Horse blogs of the outside world. Interesting to see the view from the other side of the boarding contract. Cob Jockey: First Year Boarding Barn Finances Deep Dive.
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The mental side of the show. [The Ride, AHJA Year End Show 2026]
Renaming the nerves posts. There will always be a mental outlook. Some day there may be less nerves. Today was not that day.
Contributing Factors – Dust
Remember when I got sick from dust? [The Covered Ring and the Case of the Mysterious Malady]
Well, did it again during dusty lessons Wednesday & Friday [The Plan]
Sparing you the graphic details, it was not as bad as before but still less than fun. I was downing Gatorade & Pepto to settle the dust. Or it was stress. Or both. By my Monday lesson, the irrigation system was back in action. Yay!
This may have been one reason they ran the irrigation so hard before the show that an enormous pond (puddle) appear in the ring, to Goldy’s consternation.
Contributing Factors – Work
For a while I blamed work, and that was part of it. Even after work was out of the way, I was still a hot mess. I felt completely stalled out.
Mental Status – Pre-ride
Not good either day.
Goldy had another rider, who rode before me both days. So, there was a lot of waiting around and nothing for me to do, which is bad for my mental state. [Afterthoughts]
My wonderful groom pointed out that sometimes it’s hard to invest in my agita. I fuss and I fuss and I fuss and then I get on the horse and do the thing.
I can see his point. It gets done. But the fussing is real.
Mental Status – On Course
I remembered my courses, and, as I said, I was able to adjust my plan as needed.
On the other hand, I completely forgot about the jump-off in my second class. Under the set of rules for that particular class, you do your first round and if you are clean and under time, you stay in the ring & do the jump-off. I’d love to say that I didn’t think about the jump-off because I knew I had time faults. Nope. After my trip, my entire internal monologue was Yay! (pats horse) We did it! (puffs) Good trip! (exits ring). What jump-off?
Mental Status – Post Show
I was tired after. So very, very tired.
Way too much stress for such a small return. Don’t get me wrong, the show went great. I’m thrilled. But on an objective scale, it was a small show, over small jumps, on a lovely horse. And I got that stressed? There is no mental room to compensate for a bigger show, or bigger jumps, or a ride who isn’t a retired Grand Prix horse.
I have no answers. Will it be different on New Horse? We’ll have to wait and find out.
(Refrains from discussing the home team and their lingering contribution to my stress levels. Or the fact that both horses should have a long history with this show. But, to quote the Pirate King, we waive that point. We do not press it. We look over it.)
Onwards!
Katherine
