Education and schooling

Emma over at Fraidy Cat Eventing wrote a post recently regarding how you know whether your horse is schooled, or rather, well-schooled. I'm sure the answer here varies wildly among horse people and certainly changes between disciplines. In my world... that of OTTBs working on second careers, I rarely see what I would call a "well-schooled" horse. But Emma's post got me thinking about what that means for me and my horse. And more deeply, what the difference is between education and schooling when it comes to riding (results may vary).

Webster’s defines education as ‘knowledge and development resulting from an instructive process’, or more specifically, the act or progression of acquiring knowledge. Regarding horses, I think that education comes from experience, exposure and being confirmed (or tested) in various disciplines (ie, showing or performing a discipline in front of a judge of some kind). I consider most things that Riley experiences as a part of his education, xc schooling, training rides, lessons, hacking... all of it. If it increases his progression under saddle, I count it as education. Schooling refers to education received, so while they almost fall under the same definition, when it comes to horses, I think they are much more nuanced.

So how do we define well-schooled then? Well schooled is defined as having been well trained or educated sufficiently, and here's where the nuance comes in. What is sufficient? What counts as enough to claim a horse as well-schooled? In my world world well-schooled equates to being "confirmed" in some capacity. As in, my horse is "confirmed on the flat" = he/she can walk, trot, canter in both directions with a rider. Confirmed over fences = jumps willingly/cleanly around a course of jumps appropriate for his education. This is a very basic way of looking at it I understand, and I could go into much more detail within each category, But I'm over-simplifying for a reason.

Let's play catch-up + millions of redundant photos + bonus!

Riley got his shoes back on (since the beginning of December) a few days ago and homeboy was feeling REALLY good about himself. Our new farm is VERY rocky and I was pretty nervous about how he'd cope with the turnout fields (mostly just near the gates). To my surprise, he's held up pretty well for the last two months, at least until the mud arrived. He got a bit sore and popped an abscess, so I switched his turnout schedule so he's in half the time and I think he's appreciating the relief. Temperatures are warming up quite a bit and all of the horses seem to have spring fever! The ring was still sloppy, so i thought I'd hop on him and ride around inside to see how he was feeling... well, that ended quickly as he got all sorts of frazzled and I hopped off and decided we'd do some free lunging -- as a rule, I NEVER lunge or free jump for this sort of purpose, but I had little choice in crappy footing and less than ideal circumstances!

#GOALSMET

Handsome man

This weekend was a little bit hectic with both Emily and I have opposing obligations both days with only a little bit of overlapping at the barn. Saturday I met her and we were determined to get two sets in before she had to head out!

We decided to take the two chestnut boys out first, her young prospect and Riley (best buds). Everything was still really snow covered, so we opted for a hack along the bridle path that surrounds the big paddocks. Both boys were very brave hacking into the unknown and with the snow being VERY deep in spots, they were getting a thorough workout. I think I even heard Riley huffing and puffing a little. When we got back around to the barn, we decided to take our hack down the drive (it's about a mile long) and up to the big hill that looks back toward the barn. This hill is going to prove extremely influential in Riley's fitness and for me to get a better feel for galloping up and down terrain! On the asphalt, I asked Riley to really march along because there's simply no reason he can't do some "real" work at the walk!

Heading out on our hack around the pastures

Both of us looking super awkward.

The next set involved two of Emily's sale horses. A lovely mare named Lola (who might be sold) and a 5 year old dark bay on his 5th ride post-track. You have to love the brain of a well-adjusted TB as he took the lead and led the whole way bravely. At one point they were heading under some low branches when one caght on her vest and snapped off landing on him. He scooted two steps forward and realized everything was fine and went along his merry way! He's definitely one of those types that is REALLY going to blossom with his own person.

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl...

Turner leaded the way with Emily up. He's for sale!

I had the barn to myself Sunday and I had planned to ride Riley and Turner, but time got away from me and I had some things I wanted to take care of with Riley, so Turner got off the hook. It would mark my first solo voyage on the property (and the ring is a bit of a hike from the barn) but Riley was just stellar.

Heading up the ring, he spotted a buttload of deer bouncing around

Playing the ring, the snow was finally soft again! (also, sweet bedhead Riley)

We mostly stuck to a large oval (probably larger than 20 meters, but I don't have a good eye for such things unless I'm in a dressage court) and it was actually really fun. He felt super, and because of the 6"-12" snow he was taking this big, bold steps that made him feel like a big fancy warmblood! So we practiced bend, riding without reins and using my legs to maintain our shape and of course lots of sitting trot. His trot is generally easy enough to sit, but in the snow he was really getting a lot of suspension, so it was very challenging! I used some of Emma's recent tips and though about pressing down into my toes, which ultimately kept the ball of my foot where it should stay and keeping my elbows elastic. I always try to this of turning my bell button toward the sky to help straighten out my upper body and I felt I was actually doing some pretty solid work!

*Ahem, my core hates me today.

Our snowy playground!

The last goal I had for the weekend was to take a conformation shot for January. Riley's looking a little rough due to some fungus on his face, and I was going to have to do it by myself (HA!), but I wanted to try anyway. Gotta stick to them goals.

But before we get to that, when I pulled him out of his paddock I noticed something kind of horrifying... As in, his tail was half-gone. I nearly burst into tears and as I'm sure a bunch of you know the struggle it was to get his tail long and full...

We still don't know what happened, but it was either eaten by the pony OR some lunatic chopped it off:(

I wound up trimming another 8" off of it to make it look slightly less insane, but I dunno guys, I'm at a loss for words. if anyone has any suggestions to help it grow any faster let me know!

Onto his little conformation shoot. It was moderately successful, but I was just happen he stood very still in a decent position while I snapped these:

Hahahaha.

This was basically the best I could get him to stand up without spooking him or having him walk over to me for snacks.

Tail or no tail, he's super adorable.

Overall, he looks like what I would suspect from having the last 2-3 months off with only light hacking. Under saddle he's been super soft and bendy and he's moving really well even without shoes. they'll go back on in another week or two after the mud disappears. But I think this is a good baseline moving forward. We'll up his workload each ride and get him up to 4 rides a week in the next month.