Weigh-in: 150.4. Well within parameters for buttoning my show vest. #horseshowprep

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 27, 2014

$60 later, show food achieved. #horseshowprep pic.twitter.com/ki2dQr4xGk

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 27, 2014

Eat like an athlete. #horseshowprep pic.twitter.com/mQYkBqBrBr

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 28, 2014

8 in my riding classes, 6 in driving. eeeep. #horseshowprep

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 28, 2014

Last ride at home before show. Coach said I had elegance. Yay! #horseshowprep

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 28, 2014

Good morning! Are we ready for a drive? I'm not. Quick trip into town to dry clothes caught in the rain. #linedry

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

Clothes dry. Back to our regularly scheduled packing.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

Found show bra. Can't find hair updo kit. There's always something.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

Finding this makes me out of proportion happy. Ready to go! pic.twitter.com/8hhkz4ZxM8

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

Headed to barn. Hope I have everything. I certainly have a LOT. Little car is stuffed.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

We're off. See you in TN.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

GU for lunch, along with road snacks.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

We are here.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

Sam settles in. pic.twitter.com/1qfhXeZ1Zr

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 29, 2014

Chop House for dinner.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Hotel! Bed! Night!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Can't sleep. Insomnia rather than horse show nerves. Worrying that this will make me tired tomorrow is not helping.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Goo morning. Are we ready to school & bathe & nap? We are doing the first two early so we can do the third.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Greeted with a purr when I came downstairs. Love this B&B.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

The B. pic.twitter.com/mvcVZteO6P

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

On showgrounds. Horses already fed. Others cleaning & watering. Most would find this a good thing. Me, not so much. #feelingsuperfluous

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Pre-driving litany: sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, …

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Driving litany: turn, look, turn, look. Hold (with hands), chest back. When done right, horse's gaits have bounce. Cool.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Pre-riding litany: remember riding is easy. Riding pretty is as hard for me as driving. Harder b/c no old habits creep in when driving.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Riding litany: legs, seat, chest, elbows, hands, horse, repeat … I remain undecided if eq is end in itself or basis for better riding.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Stepping on a horse's tail while giving a massage. That's a problem I've never had before. #toomuchsaddleseat

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Picking out stalls is like going on the world's worst jelly bean hunt.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Steak & Shake.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Baskin Robbins for dessert. This I miss.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Coming to you from the geographical center of TN. Start of a new bucket list? pic.twitter.com/KrEp2ivLPl

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Brass polished. Do you have any idea how many buckles are involved in a harness?!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 30, 2014

Aya sushi. Alone. Team dinner isn't until 8. That would keep me out past my bedtime.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Lookng fwd to the adventure & proud of how far I've come, in generl for trying a new thing & in specific given how low I was post last show.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Does that cover the eeeeping noise emitting from my brain?

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Good horses. Good coach. Good night.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Aspirin cream for my forearm. Pepto-Bismol for my innards. Ibuprofen for everything else. Am I an athlete or falling apart?

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

And yes, insomnia again. With luck the preceding will take care of that.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Good morning! Are we ready to horse show? Up & dressed before the alarm. Gonna miss those minutes later today.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

I'm proud of all I've done to get here and I'm open to the experience. I'm proud of … It's true as I say it and for a few moments after.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Repeating this and a banzai message from coach have helped me slide my breakfast past my nerves. Onwards!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Makeup!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

6th of 7. Oddly ok with that. Did what I came to. Sam was a star.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

6 of 7. Coach less happy. They said walk. I walked. Should've kept going. Dunno if it would've helped my place. Would've been less yelling.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Baby it's cold outside. pic.twitter.com/esQM2vSZO7

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

4th of 5. Enter working canter. Oops, wrong discipline. Someone else had a worse day.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

I had fun. Probably happier than I should be given my placings & errors, but I had a blast with 2 wonderful horses. Tomorrow!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Quick trip to B&B to degunk. Back at show for our walk-trotters. Did I mention how happy I am not to have split shifts this year?

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

@RodneysSaga Bonnie only appears on the left while chika only appears on the right!

— FNAF Bot (@FNAF_Bot) October 31, 2014

Everyone around is freezing. Not me. Learned something in NH.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

Thought on driving. I neglected to account for how much dazzle Alvin turns on when he hits the show ring. Better tomorrow.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) October 31, 2014

GU. Vile. Works.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Done for the day. Back at it tomorrow.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Good morning! Are we ready to horse show? Got an hour more sleep. Amazing the psychological difference btw 5:30 & 6:30.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Didn't do justice to a lovely breakfast. Due to 3 days of road/horse show food more than to nerves.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Dressing. First class again.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Plan: ride big at the risk of blowing it. Can't place much worse.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Given that I couldn't get the attention of these judges if I were drowning in a river, I'm having a blast. Lots of experimenting.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Eq. 6/7. Tried for and got better gaits. Probably my best round of saddle seat.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Pleasure. 5/7. My goal was to look up no matter what. Don't think me eyes dropped below the concourse level the entire time.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Driving. 4/5. Drove well. Placed behind a horse that misbehaved. This one bothers me. Dis me? Fine. Don't tell me Alvin's not a rockstar.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Chop House lunch. Now shower & nap. mmmmmm

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Parade of Barns pic.twitter.com/O0R9N0tmKc

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

We have been told my look is "dark" & "generic". Quick trip to vendor's row. Now, not so much. Oy.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

My inner traditionalist is prostrate. My inner pretty princess is plotzing.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 1, 2014

Done for day. Headed dinnerwards.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Bed.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Doing the Sunday crossword, waiting for ibuprofen to kick in.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

New clothes and makeup have shot past ladylike into costume class territory. Oddly, this makes me more comfortable. Theater I can grok.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

What this all has to do with horse showing, I have no idea. I am but a visitor in a strange land. At least the locals are friendly.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Good morning. Are we ready to horse show? I'm not. It's 27o outside!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

The other B. pic.twitter.com/9rwpA4N6ew

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Back at the barns.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Dressed and MAKEUP!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

pic.twitter.com/79EpcFBG8M

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

… wait … wait …

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

pic.twitter.com/67sXgTugmI

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Waiting to pay up. Fabulous show horse is on the road.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Heading home.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

and have I mentioned : WOO-HOO!!

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Well into AL. Stopping for soda.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 2, 2014

Home safe.

— Rodney's Saga (@RodneysSaga) November 3, 2014