Archive for the ‘Joe Bear’ Category
Father, Son Bonding
I haven’t had any news to share in a while because Joe and I have cut back on shows over the last few months due to “the times”…but it has been a good opportunity to focus on our fitness and strengthening. Unfortunately about a month ago I had a little accident that left my right arm in a sling. Nothing major…just something that will take a few months to fully heal. In the first few weeks when I couldn’t do anything, my hubs, David went out with me to take care of Joe for me. He caught in the paddock, cleaned his feet, put on his boots and his bridle and did his stretching and lunging. Joe was a star and they bonded well! There was even one occation where David went out without me to lunged him. This could be very useful…
Paula
(wife of the best husband in the world!)
If you have not read the story of David purchasing Joe Bear as a Valentine’s Day surprise for Paula, take the time to read it now. Husbands all over the world need to take notes . . .
Knight Villain Building Trusting Bonds While Having Fun
Knight Villain is doing great. We recently went on a ride with our good friends Paula and Joe Bear to a neighboring farm to watch them school some cross country fences, and we got to explore some new trails and enjoy the sights and sounds of early spring.
Paula and Joe arrived early and we loaded Knight in about five minutes (oh, how that ground work pays off). The ride in the trailer was uneventful and both horses arrived fresh and interested in their new surroundings. They could see the horses in the pasture next to the trailer and eagerly whinnied to them as we prepared to set off.
Joe Bear and Paula school cross-country fences.
After a quick warm up in the arena, we were escorted to the trailhead by a couple of boarders and spent some time exploring the gentle hills and quirky little streams running through the property. Then it was time for Paula and Joe to hit the course. They flew over everything in sight with no hesitation and would gallop past us while Knight unconcernedly chewed on the grass. To those people who think that off-the-track thoroughbreds will explode and run off if another horse is moving by at speed, Knight proved them wrong. Read the rest of this entry »
Dreaming of Summer – Deep Sigh!
Joe Bear and Paula are dreaming of summer and warmer days. Click on the photo to see Joe Bear's photo gallery with images from warmer days.
I found these pics I took of Joe Bear in the summer. Only now in the winter time do I realize just how gorgeous he looked. I can’t wait to get back to those days! Winter time is so hard on them 
Paula
Joe Bear’s Smooth Moves Win Two Blues
Joe Bear wins two blues at a recent dressage competiton
The show last weekend was fantastic. Joe was an absolute star. He acted like an old veteran the whole day. It was a dressage show at that newish facility ten minutes up the road. My ride times were quite spread apart, giving us a lot of time to just hang out. He was not nervous or anxious at all, even though it was COLD and a little windy. The tests were in an undercover with big white boxes and red flowers at every letter. None of that fazed him. Many horses did not even want to go into the arena! The only thing he didn’t like during his tests was the short side at C where the judge was sitting RIGHT there and we had plenty of spectators.
In warm up and the tests I had the best rides I have had in a long time. Joe was so relaxed through his back. Our transitions in the test were not fluid and he was spooky at that one end, but everything in between was so nice. We finally got an eight on our free walk again!
And the best part of it…. Joe took home the blue in both tests! YAY GO JOE!
I had such a good time.
Paula
Please visit Joe Bear’s photo gallery for more winning photos of his recent dressage competition.
Grid Works Pays Off When the Fences Get BIG!
Grid work and dressage play a big role in jumper training. Joe Bear has gained confidence over fences due to lots of gymnastic work over small fences. See more photos in Joe Bear's Photo Gallery.
Joe Bear and I haven’t been out and about very much in the recent months but I hope to do something soon. We have been working at home with lots of hill work and flat work and I make it a habit to do grid work at least once a week. I recently realized that the dressage saddle I have been using for years no longer fits Joe well. He started pinning his ears and tightening his back when I asked him to move forward. Behavior that is completely out of character. Turns out my saddle, plus an overdue need for a chiropractic check-up, was the reason.
Once he was happily back in alignment, I borrowed Elizabeth’s dressage saddle and was wowed in the first ride! Not only was Joe much happier, but I could actually sit the trot with considerably more ease! The sitting trot is especially hard if the horse’s back is tense and with an ill fitting saddle, how can the horse relax? So not only are my rides so much better, but I get to buy a new saddle!
In the meantime we have been doing grid work and canter poles and on Sunday I put up a more challenging jump. I stood up two barrels, laid a pole across the top and ran a pole down each side to help center his approach. It was solid and intimidating, but really got him to lift his legs. The grid work has given him so much more confidence and when I approach fences he does not rush at them and resist the contact by throwing his head. Plus, in the pictures, I can finally see an improvement in his jumping style and leg position.
Paula and Joe Bear have been a team for many years. We have lots more Joe Bear and Paul Success Stories on our Bits & Bytes Farm Web site. Be sure to read how Paula’s husband, David, gave his wife the best possible Valentine’s Day gift!
Posted in B&B Success Stories, Joe Bear | 
Tags: Dressage, Jumping, More Success Stories, Photo Gallery, Training
Quite an Event – Blue Ribbon for Joe Bear!
Joe Bear and Paula win a blue ribbon eventing
Poplar Place CT schooling show. We arrived and I put Joe in the stall and went to get his hay and buckets. When I got back he was calling out and sweating like I had deserted him for hours. My first thought was, “This is going to be a very bad day…” I took him out to look around and found a huge flat area where he could see the competition arenas and lunge. It worked perfectly as his tenseness immediately dissolved.
An hour before my ride time I began to get ready. I wanted a long warm up because that does me as much good as it does him! The test was not too bad, but I felt it was a little tense. The arena felt so small! ?There wasn’t much time after that before the jumping so we warmed up over few jumps and went in for our stadium. Again Joe jumped happily and boldly. What a relief!
To finish the day, I went out to school cross-country. I introduced him first to the water jump, which he loved, and then we went out on the course and jumped anything that didn’t look too scary. He was ready to try anything! What fun!
While hosing him off after we got back they announced the results and to my amazement, Joe and I had won a blue ribbon! I found out that they had split the class because of the number of entries and I won out of my “group.” If I took all scores into account, we would have placed third with only 1 penalty point behind the leader! So it turned out to be a very GOOD day.
Lessons are going to continue as much as possible and we are planning on a show at least once a month. I cannot wait to see how Joe does once I can have him going at shows like he goes at home!
Joe Bear and Paula have been together since 2006. Click here to read their past success stories.
Posted in B&B Success Stories, Joe Bear |
Tags: Bits & Bytes Farm Horse, Dressage, Eventing, Jumping
