Strutting Our Stuff

MEGAN: Waking at 4:30 am, I got breakfast to go in the form of Honey Nut Cheerios in a bag and was at the barn by 5:00 am. After giving Simba breakfast, I began to braid and after getting about 6 braids in, was told to put his shipping boots on and get him on the truck. So my braiding is improving, but maybe the speed needs to increase a bit. After putting wonderful Simba on the truck, I jumped into Mica’s car and we sped to Dunkin Doughnuts so she could have breakfast and get to the show ahead of the horses. We did, indeed, have about a half hour until the horses got there in which I picked up my packet from the show office and made the switch into Second 4. When the truck arrived, I got Simba off to finish braiding, at which point it promptly began to rain. After completing the braid job, I groomed a very wet horse and put his tack on- with a towel on the saddle at Lendon’s recommendation- and after getting myself together, went to the indoor to warm up. He was good- forward, but pretty quiet. Lendon came in and said that she was not going to tell me the same stuff she’s told me all summer, and if she saw anything different she’d let me know. So, that means he needed more forward, left bend, and I needed to bring my elbows in and left knee and heel down. About five minutes before the test we went out into the wet footing to get used to that arena and did our test. I was pleased with it- it was good and forward, but the bend through the corners especially to the left could have been better. We walked back to the truck, stripped his tack off, and put him back on the truck to help settle Ivan, who was having a fit. I changed and cleaned my boots, then went to inform Lendon of my ride time for Second 4. The remainder of the afternoon was spent watching tests and studying in the trailer for Lendon’s test. Around 1:30 I began grooming Simba (not that there was much point because it was still raining) and tacked him up on the trailer this time. Upon mounting, we walked to the indoor once again to warm up- only to discover that we were about 50 minutes early. I myself checked with the show secretary to be sure the class was running on time, but she told me 20 to 30 minutes early. Creating a longer break, they instead decided to just leave everyone at their assigned time. So, we walked (forward and down) for a bit, then began our warm up. Lendon looked at my first test and said that if my lengthenings were better, and if I stretched him more in my ride, the score would be better- which was a 68%. We did lateral work, transitions, and lots of mediums in the trot and canter. A bit before the test, we went out to get used to the very, very sloppy footing, and noticed the rain had finally slowed to a light drizzle. We went around the arena doing mediums until he rang us in to do the test. Up until the canter, it was great. One turn on haunch was a bit sticky, but everything else was good. Then, after the first canter medium, I totally blanked on where we were going. I turned across the diagonal instead of down the centerline, so had to go back and redo that movement. As we went into the left canter volte off the centerline, a big shipping van came rolling down the driveway, and Simba took off bucking, plunging, and kicking, trying desperately to get me off. I stayed on and finished the volte, and continued on to complete the test. Through the rest of the test was very good, I was nervous about my score. I needed a 61% to qualify at Second Level- and with the escapades of the test, which would be difficult. After untacking Simba, I took him for some grass and then loaded him to keep Mouse company (by the end of the day we had 7 horses on this truck). I gave Simba an apple and bought myself an ice cream and went to watch Brooke’s test. On the way back to the truck to help Brooke untack I stopped by the secretary’s trailer and thanked her and the manger of Maplewood, where the show was held, and went to pick up the test- it was a 61.190% and I ended third!!!!!! So, now I am qualified for Regionals at First Level and have one score for Second Level. Tired, I rode home with Brooke and unloaded the stuff and horses (not in that order) and went home. Showering and laundry are next on the list, and then I am off to bed. What a day!!!!!

SIMBA: Mom gave me breakfast really early, then took me away from my hay to put braids in my mane- no fair, Mom! Then she put me on a big truck with lots of other horses, and we went to another show. It rained all day, so I stood on the trailer almost the whole day, except for when Mom rode me or took me out for grass. Maybe that’s why I felt so good when she rode me again- sorry about that Mom! I got a little carried away, and boy was it fun!!!! Now I am settled at home with a curly mane, munching my dinner. I am off to bed- it sure had been a long day for this horse!