Virtual Brush Box

Awards Weekend

A is for Awards. If you are joining me from Blogging A To Z, welcome! Since the blog is already daily, with topics for each day [About: Schedule], there is no specific A To Z theme. I may even skip a few letters. Gasp. Clutch the pearls. The goal for this year is less crazy, more visiting. [Ze State of Ze Blog 2014]

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Tomorrow is the Alabama Winter Tournament Banquet. No idea what I will come home with. My ribbons in the riding divisions were all over the place:

Advance Horsemanship WTC Adult, with Robert: 6+2+6
Advanced Equitation WTC Adult (Pattern), with Sam & Robert: 6+1+5
Pleasure Horse or Pony WTC Adult, with Robert: 1+4+2

If I stand on my tiptoes, I might reach a Reserve Champion or two. Realistically, I look to be solidly in the yellow and white zone.

OTOH, after two years of Reserve, I will finally win the driving division, by dint of everyone else staying home.

Academy Driving, with Alvin: 1+1

Finally, I suspect my results were erratic enough to smother the advantage of extra classes. My streak of Hi-Point Adult for SSF has most probably come to an end.

2017 shows [#1&#2, #3]
[List of Winter Tournament posts]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Foto Friday: Saturated Spring

Post #1900

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Concerning Conflicts

Driving Thursday

In Which My Magnanimous Gesture Turns Out To Be An Empty One

Phase 1: We first discuss Greg’s driving schedule. NO conflicts. I send Coach Courtney, Stepping Stone Farm, a celebratory text.

3 organizations. 3 show schedules. No conflicts. #signfromtheuniverse

The three organizations were the two driving groups, AWWCC and MTCC, & the saddle seat folks.

Phase 2: Coach Kate, Whip Hand Farm, decides our plans have been a wee bit ambitious. We pull back to more local/regional activities. Dates collide. I write my Selfless Wife post saying that it is Greg’s turn and I won’t show for three months [Conflicts].

Phase 3: Life-related logistics conspire against the various combined driving activities.

Result …

I’m going to a horse show! Since I have a truck now!! I can bring the second cart, meaning I can show both driving and riding. Snippy will be my chauffeur (or I will be his?). While Snippy is marvelous to drive, he doesn’t have Alvin’s auto-pilot. We have been doubling up on lessons to get acquainted.

Horse Show! Horse Show!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

What Makes You, You? A Blog Hop.

Saddle Seat Wednesday

Thoughtful Equestrian posed the question What makes someone at the barn (or your trainer) think of you immediately? Since I have no one to ask around here, I turned to Coach Courtney at SSF.

Response:
“Whenever I see blue duct tape, I think of you.”
I bring my own halter, brushes, etc. Every item is marked.

(The stool is for bodywork and to keep my brush box above the reach of marking dogs. I decorated it with names of the SSF horses I have ridden.)

“Whenever I open my email, I think of you.”
I send her a lot of email. Sadly, this does not even include the ones I write and delete.
[This Is Not News]

“When ever we win cool stuff, I think of you.”
I love me some useful loot.

Duffel bag.

[Show Photos: UPHA Chapter 8, Cleveland, TN] 2013

Saddlepad.

[Sportin’ the Bling] 2014

Coatbag & backpack

[Banquet Photos] 2015

Technical Shirt

[ASHAG Awards 2015] 2016

Jacket

[Loving The Loot] 2016

Wooden Grooming Box

[ASHAA Banquet 2017]

I tell you, saddle seat is awesome about awards!

I would have expected:
Noise. Even Saddlebred people think I am loud. However, Reagan [Barnshine] says she can hear me when she’s in the ring. That’s good enough for me. People can turn around and stare at me all they want. I’ll keep cheering for my team.

A Pony-Club level of obsession with stable management.

Helmets.

So, what makes you, you?

Update: Another entry. Ambitious: Thoughtful Equestrian Blog Hop: What makes you, you? Color, photography, & sounds.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

De Milton Mobile

Title from De Chelonian Mobile, The Turtle Moves, in Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

Milton had not been anywhere near the trailer in over 2 years. Walked right on. When I posted this on Instagram, I said it had been one year. I was wrong. Tempus Fugit.

The next step is to get Milton’s paperwork in order and head back to SSF for the various activities that require additional people, i.e. hitching and cowboying. Rodney might go for a spin as well.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking for Rodney’s Silver Lining

For future reference.

Mr. Sensitivity demonstrates the art of sleep-eating.

Every character flaw has a corresponding virtue.

I am forthright.
You are inconsiderate.
He is rude.

I am helpful.
You are pushy.
He has boundary issues.

I am easy-going.
You are unmotivated.
He is lazy.

Rodney is sensitive. Those of us who have to deal with his reactions might say over-sensitive. At some point this is going to be a virtue. Brilliance in dressage? A close communion that allows me to read this thoughts on cross-country? Maybe we will never show (shudder) but will achieve some non-competitive goal that currently eludes me?

Someday, I will look back and all of this will make sense. Or maybe the whole thing is a pointless waste of time.

Wow, that got darker than I intended. I’m trying to see the up side, really I am.

Onwards.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Letter Art: Watercolor

Liquitex Muted Pink Acrylic Watercolor Ink
Fabriano Watercolor Postcards
Princeton Neptune 1/4″ Dagger Brush
Sakura Pentouch White Extra Fine pen
Art card by Victoria Wilson, Instagram, Facebook, Etsy
Box art by Shantall Alam, Instagram, Facebook
#SketchBoxMARCH

Frankly, when I signed on for SketchBox, I expected more pens. Pens I can handle, kinda. Pastels & watercolors? Not so much. Although, having said that, I couldn’t find a way to incorporate this month’s pen. Bah! Artbug!

Lettering 2017