Back when I was doing things other than endless saddle seat, e.g. photography [Daily 10], I tried to get up high for panorama shots (Double Oak Mountain, for local folks). The main road led to a gated community. So, I hacked my way along the ridgeline. Not so much as a glimpse of the valley, but I did finally make it to the highest point. This is what I found.
Good use of color. Busy composition. Disappointing lack of originality. C’mon younger generation, step it up & say something new.
The most anticipated class of the year is the costume class at the Stepping Stone Farm fall fun show. This year Michelle Duplichien talked me into it, or I talked her into it. History is not clear. We chose the Doctor Who/My Little Pony crossover character Dr. Whooves.
Macho needed protection from the scary horses in costume.
Seriously. Macho was a star about wearing a hat over his face, having a scarf around his neck (hook-and-looped rather than wrapped, for safety), and being painted with glitter. Then we got to the ring. He took one look at the witch, the airplane, the tractor, et al. and said, ‘Holy crap on a cracker, I do not like this one bit. They smell like horses. They don’t look like horses.’
Michelle was the Tardis. I was a generic Companion, complete with hash marks on my arms. Macho had glittery red sneakers. Technically, Macho was more Trot Baker, but I figured Dr. Whooves was easier to explain. Most people had no idea what we were doing in the first place. Yes, “The Doctor” is not abbreviated, but the My Little Pony version is. And the glitter? Blame it on too many years of saddle seat.
Close up of the Time Turner cutie markThe TARDISCostume classes are serous business.Friends
~~~
Earlier in the day, Michelle rode Sam in her first horse show.
Driving with Alvin. Second place. We cantered. The last time I was in a cart [MTCC], cantering was encouraged. I forgot to dial it back.
Riding Iggy. Three second places. Two important take-aways. Iggy has more go at a show. This makes my job easier. I don’t get sucked into heaving and flailing in a deluded attempt to get the horse moving. Also, Iggy got better as the classes went on. This bodes well for a three-day show. (Provided I ride all three days. Have I mentioned that I have 21 in my division this year at Nationals? No automatic qualifying for the old farts this year. 😦 But I digress.)
Assigning numbers. Unloading food. Driving. Tack switching. Riding. Ringmaster. Buffet. Costume class (more on this tomorrow). As I said last year, home shows are a blur.
(For those who don’t know me IRL. I don’t have kids. I never wanted kids. I get nervous in the presence of kids.)
A birthday party at the barn … twitch, twitch
… for a 7 year old … twitch, twitch
… and 35 of her closest friends. twitch, twitch
I narrowly escaped the pony rides. whole-body twitch in sympathy
Instead, I groomed. Five kids per horse. Poke Alvin [Greetings] and Miss Lace [Queen] with brushes. Switch horses. Bring in next group. twitch, twitch
Alvin stood like the champ he is.
Alvin’s response to the first group: Why am I surrounded by little ones?
Alvin’s response to the second group: Little ones come bearing sugar cubes!
Alvin’s response to the third group: Sug! Ar! Cubes! Sug! Ar! Cubes!
All without moving. His owner, Miss Julie [Show Report], was at the front talking to the kids and helping them feed him from their treat bags. I was at at the opposite end of the horse, telling Alvin how wonderful he was, and keeping the smalls from getting stomped. twitch, twitch, twitch
The word for today is Filler. Last week, I rode six lessons in four days, competed in an intra-barn horse show, then worked a birthday party. This week, more of same. Awesome but exhausting.
It’s that time of year when home horses, husband, & house get put on the back burner while I squeeze in as much saddle seat progress as possible before the end of October. [Let the Madness Begin, Again]
Note to self: Clean out feed shelf more often. We stopped using this in 2013 [Zeno]. Was it really that long ago? That is some serious fugiting by tempus.
Second note to self: As the days get shorter, golden hour moves up accordingly. Schedule the day so that I am not chasing the setting sun into the pasture. Hard to convince them that my photo backdrop is not their hay snack.
Virtual Brush Box 