Show Tweets, Georgia Fall Classic 2015

Happy Thanksgiving in the US. Happy Thursday everywhere else.
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Georgia Fall Classic Horse Show [Facebook]
Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter
Perry GA, USA
November 21 & 22, 2015

Thursday

Friday

[Meet Dr. Margaret]

Or more likely, for his peppermint.

Saturday

Had.

Sunday

For. Entry from last night. Not ours. We did not costume.

Show Report
Show Today
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Show Report, Georgia Fall Classic 2015

GA Fall 2015 sign

Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter
Perry GA, USA
November 21 & 22, 2015

Is it okay to be a little bit evil?

Points-chasing is evil. Points-chasing can lead otherwise well-intentioned souls down the path to horse abuse and bad sportsmanship. One should compete for the joy of the sport, regardless of the ribbons. Therefore, I hang my head to admit that the third reason I went to this show was for the points. Yes, driving; yes, double classes [Show Today]. But also points.

Let’s be serious, we all know I will show next season. I may even show in the occasional Academy class, for various logistical & financial reasons. However, the plan is to show less heavily [Whither Saddle Seat]. Therefore, I went to one more show this year to sweep up the last few points toward a chance at some lovely high-point awards on offer. Six classes and the likelihood of small entries meant mission success regardless of what places I took. But just this once. I can quit points-chasing any time I want.

Most memorable line: Coming out of my first driving class, I was told, “It’s not a chariot race.”

Out-take from tweet photo shoot:

Sam & Big Photo by Melissa Croxton
Sam & Big
Photo by Melissa Croxton

GA Fall 2015 Sam & Big closeup

The tallest shavings shed ever:
GA Fall 2015 shed

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Why Bother With Nerves?

So I get nervous before my class at a horse show. So what? So I dissolve into a seething cauldron of stomach acid on the mounting block before a lesson. Why does this require calling in a professional [First Appointment]?

It is out of proportion. In my saddle seat lessons and show classes, I am required to walk, trot, & canter at controlled speeds around a flat, manicured arena. How is this cause for alarm? This is not bungee-jumping off the Kawarau Bridge.

It is growing. Since the early days, I’ve been nervous about getting on a new horse, with the inexplicable exception of Previous Horse [In Defense of Caesar]. Even the rock solid George [photo] caused me trepidation at the start. But I eventually got over it. I don’t seem to be getting over it lately, not even with St. Alvin [photos]. Nor are the shows getting easier.

It is limiting.
SSF. I suspect that there might be interesting opportunities available if I didn’t freeze like a startled possum at the idea of riding anyone other than an entry-level school horse.

Rodney & Milton. ‘Nuff said.

Jumping. Back in the summer I visited a barn to talk about jumping lessons. Between the hot weather & show schedules, we never found a time. Then came boot camp [Progress Report]. I didn’t want to the two styles to conflict, at least, anymore than they already did. Now, nationals is over. The 2015 show season is over. I’m stylistically free as a bird. Go jump something. Have a lesson or two. Hop over 2-foot fence. The very thought feels me with dread. Part of me says, Yes! Jump all the things! The other part says, oh. hell. no.

Sigh.
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Free to Good Home, Off Topic Book Giveaway

I have a book-buying problem, defined as ending up with two copies of the same book. However, if y’all are who I think you are, there be Browncoats among ye.

Serenity cov

Serenity: Leaves on the Wind. Hardcover graphic novel. Brand new, still in shrinkwrap. Limited to US or APO address. Who wants?

Why? Well, why not? It’s Make Someone Happy Monday.
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Text Art: X is for Xenophon

Show Today, Georgia Fall Classic, Day 2
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letter 2015 X

x cov

Alphabet 2015
W is for Weave Poles
V is for Vest
U is for Unguent
T is for Tweet
S is for Stepping Stone
R is for Rodney
Q is for Quilt
P is for Peppermint
O is for Outstanding
N is for Nail
M is for Mathilda
L is for Longe Line
K is for Kopertox(R)
J is for Jump
I is for Irons
H is for Hay
G is for Green Grass
F is for Feed
E is for Eventing
D is for Dressage
C is for Caesar
B is for Boot
A Is For Appaloosa
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Show Today: Georgia Fall Classic 2015

Georgia Fall Classic Horse Show [Facebook]
Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter
Perry GA, USA
November 21 & 22, 2015

Not doing a very good job of cutting back, am I? [WNSSV] One last show to round out the season. Reason: our Academy driver will not be competing. Reason: Academy classes are held Saturday and Sunday. Result: I show in six classes. That’s enough to heave my sorry ass off the couch.

Show Report & Tweets: Georgia Fall Classic 2014
They Said It Couldn’t Be Done. Horse Show Version (2013)
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First Appointment

Preliminary results from my first sports psychology appointment last Monday [Appointment Today] with Dr. Margaret [Meet]. We will be meeting once a month with email/phone/text contact inbetween.

My stomach acid generators are two-fold, if interrelated. On one hand, I get nervous before lessons and shows with the Saddlebreds. On the other hand, I am a basket-case about my own horses. Clearly, solving the latter would go a long way to reducing the former. If I was happy about the home team, I’d be a lot happier about a lot of things.

The morning after my appointment, I had a lesson. Dr. Margaret’s first exercise was thought observation. Oh look. A nervous thought. How interesting. Don’t do anything. Don’t freak out. Just watch.

Did it help? Not really. It wasn’t going to. One iteration of an exercise does not impart immediate zen-like calm. Progress is built up slowly, each layer as thin as a sheet of paper.

I was fine watching my nerves. It might have helped a small amount. Then my stomach started to hurt. That’s when I caved and asked to ride Sam instead of the horse I was scheduled to ride. I say “caved” because it was definitely a retreat into my comfort zone.

The ride went well, great even. Riding is not the problem. My nerves disappear as soon as the curtain goes up. (And may I add, I fervently hope this continues to be the case.)

In thinking about lessons, I realized two things. First, lessons are closer to shows than to hacking in the backyard on Previous Horse. There is an element of judgment by an outside party, if only ‘What do we need to work on next?’ Therefore, I should not be surprised by an addition of adrenaline. I may wish it were otherwise, but wishing won’t make it so.

Second. Not my horse. Not my barn. Not my program. This might be an improvement. My barn and my program may be a disaster zone at the moment, but they are mine. No matter how welcoming the host, no matter how nice the house, being a guest is never the same as being in your own space.

Dr. Marget also had ideas for building a better relationship with Milton. I will leave discussion of that for next week.

At least, I think that is what she said. All errors mine.
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