Virtual Brush Box

Loving The Loot

Saddle Seat Wednesday

2016 AWTA banquet centerpiece

Winter Tournament Ribbon Math
Advanced Horsemanship Adult
2 + 4 = 3

Advanced Equitation Adult
2 + 4 = 4

Advanced Pleasure Adult
4 + 5 = 4

Driving
1 + 1 = 1 (Greg)
2 + 2 = 2 (Katherine)

In other words, my high-point haul for the 2015-2016 Winter Tournament was a third place and two fourths. Because of the accident [Report, Not], I only attended two of the three shows. I projected receiving more pastels. So, am I pleased that I did better than I expected? Have you MET me?

On the upside, by placing well enough when I did show & by showing in a fourth division, I was High Point Adult for Stepping Stone Farm. (Each farm is awarded HP Adult & Youth. I tell you, saddle seat folks are awesome about loot.) For the third year in a row! Would have been four, but they didn’t award them in 2013.

Photo of me from the banquet, looking inordinately pleased with my High Point jacket.

As soon as I got in the car, I sent brag pix. (Note the dog hair mere seconds after coming in contact with the seat.)

2016 AWTA banquet jacket 2

Yes, I am that, um, young at heart.

Greg won a boot bag for the Driving Championship. I will valiantly keep on eye on it until such time as he needs it for his own show boots. What can I say, I’m selfless like that.

My Academy Award
Silver Medal from the ASHA

ASHA silver

The American Saddlebred Horse Association runs a medal awards program. It is more of a participation award than a performance award. One point for showing up, second point for a ribbon. Since the classes are split if they get large, Academy riders usually come home with two ribbons per show, chance of a third if there is a Championship class. With a streak of blues, a rider can qualify in as few as three shows. Even a bless-their-heart rider should earn a medal with a moderately active show year. I think that’s sweet for what is essentially a youth award.

First year is bronze. Second year, silver, Third year, gold. I have not mention this before because our bronze medals got lost in the mail. The ASHA swears they were sent. Next year, gold!

Previously on Rodney’s Saga
2015-2016 Winter Tournament #3
2015-2016 Winter Tournament #1

Winter Tournament Banquet 2015
Winter Tournament Banquet 2014
Winter Tournament Banquet 2013

In Which Milton Gets a Gold Star

As Milton and I wandered around the field on a walk [2.0, Moods], we came across what is left of the kiddie wading pool. We bought this a while ago as a groundwork obstacle. Rodney had plodded right through it [Dry Pool]. Milton, not so much. The one time he saw it, Milton point-blank refused to go near it. Hard to blame him. This is a fairly normal horse response. Rodney is freakishly brave about some things.

Over time, the pool has lost both air & water. It is mostly a pile of plastic lying in the field. Hmm, a fairly narrow pile of plastic at the moment. A horse could step right over that. Let’s see what he does with it.

I walked Milton up to the edge. He stopped. Not as a refusal; more as a ‘Yes, there is a question in front of me’ manner. I encouraged. He moved a step forward, putting a toe on the plastic. Success! This was light years ahead of what he had done the last time. I praised. We waited. Again, I encouraged. He looked at the plastic. He looked at me. I encouraged. He considered the plastic. He considered me. He considered my credit balance. ‘Okay, you haven’t lied to me lately. I’ll try.’ Whereupon he took four enormous steps over the narrow band of plastic.

Callooh, callay, my beamish boy! How clever and wonderful you are!
~~~
Gratuitous Cat Photo: Rhyme

Burchell’s Zebra, Guest Postcard

zebra postcard

Do you want to drop everything & roam the world for a year? I don’t. But I wonder. Fortunately, Nova Halliwell is doing the heavy lifting for us.

Starting in mid-February, I’ll be taking this show on the road.

My first stop is in South Africa, followed by Madagascar, Israel, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. Plus a little safari through Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe… and a quick skip over to Jordan.

Or, at least, that’s what’s booked as of today. All told, I plan to spend 10 or 11 months working my way through that itinerary.
Advice I Needed Yesterday: Set better goals.

I found Miss Halliwell’s blog, Advice I Needed Yesterday (blog, Instagram, Twitter), on the sidebar of The Bloggess. The post noted above has a slide show. One of the goals is “Send 365 postcards.” Along with an email address. Well, sure. I added that if said postcard contained a horse, it could double as a blog post. On the back of the postcard is the message, “Does this count?”

zebra postcard back

Yes, it does. It will do nicely. Thank you & safe travels!
~~~
Horse post on AINY, about people misbehaving on Assateague Island: Don’t punch the horses.

Letter Art: Wooden Blocks

block letters

Wooden block letters from Michael’s.
Letter design in GIMP.

USDF Interview: Jim Corbin, Equestrian Realtor

Behind The Scenes: Jim Corbin, Equestrian Realtor
USDF Connection
March 2016
United States Dressage Federation

A short interview with a realtor who specializes in Florida horse properties. JimCorbin.com

Mar 2016 text

Previous Behind The Scenes

Foto Friday: Sam Shadow Selfie

Sam shadow selfie

Show Photo ASAC 2016

Sultan’s Miracle Man Sandra Hall Photography Web image with purchase — Sultan’s Miracle Man
Sandra Hall Photography
Web image with purchase

Ignoring Sam’s grumpy attitude, there’s a lot to like about this photo. My legs are on the horse’s side. My seat is solid. My hands are up, although in an ideal world I would drop my elbows down a hair. My head is up. I am projecting an attitude of ease and focused concentration. Finally, I am beautifully balanced … over the center of the saddle.

The photo is taken slightly from the front. In a stride, you would see my lovely equitation posture. My lovely HUNTER equitation posture. Unfortunately, this was a saddle seat class.

Taken by Sandra Hall Photography. A few more photos under ASAC Spring Classic > Saturday Academy >

075 – AC Equit Adult WTC
079 – AC Showmanship Adult WTC
083A – AC WTC Championship

I am harder to find than usual because 5 of the 6 riders in the Adult class are wearing helmets. Yay! [Copyright rant]

Show coverage posted yesterday. [Report]