Horses & Other Interests
Working on a new project. Not one I should do. Not one that will make me any money. Not one that will expand my writing skills (think more of the same, only different). It is occupying my brainspace to the exclusion of other things, such as thinking up witty blog posts. Perhaps tomorrow I will be more creative.
PS Heard about Boston as I was drafting this. Profanity, revulsion, and sadness. A feeling that is or any post is irrelevant. However, it’s what I do these days, so onward.
Many moons ago, I walked the cross-country courses for the Advanced at Ship’s Quarters and the USPC Nationals in the same weekend. The Ship’s Quarters course was substantial but not terrifying. Professionals on well-trained horses were planning to go bouncing about over piles of logs and have a lovely time. Mind you this was back in the dark ages before cross-country was show-jumping in the open over fine furniture.
On the other hand, the Pony Club course, approximately Preliminary level, loomed far larger. A friend of mine and a horse from my barn were actually planning to go over these [on course photo here]. While technically lower and less complicated, the jumps were far more intimidating by association.
Then there are the Baby Novice and Beginner Jumper fences that I go over. These are ENORMOUS!
Which is all by way of introducing the Badminton 2013 course walk posted over on Haynet. It’s an animated map with live chat at the tricky spots. It doesn’t look that bad. Theoretically.
As soon as I got done asking for Sam songs, I found out that I may be riding Willie, show name The King’s Will.
Given the input “Willie”, iTunes comes back with oodles of Willie Nelson, as one might expect. Also, there are many songs by that title but by artists of whom I have never heard. Not that my lack of knowledge means diddily. Outside of Broadway show tunes & Barry Manilow, I am a musical void.
Suggestions for Willie or regal-related songs?
Thanks to everyone for the psyche song suggestions. Looks like I will be riding Sam, aka Sultan’s Miracle Man, at the next show. Anyone got anything for him? Olivia Newton-John’s song of that name is a bit lyrical for a show tune. Not to mention a mite creepy to be singing to a horse. Really, Olivia, “The door is wide open …”? Kinda laying out there, aren’t you? Whenever I flung myself at guys, they tended to duck. But I digress.
Uptempo Sam songs. Bring ’em on.
For Sunday Stills Challenge
Yee-Ha, Y’all
When a friend won her puppy class of one entry, I cheered and clapped. I was accused of trying to embarrass. Why no. I’ve been showing saddleseat. We hoot & holler. We make rafter-shaking, screamy noises for barn riders at the slightest provocation. ASB ringside is one of the few places I’ve found where I am not the loudest event in the area. I really need to learn to whistle with two fingers.
More Spotted
Note the canine spotted at the head of the line.
Open to Interpretation
For Dragon*Con, I splurged on science-fiction shirts as my costume: Alice in Wonderland, Dr. Who, Harry Potter, and so on. I justified the expense by promising to use them as barn shirts. So when I dashed over to the dog show this weekend to see friends, I did so wearing a barn shirt riffing on the Keep Calm meme: Don’t Panic and Carry a Towel. One of the dog people saw it and said, “You must have Newfies or Mastiffs.”
More Spotted (with additions).
Update: Winning photo was for purposes of illustration. Spotted wasn’t showing.
Virtual Brush Box 