Up to speed

Going through the whole background of my off-the-track horse, Shamus Fancy, and me would be a long, long post, and since this blog is mostly about present day training, I'd like to get to that. When I have a moment, I'll type up some of the key episodes from Fancy and my past (bizarre boarding barns, getting him stuck in quicksand and having the fire dept. come out, winning a jumper class even after falling off (!)). But for now, here's the quick version.

I got Fancy when I just turned 14 and he just turned 4. He was fresh off the track and bought to be my hunter horse. Yes, my parents were totally non-horsey. And I was a beginner--I had been leasing a 26 yr old pony that would lay down when being ridden and drool like a zombie in the cross-ties. Green rider +green horse...

Luckily, Fancy was hot and crazed but only for running and jumping. So I was able to hold on my whole youth and eventually Fancy and I did jumpers, and evented. We had good success in jumpers (Fancy is bold, fast, and dead honest. Turns like a cowhorse!) but our dressage was shoddy.

Fast forward--I went through undergrad and grad school and took him with me. Now, he's 19 and still doing well. As a final capstone to our career, I'd like to get to 3rd level dressage. I know he can do it, even at his age. So that's the quick version.

Welcome!

Shamus Fancy 19 years old French Thoroughbred

I created this blog to chronicle my training with my Thoroughbred dressage horse, Shamus Fancy. We're a typical horse/rider pair except for one thing: Fancy is 19 years old, and I've owned him for 15 years. He's my first horse. And while most riders would be moving on, Fancy and I are pursuing a final goal together: Third level dressage by the time he's 20 and I'm 30.

I hope my story with Fancy will reveal something about the strains and joys of longterm horse ownership, the particular challanges and excitements of working towards a goal with an uncertain amount of time left together, and I hope this blog will inspire other riders not to give up or retire an older horse if they've "still got it."

I'll be posting about every ride with Fancy as a way to stay on track, and I'll also be occasionally posting abour other horses I ride, train, or just pine for.