Off To The Show They Go, In Which I Consider Staying At Home

Awareness of the outside world. “Joyce Webster American Saddlebred Grant $20,000. The first grant is to be awarded after the 2024 National Academy Championships. This $20,000 grant aims to provide financial support to existing and new Saddlebred academy programs participating in the National Academy Championship Horse Show.” NACHS: Our MIssion. Joyce Webster was B&W Stables, where I showed many times, as well as founder of Nationals.

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Today, Stepping Stone Farm leaves for the National Academy Championship Horse Show. Once again, I am not with them. Once again, it is on my mind. SSF is talking 8 people, kid & adult, including WTC, WT, driving, Hackney pony, and hunt seat. Go team!

Since I was last there, they have been fiddling with the Adult division. For a while there was a separate over-50 class. Now, the adult division is divided into under/over 30. Moot point, as the classes are combined this year.

The show has also added a Thursday night session, so that Friday does not run into the wee smalls. I would be riding on Thursday night. Then Friday off and riding Saturday & Sunday. Not sure how I would feel about a whole day off in the middle of a show. That would be a new one. I would most likely ride on the weekend. Adults generally don’t have to worry about qualifying for the finals on Sunday, as there are usually fewer than 10 entries, which is the cut-off to qualify in that division. This year there are six entries. Joys of being an old fart. In contrast there are 39 entries in WT 9-10 on Friday, leading to 16 spots on Sunday. Other shows may be struggling but this one is pulling them in.

Would I go again? Sure!

But seriously folks. Heavy duty showing is such a remote possibility that it is easy to say yes. If it were actually feasible, would I go? Dunno. I’ve been there enough times that I have grasped the concept. Going “for the experience” would be redundant at this point. I’ve won (Yay!). If I went back to Nationals, or even to a regular saddle seat show schedule, it would have to be aboard a horse I really got along with. A horse who would be fun to show, win or lose. It does happen. Short of this miracle horse, I don’t see a return trip to Murfreesboro. Other than the ones I mentally take every year.

But I have been wrong before.

Previous Nationals Posts

[Nationals I Have Known, List of Links] looking back, posted in 2019
[Nationals I Have Known, As Seen From A Cart] looking back, posted in 2021
[Where I Am Not] posted during Nationals 2019
[When the Stirrup Swings] 2014 show, posted in 2018

Onwards!
Katherine

Follow The Leader, Morning Walk Stories

Awareness of the outside world. Happy Rubber Ducky Day! [Archives]

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Every morning, we take the horses for a one-mile, hand-walk back and forth in their pasture.

We have been doing it for so long that the horses know the routine. The backseat horse will walk along without being attached to a human. It is still a team walk. All four of us are there, just with less leadrope.

Rubber Ducky Rabbit Hole

Instagram. studioflorentijnhofman: Rubber duck Seoul (KR) 2022

Sean Kenney’s Art With LEGO(R) Bricks Rubber Ducky

Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things, Smith & Lourie, (Counter point, 2011 reprint)

One is Never Alone with a Rubber Duck: Douglas Adams’s Absurd Fictional Universe, Van Der Colff, (Cambridge 2010).

“Sometimes, in programming, you will tell someone about a problem that you’re trying to solve. Sometimes you just have to tell a rubber duck.” Devil’s Panties 29 May 2024

Onwards!
Katherine

Three Squares

Awareness of the outside world. CNN: Puzzle master Will Shortz pieces together his recovery from a stroke, Tirrell, October 19, 2024. Advice – Use the mnemonic device B.E. F.A.S.T. It stands for: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time. “If people notice changes in balance or vision, weakness or numbness in their face or arms, or trouble with speech, it’s important to seek emergency care in as short a time as possible, Lin emphasized.”

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Because I wasn’t feeding enough critters throughout the day.

Rodney is now getting lunch. Vet suggested increased grain for weight gain. Worth a try, he’s already getting close to free choice hay. We could increase breakfast & dinner, but we are leery of serving either horse too much food at once. Besides I’m here for lunch anyway.

We could think about cutting out Milton’s mid-day meal, particularly as his rations have been reduced (*cough*yourhorseisfat *cough*). However, the two senior dogs really do better with me around all day. They don’t get lunch, but they get let out and looked after. If and when the dog situation changes, we may reevaluate the horse lunch program.

Onwards!
Katherine

Mosaic Tiles, Art

Art of the outside world. October 24–November 11, 2024, Origami USA: World Origami Days 2024 & Origami USA: World Origami Days. I think origami may be joining postcards & stamps on the list of things that interest me but I never seem to get back to. I made a note to order the WOD materials as soon as they went on sale. Didn’t happen. Never say never, but I can say not now. [Origami Dragon, Gary’s Star]

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“The retaining walls, benches and an outdoor stage were designed by William Leslie Welton in textured stucco with inset Moravian tiles.” Bham Wiki: Rhodes Park

Onwards!
Katherine

Halloween Haiku, Poetry

Awareness of the outside world. Halloween Museum of Salem.

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Halloween Holiday

Flickering pumpkins.
All Hallow’s Eve lost; amid
Costumes and candy.

Process Notes

It would be more accurate to called this a haiku-like object rather than a true artistic moment. Hardly surprising, as I do not have a poetic bone in my body. Still, arranging my thoughts into 17 syllables is a fun exercise. You will undoubtedly see more HLOs. [Haiku Archives]

Previous Halloween Posts

For your amusement.
[Muse and the Missing Halloween Movie] The nature of muses 2023
[Halloween Rant] 2023
[Horse Shoe Pumpkin, Photography] 2023
[Blog Logo, Halloween Colors] 2021
[Happy Halloween] Horses in bows 2014
[Happy Halloween] Ghost Rider 2012

Onwards!
Katherine