The Jibbah - Summer 2022

on the cover

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ELIHANDRO MP

Photo By: Candace Maeyer Photography

Proudly Owned By Polina Rubia Reed Training - Jada Reed Chilliwack, B.C.

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President: Nicolien Muller Vice President: Brenda Driediger Treasurer: Berni Van Lieshout Secretary: Joan Arnett Jibbah Editor: Ashley Lauren Toye Board of Directors: Ashley Lauren Toye Bonnie Schneider Doug Archibald Kaila Celsie Laura Leitch Leslie Harpur Seleyna Holowinko Shelby Preston Alternates: Linda Picul Jada Reed Tracey Douglas Brandi Cryer

UPCOMING SHOWS AAHABC Pre-Show | July 18 - 19 Region XVII Championships | July 20 - 24 AAHABC Fall Frolic | Sept 2 - 4 Canadian Nationals | Sept 27 - Oct 2

barn news

FLIGHTLINE FARM ARABIANS

Foaling season has started, delivering great joy to owners and breeders alike. One more foal to go here, all while breeding mares for next year’s precious treasures.

Region 17 Championship Show is around the corner and in our back yard. We are all delighted for a chance to be the host city once again.

If you haven’t come forward to support the show at Thunderbird Show Park, please reach out to the R17 show commission. Volunteers are needed and very welcomed.

Flightline is an AHA designated Discovery Farm and we invite you to come and “Meet an Arabian Horse” this month. Give us a call!

Cheer each other on at all this year’s competitions and remember to have fun!

Photo By: Lysa Roman

The horses weren’t the most intuitive to ride, they were different from what I was accustomed to, I falsely assumed that I could count on there being some sort of Spanish riding school influence in the training. I assumed that they would at the very least understand the concept of direct rein pressure. The first day of pre-race training I threw every bit of horsemanship and riding skills I had to the wind and did exactly what the gauchos did.

We rode with one hand far in front of you and operated it like a joy stick with ample kicking.

There were many different kinds of challenges to face as competitors, most could be overcome with good planning, such as the weather. A good wind breaker was essential for the wind and rain, sun glasses with built in visors were key for keeping the sand and dust out of my eyes. The race organizers suggested the use an ultra-lite two person tent that was guaranteed to stand up to the winds and rain. On the first night I was repeatedly slapped in the face by it as the winds flattened it. On the 2nd day me and a group of 4 others had to cross a nasty sand storm which we could see for quite a few kilometres as we approached it. It formed as

winds blew across a dried up lake bed, we had a rough idea how wide the storm was and could tell that the winds were gusting in excess of 70 miles per hour. As we approached it our horses ears pricked forward, the seasoned gelding I was riding I looked to for comfort, we had only one hour left of riding time and knew we couldn’t waste it trying to go around the storm. I made the decision that we would conserve energy until we were in the thick of it, at which point we would urge our horses into a canter to try and cover ground quickly. My greatest fear was that we would come to a cross fence or ditch, that would involve us changing course and thus getting turned around.

We had no physical land marks, and could hardly see the sky as even our own shadows disappeared in the gusting sands beneath our feet. We reached the other side of in what felt like an eternity but likely no more than 15 minutes. We made camp that night in a dried up creek bed which sheltered us from the winds, though there was no water. We expected to find water in the lake, as shown on our map, which we realized was the one we had crossed in the storm earlier.

When I entered the race, I expected to of experienced moments of despair and self-pity, but, perhaps it was the horses or my low expectations, or the sheer awe inspiring beauty of the land that kept me feeling that surely this isn’t the worse that Patagonia can offer. It was interesting to get to talk to the different racers and compare notes to see how different people trained for the races and what experiences they had. Some took intensive outdoors courses, others spent as much time as they could in the woods, others spent as many hours as possible riding to condition themselves. I did none of the above, I relied quite heavily on my prior experiences to give me the skills I needed to survive. The broodmare I rode bareback in the pasture and through the trails at my friends farm taught me balance. The colts I got on, taught me how to mount swiftly and smoothly so as to ensure I don’t come off if they get goosey and scoot forward. Ample time spent in the wilderness as a young kid exploring gave me a curiosity and appetite to see what was over the next ridge. My easy going attitude meant I wasn’t too worried about winning and I was able to enjoy the scenery more and talk to the local people.

Another challenge I faced were the bogs, both rock bogs and regular bogs, the former being saturated gravel footing that becomes deceptively treacherous to a horse as there are very few physical cues to warn the rider. The latter traditional bog was easier to discern from the surrounding vegetation, yet posed a deadlier threat.

The types of horses we rode were mostly percheron/thouroughbred mixes and Criollo, which were a stockier, rounder looking version of an arab. They were typically short, 14-15hh, typically sensitive, feely and between your legs. They weren’t going to buck, but scoot or shy was more their style. There were some things though that I can appreciate about their horses, being able to picket and hobble, the unfaltering confirmation and ruggedness another admirable trait.

In hindsight, having been home for months and back into the swing of ‘normal’ life, I am grateful I took part in it and would return in a heartbeat.

Did it change me? Make me a better rider? More confident? The short answer is No. I think I picked up bad habits from the moments which felt like do or die decisions. I became a coarser rider and less trusting of my horse, instead of my usual nonchalant attitude. Oddly enough it wasn’t because anything particularly bad had happened to me, I escaped without wreck. I figured that I had escaped without wreck that my turn must be coming to have an accident. I started to anticipate and see issues where there were none. This took a long time to overcome when I got back home.

On day 7, we ended our day at Estancia La Maipu on the southern shore of the baby blue Lago San Martin. Twenty of us were camped along a brook, our tents strung out like a shanti town in any urban park. A greenspace sheltered from the wind and sun we were surrounded by trees that looked unfamiliar to anything I had seen before.

Filled with a strange feeling, I pitched my tent, last amongst the riders to do so that evening. I had been given word I was going to be the first one

allowed to leave in the morning. That would put me squarely in 11th place, just a stone throw from being in the top 10 with only 16 hours riding time before the finish line. Packing up on the morning of the 8th was a great feeling. Knowing this was my last full day on the trail, I was filled with a strange emotion, eager to see my loved ones, and a warm shower. Yet unsure as to how I would proceed back ‘normal’ life.

Once across the finished line I was met with a strange feeling of melancholy, I didn’t feel brave, I didn’t feel accomplished or impressed. The 300 miles and 8 ½ days with by relatively smoothly. I was wondering where my next horse was? Where I was going to camp the next night? Where can I find shelter from the wind? Would it rain? Homelife was equally as frustrating, the years leading up to this which consumed many individuals identities and every spare minute in their day, left a huge crater in their lives. Now as I reflect, nearly 5 months postrace, I can appreciate perhaps more the magnitude of what I accomplished, but I still long for what my next horse will bring, and what view my next camp will offer.

THE JIBBAH

2022 Dates & Deadlines

Cover $70.00 Full Page $50.00 In the new year we will be publishing 1/2 Page $30.00 three issues of The Jibbah. The first Business Card $20.00 will be in early spring followed by a Design $100.00 special edition which will run prior to the Region XVII Championships and again one later in the year. These If you require ad design please contact Jibbah Issues will be of electronic our Editor: version only. As times are changing we Ashley Lauren Toye have decided to go digital. The online Altogether Design versions will be sent out via eblast to 604 916 1673 | 360 296 3998 a 15 000 + subscribers list, posted on ashley@altogether.ca AAHABC.com, Facebook and shared amongst others within the Arabian www.altogether.ca Industry through individual postings.

We welcome all submissions of stories, Submission: articles, news, jokes, poems, sales ads, Please send all completed ads as .pdf farm ads, stallion promotion or .jpeg files to ashley@altogether.ca SPRING EDITION Deadline May 1 FALL EDITION Deadline October 5 WINTER EDITION Deadline December 1

Payment: Etransfer is accepted or cheques. Please make all cheques payable to AAHABC Treasurer Berni vanLieshout and mail to: Berni vanLieshout, 22570 64 Ave, Langley, BC, V2Y2N8

AAHABC MEMBERSHIP FORM An adult or youth membership with AAHABC gives you automatic membership with AHA, allows you to show in all AHA approved shows, participate in all reqional and national events, participate in Youth Team Tournament, compete in the AHA Sweepstakes program and to have a voice in all AHA and Region XVII issues.

You must be a member and you must have received your AHA /Competition card to show.

Please Note: If you were a member of another AHA affiliate club last year, you are not considered a new member by AHA, even if you are a new member to the AAHABC. Please note: If you do not own a horse that shows, or do not show yourself, you will not need a competition card.

Adult Membership

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