How To Spontaneously End Up At A Horse Show

Factoids of the outside world. “No states except Alabama and Nebraska have a B in their name.” Reader’s Digest: There’s Only One Letter That’s Not in Any U.S. State Name. Can You Guess It? Jones 2023.

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Photo credit: Greg Walcott

ASHAA Fun Show
Heathermoor Farm
Leeds AL, USA
Saturday 10 May 2025

Optimus. Thank you to the Gray & Parr families
10 Academy Driving – 2nd of 2
30 Academy Showmanship Adult WTC – 1st of 2
31 Academy Equitation Adult WTC – 2nd of 2

Show at Stepping Stone Farm. Greg wanted to go take pictures from center ring. Well, if I’m going to be there anyway, maybe I could drive? Not because I’m a driving genius but because SSF has lovely driving horses and the class is simple. Trot this way. Trot that way. Maybe big trot. Line up. Done. I could handle that.

Rain delay. Another week for the idea to percolate. Driving Lesson. [Wordless Wednesday, Driving Lesson]

If I’m going to be at the show for driving, could I ride? I had said no riding with a bad foot. But a) I could feel that foot was gradually improving & b) Optimus. He is such a good dude. [Lesson Horse, School Horse, Emotional Support Horse]

And thus I ended up at a horse show sooner than I expected. To the surprise of no one.

Persistence Of Memory

Optimus and I were coming out of a corner. Judge called for walk. We walked. As I did so, I thought, I bet I should have kept cantered down the length of the long side. Yup. Hunter flat classes call for prompt response to ring commands. In saddle seat classes, you don’t stop until you get to the next corner, i.e. “finish your pass.”

It’s been … more time that I care to consider … since I’ve riding in a hunter flat class. And yet, that’s what pops up if it’s been a while and I’m not paying attention.

Zoomies

I felt pretty darn froggy. I was determined not to lose the canter. I put my leg on. I may have over done it just a leeeetle bit. Fortunately, I’m comfortable storming down the line. Even more fortunately, Optimus is a kind horse and was willing to get over it as soon as I calmed down.

Outro

I had a blast. Zero expectations meant fun and no nerves. More on this anon.

To anyone wondering about the location mismatch. Show was moved due to a second rainy weekend.

In Other News

Photo processing. The photo at the beginning of the post had the background adjusted, which looks weird, but I chose because the contrast makes horse’s head look better. Optimus’s eye appears brighter. The bottom one is closer to what came out of the camera. To me that means it is closer to reality. More true. I know, intellectually, that this is a false premise. Decisions are being made from the moment the camera is picked up, by the photographer, by the camera, by the program, by the computer that is displaying the photo to you. Still, journalism habits die hard and any hint of photo manipulation makes me uneasy. Which photo do you prefer?

Onwards!
Katherine