Horses & Other Interests
The annual, in-barn, just-us-chickens show today.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show IMDB
TRHPS fan site
A Tim Curry retrospective: This is What Twitter is Made For, 10/12/15 on Whatever
TRHPS on RS
My Confidence Has Increased
Monster Alphabet Book
With apologies & respect to Richard O’Brien, creator of TRHPS.
Thus endeth the reposting of my previous monthly blogs Back To Eventing and Back To Riding.
Coda
All done here.
When I started daily blogging Rodney’s Saga in December [of 2011], I intended to keep this Back To Riding as a monthly column. I fabricated an elaborate scenario wherein the two blogs reinforced each other. The word synergy was probably involved. OTOH, there is no reason I can’t throw the occasional longer post into the daily blog and consolidate the two. Occam’s razor wins again.
One of my goals in starting the second blog was to hear voices other than my own. I invite you over to say hi. Then as you see fit, please follow, comment, & forward to friends who might be interested.
~~~
Timeline
July 30, 2011 – Started Back To Riding [July 2011: SITREP]
December 22, 2011 – Started Rodney’s Saga [We begin. Again.]
January 11, 2012 – Ended Back to Riding [Coda]
May 30, 2013 – Started Off Topic [The Spirit In Me Greets The Spirit In You]
February 6, 2014: Began cross-posting occasional Off Topic posts on to Rodney’s Saga [Off Topic: Yay or Nay?]
March 24, 2015 – Most recent Off Topic entry [Online Flower Journal: March 19, 2015]
Off Topic appears to have retired for the moment. A second blog may reappear at some point, if history is any judge.
~~~
Rodney’s Saga repost locations
Back To Riding
Repost BTR, July 2011: SITREP
BTR 2 of 7, August 2011: SIT[uation]REP[ort] II – The Horse
BTR 3 of 7, September 2011: My Two Horses
BTR 4 of 7, October 2011: Aftermath of an Explosion
BTR 5 of 7, November 2011: Weekend with Wofford
BTR 6 of 7, Livin’ Large: December 2011
Or
The original Back To Riding blog
Back To Eventing
BTE 1 of 9: How I Won the Training Level AEC
BTE 2 of 9: The Cast Assembles
BTE 3 of 9: The AEC, a Realization in Five Phases
BTE 4 of 9: New Horse Blues
BTE 5 of 9: Buying the Horse is Only the Beginning
BTE 6 of 9: Back To Square One
BTE 7 of 9: Getting to Know You
BTE 8 of 9: Spring Fitness
BTE 9 of 9: Forward Planning
Or
List of all nine direct USEA links
“I dropped by the Alabama Championship Charity Horse Show, Decatur, AL, Friday night. The torrential rains didn’t stop the show. Riders and their beautiful American Saddlebreds covered their show ring finery with rain gear, to get to and from the arena.”
“Tango, an American Saddlebred, peeks over the stall boards at the Alabama Championship Charity Horse Show, Friday night, because he’s a curious horse. Tango is owned by Wamble Farm LLC.”
Thank you, Meg!
Meg McKinney Photography
MMP Facebook
Meg on RS
California Girl becomes a Southern Belle
Barn Christmas Party, photo by
When she discovers boys, she’ll lose interest in horses.
Doug Shiflet Photography
Used with permission
Doug Shiflet Photography
Used with permission
Never rule out both as an answer.
Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show
October 7-10, 2015
Celebration Arena
Priceville AL, USA
Tuesday, October 6
Thursday, October 8
Friday, October 9
Saturday, October 10
Said in the tones of Benny from The LEGO Movie, “getting so excited, his vocabulary completely turns into yells of “SPACESHIP!” LEGO Wiki
These I will miss. It is a rare HJED competition that has a victory gallop.
Sir.
Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show
October 7-10, 2015
Celebration Arena
Priceville AL, USA
Classes
Katherine
100 Aca. Showmanship WTC–Adult, 2nd of 4
101 Academy Equitation WTC–Adult, 2nd of 4
113C Academy Pleasure Driving, 2nd of 3
Greg
113C Academy Pleasure Driving, 3rd of 3
Photos
Doug Shiflet Photography > Horse Show Proofs > 2015 Alabama Charity > Sat ACA > class numbers above. Blue helmet. Copyright rant.
Commentary
In the first class, my plate spinning theory worked [Show Today]. I concentrated on keeping my hands up and my eyes up. The rest of the bits took care of themselves. I tried to do as much as I need to do, no more. “Put everything in the right place, then take a deep breath.” Amazingly, this uses less energy. I was less wiped out after one class [compare: Report]. I could feel things that still need to be fixed, for example keeping my shoulders back, but truly felt this was the best ride I was capable of on the day. Coach was pleased.
In the second class, I thought I rode the same. Advisory Committee said no. Perhaps I was tired. Perhaps I was resting on my laurels from my preceding stellar performance. Either way, less crisp. Still second. Not clear that the judge was big into changing his mind from class to class.
The driving class was a hoot. At one point, we went three wide around the top corner of the ring. Despite steering my way out of that mess, I still feel more a passenger than a pilot. I don’t see driving becoming my NextBigThing. But then, I never expected to drive this much. I heartily recommend giving driving a try if you have the chance.
Did the change in make-up help? Who knows. The consort branch of the Advisory Committee said I looked less scary. Since I never wear make-up, going without may have helped me feel more comfortable, less as if I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t.
So what are my chances at Nationals? I’m competitive. I could win. OTOH, the last three years have shown that I am no equitation diva. I could replicate the second & third from the first two years. Or worse. In order to win, I will need to lay down six good to great rides. Then, I will have to catch a few breaks, i.e. the talent pool of the other entrants &/or judges who are interested in buying what I have to sell. My first class at this show represented four different riding styles. I’m told that any of the four of us could have won. It came down to which style one liked.
Attention equine bloggers, want a book to review? I’m looking to rehome my review copy of The Power of the Herd: A Nonpredatory Approach to Social Intelligence, Leadership, and Innovation by Linda Kohonov [New World Library 2015]. book website, author website
New World Library asked if I was interested and sent a copy. However, my reviewer is busy with life-related activities. I am not interested in opining about books. Twelve years of a book column has, at least temporarily, sated my interest in the form, particularly in doing it for free. However, I feel an obligation to make an effort in return for agreeing in the first place. Hence, finding my review copy a new home.
This is not a guest post situation. The book would be for you to review on your blog. As usual, limited to US or APO for postal reasons. If you live elsewhere, the publisher can hook you up with a PDF.
Virtual Brush Box 