Pyro's Big Transformation, or, Kate Little is Amazing
Cob Jockey
by Jen
1M ago
I don't even know where to start with this post, but I have to start. I've been witnessing an incredible transformation in my barn and learning a lot about horsemanship through it, and it deserves to be written down. A couple of weeks ago I was videoing my barnmate's virtual Dressage lesson, watching her futilely trying to pony kick her 5 year old around a big psuedo-turn on the forehand at our Dressage trainer's instruction, and I realized it looked a lot like a groundwork exercise Kate had me do with Connor. I asked my barnmate if I could borrow Pyro for a Kate lesson, and she agreed ..read more
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Lessons with Kate
Cob Jockey
by Jen
2M ago
Connor and I have started taking lessons again.   I had been feeling the itch for a while. Not to achieve any goals, I just miss learning. There's nothing like being surprised and delighted by the sudden shift in perspective or feel that a good lesson gives you, and I need to remember to find the joy in horses especially this time of year.  Ugh. Connor has been going well under saddle - not often, and not intensely, but well. I have been approaching his rides from more of a rehab perspective (even though he's not injured), focusing on making sure his crooked body is in as ..read more
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Disco's First Two Rides!
Cob Jockey
by Jen
3M ago
Guess who has been started? Maude and I have always been on the same page about starting him. I told her that my original plan was to start him very lightly the winter of his two year old year, because as a young stallion with a busy mind and a bit of an attitude especially about submission (anyone remember his indignation about being haltered the first time? lol), I wanted him to learn that riding and submission are A Thing while he's still young and impressionable. That said though, Maude and I don't talk as much as you might think we do. Her English is very good, but it's her second langu ..read more
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Amateur Hour
Cob Jockey
by Jen
3M ago
On Sunday, we held our first "Amateur Hour" in quite a while, where a few of us get together on a Sunday afternoon for a jump "lesson" with Mary and socializing afterward. This time, we had some new additions to the cast of characters. Barbara, Mary, Leah and Tricia We have a new haul-in, Barbara, who keeps her horses at home 15 minutes from the barn, close to the state park with all the riding trails. We met through Facebook Marketplace of all places, and she's quickly becoming a treasured part of the group. She's an endurance rider, which is a sport I've always wanted to try, and w ..read more
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Encore's Person
Cob Jockey
by Jen
3M ago
Encore left for his new home on Friday. In the end, he sold exactly how I thought he would: through word of mouth from one of the many, many people that are constantly messaging Castleberry Welsh Cobs and Sporthorses on Facebook asking if Lisa has any Cobs going under saddle. She almost never does, but she did this one time. Literally his second time cantering under saddle since I had him. The new owner is a young woman even shorter than me who had never ridden a Welsh Cob before. Her trainer (who has taken pulling breeds to the FEI levels, perfect for Encore) suggested she reach o ..read more
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Product Review: Piper Heavy-Weight Winter Tight by Smartpak (New 2023 Model)
Cob Jockey
by Jen
4M ago
*tap tap* Is this thing on? I haven't done a product review in so long, it feels weird. Oh well, here goes. These are on sale this weekend for Black Friday so I wanted to get this out ASAP. Pictured in the background: my Jurassic Park fence extension I had to add because my 42lb rescue mutt can jump my 6ft privacy fence without touching it. Good times. Over two years ago, I reviewed the Piper Heavy-Weight Winter Tight by Smartpak, and concluded that they were the best winter tights I'd ever found, except that the sizing was tricky. Well, that turned out to be an understatement. In bo ..read more
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Oh It's Like the Stars Aligned (I Can Feel It)
Cob Jockey
by Jen
4M ago
Two weekends ago, Connor and Disco's breeder Lisa and I found ourselves road tripping to Canada to attend the Canadian Royal Winter Fair for the first time since 2019. And this time, I was going to see MY OWN horse show in it! Disco in the big big world I was so glad Disco's lessee was able to enter him this year. She was on the fence about it when he went through a growth spurt this summer, and I told her that I supported whichever decision she made, but I was secretly hoping she would enter him. I didn't care how he placed, but the atmosphere of the Royal is like nothing else, and ..read more
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It's Not You, It's Me (But It's Also You)
Cob Jockey
by Jen
5M ago
One of the things I was hoping to get out of having Encore around was perspective. See, I regularly rode nothing but Connor for 12 years, except Aeres. I don't have a lot of experience "dating" different horses. And Encore is a very different animal from Connor and Disco - from a different "side" of Lisa's bloodlines, with far different movement and temperament. But I had no idea just how much perspective riding Encore would give me in the end. Connor always went clear, but boy did he make it interesting. Fox River Valley Pony Club HT, 2014 A fellow Welsh Cob enthusiast who is curren ..read more
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Encore's Life Lately
Cob Jockey
by Jen
5M ago
Mr. Encore...I am so damn proud of this horse and his transformation my heart could burst. I actually can't believe how dramatically his personality has changed after two months on ulcer treatment and a teeth float, plus some time, a consistent routine, and a job he understands and likes. We finally found a bit he likes, and unfortunately it's my Herm Sprenger single jointed nathe that was recalled because it can snap in half, buuuuuut since I won't be using it for too long with him and he adores it, I'm rolling that dice for now Encore with his owner, who is a REEEEEEALLY goo ..read more
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Disco Update
Cob Jockey
by Jen
5M ago
Just because Connor and I are exploring sports other than Dressage and eventing doesn't mean I don't have big plans and dreams for those sports in my head. For this reason: All photos from his lessee There was a time when I wasn't sure Disco was growing up into what I want, and I wasn't sure if I was going to sell him to his lessee or not. But as he's grown up, his most concerning conformation faults have softened significantly, and some time spent with Encore have convinced me that yes, I am keeping Disco. Owning a baby for the first time is hard. I never know what is going to stic ..read more
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