she is excellent practice for me to work on my hands. She’s responsive to leg aids, too. I asked her for a leg yield, but she did not seem to understand, so I don’t know if she has learned it yet. Tuesday was honest, willing, and responsive- she’s a peach :^)
Another perk of riding Tuesday was enjoying her SADDLE, which was made by County Saddlery. I LOVED IT!!!
Equine Photographer Sarah Andrew: 2010- A Year in Photos
Happy New Year!
Thank you for all of your support. 2010 was another year of firsts for me as a photographer- there was rarely a dull moment! From being interviewed for the local news (link here) to driving a Standardbred racehorse on a training track in a jog cart, there were never enough hours in the day. I photographed the World Equestrian Games, Rolex, all three Triple Crown races, the Breeders’ Cup, dozens of Grade 1 races, dozens of horses in need at local rescues, and over 1,000 horses at Camelot Auction. I was proud to contribute a photo to a magazine that won Bill Finley an Eclipse Award for writing.
Click on any of these photos for more information:
Miss Tuesday starts off the year with a smile
Jonathan Andrew at the Twisted Tree Cafe in Asbury Park, NJ
A morning with the TDN
Clowning around with Mary
And Mary gets her teeth floated
Riding Paris
My first visit to Camelot Auction
Slade
Sharing secrets
Camelot Auction
Noodles the snow kitty
JR after a February snowstorm
Apollo and Atlas
Ashton
Mary
Gulliver at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue
Horsey hug
Jonathan Andrew, Ralph Capasso, Mike Ferraro- Full-length album to be released soon! link here
Camelot Auction
Awesome Act in the winner’s circle after the Gotham
Relaxing at Camelot
Riot
A Standardbred enjoying the sunshine in the care of Horse Rescue United
Wizard gets new shoes
Wizard
Camelot
Eskendereya and John Velazquez win the Grade 1 Wood Memorial
John Velazquez – WinStar silks
Cammie, in foal with Guin at Camelot Auction
And baby Guin!
Wizard and me in April
Tara Ziegler and Buckingham Place at Rolex
Blind Luck at Churchill Downs
Tina Konyot and Calecto V- Kentucky Cup Grand Prix Freestyle
Hilda Donahue and Extravagance at Rolex
Quirinal De La Bastide and Stanislas de Zuchowicz at Rolex
Kodiak Kowboy at Vinery
Sunshine Forever at Old Friends Kentucky
Bathtime for Blind Luck
Kentucky Derby hats
William Fox-Pitt and Cool Mountain at Rolex
Big Brown at Three Chimneys Farm
Rahy at Three Chimneys
Unrivaled Belle defeats Rachel Alexandra in the La Troienne
Super Saver and Calvin Borel win the Kentucky Derby
Wizard and me
First Dude
Seeking the Title is rounded up by an outrider after a spill in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico
Nicanor in the Dixie Stakes
Much love for Strike A Deal
Tidal Pool, Acting Happy, Khancord Kid in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver
Three Mares
Hip #40- “Virgin Voyage” filly- read here
Camelot
Overgirths
Quality Road and John Velazquez win the Metropolitan Handicap
Drosselmeyer: 2010 Belmont Stakes Winner posing in front of his blanket of carnations
Wizard and me
First Dude before the Belmont
CC and Mary
Karen Headley and Wizard
Proviso (GB) and Mike Smith make their winning move in the G1 Just A Game Stakes
Ultimate Journey- read about him here
Presious Passion and Get Serious
Camelot Auction
Wizard and his stitches in June
Yoga horse
The gloaming
A trail ride at sunset
Camelot
Trolley
Trolley and the hole in her head
Guin, growing up
Gone Astray and Cornelio Velasquez at the start of the Grade 3 Salvator Mile
Camelot chicken
Camelot
Beatrix
My car inadvertently ending up at a classic car show
Camelot
Longears at Camelot
Rachel Alexandra and Calvin Borel win the Lady’s Secret Stakes
Rachel Alexandra and the Monmouth Park crowd
Camelot
Camelot
Wizard
Ultimate Journey
Horse, meet cow
Trolley
Wizard and me
Wizard and me
Martin Garcia and Lookin at Lucky after the Haskell
Cash’s fancy Haskell hairdo
Full house at Monmouth Park
Jonathan Andrew and Brett Harris at the Twisted Tree Cafe. Asbury Park, NJ
Camelot
My favorite part of the photo? The woman in the white dress and pink hat in front of Blame’s nose is the one and only MARYLOU WHITNEY!
Even the baths are beautiful at Saratoga
Wizard: equine landscape
Rachel Alexandra
King of Spain
Haynesfield’s Whitney starting gate mishap
Camelot
Wizard and me
Camelot
Camelot kitten
Sunny
Jest Abad Girl
Meet and greet
Dinner time at Camelot Auction
Sharing lunch
Camelot
Afleet Express outgames Fly Down to win the 2010 Travers Stakes
Looking for a home
Sierra at Horse Rescue United
Mary the flower child
Wizard and me
Camelot
Morning Commute: a pony rider on her way to Saratoga Race Course
Trainer Anouk Busch and Paisley
Summer’s end
Mary’s lattice braid
So very Saratoga
Souper Spectacular (Zenyatta’s little half brother!)
World Equestrian Games: Inonothing and Paul Tapner
World Equestrian Games: Iman du Golfe and Juan Carlos Garcia
World Equestrian Games: Mavrick du Granit and Atsushi Negishi
World Equestrian Games: Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas
Bokeh mare- click here to see the rest of my October photo-a-day challenge
Camelot
Camelot
Wizard and me
World Equestrian Games: Juan Munoz Diaz & Fuego XII
World Equestrian Games- Anky Van Grunsven and Whizashingwallas
Zodiac- blogged here
Festoon 1920-1944: A Grand Horse… He Always Tried
Wizard
Steeplechasing at Far Hills
Justin
Justin
Guin and Indigo
Guin in October
Camelot
CC, Gleason, Sierra at Horse Rescue United
Turnout time at Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Zodiac in November at Days End
Kentucky Equine Humane Center
Zenyatta
Freckles, spots, dapples
Camelot
From flying lead changes to ribbons, it was a great year with Wizard
Remsen winners To Honor and Serve and John Velazquez
Christmas photos
Six ears
Camelot
Camelot
Penny Austin and Charm, a Camelot graduate
Cheyenne Shane at Horse Rescue United
Three bays
War Chant at Three Chimneys Farm
Lewis Michael
Christmas wishes from Jefferson Airplane at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue
Prince the horse treats tourists to a carriage ride through the streets of Red Bank, NJ
Camelot
Camelot
Camelot
And Wizard ends the year with a smile
******************************************************
IN MEMORIAM
I send my deepest condolences to the friends and family of Colin Davidson
In memory of Celtic Charisma (a.k.a Moose)
In memory of Cabana Boy
In memory of Bowie
In memory of CH Gypsy Supreme
In memory of Chloe
In memory of Solar Flare
In memory of Petunia
In memory of Tabitha the pony
In memory of Thatcatismine
In memory of Amelia
In memory of El Rocco
In memory of Stoneridge Gigi
In memory of Hunter
In memory of Taz
In memory of War Pass
In memory of Rum Row
In memory of Shiloh
In memory of John’s Call
In memory of Remi
In memory of Alley Kat
In memory of Gideon
In memory of Dennis/Sweet John
In memory of Rough Sailing
In memory of Master Command
In memory of Tuscan Evening
In memory of Buddy’s Saint
In memory of Jenny
In memory of Hope/Danielle’s Darling
In memory of Sky
In memory of Dalton
In memory of Kip Deville
In memory of Selena
In memory of Beatrix, the most perfect kitten in the whole world
And in loving memory of Mike K., a dear friend to my entire family. He will be missed.
Equine Photographer Sarah Andrew: Photo-a-Day Challenge October 2010
So I took part in a challenge every day in October- I was assigned a word and each day, I had to take a picture that represented the word in some way. Photos had to be taken on the day. Here are the words and photos:
Oct 1- SKY (stars in the “sky”- taken in Kentucky at the World Equestrian Games)
Oct 2- CONTRAST (also taken at WEG)
Oct 3- STALL (Calumet Farm in Lexington, KY)
Oct 4- RELATIONSHIP (back at home, riding Wizard)
Oct 5- ONE (Presious Passion at Monmouth Park, on a rainy morning)
Oct 6- RED (Talullah Belle enjoys an apple)
Oct 7- INTERACTION (two Belgians at Camelot Auction)
Oct 8- BLUR (two Haflingers at my barn)
Oct 9- TRUST (Lily the Wonder Mare and her devoted owner)
Oct 10- SPONTANEOUS (never a dull moment with Indy the Appaloosa)
Oct 11- SYNCHRONIZED (Monmouth Park)
Oct 12- TAIL (Alibar’s tail)
Oct 13- WATER (Wizard, steamy on a cool night)
Oct 14- WIDE (awesome Appaloosa mare at Camelot Auction)
Oct 15- DETAIL (my old boots, my new boots)
Oct 16- LIGHT (Wizard’s new shoes)
Oct 17- OLD (gates of Wolf Hill Farm)
Oct 18- LOVE (grave of beloved steeplechaser Festoon, namesake of Festoon Farm in Colts Neck, NJ)
Oct 19- WHORL (Wizard’s “wheat ear“)
Oct 20- COAT (a coat of hoof oil for Wizard)
Oct 21- SPIRIT (taken at Camelot Auction)
Oct 22- CIRCLE Taken at Winners International Farm in Chesterfield, NJ.
Oct 23- PERSPECTIVE (steeplechasing at Far Hills, NJ)
Oct 24- BOKEH Mary the Morgan was happy to be the bokeh mare
Oct 25- PATTERN (another day at the office and another pile of sale catalogs at the Thoroughbred Daily News)
Oct 26- ACTION (Monmouth Park)
Oct 27- INTENSITY (Gatsby’s bath)
Oct 28- COLORFUL (a colorful personality at Camelot!)
Oct 29- PEACEFUL Gleason and Jasmine at Horse Rescue United in New Egypt, NJ
Oct 30- SEPIA (a handsome grullo stallion in front of an old stone barn in Jobstown, NJ)
Oct 31- BLESSING Little Guin frolicks with her playmate at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue in Perrineville, NJ
Wizard Rides 208, 209, 210: One More Time
Thursday, 12/2/10
Had a great lesson with Carole. I got Wizard warmed up and we worked on a line of gymnastics for the majority of the lesson. We worked on keeping Wizard settled and confident while he learned how to negotiate the poles and jumps. Carole kept the jumps small and worked on keeping us soft and focused. She’s a master with the gymnastics grid, and she was adding and taking away poles with each pass in response to each jumping effort. Here are some short video clips to show where we are right now. My position needs TONS of work, even over tiny fences like these!
Saturday, 12/4/10
Took Wizard on a quick trail ride with my friend and her mare Lily. It was getting dark, so I tacked Wizard up really fast and hopped on in my jeans instead of riding clothes. We rode for about half an hour, taking the short loop and walking the entire ride. Looks like I have another trail buddy when we can make our schedules work!
Tuesday, 12/7/10
Rode Wizard indoors at night after work. We did some suppling exercises in response to some of the work we did in Thursday’s lesson. I wanted to work on bending and asking him to relax onto the bit. We did some spiral work and transitions within gaits. The canter work was a little tense, but he settled nicely.
So Wizard has Wednesday off, and I turned him loose in the indoor arena on Thursday morning (12/9). He ran around and played for a few minutes. Then I tacked him up and got on. He was unsound on his left front leg. He did not work out of it. It was not obvious at the walk, but it was very obvious at the trot. I hopped off after the few minutes. For the past week, I’ve been at the barn each night to give Wizard his hay cube mash, and he is still not sound on the leg. I can’t feel any heat or swelling. I was sort of hoping it was an abscess or a sprain, but it’s not getting better (or worse). I think it’s time to call the vet soon >:^(
Sarah Andrew Santa Horse Photos: 2010 Equine Charity Fundraiser
‘Tis the season for giving, and so many worthy charities are in need. I’ve created a gallery of horsey holiday photos (CLICK HERE TO VISIT GALLERY), and I’ll donate 50% of the proceeds to the following equine rescues, based on sales of photos of their respective “mascots”:
Helping Hearts Equine Rescue– photo gallery mascots are Mack the Belgian and Jefferson Airplane the donkey, both Camelot Auction graduates.
Horse Rescue United, and their lovely spokesmare, Trolley…
One Horse at a Time– mascot is Dude:
Bright Futures Farm, represented by Mimi:
Days End Farm Horse Rescue, with fellow Maryland homebred Mary.
Liberty Equine Rescue, represented by Lily the Quarter Horse mare.
Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue, with Miss Tuesday championing their cause…
Frog Pond Farm Draft Horse Rescue, with mascot Magic the Haflinger.
Wizard Ride 207: Late for the Train
Wednesday, 12/1/10
Fastest ride ever. I rode in the big outdoor arena before work. I was running late so we only rode for about 25 minutes, just a light hack at the walk and trot mostly. Wizard enjoyed his hay cube protein shake (oil, flax, etc) and then I was on my merry way to the office.
Wizard Rides 204, 205, 206: Because of the Wonderful Things He Does
FIRST-EVER (intentional) FLYING LEAD CHANGE!!!!!!
Friday, 11/26/10
That’s right, we did our first-ever flying lead change! Recently, I had the chance to talk about riding with Alex Brown, equine advocate and exercise rider. I asked him about how exercise riders train racehorses to do flying changes. Feel, he said, is most important.
We had an incidental lead change back in July, but this one was on purpose. Any self-respecting non-horse person might not care one bit about this piece of news, but for me, this was HUGE! I rode Wizard in the indoor arena at night. We warmed up doing lateral work and a little trotting over poles. Once we got into our canter, Wizard had a nice groove going- he was balanced, relaxed, but still round and on the bit. We were cantering to the right and I did a figure 8 with him. At X, I changed the bend, channeled my inner Walter Zettl, George Morris, and Alex Brown all at once, and asked for the change. Wizard complied perfectly, changing in time with the stride with a clean and responsive flying lead change. It was THE BEST!!!!! Wizard is wonderful indeed.
Saturday, 11/27/10
This was the first time I longed Wizard in a long, long while. I was done shooting the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct and stopped by the barn on my way home. I was not dressed to ride but I wanted Wizard to get a little exercise and feed him his “protein shake” (aka his hay cubes and other assorted supplements). He has not forgotten a thing and he was actually better on the line than he used to be. My guess is that it was out of the ordinary and he’s more balanced so longeing was not so difficult for him. We kept it simple, mostly walking and trotting and just asking for a bit of canter in each direction.
Monday, 11/29/10
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr- rode outside under the lights after work. I was bundled up in multiple layers, but my face felt like it was going to fall off my head! The ride was short and sweet. I just did a light hack, barely asking for any contact on the bit and letting Wizard stretch and move out. As a result, our canter transitions were awful since he chased into them instead of smoothly transitioning from trot to canter. In order to have a reality check, I asked again for a flying lead change, same lead (right to left, which is a million times easier for me for some reason). It was not as stellar as Friday’s change, but he complied! Wonderful, wonderful Wizard.
We’re off to see the Wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
You’ll find he is a whiz of a Wiz! If ever a Wiz there was.
If ever oh ever a Wiz there was The Wizard of Oz is one because,
Because, because, because, because, because.
Because of the wonderful things he does.
We’re off to see the Wizard. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
News 12 and Camelot Horse Weekly
Many thanks to News 12 for covering the story of the group of volunteers who do weekly work to network the horses at the Camelot Auction in Cranbury, NJ. It was a little unnerving to be on the other side of the camera, but with co-stars like Lisa Post and the two handsome horses in the pen (one pictured below), things went smoothly.
Rock and Racehorses: The Blog 