Man, was this year a ROLLERCOASTER! Lots of ups and downs but STILL thrilling and SO MUCH FUN!
Thursday night was the typical preshow bath. Shampoo, scrubby, rinse, condition, rinse. Then on with the cooler and sleezy to keep him as clean as possible since this handsome young man like to camouflaged himself with his own excrement.
This year Bacardi and I were lucky enough to be able to attend with our FAVORITE barn manager (aka the food lady to B) Lynsey and her four year old gelding Red. On Friday morning we met at the farm and started getting the truck and trailer loaded up for the weekend. Trunks, saddle racks, grain, hay nets, you name it, we brought it between the two of us. This year, Bacardi’s Synchill was already in hand and he got his first dose about an hour before we left. Around 12pm we got both boys loaded up (both load like rock stars) and away we went.
We arrived at the ever lovely Donida Farm shortly after 1pm. After we got the boys and all of our stuff unloaded, and checked in at the show office, we ran into Enumclaw to grab a few forgotten supplies and food. Back to the farm we went to get the boys tacked up and start schooling. This year I was looking forward to jump schooling Bacardi on Friday night to get him A) warmed up for rail classes and B) familiar with the jump ring.
This year I signed up for different classes than I had last year. We chose to show in Belmont and Derby (Open Class) Halter and Belmont Walk/Trot and Belmont English Pleasure for Friday night and for Saturday I had signed up for Eventing Combined Beginner Novice (which was a 2’3″ jump round and the USEA BN Test A), a 18″-24″ Enhanced Jump Round and a USDF Training Test 1.
Immediately upon arrival at the farm I could tell the Synchill was working for B. Despite an hour+ trailer in pretty warm weather, he stepped off the trailer with not a drop of sweat to mar his clean, shiny coat. So once I tacked him up and took him into the indoor arena (alone), I was much more confident than last year as I put my foot in the stirrup and swung my leg over, it was like we were just going on a hack at home.
I took him out to the jump ring and gave them my ticket for schooling. We met up with a friend and chatted a little and waited for some of the younger kids who were being coached by their trainer to finish up and then we went off, bouncing around some the fences, that were mostly set at cross-rails. Once I was feeling warm and happy, I aimed B towards once last fence and then was gonna go school on the flat for a little bit. Or so I thought. He promptly dirty stopped at a fence he could have cleared in his sleep and of COURSE I came off. My friend was kind enough to catch him for me and pony him to the indoor arena while I walked off my hurt pride.
We got back to the indoor and I promptly got back on. We schooled on the flat til about 4:30pm. We were able to meet up with Lynsey and Red who were doing some schooling of their own and our friend Carolyn from the barn showed up and was able to snap a couple cute photos!
Once 4:30p rolled around, I took Bacardi back to the barn to get him all pretty for Halter classes that were starting at 5pm. I also had to change and put of some make up of my own. I will admit to being a little stressed out, but we made it where we needed to be on time and were ready to put our best foot and hoof forward.
Unfortunately this year, Bacardi and I were up against some stiff competition and were just not able to bring home a ribbon in halter, which was a bit disappointing but maybe we would try and bring one home in the rail classes. However, on an positive note, our Aunty Bailey showed up between halter classes and was there to cheer us on fore the rest of the night. After our final halter class, we headed back to the barn to get tacked BACK up for rail classes. This was the point where we had quite a bit of waiting around in the saddle to do. Our two classes were pretty spread out. However, while waiting for our class, Carolyn was again, a FAB photographer and able to get some lovely artsy evening photos.
Rail classes had a bit of a better showing then halter and we were able to pull in a 5th place ribbon in our Belmont English Pleasure class! We were happy with our performance and we headed back to the barn to tuck in the ponies and get them settled before heading to our own beds. Bacardi was a champ and was given his grain and his cooler to once again keep him from adorning himself with his own feces and got to admire his new ribbon.
Bailey and I then headed to our hotel room for the evening but not before stopping by Panda Express to acquire the fattening food to scarf down before bed time. It wasn’t until we got to the hotel and I was getting ready to shower that I noticed the GIANT (and I do mean ENORMOUS) bruise on my left ankle from my fall off of B earlier in the evening. Still as I write this 5 days later it is still changing colors, but has begun to heal.
Morning came and we returned to the farm around 8am for Bacardi and I to get ready for our first dressage test of the day. But not without coffee and brekky sandwiches in hand for the humans. I took about 45 minutes after refilling water buckets and checking on B to decompress and do a little mindful mediation in my car while I charged my phone. Carolyn also was kind enough to sacrifice Saturday morning sleep and meet Bailey and I at the show grounds.
Bacardi thankfully had not gotten himself too dirty and I was able to get up and in my saddle by 9:45 to give us about an hour of schooling before our test. We were able to grab some adorable pic of us looking FLY in our matching navy blue and silver get up, and I think Bacardi felt FANCY in his new Le Mieux Loire Navy Twilight pad and bonnet. We DEFINITELY got lots of compliments
Bacardi schooled great and was able to stay calm cool and collected before our test. A great surprise was RIGHT before our test, some of our biggest supporters, GK, Kathryn, Mantha and John who are like a second family to me showed up! It meant so much to have them there rooting me on. Bacardi and I were called on deck to the dressage court and then it was our turn. The bell rang and we entered. I felt for the most part our test was ridden well. It was our first REAL competitive test where I had to ask for a canter. It was also our first USEA test. I remember riding most of the test and I could feel myself getting tired towards the end. Ultimately we ended up with 85.5/170. which translated to a penalty score of 49.706. Not the best dressage score we have gotten, but not the worst either.
After my dressage test, I was able to jump off B, get him untacked and get him settled for lunch. I changed my top and was able to set out all my tack for my jump rounds that were going to happen in the middle of the day. While I was waiting for my dressage test, one of the show organizers had stopped me and asked if I would be willing to bring Bacardi by the Breeder’s Ceremony they were having during the lunch break and I happily agreed. After I quickly stuffed my face with a turkey sandwich, I went and grabbed B and we went out to the ceremony. He was a little squirrely waiting, but after the introductions, I was able to reconnect Bacardi with his breed Debbie Pabst.
Once the ceremony was over and B got to say hi to Debbie, we went back to the barn to get ready. In case the photo evidence wasn’t obvious, teal is OUR color. His sign, my saddle pad, bonnet, brow band and even my water bottle all was matchy. We got tacked up and headed out to go school a couple fences before our jump rounds. Shortly after we went into the ring for our warm-up 18″-24″ jump round. It went pretty well with a few refusals at a particularly scary jump.
I felt pretty good after our round of not a little bit tired. There was quite a bit of a wait between our jump classes and we were able to watch Lynsey and Red’s dressage debut. After hacking Bacardi out a little bit more, I realized how tired I really was and made the decision to scratch my second dressage test. I did not foresee it being very successful and so I did not want to put that stress on myself or Bacardi.
Eventually we went back in the ring for our 2’3″ jump round and I was feeling pretty confident. It started pretty well but at fence 4 we met our downfall. This, unfortunately, was the same scary fence he had a hard time with in our first round. We approached the jump at a nice canter and Bacardi stopped. I was not able to recover. I came out of the saddle and hit the dirt pretty hard. Blessedly, Bacardi stuck around to make I was ok, and lots of my friends came to my rescue. After being cleared by the medical team, I got up, brushed myself off and did my best to tend to my wounded hip and pride.
My amazing friends had gotten B back to the barn and untacked him for me while I was being checked out by medical. We were able to get everything consolidated and packed away in my car or prepped to go in the trailer when we got ready to leave. My friend Emily had the amazing foresight to bring their therapeutic laser and was kind enough to lend it to me to put on my hip which was REALLY sore. After Lynsey and I were able to get out dressage feedback, we chose to pack up and head home. It was a pretty uneventful trip home. Once we got back to the farm, I was able to get B tucked in and fed and head home to rest.
Overall, while our performance was not as ribbon filled as last year, there were a lot of great positives. Being able to ride Friday night was the biggest. Also to be able to ride my horse with little incident was another. It was also great to not have to lunge my horse before getting on. It was a great weekend filled with friends, horses and fun!
Happy Riding, Reading and Horse Showing,
A+B