Because I Love You More

Indy_2011

By Jennifer Klitzke

I have always been passionate about the Spanish horse—anything with Iberian blood would do. Only I could never afford such a mount.

On a cold January 2012 morning, I was surfing Craigslist.com and light buckskin dun Spanish Mustang named Indian’s Legend (Indy) showed up in the results.

When my eyes first saw him, my heart leapt.

No, I didn’t need another horse, I already had four, but there was something about him.

The owner loved Indy, no doubt. Yet a single mom, working full time, and a full-time student, she was trying to hold her passions together when reality set in. She knew it was time to let Indy go.

Drop-dead gorgeous and the closest thing to Lusitano I’d ever be able to afford, I had to have him.

It took some savvy negotiating to talk my husband into the idea of another horse. It was easy for me to justify. Two of our horses were approaching their thirties, one was a rescue horse strapped with heaves, the other was a non-aerobic gaited horse. Indy would be about the same cost as a gym membership and I’d enjoy him more.

Loading him into the trailer, Indy’s previous owner’s heart was breaking. Her love for him streamed from her eyes as we drove away.

It didn’t take long to realize that Indy was exceptionally intelligent, bold and curious. He needed lots of variety to keep him from getting bored. He wouldn’t be satisfied with miles of 20 meter circles in an arena.

Indy was game for anything we faced. In the last five years he has made many life-long dreams come true in my grandma age. We took up trail riding, which led to trail obstacle challenges, which led to endurance riding. Then we took up stadium jumping which led to cross country and dressage shows, which led to eventing. Then we tried cow sorting followed by becoming a demonstration horse/rider team at the Minnesota Horse Expo. We even rode in a Mary Wanless riding biomechanics clinic. She has been an author I have studied for decades through her books and videos.

In our five years together, Indy earned Spanish Mustang Performance Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2015, 2012 Spanish Mustang Conquistador of Performance Award, and we achieved 2,000 trail miles.

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Mary Wanless Clinic (2012)
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Lots of trail rides (2012-2016)

 

2016 Mosquito Run
Endurance riding (2012-2016)

 

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Trail obstacles (2012-2016)

 

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Jumping Stadium
Stadium Jumping (2013-2015)

 

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Jumping a Water Obstacle
Steepleview Schooling Days (2013-2014)

 

2014 SMR Performance Horse of the Year Indian's Legend Jumping a Log
Cross country (2013-2015)

 

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Dressage Shows (2012-2016)

 

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Steepleview Horse Trials (2013-2014)

 

My Spanish Mustang cow clinic
Sorting cows (2013-2016)

 

2016 MN Horse Expo featuring the Spanish Mustang
Minnesota Horse Expo (2015-2016)

 

Spanish Mustang Western Dressage
Western dressage (2017)

Only, I faced a cross road when family crisis interrupted our adventures.

On October 2014, after a family intervention, my Dad was admitted into a Memory Care Unit with Alzheimer’s disease. He was a genius in his own time–only 75 years old. The disease robbed him of his brilliant mind. Mom suffered two strokes trying to take care of him at home. Dad was out of control and Mom was at the end of her rope.

I gave up many weekend of Indy time to be with my Dad and Mom during this crisis. Working full time and caring for my family meant that my intelligent and talented Spanish Mustang’s life was on hold. This weighed heavily on me.

Last summer was hard in many ways. I watched my Dad slip away, and I watched Indy grow bored and frustrated. He longed for the adventurous life we once had—going places every weekend to new experiences.

I squeezed in a couple arena rides each week, but that got boring. Then I added obstacles, cavelettis, and jumps for interest. It helped, but Indy missed the life we once had and so did I, but there wasn’t anything I could do about the crisis my family was in.

In January 2017, my Dad passed away. Even thought I am relieved that he is no longer anguished by that brain devouring disease, I miss him.

Now Mom needs more help that ever. Still working full time, my husband and I help her on weekends through life without Dad to downsize 54 years of memories into a manageable living situation.

I looked ahead at this year’s show schedule. Last year’s best intentions didn’t get us to any shows except for the two virtual shows I recorded from home. This year wasn’t going to be any different.

Going on two years in Indy’s prime of life, it just wasn’t right for me to horde him for myself.

In the last few years, Indy’s previous owner had graduated from college and married. We have kept in touch since I bought him, and she asked if I ever needed to part with Indy to let her know. I watched how much fun she and her family have had riding their Spanish Mustangs through mature forest around their home year round. It is the life Indy came from. A life he loved and a life I can’t offer him.

I contacted Indy’s previous owner and asked if she would be interested in buying him back. She was thrilled to be reunited with Indy as her very own again.

Saying “goodbye” to the Spanish Mustang who made my dreams come true felt like another death, but I love Indy more than to see him waste away in boredom because of my busy life. I have deep gratitude in my heart for the five years we shared. I want Indy to be happy and in his element.

Nothing brings me greater joy than to see Indy go back to his first home whose owner loves him like I do and for Indy to live the trail horse dream.

Loading Indy into the trailer, my heart broke. My love for him streamed from my eyes as the trailer drove away.

Because I love you more, Indy. Because I love you more.

Steepleview Horse Trials: The-Begin-Again-ers

Jennifer Klitzke and Spanish Mustang Indian's Legend at the 2014 Steepleview Horse Trials

By Jennifer Klitzke

The 2014 Steepleview Horse Trials came a week earlier than years past so that combined training events could be spaced apart better. However, the timing moved it to the same weekend of my husband’s annual golf tournament which meant he couldn’t be there to offer his support. So my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend and I were preparing to show solo—until I had a last minute idea.

A week before the event, I put the word out via the TCCTlist and formed a Starter Beginner Novice Team. Three people I hadn’t met before were game for the idea. We called ourselves “The-Begin-Again-ers.” It seemed appropriate since all of us were giving eventing a try after having pursued other horse-related interests. We had exchanged photos of each other and our horses to help us find each other among the 111 horses competing at Steepleview.

I arrived at the event and had coincidentally parked next to one of my team mates who also happened to be the horse/rider team competing just ahead of us in all three phases of dressage, cross country and stadium jumping. In fact, her friends and family kept me company, too. So I didn’t feel like I was showing solo at all.

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Shortly after meeting Sarah, I met Harvey and Sasha. What a neat team ranging in ages from 27 to 60 and their horses: Two off-the-track thoroughbreds, a bay and a dapple gray, a roan appaloosa, and my pale-yellow, buckskin-dun Spanish Mustang. We were the most colorful team of the predominately bay horses competing that weekend.

Indy did very well in dressage which was the first of three phases. We were tied for first place in our division and had the second best score of 24 horses in the Starter Beginner Novice category.

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Next was the cross-country phase. Indy was off to a great start. We jumped the first four obstacles perfectly and happily trotted through the water obstacle.

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After clearing the water, Indy seemed confused. We had ridden the course three times from the other direction. It was like Indy was trying to tell me that we were going the wrong direction. So jumps five, six, seven and eight were a struggle. After the eighth jump Indy decided to take a right when I was preparing to take a left. That’s when I came off. Thankfully I didn’t get hurt, but we were eliminated from the competition. I was bummed.

While walking Indy back to the barn, one of the obstacle judges told me that I could ask to be added to the list of stadium jumping courtesy rides. Was I ever thankful that this man came out of the woodwork and offered this tip. A few hours later I was granted a courtesy ride. So even though we were out of the ribbons, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to ride the stadium course.

While I was walking to the stadium course I heard a voice call out, “Hey, Mustang Lady!” I turned and recognized a woman I had met last year. I was so happy to have been re-acquainted with her again.

The kindness continued. The time arrived for stadium jumping. I was walking with Indy at my right side and carrying my video camera, tripod and mounting block in the other hand to set it up for our ride. Out of no where this kind woman asked, “Can I give you a hand?” and then she volunteered to record our ride!

Into the arena we went and over the ten-fence course with oxers. Indy jumped very well with no refusals. It was a great ending to the three-phase event, and our team took second place.

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Each of us on The-Begin-Again-er’s team returned home with a beautiful second place ribbon. Every time I look at it, I remember the faces of the new friends I made and how they and the other kind people saved me from a lonely show experience. I was so blessed by the kindness of others that getting eliminated in cross country seemed to lose its sting.

Photo Gallery>

Thank you to Steepleview Farm for hosting the event, to the dozens of friendly volunteers who make this possible, to my team mates “The-Begin-Again-ers”, the kindness of strangers, and to D & G Photography who captured terrific lasting memories I will enjoy for years to come.

2014 Steepleview Schooling Days

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By Jennifer Klitzke

Last year Steepleview Schooling Days introduced me to my first experience with cross country and from that point it gave me and my horse the confidence to pursue the Starter competition division level. I’ve been hooked ever since. I couldn’t wait for this year’s Steepleview Schooling Days, and even more with Len Danielson of North Run Farm as my coach. I love this guy! Not only has he been-there-and-done-that, but he never over faces me or my horse and he knows when we are ready to take on the next challenge.

This year our group of some familiar faces and some new, advanced our skills from last year to string several cross country obstacles together with strategy and fun. Our group encountered logs, ditches, and jumped up and down banks, and, of course, ended with Indy’s favorite, the water obstacle!

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Wanna Carrot with That?

By Jennifer Klitzke

We all know how intelligent Spanish Mustangs are as a breed, right?

Well, my 2006 Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) is no exception. He is the only Spanish Mustang of our five horses, and the only one smart enough to figure out how to get from the pasture and into the vegetable garden and back. If that isn’t impressive, Indy discovered that carrots grow underground. So row by row, Indy began uprooting the carrots, having a snack, and leaving the carrot tops behind before returning to the pasture! (I caught him red handed with that “as-if-nothing-ever-happened” expression on his face.)

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Adding to Indy’s antics, 108.5 trail miles, 507 training miles, eight Training Level dressage tests ridden, and 14 stadium jumping courses ridden, our 2013 milestones include a cow clinic, a novice endurance race, a cow sorting league, a competitive trail challenge, three rounds of cross country jumping over solid obstacles, an orienteering event, and learning how to speak French.

Ever since I began riding in 1982, I have longed for the courage to ride cross country over obstacles. This year, my bold and adventurous Spanish Mustang drug me to Steepleview Schooling Days. Seasoned event rider Len Danielson instructed us through ditches, banks, water obstacles, and fixed jumping obstacles with objective and systematic coaching which instilled confidence in both me and Indy. We left that day sparked with a desire for more. Indy and I rode Starter level cross country at two schooling shows and the Steepleview three-day recognized horse trial. We placed second or third at all three events!

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Right after I had bought Indy last year, a co-worker purchased her first horse. She and I began to challenge each other and try new things with our horses. At work we became known as the “Dasco Duo.” Adding to last year’s trail rides and schooling dressage shows, the Dasco Duo entered our first novice Minnesota Distance Riders Association (MNDRA) sponsored endurance ride. What a great way for horse and rider to get in shape! One-and-a-half hours of brisk posting trot through the beautiful Sand Dunes State Forest. Of 16 entries, we took fourth place. It was also where I met Bethany Borchert, Spanish Mustang owner of Dun Adoby Fox who has done very well in competitive endurance races.

My Spanish Mustang MNDRA ride

In April, my fellow Dasconian encouraged me to take Indy to an “Introducing Your Horse to Cows” Clinic held a Hi Circle Vee to help him overcome his cow phobia. Once Indy figured out that cows were easy to push around, he seemed to enjoy it, so in May, we joined a cow sorting league. Each week, Indy and I rode with three different partners and we had 90 seconds to transfer 10 cows in numbered order from one round pen to the other without letting one of the two blank cows sneak in. It is a lot harder than it looks. While one horse/rider team locates and negotiates the next numbered cow to the other round pen, the other horse/rider team guards the “hole” so that no other cows escape or sneak through the hole. Once the other horse/team member retrieves their numbered cow, they take over the “hole” while the other retrieves the numbered cow.

My Spanish Mustang cow clinic

Then in October, the Dasco Duo entered a National Association of Competitive Mounted Orienteering (NACMO) event at Crow Hassan Park Preserve where followed a map, deciphered two clues that led us to two compass point reading that pointed to the hidden target. The six targets took us three-and-a-half hours of searching and cantering to our next clue. Our team took fourth place.

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Also in 2013, Indy and I traveled to RNR Ranch in St. Croix Falls for a competitive trail ride. We rode two glorious hours through perfectly groomed trails and negotiated six obstacles for points. Out of 30 riders, Indy and I had the second best score.

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Ending the year I took Indy to a “Riding in Lightness” Clinic with Susan Norman which introduced us to French classical dressage. Susan coached us in ways that promote balance, elegance, and harmony between horse and rider.

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What will 2014 hold for us? Well, topping the list is figuring out a way to keep Indy out of the carrot patch!

Story published in the 2013 Spanish Mustang Annual, official publication of the Spanish Mustang Registry.

 

Spanish Mustang at Steepleview Horse Trials

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By Jennifer Klitzke

Nearly 130 horses competed at the 2013 Steepleview Horse Trials held Labor Day weekend in Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels. Each of horse/rider team competed in three phases: Dressage, Cross Country and Stadium jumping.  This was Indian’s Legend (Indy), my Spanish Mustang’s first recognized show and my first three phase event.

Dressage was the first phase and boy-oh-boy was it hot! Ninety-three degrees with humidity. The judge graciously waved coats, but I toughed it out for the camera. Indy and I were in first place after the dressage phase.

Next we had an hour to change into our cross country attire and prepare for the second phase. The goal was to negotiate and jump twelve stationary obstacles along rolling hills, woods, and water in five-and-a-half minutes without double refusals or falling off. Indy hesitated the first obstacle but I nudged him on and he jumped it in slow motion. The next fence he refused and I prodded him over, then Indy exuberantly galloped down the hill. I just prayed to God that he didn’t stumble! Thankfully, God answered that prayer. We completed the course with two refusals, a time fault, and slipped into third place.

Stadium jumping was the final phase and held the next day. It was nearly 30 degrees cooler than the first day. The goal was to jump all fences clean and in order within the allotted time. Several of the two foot fences were double oxers. Indy jumped the course clean without refusals. We would have made time if I didn’t lose my stirrup, but we managed to maintain our third place standing. Not only that, but our team took second place in the team challenge. We came home with the most beautiful ribbons I have ever seen, winnings that paid most of the entry fees, a few more friends, and lifetime memories to replace lifetime dreams.

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A huge “thank you” to Steepleview Farm for opening their scenic and well equipped facility, for instructor Len Danielson who gave us the coaching and encouragement to give cross country a try, for the hundreds of friendly people who participated and spectated the event, and for the show organizers and volunteers who made it possible. I will never forget this milestone for as long as I live.

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Steepleview Horse Trial Photo gallery>

Spanish Mustang: Dressage Phase

Spanish Mustang: Cross Country Phase

Spanish Mustang: Stadium Phase