We have been very busy the past couple of weeks but I am glad to be posting agian. As you all may know my mom was very sick for a long time. Two weekends ago we were scheduled to show at Bennett Bunn Plantation. That week my mom became even sicker and I knew we would not be able to go to the show. Lucky for me it rained that weekend and the show was cancelled. My mom spent the entire weekend sleeping and resting. With my mom so sick and Jenn and Harold still in Florida it felt like I would never get back into a regular riding schedule again. Just when I thought all hope was lost my mom started to feel better. Each day she got better and better and by this past weekend seemed to be back to normal. It was right on time since this weekend was the Triangle Farms two day show.
On Saturday we arrived at about 11 am. My mom got Skittles ready, cleaned my tack and braided Skittles mane and tail. I did some riding before my classes and then went up to the arena to wait. We had a great Saturday. We won all of our over fences classes and took a second in our equitation on the flat and a third in our Under Saddle class. We got Champion of our division! I was proud that we were able to find a good pace and keep it just right in all our rounds. Skittles even got a clean lead change and I did not even ask for it! We got home around 9 pm. I went right to bed while my mom washed all of my clothes and ironed my shirt for Sunday.
On Sunday it was a really different day. The divisions before mine ran very long. My mom thought we should get ready just in case. We ended up waiting for two hours. During that time I tried to keep Skittles focused but by the time the classes started I could feel he was frustrated and tired. I was tired too. I had been sitting in the saddle for two hours straight. Our equitation on the flat class went well and we got the blue ribbon but in our under saddle Skittles picked up the wrong lead and we did not place. Skittles has been very good this year about picking up the correct lead but I was leaning over too far when I asked and I think it unbalanced him. In our over fences classes I just could not find the right pace and we got some funny distances. My mom told me later she learned a lesson on Sunday. She said me and Skittles are both too young to be standing at the in gate for two hours. She said neither of us were focused and she could tell both of us were tired and making mistakes. My mom said she will pay better attention in the future as to when the classes will begin and make sure we do not get ready until closer to the start of our division.
That is how horse shows go. Each show we seem to be learning important lessons.
This week I am very excited. I am out of school for a week and a half for spring break and on Saturday we will be going to Southern Pines for a lesson with Jenn Johnston. My mom and Jenn have several lessons set up over the next couple of weeks since we do not have any shows scheduled for about a month. I am looking forward to getting back to Solo Show Stables and getting back to regular lessons. Jenn sent my mom photos from the shows in Florida and they were so cool! They look like they had a great time. Jenn said that is what I have to look forward to in the future. I sure hope so!!
Check back to read all about our lesson this weekend!
Don’t you love the “hurry up and wait” part of horse shows? NOT! Haha. All the ring masters around here got to know me pretty quickly — I’m always coming by pestering them about how many trips left until the hack or the next division and whatnot. One smarty pants would yell “20 trips, 2 hours!” whenever he saw me coming.
Congrats on Saturday’s well done trips. I have to agree with the other poster “Hurry up and Wait”. I’m as bad as Jenny is with pestering the ring attendants with how many trips are left – thankfully ours are always nice and just hold out the list and let me count for myself. We tack up but never start to warm-up until the hacks in the previous division are starting.
I have to say I’m also bad about the pestering. We did a show not that long ago where they had the go order on a white board, and would cross each off that way we could all keep track without asking anyone. It was super. Now we need to get more shows doing it.
Hi, I love to read your blog
Although I was a little disappointed that there were no pictures in this post! I think Skittles is just too cute.. It must be hard keeping all of that white clean. And your mom is great too to help out so much with your showing. I don’t have horsie parents so while I was growing up they rarely went to shows with me or came to my lessons, but they did iron my show clothes LOL.. you are a very lucky girl.. I am still waiting to get my first horse after 15 years of riding 
I look forward to you next blog about your lesson (with pictures I hope)
Jeanine
We are so sorry we forgot our camera! Not to worry we will be going for a lesson again this weekend and we will be taking lots of pictures so check back!