First Event Derby

Flash back friday here.  This show happened after the two day Jan clinic( day 1 day 2).

Who really needs to touch the ground anyways

 My horse arrived at the show relaxed and ready for business.  After watching Sprinklerbandit put in a good test I went and tacked up.  Prisoner cracks me up, it doesn't matter where I trailer to, he is 100% patient until I start to put his bridle on, then he decides that it is time to walk somewhere as I fumble with the buckles.

Pony face

 I did lots of walking around in the warm up, letting him relax and find out that it shouldn't be stressful.  We did eventually walk, trot, and canter.  He stayed rideable and mostly unconcerned about the other horses.

Someone needs a smaller saddlepad

 Finally it was time to go in the ring.  Other than wanting to look and the tiny arena fence instead of where we were going, he was pretty good.

Floating

 He loved the free walk as he always does. I got a confusing score of 6 on it though, with the comment good stretch shown.  Ummm, a 6?

Stretching

Still stretching

 I definitely left some points on the table.  Mostly due to getting a bit rushed here and there as well as having not practiced in an actually dressage arena and having questionable geometry.

Not really tracking up

Over all I was really happy with it.  I don't remember our exact score other than it was in the mid 30's.  No complaints there since I knew right where I could have fixed things and shaved more points off.

Derp face at the judge

Happy with the effort

I forgot my gloves, shame!

Courage and Bacon had stalls, so I figured that Prisoner could enjoy the trailer.  It wasn't too hot, and he had a nice full hay bag.  Then it was time to walk the xc course, peruse the tack store trailer, and cheer on friends before I tacked up again.  I typically get way more nervous in xc warm up than I do on course.  There is just such a mix of nerves and emotions from all the other riders, combined with the lack of control from some pairs.  Prisoner was perfect though, calm, controlled, jumping well.  Sprinklerbandit snapped this picture before I headed to the start box, it pretty much sums up how I was feeling, relaxed and uber happy.

Smiles for everyone

We headed over to the start box, chatting with friends, petting my horse, and suddenly it was time.  I had been envisioning this being the first event on our path rolex #dreambigmuch?  He came out questioning but willing.

We got this

The first few jumps were very simple logs, a great way to start the course.  Oh, by the way we were signed up for Beginner Novice (2'7").  We cantered between, but I chose to come back to the trot for the jumps so that he could feel his most confident.

Ears pricked, ready to go

We hadn't schooled this jump the day before

But he was still willing

It felt like things were really starting to roll along.  He was just a tiny bit sticky, but still willing to go forward when I closed my leg.

Green but going

 We had a nice canter into the next field, and coming into the blue barrels (back at the trot)  I actually can't remember if he spooked at the jump judges on the hill (or if a different horse in previous years did), this is what happens when you do a show write up 6 months after the fact.  Either way he jumped it well and we were on to the next jump.

It was a little coop that he had jumped on the very first try the day before.

This one

Well, right as he should have been going over it, he ran sideways.  I smacked him once with the whip and came back around, but he said game over here is my middle finger (hoof?), take me home.  I was kindof flabbergasted.  I pretended I couldn't hear the jump judge telling me to leave and proceeded to trot over cross rails on my circuitous route off the course.  This was a schooling show, with the specific mention that if you weren't dangerous you could finish the course.

We got this

While rather (wildly) disappointing and frustrating, it is horses.  I couldn't take it personally, it was just time to keep training and put one hoof in front of the others.  We had several successful jumps, and I hadn't felt my old enemy fear creeping in, so I would focus on those.  They say the good horses are never easy, so keeping that in mind we would live to fight another day.  The best part?  Being surrounded by friends (and watching Alyssa make her first Novice look like a freaking walk in the park)!

Giant bag of trail mix for the drive home?  Check.

Many thanks

I have to say thank you for all of the sweet comments on my last post.  I so appreciate all the support here in blogland.  You guys are the best!

Did I really jump that?

 I thought I would share some rather humorous photos from schooling on Friday.  I think we will call this a very happy redheadlins gets photographed by very happy fill in show mom three Mike's extra hard lemonades to the wind.

I mean seriously what am I even doing?

Party in da house

Prisoner - please save me and return me to my stall

Prisoner- wtf is she even talking about, please get off, I am not a podium from which to give speeches

Yeah, I really don't even know what was going on here, but I hope it gives you a giggle.

When you pretend to be a hunter jumper

This weekend I went to a show in Utah.  It was the year end show for the Utah Hunter Jumper Association.  The trainer I ride with is amazing at making things possible for me, like shows when I'm broke.  It involves work (like driving a rig down and being her right hand person at the show), but it is work I enjoy and so very worth it.

Part of our group

We drove down Friday morning and arrived about 1:30.  After the barn (10 horses) was set up we all went for rides.  Prisoner was very calm in his stall so I hopped right on, we walked to the covered warm up arena and then he promptly lost it.  I got off and led his screaming spooking self back to the stalls.  I gave him a little quietener (better living through chemistry) and rode a different horse while it took effect.

Maybe he was just in awe of the mountains?

 I wish I could have magically won the lotto to buy the horse I hacked that day, he was a sound seven year old who had successfully competed at 4' jumpers and training level eventing!  After a light school in the arena I went out with another person and we hacked around the facility.  While riding on the road we came around the corner of the indoor only to find a giant tent with zebras and giraffes.  Apologies I didn't get any pictures as I was busy preparing to not get my head bashed in if our horses decided zoo animals were not ok.  It ended up being totally uneventful, thank goodness.

I did get a picture of this sunrise

Then I retacked my boy and he was perfection.  We even popped over a couple jumps and he was completely swoon worthy.  We really are getting his terrible rushing weeded out.

I did a little vertical and then this one, didn't even feel big

Then it was more chores and watching a hunter derby with very strange judging.  There were some beautiful rides and not so beautiful rides and absolutely no consistency with the scoring.  I'm thinking maybe it was a judge in training since it wasn't a USEF show.

No clue what I'm doing, but Prisoner is cute

Love the light

The next morning we got up and did chores before riding in the show ring at 7:30, Prisoner got a little proactive quietener again since the whole idea of this show was to build his confidence.  He did really good with the crowded arena and I let him check out jumps and generally get a feel for the ring.  We didn't ride until mid day in a 3' equitation class.  The classes at this show were really limited for open riders and that was my only option.  The jumps seemed tiny (which was fine with me), I don't think they actually measured.  He warmed up great and we made it around the course.  He was rather overwhelmed and resorted to a few sideways runs, but he got braver and braver so I was happy.

He is just too cute

I guess he wanted bigger jumps

We even got a third place ribbon (don't ask out of how many) and I love it.

Ignore me, look at the satin

The end of the day saw a rather entertaining pick a partner derby.  Sadly I don't have video I can share here as it is a facebook video.   The idea was the first rider went in and rode six hunter derby jumps, then you cantered to the corner of the ring and got off and the second rider got on (no stirrup changing allowed) and cantered straight to the next jump to start a six jump handy hunter round.  Prisoner was  great, definitely not competitive (since he trotted a couple places with me), but really good for him.

Me riding, trainer waiting her turn in the corner

We went out to a great dinner Saturday night and when Sunday dawned I was ready for jumper land.  Thankfully there were more classes available to open riders and I did 2'6" and 2'9" they seemed quite small, but he just needs to get the idea of jumping what I point him at and he doesn't care how tall it is, so I might as well save his legs.

Fist jump of the day

He warmed up good again and was so much less spooky in the show ring.  We went right around the course with a few trot fences but no sideways running!  I was thrilled.

Then a quick break for him without tack and some trailer loading for me and we went back for our last class of the show.  You guys, he had finally figured it out, he didn't get any quietener and he was 100% business.  I could have cried I was so happy with him.  From almost regretting coming when I first got on him on Friday to an almost competitive jumper game face two days later.  I didn't do any crazy jumper turns in the jump off (since that is the last thing his brain needs).

attack mode

rawr

Finally we finished packing and hit the road back home.  Survived a wicked rain storm in the mountains and I was in bed by about 12:30am Monday.  BTW haven't stopped smiling.

Double thumbs up

No show?

So Saturday morning I rolled out of bed at 5:15, was to the barn by 6:15 and fed and finished loading stuff in the truck and trailer.  I caught up Diva and fed her grain and threw on a cooler for the trailer ride as it was a chilly 44 degrees.  She loaded up like a pro even though it was still dark out and the trailer looked like a black hole.  Then I hopped in the truck, it was dead.  GAHHHH!  When I say dead I mean dead, no lights no nothing.  At that point Diva started banging around in the trailer for who knows what reason (I'd used up my 30 second window to start the rig moving).  I walked back and pulled some hay for her to eat out of the hay bag as she seemed to think it was scary.  Upon seeing the hay she lunged forward to EAT ALL THE THINGS, including the end of my finger.

Great sunrise though

It is a good thing there are no close neighbors out there because I was rather loud.  Possible bad words, possible crying due to the frustration of the whole situation, not my best moment.  Anyways I ran to the tackroom and doused my finger with vetricyn (good choice amIright).  There was blood EVERYWHERE, but I did miss my tan breeches so yay!  After I composed myself, I called the guy that was going to show Diva, and Alyssa as I was supposed to be on my way to pick her and Bacon up and then unloaded Diva and put her away.  Prisoner's BO offered to haul him or at least let me use their rig, but three strikes and I was out.  My truck was broken, borrowed truck was dead, and my finger was hurting like a MOFO.  I didn't really think that P-diddy's first show should have me at less than my A game with a bum hand.  So I went and cleaned it, wrapped it, got coffee and breakfast, and went to watch the show and root on my friends.  Still fun, just not what I'd planned on.  Finger was feeling much better on Sunday so I did a little dressage school with my favorite blaze face boy, he was fantastic!

Dreaming of Dressage

His extensions are going to be FABULOUS

Hello sweet position and gorgeous horse
Thanks Horselessinhalifax for the pictures!

Finger feels even better this morning, still super ugly, but whatever.  Hoping to do some jumping today or tomorrow.

Catch ride

So a longtime friend contacted me to ride one of her horses in a dressage show last weekend.  She was the secretary so couldn't compete.  I rode the horse for the first time on a Tuesday.  Then on thursday I took her usual lesson with her trainer (wife of my long term trainer/second dad) who I have taken sporadic lessons from in the past.  The lesson went great and the owner and trainer were really pleased, even saying that I was making the mare look better than ever.  Blondie is a sport horse Appaloosa.  Then Sunday I rode First level 2 and 3.  Warm up was amazing and in three quarters of the show ring she was amazing, but she decided that the judges booth was the gate to hades.  Needless to say the scores were not great, but the owner was still very happy and we chocked it up to young horse learning experience.  Worry not, Alyssa came and took amazing shots!  I really am way too spoiled in the picture department.

Thank goodness we are cantering away from the judge's booth/box of doom

It was 95 and humid (rained all night)

Sneaking some pink

Favorite shot from the show

Pretty girl

I guess her neck was fascinating 

So much fun, I actually love showing

Love the red lining on my coat

Wish I could have had the same relaxation in the ring as the warmup!

Can't wait for a dressup show with my horses!