 Rylie (Proposed Show name Rotten Rylie)
Rylie
was born here kind of by default. Chris and I had decided to try
artificial breeding methods on two of our better show horses. We had
selected them and watched them carefully for their right time. As luck
would have it, the day the veterinarian came out to do the procedure,
neither mare was ready. One was past her time, and the other ended up
having medical complications that would make her not a candidate for
that year. Here was the vet, here was the time and not a mare in sight.
We had a off the track thoroughbred named Molly that we had been trying
as a school horse. She had proved exceptionally NOT a camp candidate,
and she was scheduled to be shipped out to be sold the next day. As
luck would have it, Molly just happened to be prime for breeding on
that very day. Chris and I had a short conference and decided it was
better to go with Molly than waste the vet call. And so, Molly ended up
staying at Cedar Lodge another year and the result was a long legged
filly with big ears that we named Rylie.
Rylie was a big foal
and as time went on, she was a big yearling and a bigger 2 years old.
Leggy, gangly and frankly, quite ugly with a huge head on her. It was
clear that she was going to be tall. It seems that all her parts just
wouldn’t grow at the same time, so she was always out of proportion. I
can remember turning to Chris several times and just saying, “All her
parts better bring it together eventually.” And they did, but Rylie was
almost 5 by that time.
 Rylie was so underdeveloped by 2 that I
didn’t want to saddle break her. By three, she looked even worse. I did
break her, but just to walk, trot and a very small amount of cantering.
I worked with her again the spring of her being 4 and promptly got
sailed through the air for my efforts. Clearly, Rylie was figuring out
how to use all her parts! She was still gangly and out of proportion,
but there was hope at the end of the tunnel. The fall of 2007, Rylie
was 4 ½ and we started to learn to jump. I took her very slow, and that
proved to be good. It was one thing to have all the parts together in
the right proportions; it’s another to get them all strong enough and
coordinated enough to carry you easily for a course of 8-10 jumps! It
is clear from our work that Rylie is talented over fences. Now and
then, when I come down to a perfect spot, over something big enough for
her to care about, she lifts off the ground and just about throws me
out of the saddle with the power of her jump. During those times, I
usually turn to Cathy, who will faithfully be playing ring crew (and
pick up Amy off the ground crew) and say, “That was really good, wasn’t
it?” and Cathy will nod. The mare definitely has the talent. Now it’s
just a matter of putting it all together.
 Rylie went to her
first show in the fall of 2007 as well. We just went to hack, not to
show. We wanted to give her a chance to check out the show grounds, get
away from home. Rylie was good. She was anxious and a bit spooky. She
called for her friends, but she settled and walk, trot, cantered like a
pro. I didn’t take her in a flat class. It may be several years since
my incident with Dilly, but I have a reasonably good memory. After
being launched off Rylie once, I have no desire to do it twice, and
given the opportunity, I’m sure that I will not stay on for long.
That’s the thing about Rylie. When finished growing, she was just a bit
over 16.2. That’s big, especially when measured against other Cedar
Lodge horses, but not huge. I have certainly ridden horses that size
before and never had a problem, but Rylie’s gaits can be intimidating.
She has a big springy trot, a powerful canter and a launching jump. I
have nothing but respect for those combinations and will try not to put
her into a position that she thinks life might be better without me.
Hopefully, all it will take is time.
If all cards play out
right, Rylie will begin her show career in 2008. Jumping and hacking,
going to new places, gaining experience. I am in no hurry. I will show
her in 2008, and perhaps for the next few years, hopefully with some
help along the way from my nieces. The  wonderful thing about Cedar
Lodge is that we think of our horses as family. Their education is just
part of the learning curve that we feel they need to go through to be
productive citizens. Our hope for Rylie is that she will be here for
many, many years to come. Eventually, I hope that she will become a
good campaigner for someone in our stable, or used by our show team
campers during the summer, but not right now. Now we will be putting on
the mileage and chalking up experiences. I’m sure you will hear more
about her along the way.
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