More Appy driving pictures!

[Dontworrybeappy]

Well - I have to say that driving (a truck or a horse) the day after you hit yourself in the face with a sledgehammer is NOT the most comfortable experience... Even though "all" I did was break one tooth and give myself a major fat/split lip, it was still difficult to find a comfortable place to put my face.

:

Appy had a minor meltdown in our first class and I brought him to a stop in front of one of the judges.... so we schooled through that class, but he did great in the classes after that... better each time. Highest placing was 3rd and 4th in Ladies Country Pleasure - but I was pleased with how he was doing for me and that matters much more to me than ribbons! :bgrin

So how are we doing? You guys have been SO helpful to us - helping us get everything adjusted correctly and giving me tips on doing it all better! Thanks again, and is there anything we need to do different or better?

Head set is starting to get better and more consistant.... and his ears are forward more often as well.... I've also been working at sitting up and back more....

From the front, I'm thinking I'll take Jane's advice and get rid of the martingale... looks like when it's engaged that it's making the strap pull against the front of his chest, and I can't think that THAT is doing us any good as far as freeing up his front end at all....

you can kinda see my bruised lip, on the left side of my face...

Now here's bravery for you - Letting y'all see pictures of me from the back! I also tried to keep my hands down lower while driving.

Another brave shot - from our halter class - I just thought it was funny how our strides match and the shape of Appy's tail sort of mirrored mine here...

:

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Oh, Karen, you guys look so GOOD!!! :cheeky-smiley-006:

: :aktion033: :risa8: I'm so thrilled with how fast you guys are progressing.

: That's it...there's nothing to correct this time! Keep it up. So sorry about your face, that had to hurt.

:

Love to Appy and you both.

:

Leia

 

[Chamomile]

You guys look GREAT! And I totally noticed that you were sitting up nice and tall, elbows in and you managed to look like you were having fun, even with a face that must have been VERY painful!

: Very very nice. You guys keep up the good work! I just love that Appy. He is so gorgeous!

 

[Sterling]

Each time I see your pictures I have to smile. I just love looking at you two! Your Appy looks so happy and what a nice little trot he has! You're looking great and relaxed!!! Don't forget to smile! :bgrin I know...this time it had to be hard with that bruised lip.....how on earth did you manage to do that? ....overall I think you guys are doing fantastic!!!

 

[jbrat]

Sledge hammer :new_shocked: OUCH!! :new_shocked: Can't imagine! Glad you were able to show!! What a Trooper :aktion033: :aktion033:

I've been reading your post and thanks to you and everyone else I'm learning so much!

You and Appy Look great! I can see the improvements in your pics. Esp. sitting back, which I learned through your post that I was leaning fwd too much also when driving. The before and after pics. and well explained tips and hints are so helpful to those of us who don't have access to a personal Trainer.

Let us know how he goes w/o the martingale.

Thanks so much for posting!

P.S. Hope I'm not out of line but It would be nice to have a message board just for training and showing tips, experiences and any information that has to do with EDUCATING us and the equines. Then maybe it would be easier to keep track of the info. for when I/we would like to refer back to something we've read or seen. The whole Appy series would be great to start it off :bgrin :aktion033:

Please don't think I'm complaining I love LB reguardless

: just a thought

:

 

[joyenes]

You guys are looking really good. So sorry about the sledge hammer thing, Ouch :new_shocked: Joyce

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I'm not even going to chide you for not smiling as I can see you are doing your best!!!

You poor old thing- at least you do look as if you are enjoying yourself and, quite frankly if you can do that after smacking yourself in the face with a sledgehammer you have to be ahead on points.

Get yourself a post whacker- the worst you can do is drop it on your foot!!!

I would drop the martingale- you are confident enough now and it is doing nothing but add a whole new load of straps- black ones to boot, and clouding his front action- I don't think it is inhibiting it at all but I do think those straps will detract from the front view.

I KNOW you are stuck with the check due to AMHAs inane rules BUT get a side check and think about what I said about pale coloured nylon- again with the black straps everywhere!!

This is SUCH a pretty horse- the more the Judge sees of the horse and the less the Judge sees of the stupid straps the better.

I agree with Leia- you have come so far so quickly, it is brilliant.

NEVER worry about your butt, there is always someone with a bigger one!!

I love the picture of yours and Appy's rear ends- it is perfect.

 

[shane]

i absolutley LOVE everything!!!!! you look great ,your horse is BEAUTIFUL

: and your cart is amazing, i wish i was there in person ,you look as though your having soooo much fun

well heres me! :bgrin

edited to add a different picture,as the one above was just a trial run and his breeching was too tight lol

this is one of our wee driving club :bgrin

 

[FairytailGlennMinis]

Wow you guys are looking great! What improvement!! After talking with Mike McCabe and watching his clinic for the ECMHC last weekend, he said that (most) judges will not place you without a martingale. He had a great answer for this though...get a martingale extender. He said that most of the martingales are just too short for the majority of minis. I hate martingales, but it was nice to be offered a suggestion like that.

-Amy

 

[drivin*me*buggy]

I would drop the martingale- you are confident enough now and it is doing nothing but add a whole new load of straps- black ones to boot, and clouding his front action- I don't think it is inhibiting it at all but I do think those straps will detract from the front view.I KNOW you are stuck with the check due to AMHAs inane rules BUT get a side check and think about what I said about pale coloured nylon- again with the black straps everywhere!!

Lol I agree with Rabbitsfizz on the above, But I think you guys look awesome!!!

: A very handsome boy you have there. :new_multi:

:cheeky-smiley-006: Ash :cheeky-smiley-006:

 

[Dontworrybeappy]

I KNOW you are stuck with the check due to AMHAs inane rules BUT get a side check and think about what I said about pale coloured nylon- again with the black straps everywhere!!

This is SUCH a pretty horse- the more the Judge sees of the horse and the less the Judge sees of the stupid straps the better.

I agree with Leia- you have come so far so quickly, it is brilliant.

NEVER worry about your butt, there is always someone with a bigger one!!

I love the picture of yours and Appy's rear ends- it is perfect.

Thanks!

I've been looking for a tan-colored cord or suitable rope to make a light-colored side check with no luck so far.... I did get some white cord, perhaps I'll try dying it with coffee or tea or something... I've also been keeping an eye out for brass snaps small enough to look good to snap the check to the bit.

hopefully I'll be getting a more refined show harness soon... I spend a lot of time "window shopping" online!

Thanks all of you for the help in getting us together! Hopefully we'll continue to improve! Appy's such a talented and willing partner that I mainly try to get out of his way so he can look his best!

 

[Mnmini]

Wow you guys are looking great! What improvement!! After talking with Mike McCabe and watching his clinic for the ECMHC last weekend, he said that (most) judges will not place you without a martingale. He had a great answer for this though...get a martingale extender. He said that most of the martingales are just too short for the majority of minis. I hate martingales, but it was nice to be offered a suggestion like that.

-Amy

Amy, did Mike elaborate on why in the world judges would want to see martingales?

 

[wiccanz]

You look really lovely :aktion033:

The over-all picture is really pleasing to the eye.

Have you tried looking in a haberdashery type shop for your cord & small clips? We have a few of those sort of places here, that sell EVERYTHING!! Or a craft shop might have what you are after too.

 

[fieriq]

:aktion033: Yeah for Appy and Karen! Hopefully Karen will be helping me drive my mare soon too!

I took those pics from the show last week and I was sooooooo proud of both Appy and K. They really did get better and better. I kept trying to figure out why the other horses were winning and I sure didn't get it.

Also - K forgot to mention that Appy's son (first foal) was in his first show this weekend and got a 1st and a 2nd in halter! Maybe we can get her to post some pics of Lucky as well.

We will all be working out before the next show!

 

[susanne]

I could look at Appy photos all day -- he is gorgeous and obviously a happy boy...

Karen, your entire turnout is incredible...we are all overly critical of ourselves, but the whole picture you and Appy present is balanced and beautiful.

That's awful about the slegehammer! (It's one of my biggest fears when putting up fencing as I hold the t-post vertical and Keith pounds it in...even with a t-post pounder...)