Mystery Theft

[Apres-show, day 1]

Why?
standard driveway

Back when we were arranging Milton’s transportation [Shipping], I put a white jump standard at the end of our driveway as an indicator. The driveway is on a curve and easy to overshoot. I’ve seen a loaded hay truck go sailing by. Feeling obsessive, I topped the standard with a red bucket. Impossible to miss.

In the excitement of having a new horse (ha!) (sorry, did I say that aloud? anyway …), it took me a few days to remember the standard. Our driveway is long, so retrieving it was an easy task to overlook. I kept meaning to pick it up on a return, but never did.

After a while, the standard developed a permanent home. It marked the turn and the edge of the drainage pipe. Useful when trying to hit the former and avoid the latter.

So, you ask?

After a few weeks. Someone stole the red bucket. Why? What would prompt someone to stop on a blind curve long enough to abscond with a $10 bucket? Whose life is so impoverished that the karmic debt of theft would be worth a lump of plastic?

Furthermore, they had no idea what they were getting. They had no idea if it was cracked. They either stood by the side of the road examining it, or grabbed it to explore back at their evil villain lair. They had no idea what noxious substances we had carried in it. The bucket was in one piece and only used for feed, but they didn’t know that. Would you use an mystery bucket for anything other than an oil change?

Seriously, why?

Show Today: NACHS 2014

National Academy Championship Horse Show, day 2.

National Academy is a three-day show, two classes per day. The top ten from each class qualify for the next day’s class. Up or out. As you read this, I could be done. Or I could be sailing forward on a sea of blue acetate. I don’t think either one is likely.

My prediction: Adult WTC is usually smaller than Adult WT. Therefore, I will have a division of 6 entries, plus/minus two. In the first two days, I will collect a fistful of pastel ribbons. Lack of numbers will permit me to pass through to Sunday, whereupon I will collect two Top Ten ribbons. Despite the automatic nature of the neck ribbons, I will be thrilled to get them. However, I’m not banking on big fluffies this year.

I could be wrong. Either way.

Prediction modification: I wrote the above before camp, when I was down on everything. Post-camp [Plans], I think I finally have a better feel for what is required in the ring. Plus two super horses and a fantastic coach. As I got ready for the show, I focused (or tried to focus) my mental preparation on riding my best – which is in my control – and not consider exact placings – which is not in my control.

Yeah boy!

Last Year, with Trump

Sandra Hall Photography. Used with permission.
Sandra Hall Photography. Used with permission.
National Academy Day 1: Managing Expectations
National Academy Day 2: Up or Out
National Academy Day 3: Bright Lights, Big Horse Show
National Academy Day 3+1: Horse of the Year Nomination
National Academy Day 3+2: I Owe It All To Rodney
National Academy Day 3+3: Still Napping
Show Report: NACHS, Part I
Show Report: NACHS, Part II
Show Report: NACHS, Part III
Foto Friday: Ribbon Details
A Horse Show In 86 Tweets
Text Art: Happy Words
That Moment When …

To Go or Not To Go

National Academy Championship Horse Show, day 0

Saddle seat shows run on this stuff.
Saddle seat shows run on this stuff.

If all goes to plan, horses and riders and coach and helpers and parents are now in Tennessee getting ready to show tomorrow.

I almost didn’t go.

CON
1) If the trip is just to have the experience, I’ve done that. Last year was awesome. Once was enough. I don’t need awesome redux.

2) I don’t ride pretty. Not the way they want.

3) Given my mood recently, am I sporting enough and strong enough to get booted out on Friday but stay to cheer the rest of the weekend?

PRO
1) Fancy helmet [New 1]. Shiny boots [New 2]. A change of clothes for Sunday.

2) If I go in 2015, exposure this year will be a benefit.

3) Coach says show record doesn’t forecast for Nationals. She’s had year-long winners who can’t get noticed and folks with lousy records do well.

BOTTOM LINE
A bad day at a horse show is still a day at a horse show.

GOAL
To line up in each class knowing I rode well. If I lay down my best trip and someone is better on the day, oh well. Back to to the schooling ring. If someone is going to beat me, I want to make them to work for it.

MEDIA
Sunday’s classes will be livestreamed courtesy of ATW Sportscast. I will ride in classes 59 & 67. Cross fingers.

Tweets. Per usual. This is my show tweet anniversary [Toy]. As a reminder, if you wish to follow along:
I have expanded the tweet display on my sidebar –>
OR
Clicking on “Saga Tweets” should take you to my Twitter page, @RodneysSaga (https://twitter.com/RodneysSaga)
OR
Google search: Twitter Rodney’s Saga
For those of you who might be interested in my every move but are not on Twitter (Hi Moms!), I don’t believe you need an account to access a page. You can read. You just won’t be able to send tweets.

Show Report & Show Tweets: SSF Fun Show 2014

Stepping Stone Farm Fun Show
October 25, 2014
Chelsea, AL
Pleasure with Natalie (3rd of 3, 2nd of 4)
Equitation with Sam (1st of 3)
Driving with Alvin (2nd of 2)
Thank you to Ann Stanton and Nicole Hardy, the Donovan family, & the Wamble family for their wonderful horses.

Alvin. Photo by G
Alvin.
Photo by G
Hands up. Back straight. Need to bring elbows in & open my chest. Alvin, of course, is being stellar. He is very good with student drivers.

Show Report
In a rare twist of sanity, I am not worried about placing last in two of the four classes. Historically, I do not ride well at at home shows [Summer 2013, Summer 2014]. This appears to be unrelated to whether I ride well or badly at the next big show [August 2013 – awesome, September 2014 – suck pond water].

In the first class, I learned the concept of hiding from the judge – mostly because I didn’t. In hunter/jumper, eventing, dressage, etc., the judge sits outside the ring or next to the jump, surveying the entire field of play. The rider is always under the judge’s eye. In saddle seat, the judge is in the center, usually looking only at one side of the ring.

In my first class, Natalie objected to cars being where they shouldn’t. As soon as she started to hop and fuss, I figured I’d blow the class. I felt free to reprimand her. Loudly. If I had schooled her quietly, the judge told me she would have missed the whole thing. Lesson learned.

In my checkered riding past, I have done many, many patterns, also know as dressage tests. I may not be able to style them, but the idea of them doesn’t upset me. Most saddle seat riders are not used to being alone in the ring. I’m not used to having company. So, my big problem with riding a pattern is not to get overconfident. No point in being tricksy if I blow the basics.

Overall, good warm up for next week.

Onwards!

Show Tweets

Mathilda’s owner saw the class. He noted that I get along with this chunky, black mare as well as I got along with his chunky, black mare.

Placed second to the barn’s equitation star on her new suit horse. No shame in that.

Photo by G
Photo by G
The spectator parking that offended Natalie. (Process note: a second version of this photo was in better focus but the horse & I looked worse. Guess where my loyalties lie.)