Note to Horse Sellers: We Are Not Idiots. We Are Polite.

Dear Horse Seller:

Have you been getting weak excuses when people aren’t interested in a horse you have just shown?

Let’s say I’m looking at a young, green horse. He’s a little goofy and little unfinished. Not a problem. If his natural talent makes my jaw drop, I’m not going to care if his three gaits are walk, jig, and buck. If he is six months away from making a cute but unexceptional kid’s horse, I am unimpressed by how well-behaved he is today. My boat is not floated.

Let’s say I’m looking at a schoolmaster. He’s expensive. He’s got two years of active competing left, then he will have to be stepped down with a loss of most or all of the purchase price. If this means I will be able to reach a level that I had never expected to achieve – for example, Third Level dressage to get the final scores for my USDF Bronze – and I’m fortunate enough to have the money, hell yeah. If it means two years of packing around Training Level eventing and I’m riding Prelim, not so much.

It’s all about exit strategy.

The horse is too small. The horse is special but not special enough. His talent is average. Our ideas on his value are so far apart that it would be insulting to make an offer based on what I think he’s worth. Do you have any IDEA how lame your horse is?

I’m not going to say any of this to you. Back in the mists of time, we once told a seller what we really thought of his horse. That’s a mistake we won’t make again. At this point, I’ve decided I don’t want your horse. Now, I’m just trying to find a way to leave with everyone’s ego intact. So yeah, I’m going to pick an inoffensive attribute that you already know. Your young horse is too young. Your project horse is too much of a project. Your investment horse is too much of an investment.

Watch the checkbook. If it comes out, I like the horse; if it doesn’t, I don’t. The words are just noise.

Sincerely,
A Prospective Buyer

Which is a long way of saying we went to look at a horse last weekend. Lucky 13 was not.

At least I got a blog post out of it.

Show Tweets: NeGCHA 2014

Co – tweets by co-pilot, aka Mom.

Retweeted by https://twitter.com/wheels_down. Dunno who is second retweet.

oops.

Photo by Mom
Photo by Mom

GA tray

Chicopee Woods Ag Center
Chicopee Woods Ag Center

2014
2014
2013
2013

Show Report ASAC

Missed a “Good Morning!” tweet here. Otherwise, it sounds as if I was sleep-eating.

Things My Momma Told Me

In the Show Report that never ends, here are two items that came up in conversation.

By Any Means Necessary

There were buns but these buns had mandatory bows. Shiny earrings were mandatory. Make-up was mandatory. For those of you who know me and my daughter, right there you know we’re not in Kansas anymore.
Guest Show Report: A Mom’s POV, Part 2

Photo by Mom
Photo by Mom
Photo by Mom
Photo by Mom

So very far from Kansas. Ask anyone who has begged me sit still for hair &/or make-up. My mother watched with amusement as the latest unfortunate volunteer attempted to wrestle me into a lady-like shape.

She said this proves that I will do almost anything to get on a horse.

Duty Calls
My mother also pointed out that horse show conversations are often aborted mid-flight. You may be deep in discussion about the state of the world or their daughter’s ride, only to have the other person walk away without warning. While both parties are talking they are also keeping an eye out for a rider needing help with an outfit, a horse heading for the ring, a loose dog, or any of the other million details of a horse show. If something needs fixed, you leave and fix it. This is so obvious to me that I never gave it a thought.

She likened it to working in a retail establishment. Co-workers chatting. Customer wants to give money. Co-workers stop chatting.

Happy Fourth!

Show Report: NeGCHS 2014

Northeast Georgia Foothills Charity Horse Show
June 27th & 28th, 2014
Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, Gainesville GA

I showed in Academy Walk, Trot, Canter Adult with Ashado, barn name Lola. Thanks to Jessica Hill and her family for sharing their fabulous mare.

Internal dialogue before canter depart: Saddlebreds use outside rein. Saddlebreds use outside rein. Saddlebreds use ... Photo by Mom.
Internal dialogue before canter depart: Saddlebreds use outside rein. Saddlebreds use outside rein. Saddlebreds use …
Photo by Mom.

53. Academy Equitation WTC – Adult 1st out of 2
Lola spooked at everything. The banners, the people walking between the ring and the bleachers, a DOG lying next to the ring. I told her if she had that much energy, she could put it towards looking brilliant. That worked for about five strides until she saw another banner. She even took exception to the ribbon on her bridle during the victory pass. Unfortunately, saddle seat show photographers stop shooting when a ride goes bad. No airs-above-the-ground photos.

Afterwards, everyone said Lola looked as if she was having a blast. I guess she was a kid in a carnival house of horrors. Here an eek! There an eek! Everywhere an eek! eek!

54. Academy Showmanship WTC – Adult 2nd out of 2
I once again failed to gather and direct my mount’s wandering attention. Halfway through, I reached back to give her a loud smack behind the saddle. I hoped this would cause her to sober up and fly right. Lola was not pleased. Neither was the judge.

“No horse training in the ring,” says coach.

68. Academy WTC Championship 4th out of 4
Only half the canter competitors stayed for the championship class. So, me and 3 kids. Final words from the coach were, “Don’t make her crazy.”

Check. I spent the class thinking non-crazy-making thoughts and trying to keep my head up. All that stillness was exhausting. Toward the end of the last canter, I was three strides from walking, whether they announced it or not. Long, hot day.

Despite the last place, I was pleased with my effort. Coach agreed. Many kind folks told me that any of the four of us could have won. Nice to say, but one can never be sure how much of such comments are smoke. Someone who has seen a lot of my riding said it was the best she’s seen me ride, including several dressage tests.

Overall
Progress, but not ultimate victory. I can see that what I’m learning would help in any discipline. It remains to be seen if my patience will last long enough to perfect the finer points of equitation. Horse training is way more fun that being lady-like.

Rachel Kelley Photography
Horse Show Proofs > 2014 Horse Shows > Northeast Georgia Foothills Charity Horse Show > Saturday Academy > 53 ACADEMY EQ & SHOWMANSHIP WTC ADULT. Two riders. I’m the one on a chestnut with a helmet. Me wearing the helmet, not the chestnut. > 68 ACADEMY WTC CHAMPIONSHIP. Helmet, chestnut.

Thank you for respecting her copyright. My photo rant. I can’t imagine standing in the middle of that ring all day.

Silent Auction Loot

paper GA

Not the sexiest thing to get from a silent auction, but darn useful. The problem of wedging it into my little car along with two people and all the show luggage occurred to me after I bid.

Mile Marker
Post #900

Guest Show Report: A Mom’s POV, Part 2

Northeast Georgia Foothills Charity Horse Show
June 27th & 28th, 2014
Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, Gainesville GA

I showed in Academy Walk, Trot, Canter Adult with Ashado, barn name Lola. Thanks to Jessica Hill and her family for sharing their fabulous mare.

My mother came down to watch me ride. Outsiders often see things that we as insiders take for granted. Welcome:

In Part 1, I wrote about the many elements of the horse show that were like old times.

Part 2 is about being with Katherine at a saddle seat horse show and how different it was from the cross country or hunter/jumpers of our past.

As with most horse shows, there were men and boys in some of the classes, but it was predominately a female event so I will speak from the distaff point of view.

Most of the elements of the saddle seat show that were new to me seemed ridiculous at first. By the end of the day, it all made sense.

There were buns but these buns had mandatory bows. Shiny earrings were mandatory. Make-up was mandatory. For those of you who know me and my daughter, right there you know we’re not in Kansas anymore.

The pant legs were so long the cuffs dragged on the ground, so garters held them up out of the dust until the rider mounted her horse. Gloves and boots were taped down to create a smooth line.

With temperature in the mid-to-upper eighties, the layers of wool, makeup, boots, gloves, tape and dust were really, really uncomfortable as we hurried up and waited. These women must really want to do this. I couldn’t imagine the point of it all.

In the ring, all the frills smoothed out into a graceful whole. The suit looked businesslike but flowing. The pant cuffs draped down over the heel and made the footwork less noticeable. The result gave the appearance of effortless riding.

The bun with the bow said I am a lady. I may have beautiful hair but while I am riding, it is contained and out of the way. It looks sedate but the bow keeps it from looking too severe. Ditto the make-up and the earrings. The overall effect was lovely.

There was a practical point as well as pure aesthetics. The similarity of presentations allowed the judges to focus on the differences among the riders. It also gave them an indication of how serious the rider was about the discipline.

So, at the end of the day (literally – it was close to midnight) I could see the point of it all. These women were handling thousands of pounds of flesh, muscle, and hoof with strength and grace. They had a firm but soft touch with the reins. They had learned a lot about horses, a lot about themselves. But the most important element was the sheer joy in joining a fellow living being in a spin or three or four around the ring.

At the meta-level, it was fascinating to see how some of the antebellum culture has survived, transmogrified into a present-day sport. The riders of today were graceful, flowing and enjoying the ride. You could see how pleasant it would have been to glide though the day on a Saddlebred horse.

Guest Show Report: A Mom’s POV, Part 1

Northeast Georgia Foothills Charity Horse Show
June 27th & 28th, 2014
Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, Gainesville GA

I showed in Academy Walk, Trot, Canter Adult with Ashado, barn name Lola. Thanks to Jessica Hill and her family for sharing their fabulous mare.

My mother came down to watch me ride. She has offer to share her experience. Welcome:

Being with Katherine at a horse show seemed like old times, in many ways.

There were people to meet and greet from the barn, hurry up and wait, watch her mood go from “up” to “tense” to “focused” to “done but I’m not ready to let go of the horse”.

There was dust, heat, and humidity. Horses, dogs, people, but very few insects.

There was food: snacks from the car, donuts all day (kindness of K), concession stand food, lunch at a Mexican restaurant and a late, late dinner at a Waffle House. I was stuffed. Not healthy, just stuffed. I can’t believe I ate four donuts!

There were classes of teeny, weeny three-year-olds riding great big horses on a leadline. They all did so well that they all got blue ribbons. There were stately seventy-year olds in driving classes who drove with such aplomb that they made you feel that automobiles were unnecessary.

K rode in three classes and got a first and a second in her first two.

After her last class, with a fourth out of four, she disappeared. Not in the barn area, not in the car, not near the ring. Mother-worry set in. Was she off in a quiet corner in tears? Did she want to be left alone? Did she want me to find her and comfort her, and if so, how?

After a while, longer than was comfortable for me, she appeared with a smile on her face and her horse on a leadline. As I said, she doesn’t let go of her horse easily and they were off grazing. She was pleased with her ride and felt good about the progress she had made in specific areas. Clearly, I am not a “horsemother”. I do not understand the nuances of the sport. But I did understand the big grin on her face. Worth all the dust, etc.

It was wonderful to be in her world and see the people, and the horses in her life. Yes, I was introduced to the horses. They all looked very big, had four legs, and were mostly brown with long, long tails. They have names. I do remember the names of the barn people, but the horses, not so much.

As I said at the start, this is a Mom’s point of view. I’ll leave it to K to give you a horsewoman’s show report.