Show Photo: ProAm 2017

Saddle Seat Wednesday

Bzzzt … Thank you for playing … You are the weakest link …

Doug Shilfet Photography. Web image of purchased photo.

Originally, I didn’t want to remember anything about this show:

This is the first time I did not buy a riding picture. It was that bad.
[Show Photo: Pro-Am 2017, The Wonderful Mr. Whizbang]

In the interest of completing the historical record, I went back and ordered. Why buy a bad photo? There was at least one where Desi was cute. Mostly she looked annoyed. I was a cross between grinning jack-o-lantern and deer-in-the-headlights in all of them. It was a horrible show [Show Report: Riding at ProAm 2017, or Showing Without My Security Blanket I] that ushered in a horrible spring/summer [Sine Die Saddle Seat, Pondering the Hiatus]. Why not get the picture that reflects the true situation?

My trifecta of saddle seat sins: looking down, leaning forward, and riding off my lower leg. Observe the daylight between my knee and the saddle. At least my hands are up?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

New Equipment: Riding Reins

Riding reins!

Riding reins for me to ride my horse!

BioThane reins from Two Horse Tack!

Why white? Why not? Since we are sharing the driving bridle at the moment [I Ride Milton!], I wanted a color that would not get confused with Milton’s black [Reins] and red (eventually, for marathon) driving reins. Since driving reins are removed when unharnessing, the potential for a tangled heap of reins is high. At least we will be able to sort by color.

So they get dirty. They are schooling reins.

Schooling reins that I will use to school my horse!

Schooling reins that I will use to school my horse who I rode again on Sunday! (Although getting on was harder than it should have been, or more accurately, harder than I wanted it to be. I will prevail! Eventually!)

I’ll stop! using! exclamation marks! at some point!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Letter Art, AlphaBooks 2018: Looking for Letters

Please help. I need book recommendations.

I am lettering 26 horse books for my Sunday posts again. It combines drawing letters with hunting for horse books. Win-win. This year, backwards.

Have nothing: N,I,G,F,E,D,& C

Have book but am open to other suggestions: Z,X,V,R,Q,P,O,M,& J

Will take recommendations on all letters, particularly obscure books/authors and the less populated letters. Since I’m going reverse alphabetical, I need the later letters sooner.

Project explanation [AlphaBooks 2017]

Authors from last year [Letter Art, AlphaBooks: Recap 2017]

Process notes: Not in Inkscape [Goals]. I tried. Will continue to hit my head against a wall try to learn software from online tutorials. Colors from New York Cliché, which I have been binge reading over the holidays & while hiding from the cold snap.

Thank you for reading and for recommending,
Katherine Walcott

USDF Interview: Andreas Stano, DressageClinic.com

“Behind The Scenes: Andreas Stano, DressageClinic.com”
USDF Connection
December 2017/January 2018
United States Dressage Federation

A short interview with the owner of an online video service, DressageClinic.com.

©2017 United States Dressage Federation. Used by permission. Reproduction prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher.

 

Previous Post [Amy Struzzieri, Horse-Show Night Watch Service]
Previous Posts [Behind The Scenes]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Foto Friday: Instagram December 2017 & Top Nine 2017

Top 9 of 2017

Recap courtesy of 2017 Best Nine. Previous Year Top Nine [Instagram: December 2016]. The lead post both years was a ribbon photo. Y’all know what’s important to me. Robert & an SSF Christmas bow repeat in the top nine.

Last month’s Instagram from @rodneyssaga. Previous Month [Instagram: November 2017]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

I Ride Milton!

… with lots of help!

I’ve been saying all along that I wanted someone else to ride Milton first. Come the day, I decided I could do it myself. We were a) in an enclosed space, b) in a place Milton knew well, and c) Coach Courtney was right there making useful suggestions, such as “Maybe loosen the grip on his mane and pick up your reins.”

To recap: Milton’s record with us under saddle is not good [Universe, Boomerang, Progress] Recently, we had lunged Milton at home with saddle to indifferent results [Blinkers]. At SSF, it was NBD. The first day, Coach Courtney put weigh in the stirrup. I could see that she was this close to throwing a leg over, but decided against it. Next time, I stood on one stirrup and let him carry my weight a few strides. The next step was to get on.

I was expecting to walk a few steps on a lead. We – it was most definitely a group effort – ended up letting me walk and steer solo. Coach Courtney thought we were ready to trot. We decided to declare victory and go home. Pushing the envelope has not worked for us in the past. Festina lente.

Yes, I’m wearing my vest [New Equipment]. No, I was not expecting a bronc ride. Otherwise, I would not have been on. Since they are bulky, both vests live in the dressing room of the trailer. Since we had it ten feet away, why not use it?

Yes, he’s wearing his driving bridle. We wanted them for the blinkers, and also because it’s what he is used to. Same tack. Same ring. Same people. Only difference is that he is giving the old lady a pony ride. Seriously, tell me that’s not his expression.

Milton’s response to all this? Okay, everyone is tense. Why is everyone tense? Oh well, their problem, not mine.

Good! Boy!

One shouldn’t need photographic evidence to make an event real, but I haven’t stopped looked at these yet. Photos by Rachel Wamble.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott