Black cargo pants for the stylin’ navigator, ADS rule book, back-up gloves for the driverDriving apronGlasses straps for marathon: his, hers, & unisex replacementEventing watch for timing on marathon. Pink to match my gloves.
Combined Driving -> Saddle Seat Driving
I was so happy with my pink gloves [New Equipment] that I bought a pair in black for saddle seat. Amazing grip on the nylon work reins.
Saddle Seat Driving -> Combined Driving
Shopping for carriage whips on the combined driving web sites left me with sticker shock. I don’t know which division these are used for, but the tack trailer at a saddle seat show had them for $12.50. I bought two.
Selfie taken to get long-distance approval before buying.
In the spirit of Boop My Nose on Instagram, @boopmynose.
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I included Milton’s eyes, which my photo teacher [Meet Meg] tells me is an important part of photographing animals. After doing Rodney’s post [Boop], I noticed that most of the BMN pictures show the animal’s eyes. This may be easier with dogs and cats. Horse walks into a bar. Bartender says, “Why the long face?” Ba-dum ching.
In the spirit of the Instagram account Boop My Nose.
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These are hard pictures to take. When I didn’t have a carrot, Rodney greeted me then went back to grazing. When I did have a carrot, I got way too much snoot.
… that I am done with my computer work for the evening.
… that I should have finished my post before the storm blew in.
… that it’s a good thing I have a wireless iPad.
But seriously folks, tropical storm Cindy is headed our way. We’ve been having rain for daaaaays. Fortunately, we had enough break in the rain that I could pick up feed (yay!) and Greg’s driving apron from the dry cleaners (the apron, not the feed) this morning. As soon as I got home, boom. Given the rate that trees drop onto power lines around here, I’m staying off my desktop, which is where my images are, where my drafts are, and where I upload from. But enough about me.
To those suffering bad weather &/or flash floods, stay safe.
BTW, horses fine. Pasture a soupy mess. Barn not as bad as it could be. Cross fingers.
MTCC HDT
Shelbyville TN, USA
June 17, 2017
[Show Report]
Bliss & Greg MTCC 2017 Dressage Photo by Kate BushmanBliss & Greg MTCC 2017 Cones Photo by Kate BushmanBliss & Greg & Katherine MTCC 2017 Marathon Photo by Kate Bushman
Greg & Bliss
Preliminary Single Horse – 1st of 1
Preliminary Division – 2nd of 4
Thank you to the landowners, officials, and volunteers for a wonderful competition. Thank you to Kate Bushman for the brilliant Bliss.
Dressage
The test was steady and accurate but lacked the pizazz of warm up. At one point, I saw Greg and Bliss in the distance and did not recognize them. That’s how good they looked. Now, to get it on command in the ring.
Last but by less than 2 points.
Cones
Started strong. Midway through, Greg lost the plot, and it devolved into what Coach Kate called cones bowling. Usually, a penalty involves knocking a ball off the cone. Greg did this. He also knocked over cones. At one point, he ran over a cone. Shades of me and Alvin [Show Report].
Still, the course was sufficiently difficult that he had the second lowest score for that phase, moving him up to third.
Marathon
We were first at the first obstacle, by a bunch, and second at the other two for the fastest time in our division. If CDE is the driving version of eventing, then Greg had the results of a typical eventer. Go fast. Drive hard. Hate the sandbox.
Our first marathon
View from the Back Seat
Navigators have two duties: to give directions and to move back and forth as ballast. I was able to do one or the other. Mostly, I would get so caught up with directions that I would forget to move. That will come with time.
What won’t come with time is the ability to distinguish my left from my right. In the second obstacle, I said right when I meant left. Unable to process the correct word, yelled, “No! No! No!” and smacked my driver on the appropriate shoulder. He and Bliss quickly reversed course and headed the other way. There’s no fixing this one. We will have to learn to use other words.
Virtual Brush Box 