Trail Obstacles | My Spanish Mustang

August 7, 2016January 30, 2021

Trail Challenge

My Spanish Mustang Indy and I had a lot fun taking a new friend and her Arabian to the RNR Ranch Trail Challenge yesterday. The weather was perfect! Six challenging obstacles nestled between the rolling forested hills, plus an additional hour long trail ride at RNR Ranch’s private trails. We saw two fawns trotting side-by-side, lots of song birds, a canopy of trees to keep us cool, and the hills and obstacles kept our horses entertained and challenged.

And not even one comment of the “F” word (Fjord).

November 5, 2015January 30, 2021

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year

By Jennifer Klitzke

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year and 1000 mileage patch An unexpected surprise came in the mail the other day. My Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend was awarded 2014 Performance Horse of the Year with the Spanish Mustang Registry, and we earned our 1,000 mileage patch. Thinking back to 2014, Indy and I did a lot of cross country schooling shows which included dressage, stadium jumping and cross country, one recognized Horse Trial, a trail obstacle challenge, novice endurance ride, and lots of trail riding and training miles.

Here’s what Indy adventures contributed to the award:

Reaching 1,000 miles in the saddle!

May 25, 2014
Three Ring Circus Schooling Show, Hugo, MN

Dressage: Training Level Test 3: 1st of 13 entries with a score of 72.8%

Hunter over 2’3″ verticals: 5th of 8
Hunter over 20″ verticals: 4th of 4

June 29, 2014
Pig Pond Classic Cross Country Schooling Show, Ham Lake, MN

Dressage Test: 33.1% (66.9%)
2nd best score of 23 beginner starter novice entries

Stadium (no faults)
2nd best score of 23 beginner starter novice entries

Cross Country (schooling only)

July 13, 2014
MNDRA Endurance Ride, Crow-Hassan Park Reserve

Novice Endurance, 6th of 15

July 20, 2014
Steepleview Schooling Days, Delano, MN

Jumping up and down banks

Jumping over solid obstacles

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Jumping a Ditch

Jumping over ditches

And jumping in and out of water complexes
(schooling only)

August 2, 2014
RNR Ranch Trail Challenge, St. Croix Falls, WI

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Trail Challenge

August 3, 2014
Rocking R Cross Country Schooling Show, Foley, MN

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Rocking R Cross Country

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Rocking R Cross Country2

Starter Novice Cross Country: 4th of 6

Hunter over 2’3″ verticals: 1st of 2
Hunter over 20″ verticals: 3rd of 4
Jumper over 2’3″ verticals: E

August 23-24, 2014
Steepleview Horse Trials, Delano, MN

Starter Novice Dressage: 36.5% (63.5%), 1st of 11

Stadium, 5th of 11

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Cross Country

Cross Country, E
Team Challenge, 2nd of 2

September 14, 2014
Gambler’s Choice, Duluth, MN

Stadium 2’3” (schooling only)
Cross country over solid obstacles, ditches, and banks (schooling only)

My Spanish Mustang Indy has made this timid dressage rider’s dreams of riding cross country come true. I love my boy!

October 9, 2015January 30, 2021

Dressage (Spanish Mustang Style)

By Jennifer Klitzke

While riding in the dressage arena last week, I could tell my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) was getting bored. Then it occurred to me that I could make dressage more interesting for him if I were to add a trail obstacle to our riding session. Better yet, I could add the trail obstacle as part of the dressage exercise—and that’s what we began to do.

The other day we practiced leg yield, rein back, and pivot the fore around a trail obstacle to help Indy get better balance and shift his weight to the hind quarters. Indy’s reward was a release of the reins and getting to go over the obstacle. It’s was a win-win!

So if you have a horse like my Spanish Mustang that is highly intelligent, likes trail obstacles, variety, and gets easily bored, here’s an exercise we tried and made us both happy.

Video: Trail Obstacles and Dressage

September 8, 2015January 30, 2021

2015 Trail Challenge

By Jennifer Klitzke

My Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) and I went to Governor Knowles State Forest on September 6, 2015 for a Trail Obstacle Challenge. Getting there was the most challenging part. Google took me to the North entrance which was 30 miles North of the horse trails. Thankfully Indy and I made it with a couple minutes to spare before our start time.

Indy and I were rode with my friend Kristin and her wonder horse Whiskey. Just a month after I purchased Indy, she set out to buy her first horse. I’ll never forget saying to Kristin, “Whatever you do, don’t buy the first horse you see.” And that’s what she did—but it was for a good cause. She rescued an underweight Arabian/Quarter Horse from a dire situation. He was abandoned on a foreclosed property with no food or water and his hooves hadn’t been trimmed in over a year!

“Something about him made my heart leap,” she said with a smile.

The next month was rather trying as Whiskey pushed his boundaries, but my friend got good instruction and set Whiskey on the right course. Within no time, Kristin and Whiskey were sorting cows, attending ranch rodeos, fun shows, endurance rides, trail rides, and swimming at the lake. Plus, Whiskey is hard to beat at trail obstacles as he took second place!

Whiskey and Kristin successfully accomplishing the noisy obstacle drag.

Indy and I enjoyed our time with Kristin and Whiskey and riding through the wooded three-hour trail ride on a beautiful bugless summer day. We negotiated six obstacles: crossing the river, weaving through poles, walking through streamers, opening a mail box, dragging a pole, and walking over rails decorated with spooky items. Indy did very well and tied for sixth place out of 18 riders in our division. We had so much fun crossing the river, we had to do it again and again!

Spanish Mustang Indian's Legend on trail challenge — Me and my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend on our three-hour trail challenge on a beautiful summer day at Governor Knowles State Forest.

P.S. While at the rail obstacle, the judge asked me what kind of horse Indy was. Bracing for the common “Fjord” response, she said, “He looks Iberian.” When I told her that he is a Spanish Mustang, she said she totally sees it. Not more than five minutes later, a group of trail riders passed us and remarked, “That’s the skinniest Fjord I’ve ever seen!”

Video: My Spanish Mustang crossing the river

May 1, 2015January 30, 2021

2015 Minnesota Horse Expo

By Jennifer Klitzke

For decades it’s been a tradition to come to the Minnesota Horse Expo and soak in all things horses. This year instead of being a spectator, I took my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) and joined the Spanish Mustang demonstration team Thursday-Sunday, April 23-26, 2015. We were one of the three horse/rider teams for the American Heritage Horse Association. Words cannot express how great of an experience it was for me (and I’m pretty sure Indy had a good time, too). His curiosity kept him entertained with all there was to see and do.

spanish mustang demonstration team — Gwen riding Hota, Erika riding Jetla and Jennifer riding Indy.

Not only are Spanish Mustangs a unique and rare breed, but they attract a unique and rare group of people: down to earth, kindhearted, and fun. My Spanish Mustang team mates were strangers to me on Thursday and quickly became good friends through the four days. Indy bonded quickly with the other horses and did terrific through the two exhibitions we rode each day.

Gwen was a last-minute substitute when one of the horses was unable to come. The owner of that horse was who I had bought Indy from and the Expo would have been the first time we would have seen each other since that snowy February day I brought Indy home in 2012. Although I was sad that it didn’t work out for her to be there, Gwen and her white Spanish Mustang mare Hota made for a wonderful team member.

Gwen and Hota2 — What a precious moment for this little horse lover!

After our Friday demonstration, we passed a mother with her two-year-old daughter who was carrying a white plastic pony that looked exactly like Hota. The spellbound little girl realized that her dream horse was walking right towards her!

fjords and spanish mustang7 — Can you tell the difference between the Spanish Mustang and the Norwegian Fjord?

Another fun memory was warming up with the Norwegian Fjords (another really nice group of horse people). Every event I bring Indy to, people ask if he is a Norwegian Fjord. Seeing him side-by-side with the Fjords, people were commenting, “I’ve never seen a long-haired Fjord before.”

Later that day when all of the Spanish Mustangs arrived, we took them to the outdoor practice arena and played on the trail obstacles before walking through our demonstration. Indy’s curiosity lead him over the teeter totter bridge and the raised platform again and again. Even the Expo videographer captured footage of his enthusiasm!

Jetla and Erika riding bareback, barefoot and brideless — Jetla and Erika riding bareback, barefoot and bitless.

We met so many wonderful people at the Expo including a dressage judge and a seasoned fox hunter. Both were intrigued with the Spanish Mustangs. The dressage judge commented, “What an uncomplicated back this breed has.” And looking at Jetla he said, “I could take this one home with me!” Jetla certainly has the gaits for dressage! The fox hunter dressed in his formal red attire looked like someone who just walked out of a history book. He invited me and Indy to give fox hunting a try this season. I will definitely work this into our riding schedule.

Friday through Sunday we rode in the Parade of Breeds, on Friday and Saturday we performed a breed demonstration, and on Sunday the American Heritage Horse Spanish Mustangs lead the parade down main street. We had unseasonably sunny weather three out of the four days which made the Expo even more enjoyable.

The American Heritage Horse Spanish Mustangs led the parade — The American Heritage Horse Spanish Mustangs led the Expo parade.

When Indy and I got home I called my Mom and she said she saw us on the news. (Turns out it was one of the Norwegian Fjords!)

Video: 2015 MN Horse Expo AHHA Spanish Mustangs

Photo gallery: Spanish Mustang demonstration
Photo gallery: Spanish Mustang practice
Photo gallery: Spanish Mustang leading the parade
Photo gallery: Spanish Mustang with the Norwegian Fjords

Special thanks to the American Heritage Horse Association for sponsoring the Spanish Mustangs and to Jane and Wes of Zen Cowboys Spanish Mustangs for coordinating our booth.

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