Show Report: Southeastern Charity, Conyers GA

Saddleseat continues the tradition of impressive ribbons. These grand specimens are over 2' long.
Saddleseat continues the tradition of impressive ribbons. These grand specimens are over 2′ long.

Willie and I took first & second in the two Adult Walk/Trot classes and fourth in the open-to-all-comers Championship class. The winner was an 8-year-old who Instructor said I probably could not have beaten anyway. On this particular day, I wiggled. I thought I had moments throughout the day when horse and I were smokin’, but apparently at cost to my riding style. Ah well. Next show.

As we rode from warm-up, I felt the minute Willie saw the ring. ZING! ‘I’m going in the ring!’ I explained that the ring had been sectioned off with a staging area and that we weren’t actually starting the competition just yet. ‘Nope. I know this. I’m going in the ring!’ Saddlebreds are show-offs at heart.

During the victory pass for the first class, Willie cantered off. I couldn’t tell if he was revved up or spooking. Turns out it was the latter. During the second class, he spooked every time we went past that spot on the rail. It was a gentle hop or two but enough to ease me out of first place. Still, not my fault. When a horse is gonna take exception there’s nothing you can do, right? However, the owner rode in the next class and proceeded to trot and canter past the same spot without Willie turning a hair. Phooey.

ribbons closeup Conyers Fall 2013

Would you rather have a bad ride and win or have a good ride and not? I remember asking this to a hyper-competitive friend. She looked at me as if I was from Mars. Still, I’m undecided on the question. Of preference, both. And I can tell you that having neither sucks. Fourth out of ten is no shame if one rides well. Fourth out of ten and Instructor giving me the stink eye because I keep making the same mistake? That makes for a long ride home.

Spotted on the ride home with my drying gloves & bow. Yes, I have a bow. No, I don't understand it either.

Spotted on the ride home with my drying gloves & bow. Yes, I have a bow. No, I don’t understand it either.

Few onsite, personal photographs due to little time and lots of rain. The barn drove over for the Academy classes. We rode. We turned around and came home. No spare time to photograph. Plus rain and therefore poor light for my autofocus p&s method of photography. We lucked out in that we got into the staging area in the ring before the rain started. However, a gloomy day and a wet scramble to get loaded for the trip back. Professional photos c/o Doug Shiflet >View Proofs button on header or Horse Show Proofs icon > 2013 Southeastern Charity > Saturday Afternoon > 095 – Aca Equitation WT Adult, 096 – Aca Showmanship WT Adult, 108 – Aca WT Championship > chestnut with big blaze, blue vest, helmet. Download rant, per usual [Photo Disclaimer Rant].

Thanks to Grace Kehoe and the Kehoe family for letting me ride Willie. He’s a sweetheart and a star.

Academy Medal
Academy Medal

Why Green?

When I posted about the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville [Radio Silence], Writing From the Right Side of the Stall asked why the shavings are green.

The color is iconic. The phrase “green shavings” refers to L’ville the way “Rolex” refers to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. First time riders will often take a handful of shavings home to display as a trophy.

When I couldn’t find the answer, I asked the source, Feeder’s Supply.

Thanks for your interest in the green shavings supplied by Feeders Supply to the Kentucky Expo Center! We are very proud of that product. The green shavings were “created” by Roy Gibson, the founder of Feeders Supply Co.

The company had secured a contract with the Kentucky Expo Center in the early 1970s and was supplying feed and bedding for the livestock events at the KEC. Roy was asked to come up with something special for the show ring. After much experimentation and sourcing of just the right colorings, the green shavings were born. It was important that the coloring used would not stain the animals’ feet and it needed to be safe in case an animal consumed any of it. Plus, it needed to adhere to the wood shavings so that the show rings would stand up to the use of hundreds of show animals. The green color was not in common use at that time. Thus was born the “tradition” of the green shavings at the Kentucky Expo Center shows. Today, when people in the livestock business see a photo or video of a show on green shavings, they most times assume that it was happening in Louisville. What they don’t know is that all the shavings come from Feeders Supply!
 
Warmest regards,
 
Linda Brock
Marketing Director

Thank you Linda for a prompt and informative response.

According to the webpage, the green shavings are not unique to the World’s Championship.

We also supply feed, bedding and our famous green shavings for the Kentucky State Fair, the North American Livestock Show, the Arabian Horse Show and 4-H exhibitions.

But, don’t try telling that to a saddleseat rider!
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Gratuitous Cat Picture

Reason
Reason
Yes, we have a towel deliberately placed in the middle of the front lawn so that Pudge has a place to sleep. Your point?

More Ladies Only

breast-cancer-awareness-cakeI had a mammogram last week. I don’t seem to have as bad a time as some, but still not my favorite way to spend a morning.

As the technician did a kind and efficient job of arranging my body parts, I was struck by how much it sounded like riding lesson: put your hands here, aim your feet this way, turn your hips, shoulders back, chest out. She told me to hold my breath. When riding, I do that automatically.

Go now. Get tested. And monthly self checks. I want you around to read my blog for a long time. Cake and photo by Been There, Done That: Breast Cancer Awareness.

Imagine This

Rodney trotting

Blurry yes, but imagine Rodney doing this in a dressage ring with me floating effortlessly along on top. This is the reason we keep returning to hit our heads against this particular wall.

In a recent email, a friend had this to say, “Sell the goddamned F-ing idiot and get a horse you can use.” It was meant with the kindest of intentions and taken that way. Eventually. Since she may not be alone in those sentiments, allow me to recap:

Rodney will always have a home here, LW&TCDR. We are in the fortunate position that he doesn’t have to leave the property in order for us to get another horse.

Rodney’s progress or lack thereof does not affect the acquisition of a second riding horse. I have no problem with the idea of riding two horses around the AEC, or at the US Dressage Finals, or in the Adult Jumper division at WIHS. Again, we are in the fortunate position that we have the space, money, & energy for third horse.

The only questions are
1) Is Rodney’s lawn ornament status temporary or permanent?
b) How frustrated I will get trying to change or accept said status?
&
3 or c) Where do I find Horses-R-Us tracking information? I ordered an 8yo, green-broke, Thoroughbred jumper/eventer. My delivery appears to have gone astray.

New Do

new do mane
Yes, I have hacked Rodney’s mane off with scissors. My top hand brilliantly determined that Rodney’s behavior changes bilaterally. On a circle to the left, he would walk as calmly as possible as long as requested. On a circle to the right, he would fly into a trot at the slightest provocation. We decided that his muscles were tight such that trotting with one’s head up is easier than walking about. You’d think that stretching the scar side, i.e. going counter-clockwise, would be the problem, but no.

(Apologies for the lens flare. I was going to reshoot, but chasing perfection is incompatible keeping the blog from taking over my life. The photo is sufficient to see his hairstyle, or lack thereof.)

Foreshorted view from the back. Notice the bulge on the top of the right shoulder.
Foreshorted view from the back. Notice the bulge on the top of the right shoulder.
As a result of this, we finally noticed the differential development of Rodney’s neck. I have been so focused on his back that I have been ignoring the muscles he uses to overcompensate.

Close-up of withers. Notice how the mane is pushed to the left by the over developed muscles on the right.
Close-up of withers. Notice how the mane has been pushed to the left by the overdeveloped muscles on the right.

I cut the mane to better monitor his neck musculature. I couldn’t bring myself to go full three-gaited. If I ever ride, I will trim the rest but grow out a section in the middle. I don’t care how silly one braid looks. I want a handhold.