Indian's Legend, SMR 3801
By Jennifer Klitzke
My husband and I, my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend and Tennessee Walking Horse Makana were driving through miles and miles of gray rainy skies on our way to our last autumn trail ride of the year before the leaves fell off the trees. We nearly turned around and went home but figured a short trail ride in the rain would be better than none.
I am so glad we toughed it out. As soon as we arrived at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, blue skies began to peak through the dingy gray clouds. The rain had only intensified the autumn color, and my husband and I enjoyed three hours riding through nature’s canvas.
The photo below doesn’t do justice for how vibrant the colors. It was like a sunrise in the forest.
By Jennifer Klitzke
The weather was perfect beginning in the 60s and warming to 75 and sunny for the 2013 Fall Rocking R schooling show. Last month my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) and I rode a three phase event over two days (three days if you included the course walk). The Rocking R three phase event would be accomplished in four hours (five hours if you counted the course walk). Granted this was only a schooling show, yet just as challenging.
Rocking R Farm’s course is easier in the way that there are no hills, but there were 15 spooky obstacles decorated with cob webs, spiders, pumpkins, and other Halloween decor to negotiate. Indy and I got quite the workout galloping and jumping non stop for five-and-a-half minutes. I was more tired than he was crossing the finish line, but we did it with no refusals and just 20 second over the optimal time which put us in second place out of seven horse/rider teams.
After cross country we had four hours before stadium jumping and dressage, enough time to enjoy listening to the Vikings actually win a football game! A scheduling mixup had us competing in two rings at the same time! I volunteered to go first in stadium jumping, and they moved my dressage ride to the end of the Training Level Test Three group which gave me 10 minutes between stadium jumping and dressage to switch saddles and warm up.
Indy reminded me that he would jump every fence as long as I could remember the course. He did his part and I let him down by forgetting one of the fences. I guess I was so excited that we cleared the new dragon double oxer that I forgot the zebra fence was next. In any case, we had a great ride even though we received a “no score.”
I think in all of the dressage tests I’ve ridden, this was Indy’s best. And I was thankful that I remembered the test! The judge provided helpful feedback on our score sheet such as slowing down Indy’s rhythm for better engagement. We placed fourth out of seven with a score of 61%.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather for our last show of the season. Indy reminded me to write this one down before I forgot. Thanks pal!
My Spanish Mustang at Rocking R photo gallery>
Video: Spanish Mustang: Cross Country
Video: Spanish Mustang: Stadium Jumping
Video: Spanish Mustang: Training Level Test Three
“It’s true, she does give me a day off every once in a while.”
Grandpa Dan’s horse didn’t want to go on a trailer ride, but Indy was game! So Dan got to experience Indy starting a tidal wave at the park.
Super fun endurance ride eating up seven miles through Sand Dunes State Forest. Just what the doctor ordered!
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.
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.
Steepleview Horse Trial Photo gallery>
Spanish Mustang: Dressage Phase
Spanish Mustang: Cross Country Phase
Spanish Mustang: Stadium Phase
By Jennifer Klitzke
What?! A non-gaited horse at a gaited horse clinic?
Well, kinda. I brought my gaited horse and my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend to a Larry Whitesell-Jennifer Bauer natural gaited horsemanship clinic. My gaited horse was there for the clinic and Indy was there to enjoy the exquisite trail system on the property. Indy participated in some of the clinic ground work exercises since my gaited horse has been to a few of these clinics already.
By Jennifer Klitzke
Perfect weather, no bugs, and friendly fans cheered me and my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) at the Rocking R Farm schooling show held August 4, 2013. This show was our first time competing at cross country. Beginning with seven standard fences in the hunter course ranging from two feet to two feet, three inches, we made our way out to the jumping field over logs, flower boxes, culverts, ditches, banks, and benches. It was one of the most exhilarating rides of my life! I felt like I was riding the fantasy in my mind that has replayed for 20 years when I had longed to ride cross country but was too afraid to give it a try.
Well, my Spanish Mustang Indy has changed all that for me. He seems to enjoy the cross country as much as I do. We placed second of six horse/rider teams.
In addition to the cross country, we rode two hunter courses. Our form is improving each time, as long as I can remember to keep my weight back so that Indy can jump up from under me instead of falling onto the forehand.
Despite Indy having one refusal in the first course, knocking down two rails in the second course. and my grandma memory having trouble memorizing the three courses, we placed third of six in each hunter course.
A huge “thank you” to Rocking R Farm for opening up their wonderful dressage arenas, hunt course, and cross country course and a “thank you” to all of the friendly volunteers who help make this show possible. Thank you also to my saintly husband who gave up a pristine day of golf to capture these videos. What a wonderful man!
Video: Spanish Mustang riding cross country over fences
Video: Spanish Mustang two foot hunter course
Video: Spanish Mustang two-foot-three-inches hunter course
By Jennifer Klitzke
Where did RNR Ranch hide the bugs? Seriously, my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend (Indy) and I thoroughly enjoyed a bug-free, exquisite summer day riding the pristine trails at RNR Ranch on August 3, 2013 for the Trail Challenge. It was a terrific turnout with nearly 100 horse and rider teams in three divisions: Open, Pleasure, and Junior. Both Pleasure and Junior divisions navigated the obstacles with the same level of difficulty while the Open group had a higher level of difficulty to claim a cash prize.
Indy and I came alone and left with a few new friends. In our group of four was a handsome buckskin Quarter horse/Appaloosa, a beautiful off the track Thoroughbred mare whose sire took second at the Kentucky Derby a few years back, and a super cute gaited Rocky Mountain saddle horse who miraculously survived a freeway trailer accident.
Indy was in his element on the trail and fearless and agile to tackle the eight obstacles along our two hour ride through rolling hills and dense forest with songbird serenade. Each obstacle was judged on how well the rider navigated the horse, how well the horse accomplished the task, and within a set amount of time. Among the obstacles were a dismounting/remounting exercise, riding through camo streamers, pivoting a flying saucer, stepping through a circular grid of cavalettis, navigating a campsite, loping a figure eight with lead changes in the center, and two other obstacles that have slipped my grandma brain.
I am so proud of Indy! Among the 30 horses in the Pleasure class, Indy received the second highest score of “99” to the winning score of “103” taken by an Icelandic.
A huge “thank you” to RNR Ranch and Tack for hosting the Trail Challenge and for all of the judges and volunteers who gave up riding for themselves on a perfect summer day for us riders.
Video: Pivoting the flying saucer