It's Been Too Long

Well I am so sorry that I have not posted anything all summer. I have been busy from the break of dawn to midnight with work and just life in general. But during that time Sharubi has truly come such a long way, it's amazing. It is great, but frustrating for me because I don't feel that I am good enough for her. Her mistakes are only that of mine. But we are team and I am determined to do her right. We have mastered collection at the walk, trot, and canter. We still need to work on extension, we don't extend just get faster haha.
But school is starting soon so I'll be yet again busy. But though I am going to miss summer, school will be a nice change...though I'm pretty sure I'll take that back after the first week.
So back to Sharubi. This year I am going all dressage with her I think. Maybe a little bit of jumping but mainly I am going to focus on dressage. I think she, if not both of us, can really excel in this area!!!!
The photo I am attaching is recent and I love it!

BUSY!!!

I have been so busy and have had not time to update. So it still doesn't feel like summer, but I never want it to end! I work at the barn now for most of the day and work a few horses and then ride Sharubi. But i can tell that her shoe will be getting loose soon, by the way that it sounds when she walks so I have called the farrier who I think is going to come and shoe her because shes do aswell. So that fixes that problem, but I'm only gon walk her until tomorrow because I dont want to take any chances. So you proably think that sucks, but it's really not that bad because i have been riding bareback with her broken kimberwick on the snaffle and a really loose chain and no draw rains AND we have been collecting really well!!YAY! So that's really exciting. I still have to clip her body though I only started on her legs. So hopefully I can do that on Sunday or something and then she will be more comfortable.
So in the past week or so Sharubi has discovered that she can get away from the crossties. Wonder how??? Well she goes and breaks the damn halter. Shes done it twice. And shes not breaking the "break away" piece either shes snapping the metal buckle! So that something that I hve been working on to which makes for so much fun while on the cross ties lol.
And Sharubi has had a slight personality change. She has decided that bucking, rearing, and taking off are all fun things. And it's not a discomfort thing either she just gets really excited when we work. She's also doing a lot more stuff then she used to. Like I was walking and she just took off cantering and so I took a lot of rein in one hand to circle her and she ended up not moving her back legs and like cantering/rearing/hoping with her front legs in the circle. It was very wierd and kind of annoying because she wouldn't stop. But thats the kind of stuff shes been up to. Or like while I'm canter dragging me to the side of the outdoor ring (where a little raised pole is) and deciding to jump it long ways and then continue cantering in the ring. Very fun, but I'm happy she's enjoying herself we just need to learn how to channel that energy towards work more.
I have also been taking lessons on Sharubi which has been fantastic, we are both benefitting so much. (i took lessons before too, but it's the beginning of taking lessons at my new barn) For my last lesson my trainer got on Sharubi and it was amazing. Sharubi rounded and tucked her butt so far under it was awesome!!!!! I wish I had photos, but I don't.
So for now that's the big stuff that needed to be sid. I'll try and be little better about posting more consistently. But for now I will leace you with a very bute photo of my beautiful horse Sharubi and my friend Victoria giving her a bedtime kiss!!! SO CUTE!

Done With School At Last

I am finally finished with school and will be able to spend all my time with Sharubi hopefully. I have to get her clipped soon though because it's getting hotter out now that summer is here and she already sweats A LOT! So hopefully that'll get done sometime this week. Also Sharubi's scratches are almost all gone!!! and her feet are doing really well.
Yesterday I just hacked around on her, but the day before I worked on her collection and softness. She's doing pretty well with that at the trot, but at the canter she just gets really strong!!! Last Saturday I also had a lesson on Sharubi which was really good, but I have a lot to work on. But that's fine with me, it gives me great motivtion to do so.

Hopefully I'll be able to get to some training dressage shows with her and maybe take one of the barns horses to a few jumpers shows. That's what I am aiming to do over the summer! Hopefully one show a weekend, that would be ideal!

Canter Transitions

So today was the first day that I rode Sharubi with her "new" feet. Firstly, because I wanted her to get used to them and secondly, I haven't been able to get up to the barn since Saturday because of parents and this week and one day next week are my finals, so I'm trying to cram in some studying (actually I'm doing really badly with the whole studying thing lol.)
Anyway I decided to work on softening and upward and downward canter transitions today. For the softening I did a lot of sitting trot work and halting and back up. This helped a lot. I also worked on her upward trot transitions which are pretty good in my opinion. She gets up into the trot very powerfully, but I need to work on have her "hop" into it a little more. With the canter transitions it's about getting it when I ask and getting it slow and collected. She hops into her canter transitions usually so that's not the problem it's mostly speed control.
But today she did really well. Her first canter was nice and slow, I was really pleased with that. But of course after the first canter she gets all excited, but she was picking up her leads beautifully today and that I was really happy about. Now we just need to build up better stamina when doing the canter so we can work on it for longer amounts of time. So that was today!!!! Nice and exciting:)

New Shoes

Sharubi finally got her new shoes and the farrier did a fantastic job. We actually figured out that her feet were way to big and long so she got trimmed and her shoes size changed. She went form 6 to a 5. I want to keep her feet t this size it think it'll be better for her because before her feet looked a little flary and they look a lot better now. So I hven't ridden her yet with her "new" feet, but that will be tomorrow activity. I am really excited to see if she goes any differently, if she's more comfortable, or whatever. It'll be fun to see how that is. So thats the big new for today! (well I guess that was yesterdays big new, but whatever, haha)

Long Ride

Well today was quite eventful. I rode Rubi for a very long time. Probably close to 2 hours. It started out okay, you know just the typical warm-up and it went downhill from there. She was running through me and not listening to my leg or seat or anything for that matter. So we walked for a while and stood around because she doesn't like to stand so we have to practice that. But then I decided to trot and canter a little more. Now she did really well at the end. Her trot was very fast, but in control and collected. The canter as usual needs work. That's our summer project. To perfect the canter and simple changes. She can do flying lead changes, but she literally flies through them so we'll be working on nice slow simple changes.
So then she was completely sweating and hot, but her breathing wen back to normal very quickly which is great. So I took her in and hosed her down with nice cool water and dried her off a bit. But I had to leave so my friend offered to watch her until she was completely dry and then put her in her stall and give her, her grain. So I was really thankful for that! (I luv you Rocky!!) So that was my day at the barn!

The Farrier

So yesterday I rode Sharubi in the indoor ring because it had been pouring all day and outside was mucky and wet. She of course was great. She has a tendancy to run through me, but that's not her fault. I'm working really hard on my posture and using my seat to control her not my hands. Which makes perfect sense if you think about it. The surface area that the bit and bridle hit are so much smaller then the surface area of my butt and legs, so coincidently it's easier to control a horse using your body and not you're hands. So anyway that is what I have been working on since about 2 weeks ago. We also worked on trotting off from the halt and not lugging of, but jumping intoit which she has always been amazing at, but it's always good to practice.
I kept to walking and trotting yesterday because I didn't want to put to much stress on her feet. She is due for shoes this week and I don't want to risk her losing a shoe or tripping because her feet are to long. So sometime this week her new farrier will be doing her. I was having trouble finding someone to do such big feet, but I asked the manager of the barn and he referred me to Eric, who I hear from everyone is really great. si i'm really excited about that.
So I have been contemplating this for a long time, but I have finally decided thatI am going to put Sharubi on a supplement for her feet. Being such a large horse I don't want to take any chances with something happening to them. I am going to consult with one of my trainers, but hopefully I will be putting her on SmartPak's Smarthoof Ultra. It sounds like a great product and there seems to be many succeess stories. But I'll talk to my trainer and probably my vet and whatever is the best, that's what Sharubi will be getting. Oh and I'll se what the farrier that is doing Sharubi now thinks would be good.

So that's my exciting news for today!!! If you have any suggestions about hoof supplements feel free to tell me!

Today's Ride

Well after three days I finally rode Sharubi again, lol. Shes doing exceptionally well. We didn't do anything huge or exciting just messed around. We are still in the process of getting her into tip top shape, but I think we are getting there! We went out to the field with my friend Amanda and her horse Chelsea and walked around a lot. Then we trotted and cantered a bit.(oh i used draw reins again) It was really fun and relaxing and I think the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Tomorrow(hopefully there will be no rain) I'll take Rubi out there for the last 15 minutes of the ride so she can let off some steam!!! So excited I love this new barn so much!!!

Who Could Resist

This is Sharubi in her new stall and of course she's having a little snack. Who wouldn't after succh a long day of moving!!

Three Whole Days!!!

Wow!!! Okay so I haven't seen Sharubi in three days and I haven't seriously ridden her in even more:( I feel so bad. But I had to go up to my country house for my mom's birthday. But I have great friends that can help me out!!!(thanks Amanda) So today after school I'll be heading home and then I'm off to the barn. Unfortunatly I don't have all day because I have a piano lesson at 7:00. SO that gives me from about 3:30 to about 6:30. It's a long time just not as long as I wish considering I haven't seen my Sharubi in 3 whole days!!! We will probably take it light today. Walking and trotting and maybe a little canter. Oh, but I forgot Sharubi was suppose to get shoes this weekend so hopefully she did. If not then I will definatly be sticking to walking and a little bit of trot. I don't want her to loose a shoe or something.
Oh also I am going to be having the vet down to check on her. First for her really bad thrush in her right hind which I want to get checked out to make sure it hasn't developed into anything else and also because she has this scurvy stuff on her back legs which I can't seem to get ride of. I've been washing them with microtek shampoo, but I don't think its working very well. So hopefully we will get those two things cleared up. Oh and I'll probably ask her to look at this little bump on Sharubi's splint which hasn't affected her at all, but better safe then sorry.
So I guess for now thats it! We are starting our second summer together at this new and fantastic barn!!!
P.S. I almost forgot Sharubi will be needing another clipping. She just got clipped about a month and 1/2 ago and her hair is already longer then I would like it. So There will be a full body clipping in her future and hopefully I will be able to borrow someones clippers and do it myself!

Oh Yeah...New Barn

Sorry I forgot to let everyone know that I recently moved to a new barn. It's absolutely amazing. I love it. They have a beautiful barn with huge stalls and and indoor ring. They also have miles of trails really near by. AND!!! they have a pond that the horses can walk through and a big field to ride in with jumps! The property is just absolutely beautiful and it's really a nice change from my old barn.
That's one of the reasons Sharubi and I both not in very good shape. At my old barn they had no indoor and with the tough winter we had with the rain, snow, and ice we didn't get out much to ride:( But I must admit that I was probably a little lazy too. But now that we are at the new barn things have really changed!! It's time to get in shape and that's what I plan to do! I'm just so happy to finally be there.

But there are some downsides, like I really miss my friends from the other barn. Laura(not the owner of the barn a different one) and Melissa are two of them. These two people I could go to for anything. To ask question(even really stupid ones), to talk to(about anything), and just to laugh! But I guess that's the only problem with the new barn...the people that are not there.

But just thought I should give you a small history about the last few months or so because I will probably refer to both barns.

Draw Reins

Today was the first time that I used draw reins on Sharubi!!!!! We did very little though because I am absolutely wiped out. I haven't gotten enough sleep this entire week because of school work, but school is almost over, I just have to make it through the next few weeks!!!
Anyway, so the draw reins really helped. We both still need to get used to them, but I think this is going to really help us improve. She needs to learn to hold her head lower and rounder and I need to learn to how to get her to do that with my hands up higher and wider instead of low.
So today I hooked her up with some draw reins and we were probably out and about walking mostly, with a little trot, for around 2 hours. It really help me with my half halts, hand position, and Sharubi's profile.
So I'm going to continue riding with them and hopefully build up some more neck, back and, butt muscle.
My next tool to use with Sharubi is going to be spurs. Probably square edged and about 1 inch. I just have to head to the local tack shop and pick up a pair.

Horse Life

This is a short video I put together about Sharubi. I was experimenting with color effects and I though it came out looking kinda' cool!!!
It's not very good quality here, but if you would like to see more videos (I'll prob post a bunch here too) you can go to: horsegirl500 on youtube.com. When you watch the videos up there try and play them in High Quality.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/horsegirl500

Scratches

Okay, well Sharubi has white stockings on all her legs and they are very hairy. And those two words, hairy and white, well they are just asking for scratches. Sharubi got scratches at my old barn because the paddocks were constantly muddy. I've tried everything to clear it up and most of it is gone, but she's still a little scurfy and oily on her back legs. I've used MTG and Krudbuster. I have even used Desatin (which works amazingly well). But I still don't feel that it is completely cleared up:(. I also wash her legs with Mega-Tek antifungal shampoo which I think definatly helps (but then her feet get wet and if you've the previous posts, "Thrush" and "Shoes" you know my problems with that).
I need to find something that works really well!!!

Thrush

Also another concern I have. If you have a draft horse you might know that they tend to have extremely deep crevaces around there frog which easily get thrush. Sharubi gets thrush quite often and I hate it. I use Thrush Bustewr to treat it, but I can't find anything really good to prevent it. She also has a heal crack now which is worrying me. It's not getting any worse right now, but it's definatly not getting better. She has a dry, clean stall, so she probably aquires its form going out in a muddy paddock after it rains or something.
If anyone knows a really effective treatments for thrush please let me know!!

Horse Shoes

Ok so Sharubi came to be barefoot. I don't really know if she ever had shoes before I got her. I never intended to put shoes on her, but the ground at my old barn was pretty barn so her feet started to break up and I didn't want to have any permanant damage done. So I asked the owner of the barn what I should do and she advised me to put front shoes on Sharubi. So we did. We weren't sure if we would ever need back shoes and so far we haven't.
But the problem that I have started to encounter which started last the summer of 2008 (last summer) is that she gets loose shoes of looses them. It doesn't really happen to often, but it does happen more then the average horse. I don't know if it's because her feet are soft (which they don't seem to be), if the hoof wall is weak, or if it's just because she has such large feet.
I try not to get them to wet and when I do I usually apply Tuff Stuff to shield her hoof wall, that has nails in it, from the water.
But if you have any advice about what to do to please let me know. Any types of supplements,hoof conditioners, anything!

Old Blog

Just some posts from an online journal that I had. I wanted to post these so that you could get an idea of what important, fun, or just random things that happened with me and Sharubi!!

April 2008, 5:01 PM
Sharubi Shoes
Sharubi got shoes today and they are HUGE. And when I say huge I mean like really, really, really, really BIG!!! (size 6) But now she is completely sound again and much more comfortable!

Thursday April 10, 2008, 8:42 PM
Riding
Well I got to ride Sharubi today for the first time in like a week and a half :), but I only got to ride her for about 5 minutes:( because my trainer made me get off and lunge her because she crow hopped and reared because a FEDEX truck drove into the driveway and was really loud.

But I learned that I can't depend on the heat to calm my big girl down and you know what, I'm happy about that!!!!!!

But I am really happy because now that she has front shoes she is completely sound!!!!!!

Sunday April 13, 2008, 5:22 PM
Today
Today was a pretty good day, nothing bad happened but nothing good happened either.
It was sunny, then windy, the cloudy, then sunny and windy, then cloudy and windy...overall it was pretty nice though. They said it was suppose to rain, but it didn't so I guess that’s good to.
I didn't ride today cause my trainer has only let me ride in lessons since Sharubi was foot sore. But just before she got foot sore I was just starting to be aloud to free ride again because all winter she been kinda’ crazy and high as a kite. So I am really hoping I 'll be able to start free riding again since she’s not foot sore anymore!!!

Wednesday April 30, 2008, 5:53 PM
Wonderful Today
Sharubi is doing really well. I have been able to free ride quite often now so that fun. She is so much fun to ride. I am gonna’ order a bunch of stuff for her feet and maybe I'll be able to convince my mom to buy me some other stuff too!

SO MUCH TO WANT, SO LITTLE TO NEED, AND NEVER ENOUGH MONEY TO GET!


Also the coolest thing today- I had just arrived at my barn and I spotted my mare in one of the paddocks...so i went over and stuck my hand in to let her snuffle it. Instead she dropped and blue robins egg into my hand...idk but I thought that was really cool. IT wasn't even crushed...only the top and it looked like a baby bird had done it not her. I can't believe she didn't completely crush it!!

Wednesday May 7, 2008, 4:58 PM
:D☺:D Sharubi Jumped :D☺:D
YAY!!!:)I got to jump Sharubi for the first time today. She was really good. :D She doesn't look down or hesitate...she just trots right over. :)We only did it at a trot because it was her first time jumping in a very long time so I have to retrain her. :) Two years ago she was pacing and jumping 3'6, which is very good for a 4 year old. :D Now I have to build up those jumping muscles and get her back that. It’s my official goal and my trainer said that if by June we are ready she might take me on the Putnum Pace as her partner!!!!!


Also today some stuff that I ordered for Rubi came in so that’s really exciting: I got her a bunch of hoof stuff and a new saddle pad and I also got a free halter!!! YAY!

So yeah I guess everything is doing really well!!

Friday June 13, 2008, 11:51 AM
SALE
Also there’s a sale in Dover so YAY!!!! Time to go buy stuff for my big beautiful pony girl!!! Also I just bought her new splint boots and they fit!!! Now I just have to find bell boots big enough!! XL or XXL


Friday March 20, 2009, 5:57 PM
New Barn
OMG, my friend and I are moving to a new barn, I'm so excited!!!!
It's an absolutely beautiful facility. They have an indoor ring, miles of trails, a cross-country and field, and they are creating a 1 acre outdoor ring!!! It's gona’ be amazing and I m so excited:)
Not only that but they amazing horses there (but of course I love my Rubi the best!!! <3)


This is what I wrote the first few days I had my horse Sharubi!:)(I'm keeping it on here for sentimental values)
(And I'm adding anything thats really important that happens to me and Rubi)
I GOT MY HORSE, SHARUBI!!!!!!!!! November 30, 2007!
~♥♥♥
I got to ride my horse today for the first time at her new barn. I only walked though and my friend led her around because we wanted to make sure she wouldn't do anything spooky. She was an angel and she is fitting right in to her new home. I am so HAPPY!!!! I love that horse!:)
~♥♥♥
I got to ride my horse bareback today walk/trot!!! It was great!!
~♥♥♥
My trainer was lunging Sharubi today in the big ring and she jumped out of the ring!!!lol! I love her so much!:)
~♥♥♥
Oct.5, 2008
I went on my first pace today with my horse Sharubi and we got first place!!!:) She was amazing and I LOVE her so much!! We went to Pound Ridge and got a complementary bucket!!lol
~♥♥♥
Oct.18 2008 I had my first fall off my horse and i landed on my feet!!!! I was riding bareback and jumping a roll top.
~♥♥♥
Nov. 7 2008: I have had Sharubi for ONE whole year!!!!!!!
~♥♥♥
2/1/09-HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARUBI!!!!!!!!!!! UR 7!!
~♥♥♥
OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!: Me and Sharubi are going to be moving to a new barn and I can't wait!!! It's an absolutely beautiful place with amazing oppurtunites, I CAN'T WAIT!!!! (we are moving May1st 2009) Oh and my friend MtotheANZ is moving with her horse too!!!YAY!!!!
~♥♥♥
March 28, 2009
YAY!!Sharubi is getting clipped for the first time today. She is getting a full body clip and I'm pulling her mane and banging her tail.
~♥♥♥
April 30 2009
OMG,OMG!!! Yay I have finally moved to the new barn and it is absolutely AMAZING! I love it. They have an indoor ring and beautiful land all around. This is going to be amazing:)
~♥♥♥
May 8 2009
I had my first lesson with Sharubi today and it was great. I felt like I really accomplished a lot. We worked hard on collection at the canter and trot and she did really well!:) I love that horse<3

Sharubi and I: Our History

Well I have had Sharubi since November 30. 2007. She was 5 years old when I got her, but turned 6 on Febuary 1, 2008. She is now 7 years old and absolutely beautiful, I couldn't imagine life without her.
Sharubi's previous owner died in a house fire and in a way I guess Sharubi was abandoned. The same year she also got a very high fever which left fever rings on her hooves (which are doing very well, I'm pretty sure they are compeltely gone). Then to ensure her complete recovery she got pretty much that entire year off. Then one day I came along. I absoluetly fell in love with her. It was the coolest thing ever. I walked in and I just saw the tips of her ears and my heart was pounding and I juist knew she was the horse for me. I was one of the first people to ride her in about a year. She had only been riden for a week when she came to my barn (My old barn. May 1, 2009 I moved to a new barn)
In Sharubi Years:
1. Age 4/5 owner died, left in field, fever, and recovery.
2. Almost age 6 she gets ridden for a week and then I buy her and she comes to my barn.
3. Age 6 to know, age 7, living happily with me!!! <3

The day I got sharubi was also kind of a suprise. I knew that I was buying her, but I had no idea when she was coming. So one friday night (November 30) my mom told me that we had to stop by the barn to talk to Laura, the owner of the barn, about something. I almost said that I didn't feel like going, but I decided against that and hopped in the car. On the way over I was think abou thow wonderful it would be to finally have a horse to call my own. I reminded my mom, as we were driving, that when I got a horse we would have to do this every day. She said I know completely straight faced, giving nothing away!! When we got to the barn all my friends like clustered around me. My friend Angela was all smiley and excited and my friend Amanda asked me if I bought Duffy. I was like no and as we were walking to the barn door the owner of the barn called my name and said she'd like to talk to me. I went over and she just kept teaching the lesson. So I headed for the door again and she called me back. So finlly I just stood waiting, I had no clue what was happening. Finally she came up to me and started talking about which stall I would like when I got a horse. As we were talking we headed inside and as I walking by a stall I looked into it and kept walking. Then I stopped in my tracks, backed up, and looked in. I knew the minute I saw her that it was my horse! I freaked out. I just stood in the middle of the crowd, pointing my finger and asking "did you know", "who knew". It was amazing. I wasn't really sure what to do next. I just kinda stood there at her door watching her. Finally the owner of the barn was like " you can go in and see her" and that was it. The minute I opened that door I fell in love.
She looked pretty big to me but Laura(the owner of the barn) said that she was 15'3h(she has now grown to 16'3h, lol). I took her out for a walk and just showed her off to everybody! That was by far one of the best days of my life!!!

At first we had no saddle for her so the first few rides at her knew barn, I rode bareback. Now mind you she was completely out of shape. Very little muscle, but at a pretty good weight. For the first few months I had her we worked only on walking and trotting. And let me tell you that trot was heaven! By our first spring(2009 is our second spring!!!) we started to canter and that was even better. The first few times I cantered her it was just about 20 feet at a time because we didn't want to tire her out. And a few months later we were taking our first jumps. And boy can she jump. She may be big, but she can jump!!!

So I guess tht kind of the first bit of our history together. Just a birds eye view though.
I just want to say though, when I got Sharubi I had no idea what a once in a life time horse she was going to be.

A Little Bit About My Blog

Hey as you might already know my name is Izabelle. I own a 7 year old percheronXpaint mare named Sharubi. She is 16'3 h and tobiano marked. (black and white) I made this blog to keep track of our journey together as horse and rider. To show our achievements, big or small, and milestones as we go through life together. Please feel free to ask any questions about Sharubi or about really anything I write about (or stuff I dont). I know that a lot of people are curious when they see draft horses used for riding instead of cart pulling or vaulting, but I can assure you they are absolutely fantastic animals. They can have talent, agility, speed, and much, much more. So again please feel free to ask questions, comment, give advice, or just put your two cents in!