Tony's Family Tree

So people have been posting about their horses' family trees. Pretty sure they are all Thoroughbreds. Well, I don't have a Thoroughbred, but I love a good family tree! I know exactly zero things about Lines (his owner is supposed to send me his passport/papers to look at sometime...all I know is he was imported from Germany and used as a jumper in California before moving up to Washington to become a dressage horse years ago).
Tony, on the other hand, I know maybe too much about ;)

Tony's pedigree can be found here under his registered name Wheaton BCH.

I tried to find as many photos as I could! His immediate family is easy, as both his sire and dam (and full brother) live on-site. Haflinger colts are traced through their sire's line, and fillies through their dam's line (so all of tony's brothers' names start with W, and his full sisters' names all start with N). There are seven stallion lines and quite a few more mare lines (something like 13, I think).

Let's start on Daddy's side:

Sire: Waldheer van de Wortel aka "Wally". He was born in the Netherlands and imported as a yearling as a stallion prospect. He competed up to Training level eventing (I believe he was the first Haflinger in North America to complete a Training level event), and was schooling 3rd level dressage when an injury ended his career. He's now gelded and retired (except for when I occasionally brush the dirt off and climb aboard for a spin. He's fun). He has quite a few offspring out there, and tended to have really sporty kids with good bone.

Daddy back in his competitive days. Sadly I can't find most of his old competition photos since his owner switched their website host and now I can't see the pictures!

Wally last week. Nearly 20, and still so adorable!

Wally's sire is Wallenstein, an Austrian stallion. 

I don't know much about Wallenstein, but he sure is pretty!

Wally's grandsire is Winterstein. Winterstein was quite a popular stallion from Austria and can be found in pedigrees of many nice horses. I'm partial to the W-line of stallions :)

Sporty and substantial!

If we traced Wally's line all the way back, we'd get to the founding W-line stallion Willi, born in 1921. 

Tony's ancestor. I think it's like 7 generations back.

I don't know much about Wally's dam, Elisa, except that she was a silver-rated mare in the Netherlands, and was maybe also imported along with Wally? Don't quote me on that one though.

Elisa's sire is the well-known stallion Midas, who spawned several other stallions (including Midas Touch NTF, a popular stallion in the US). 

Midas at his inspection in Austria (late 70s/early 80s)

Dam: Noblesse BCH. Noblesse was born on the same farm Tony was in 1996. She was broke to ride at one point, and I believe jumping up to 4' (didn't compete, but did a few Haflinger demos). When Noblesse went through her inspection, she was the first American-born gold-rated mare in the US! The ratings are Gold, Silver, Purple, so she's obviously the best. She still hangs out on the farm. Her last baby is now 8, I believe. When she was younger, her mane was measured at 4 feet long at its longest point. Hair!

Momma a few years ago looking trim and lovely.

Momma about a month ago, looking a little rounder around the edges, but still as lovely as ever.

Noblesse's sire is Aristocrat TOF. This name might even be familiar to non-Haflinger people. Aristocrat has a Breyer horse model:

I don't think it particularly looks like him, but I have the model anyway. Haflingers represent! 

Here's the real Aristocrat. He's had quite a long competitive career in the midwest, and has sire many offspring. I also like the A-line stallions. From what I've seen, they tend towards a more modern, sportier build, and I like that in a competition horse. 

The real Aristocrat. He's beautiful, and I like how he's built. They did a lot of campaigning with him in the mid- to late-90s I believe.

Aristocrat's sire is Afghan II. Afghan II's sire Afghan (bet you didn't see that coming...) is considered one of the greatest modern Haflinger stallions (he was born in 1969).

Afghan II

Afghan

Afghan's sire Artist, another big name.

If we traced the A-line back two more generations, we'd get to Anselmo, the founding stallion of the A-line. Tony's great-great-great-great-great-great grandsire.

Noblesse's dam is Naomi NTF, who I sadly don't have any pictures of. Naomi's sire was Wall Street NTF, another son of Winterstein, and grandson of Midas. So really, all Haflingers are related ;)

Wall Street NTF

So that's what went into my darling Tony the Pony. I don't know many cute stories about his ancestors, but I know his sire and dam super well (I've known both of them since they were babies), and know enough Haflinger history and background to glean some interesting information. Kinda fun to hunt down all the pictures too!

Wordless Wednesday: Outfits

What can I say? I'm an adult amateur with a Barbie pony and a unicorn. Of course they have to have matchy-matchy outfits...This is just a few of our outfits. We have more. I may have a problem...

Media!

No words today, just a video. It's about a month old, but I think we had some really good moments!

I've got another clinic coming up this weekend, so I'm hoping to bribe my husband into videoing ;)

This was at one time an HD video, but I posted it to facebook, then downloaded it from there and put it here. Oh well!

Dressage Crash Course

A month and a half ago, I had never ridden a half pass, a medium gait, or a (purposeful) counter canter. I had never felt what upper-level dressage was supposed to feel like. I mean, I'd never even felt 2nd level- correct shoulder in and changes of lead through the walk. Now, I've got this incredible horse, one that knows far more than I do about this whole dressage thing. It's intimidating.

At least we look cute. Well, he does anyway.

But every day, I slog through. Often on my own in the evening, after I've worked a full day and then worked turn in at the barn (to afford board, which just went up again). No one is around and I push myself. Some days I feel like a dressage rider and some days I feel like a sack of potatoes riding an albino giraffe. Some days I have help from my trainer. I can't afford more than a lesson every other week or so (plus, I just don't have the time), and even then, I'm "paying" for my lessons by illustrating my trainer's book (which she is supposed to be working on).

We're dressaging!

We look a little better every week. I've been struggling with saddle fit (boo), and the saddle fitter was out last week and the visit wasn't super helpful (basically, the two saddles I have won't work. My trainer's saddle fits Lines well, but I sit terribly in it! Guess I'll be using it though).

I really need to get some new media- the pictures here are from a couple weeks ago, and I've been working on bringing his back up and neck down and control within the gaits. Hopefully I can convince my husband to come out and take pictures soon!

Pretty in pink! But oh so hollow through the back. It's better now, I swear!

October 10 Questions

Because I've had a hard time putting words down lately. So I'll just do this blog hop on the very last day of October.

What do you consider "jumping high" for yourself? 

Well, I haven't been jumping consistently for...a long time now. Tony LOVES jumping, and would be much happier being a jumper, but I'm determined to dressage that pony. I have jumped 3'6" with him, and felt good jumping 2'9" courses. I did a 3' course with him once, and the jumps themselves felt easy, it was the maneuvering between them that I had trouble with ;) So right now, I'd say 3' is jumping high. In college, when I was riding IHSA (the last time I was in a consistent jumping program), I was jumping 2'6"/2'9", I'd say.

3' about 3 years ago.

What are your short term goals for riding? Do you think you'll reach them?

I want to get to where I am a competent third level rider (maybe 4th?) by the time Lines has to go home (March). I hope I'll reach it! Only a month in to riding him, and I'm feeling more and more like it's within reach.

Long term goals for riding? Do you think you'll reach them?

Long-term, I'd like to ride dressage at the FEI level. I never thought I'd be able to reach that goal, but now I'm realizing that between good timing, perseverance, and a little luck, good things can happen. So that's my goal, and I WILL reach it :) I've got a lot of riding years left (knock on wood...)

How many barns have you been at in your riding career?

I haven taken consistent lessons out of 4 barns - one in Washington and one in Maryland as a kid, one in Michigan as a college student, and the one I'm at now. 

How many different trainers have you been with in your riding career?

Once again, for consistent lessons, I'd say 5 or 6. Although the barn in Maryland I think I rode with a few different people (up/down teachers... I did not have the greatest experience at that barn, so I think I've blocked a lot of the memories). For trainers I remember, it would be V, J, and K (V and J in Washington, K in Michigan in college), and then G and JW now (I've ridden with G for 5 years now, although I did take a few lessons with her when I was in high school, and then JW I've been taking clinic lessons from since May, and hope to continue- she's the best!)

Ever worked at a barn? What did you do?

Yep, I am currently working turn-in at my barn 3 nights a week. It gets exhausting with my day job, but I cannot afford board otherwise. I bring horses in, feed, check waters and blankets, and blow out the barn aisle. I've also groomed for my trainer and tacked and hacked lesson ponies at the barn in Michigan. I also started working as a camp counselor at a farm in our area...it lasted a week (reason why in next question).

Scariest thing that has happened at your barn?

Hmmm...I mean, there's been a fair amount of your basic horse and horse people injuries. Nothing too traumatic that I've witnessed at the barn. The scariest thing that has happened to me at a barn would be when a supposed kid-broke trail horse reared and flipped over on me when I was alone on a trail my first week working as a camp counselor, two and a half years ago. I broke my femur, and had minor fractures in my pelvis and sacrum. It majorly sucked. I'll tell the whole story here sometime...

My leg in traction

 Have you ever given a lesson? What level was the rider?

I've given some basic beginner lessons to friends and family. Nothing for money though. 

What is your opinion on the accuracy of critiquing riders online?

I suppose it can be helpful, but I never critique anyone, and I don't like putting myself out there to be critiqued. Honestly, when I post riding pictures or video on the internet, I just want people to tell me how pretty my ponies are ;) My trainer can yell at me for looking like a sack of potatoes. 

What is the ideal height of a horse for you?

In my adult life, I've ridden everything from a 14hh pony, to a 17.1hh Warmblood. I prefer the bigger guys, as I'm not exactly a small person, but I think I look fine on my 15hh "pony." 

14 hands, but a large enough barrel to take up my leg. 

I Have a Type

So trainer G and I discovered in my lesson this week that I have a "type." G hadn't ridden Lines yet, and I really wanted her to get on and get a feel for him so we can have a plan of action for our lessons. Turns out that Lines can be a little bit of a bully. He doesn't always respect the bit, and he doesn't want to move over when you put your leg on. Having ridden Tony for a few years now, I am just amazed that any horse will move its butt over even a little bit. Turns out a little bit isn't enough. I am not holding Lines up to a high enough standard. G says that if I blow on him, he should be moving across the arena.

At least he's super cute, even if he's not reaching for contact...

So I need to be doing lots and lots of downward transitions and leg yields in all gaits to get him respecting the bit. Once you can do that, he is much more supple and maneuverable. My first lesson with G on him, I could barely control the canter. Partly because I am so tense in the canter myself from years of defensive riding on Tony, and partly because I didn't have Lines respecting the bit. He wants to blow through my aids a bit.

I'll be doing some experimenting with getting Lines more supple and respectful, and then I'm hoping we can start moving up! Turns out he is not so unlike a certain golden pony in attitude. I joked that he's like a more schooled Tony (extended trot on the circle instead of cantering for one thing), and really it's not that far off. So it's super good practice. I do want Tony to move up at least a few levels, and learning to ride on Lines will give me lots of tools for how to get more out of my pony.

Selfie attempts...more difficult with a tall horse turns out...

Especially when he's trying to lick your face

Changes

It has been way too long since I've written an update, and SO many things have happened since then! First things first, Tony is perfectly sound and healthy.

Healthy and sassy as ever

Even though Tony is perfectly fine, he is getting the winter off. No body clipping, no blankets, just going fuzzy and feral. Why, you ask? Because of this: 

Mirror selfie pros already

I have a new horse! This is the first horse that I have ever been officially, legally responsible for. My name is on a contract. I do not own him, but have taken him on as a care lease for 6 months. It al happened very fast. So I'll tell his story. 

Lines 29 (pronounced "Linus"), is a 21-year-old Westfalen (Westphalian-why all the different spellings?) gelding. Several years ago, I saw him for sale, showed his ad to my trainer, and commented on how handsome he was. I don't particularly like gray horses, and his build is not one I'm usually drawn to, but for some reason he caught my eye. Buying a horse was definitely not in the cards, so I just kept an eye on his career after he sold. 

His current owner is amazing. She's a young trainer, just now starting her own business. She took Lines from first level to Prix St Georges over the last few years. She now has a very nice three-year-old, and is working with some very nice horses with an upper level trainer/breeder in our area. Lines is her baby, but it came to the point where it was best for both of them to move on- her to bringing up her young horse and work on her business, and him to find an adult amateur wanting to work up the levels and able to shower an older horse with love and cookies. She posted him for sale. 

I saw his ad and thought how lucky someone will be to get to have Lines in their life. My trainer, G, sent me the ad and I said something along the lines of "Aww, Lines! Too bad I can't buy a horse." Then she pointed me to the last line of the ad. "Possible short term lease to the perfect situation," and said "YOU are the perfect situation." 

That was on a Monday. By Wednesday, Lines' owner and I were seriously discussing contracts and insurance. The barn I ride out of has an excellent reputation for care and training. It may not be the fanciest facility, but the horses are meticulously cared for, and want for nothing, so his owner felt good about sending him there. 

I arranged to go see Lines on Friday. I thought we'd just go down, try him out and chat with the owner, but G suggested taking the trailer down. Just in case, you know? 

It was a really, really long ride down. There was an accident and we were stuck in the worst traffic ever. We were over an hour late by the time we got to the owner's barn. I felt terrible! 

I thought I'd watch the owner ride and then hop on and try Lines out. But no. We threw tack on the horse and tossed me up. And then I had to perform with the owner and her trainer watching me. Talk about nerve-wracking! I was afraid to take up contact or push or pull on anything too hard for fear his owner would think it wasn't a good match. After 15 minutes of a subpar ride where I don't think I really had him round at all, G said she would walk Lines out while we signed contracts. And that's how I got an FEI (lease) horse!

Trainer kept saying that it was okay to take a feel. Haha, nope! 

It took a bit to get Lines in the trailer. He didn't want to leave. It was rough. But we finally got it done, took him home, and tucked him in. He settled in wonderfully, and is right at home at the barn. He has been so wonderful for the last week and a half. My confidence is going up, and I am so excited to actually learn how to ride dressage! First lesson tomorrow, so I'll definitely have a recap for that! 

Such a handsome face!