Awareness of the outside world. FIT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE: How I Become a 52-year-old Cheerleader, , hmccance. Hat tip to Grace.
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Alabama Winter Tournament Association, #3
Rocking S Farm
Helena, AL USA
Saturday 17 February 2024
All with Optimus.
2. Advanced Horsemanship WTC Adult –3rd of 3
3. Advanced Equitation WTC Adult (Pattern) – 4th of 4
8. Pleasure Horse/Pony WTC Adult – 1st of of 3(?)
14. Masters Pleasure 50+ – 1st of 2
26. Academy Driving – 1st of 1
Thank you, once again, to the Gray Family for the outstanding Optimus.
Please note the blue in class 8, against suit riders.
Photo credit, Carrie Williams, stellar show mom.
How To Ask For The Canter
Method 1. Pause. Organize self. Organize horse. Shift horse’s butt noticeably to the inside. Apply outside aids. Optimus will pick up a flawless canter depart every time.
Method 2. Leave horse in a heap. Tip shoulder toward horse. Give a casual Go Canter signal. Previous Horse would pick up a flawless canter depart every time.
Optimus, not so much.
I know this. I don’t always do this.
Got all my leads on the rail in four classes. Blew both (!) leads in the pattern. As a redemption, he started to downshift in a later class. I felt it and caught it in time. I think we had one trot step.
How To Get On A Horse
At ring side. Had to get on horse. No mounting block in sight.
Me, really bad at being catapulted onto horse. [Getting a Leg Up]
Coach James, swears he can get anyone on a horse.
He was right. I did end up on the horse. There was a bit of a splat on my part and a short wander on the horse’s part, but I did arrive in the saddle. Eventually.
Later. Had to get on horse. Class waiting for me. In a hurry. No mounting block in sight. No Coach James in sight. No one in immediate area who had a prayer of heaving my recalcitrant carcass into the air. Stirrup was right there. I was feeling froggy. Foot in stirrup. Spring into saddle.
Getting on from the ground is a maneuver I have not done in yeeeeears. These days, when I get on a horse, I use a mounting block. There is a theory that not hauling sideways on the horse’s spine is a better idea. Plus, it’s easier.
Well, it worked. Inelegant but effective. I was on the horse, motoring toward the ring. And my stirrup fell off. Not off my foot. Off the saddle. The torque of getting on slid the stirrup leather off the bar. Corrected and into the ring.
In future, keep track of the mounting block.
Thus ends Winter Tournament 2023-2024. Previous show [Staying With The Series, Show Report AWTA 2023-2024 #2]
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 
So glad you are showing! With blues! Yay!
Joan
Awareness of the outside world. FIT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE: How I Become a 52-year-old Cheerleader.
Who says we can’t do it all!
Louise
Where in the heck did you find the Fitness is a Feminist Issue, re the 50+ cheerleader? What an interesting read. Plus, getting on, off, canter, etc. etc. for the show. Glad you went. I dropped by later that day, but SSF was loaded and ready to go home when I got there — had errand to McCalla — but did see some really, tiny riders in the lead line class. A couple could actually post! Ciao — MM
Isn’t the cheerleader story amazing?
So is Optimus.