What a Show!! February 27, 2009

 

My mom says pictures are worth a thousand words!  We had a great weekend at Raleigh Indoors II! 

 

The show week started with a late night evening on Wednesday before the show.  My mom got off work and we went straight to the barn to pack up for the show and load up Ritchie.  Thankfully, the Hunt Horse Complex is only about 20 minutes from the barn.  We arrived at the show around 7 p.m.   We got the stall ready with shavings and water buckets and then unloaded Ritchie.  It was pretty cold over the weekend so we made sure we had his extra blankets.  After he was all settled in my mom and I headed for home and some sleep. 

 

On Thursday morning Lisa picked me up at my mom’s job and we headed for the show.  I spent most of Thursday taking care of Ritchie and having a lesson with Lisa.  I made sure to clean my tack and wash all the white markings on Ritchie really good.  On Friday, my mom and Lisa decided that I would stay at her office instead of spending all day at the show.  They said I am still little and get really tired by the time my Schooling Pony classes start.  My mom said I could use a nap at lunch time.  I laid down at the office but could not stop thinking about the show.  I was so excited and could not wait to be in the ring.  Finally, after lunch, Lisa came to get me and we headed out.  My mom works on Friday’s so she sends me to get ready with Lisa and usually misses the Schooling Pony.  There were ten ponies in the Schooling Pony.  This show I understood I had to get the correct strides.  My first round was good but Lisa said it was a little bit “unpolished”.  I went back in for my second round and it was fantastic!  We took a 3rd in the first round and a 1st in the second round.  In the hack I worked hard to make sure that I kept Ritchie balanced.  We won the hack.  It was a great afternoon and way to start off the show weekend.  We took champion of the Schooling Pony division at 2′6. 

 

 

 

Saturday was an amazing day!  My mom and I got to the show early to feed and unwrap bandages.  It was very cold so we spent the morning sitting with Lisa in the heated indoor and watching the rounds.   Finally, it was time for my rounds.  Lisa decided that I should do the Pony Warm Up.  It went great and she told me that was a fantastic round.  Our other two rounds went well.  Lisa said I could still polish up my rounds a bit and we talked about that.  When the day was done Ritchie and I took three blue ribbons back to the barn to hang up.  Lisa said our warm up round was the best.  I was so happy and a little tired.  We gave Ritchie lots of treats and then said goodbye to Lisa.  Me and my mom hung out at the show until it was time for Ritchie to eat and get ready for bed.  After he was all settled we headed home.  I had a hot bath and went straight to sleep.

 

Sunday was very windy.  The weather was calling for possible snow.  At breakfast in the indoor several people were talking about what the day would be like.  I like when the shows have donuts and bagels for breakfast.  I wondered what our day would be like.  Well, it turned out to be a great day!  In my first over fences, I chipped into the first single jump.  The rest of the round went well but it was the second round that was the best.  The last line for everyone was a little tricky.  Lisa talked to me about jumping in and then balancing Ritchie so that the line worked out perfectly.  The whole round went well and all that was left was the last outside line… I saw it… I saw that I needed to whoa a bit and I did it!  The line worked out great and we got a first place.  We took a 2nd in our first over fences and a second in the hack.  Ritchie and I were Children’s Pony Champions!  I felt great.   Lisa has worked so hard with us this past couple of weeks and it was a great win for all three of us!  With the showing over we packed up and headed home with a lap full of pretty ribbons!

 

This week has been back to work and practice.  We have two weeks until our next show in Raleigh.  I will continue to ride as much as I can. 

 

Yesterday, I got to go and visit Skittles.  It was so good to see him.  I got to have a fun ride and we even did some jumping!  He was really good.  I gave him a huge hug and treats.  I know the new little girls that will be taking him will just love how adorable he is!!

 

 

Horse Show Week Is Here!! February 18, 2009

 

Well, it is raining and really cold here in North Carolina.  Temps are only going to be in the 40’s this weekend as we head out to the Raleigh Indoor II Horse Show. 

 

Since my last post we have been getting to know the new facility where we are boarding Ritchie.   Because it is so close to my mom’s office and it has an indoor ring, I have been getting lots and lots of ride time.  I feel really prepared for this show and can not wait to use some of the skills we have been working on in lessons.

 

Lisa has been working with me on combinations and handy hunter course work.  Handy Hunter rounds are more technical courses and can include rollbacks, bending lines, trot fences, halts, and in and outs.  This is different from the more straightforward hunter classes.  I need to become familiar with these type of courses to be able to move to the Medium Pony Hunter division.  They are very fun but are very hard to remember.  My biggest problem is just not forgetting what to do next while still remembering to count my strides and get my lead changes. 

 

This weekend I will be showing in the Children’s Pony so I will not have to worry about Handy Hunter classes.  I will also be jumping the 2′6 schooling pony just like last time.  I want to show Lisa that I can ride in the show ring like I do at home. 

 

Ritchie, of course, is the master of these courses.  He is teaching me how to navigate these courses and proving to be a great teacher.  I do not have photos this week but wanted to share some video of Ritchie and I practicing at home.  Hope you all enjoy! 

 

 

 

I am on my way out the door with my mom to the barn to pack all of my things for the show.  I have to clean my saddle and get the trailer packed and then we will load Ritchie and be on our way to the showgrounds.  Tomorrow I will be spending the day with Lisa at the show so that I can take a lesson and watch some of the professionals ride.  Be sure to check back next week to find out how we did!

Lessons, Practice, and More Lessons… February 10, 2009

 

Hi there!  Boy has there been a lot going on.  I have not even had time to write about the last show!  With another show quickly approaching I thought it was about time to get together with my mom and start filling you in on our progress.

 

The January show was great.  We had a big surprise for everyone… Lisa decided to see how I would do with Ritchie in Schooling Pony 2′6 instead of the 2′ classes.  Boy was that a learning experience.  Ritchie really took good care of me.  We did really well and I got all of my lead changes but I added a stride in one line of each round.  I got a 5th over fences and then we hacked fantastic and ended up with a 2nd in the hack.  I was pretty happy but not quite sure what happened in my over fences classes.  I did not really understand that even though it felt good and looked good I could do poorly if I added a stride.  Lisa explained I really had to pick up the pace and then gave me another cool surprise.  She felt that I had been doing so well that I was a bit to advanced for short stirrup and that is was time for me to move up so she decided to enter me in the Children’s Pony division.  Children’s Pony is still 2′ like short stirrup but it requires me to get the pony hunter pace and strides. 

 

On Saturday we got ready for the Children’s Pony classes and again I had what I “thought” were good rounds.  They felt really good with the same pace all the way around and really straight lines.  When it came time for the ribbons I placed 6th and 7th out of 8.  What happened?  So that night Lisa and my mom really laid it out to me about the strides and how you have got to get the right strides to get ribbons.  They explained that missing the strides is just as bad as missing a lead change and I know that is really bad.  So on Sunday, with a new understanding of my new division, I stepped up my game… guess what… I got all my strides perfect and was smiling the whole way around the ring!  Lisa was right because when it came time for the ribbons we got to jog in 2nd and 3rd.  Oh yeah, in Raleigh the Children’s Pony division jogs.  I had never jogged before.  You are called in the ring and have to run across the ring while making your pony trot.  The judge is looking to make sure your pony is sound and not lame.  It felt really good to jog in the front of the line instead of the back.   Ritchie took 2nd in the under saddle and we left the show feeling like I sure learned a lot. 

 

After the show was over I got to hang out with my friend Carly.  She is really fun and I like to look for her when we get to the show.  She rides a small pony named Willie and they do the small pony division.

 

Carly, me, and the doggies

Once the show weekend was over it was back to practicing.  Here in North Carolina we have been getting a lot of rainy weather and just when I was ready to get back to riding 5-6 days a week the rain set in.  I went an entire week with only one ride.  That was when my mom and Lisa made a decision.  It was time to move Ritchie to a barn close to my mom’s job and that has an indoor ring.  I really did not want to move him since I will see less of my friends Alyssa and Alyson at the other barn but I know that in order to keep up I have to ride more.   The new place allows me to ride everyday after school and is only a couple of miles from Lisa so she is able to pick me up and help me get out to ride daily. 

Since the last time I posted I also went to see Harold at Solo Show Stables for a lesson.  Harold and Jenn left last week for Florida so I will not see them again until the middle of March.  Harold worked with me on planning out difficult courses and challenged me by asking me to adjust my strides by adding and taking out strides through out a course.  It was pretty tough but Ritchie and I did well.

 

Lisa has been very on top of my riding as well and sees me twice a week to work with me.  One lesson is a flat only and the other is my jumping lesson.  I have been learning so much and can not wait until the next show in two weeks. 

 

I do have some Skittles news as well… Skittles is back in North Carolina!  Holly moved her farm and lost some of her riders.  Since she really did not have anyone to ride him she brought him back home!  I thought I would never see him again when we left South Carolina in September.  I could not wait until we got to the barn that day.  As soon as we pulled in the drive I started to look for him.  Across the field I spotted all that white and asked my dad to stop the car.  I ran through the field as fast as I could.  Skittles looked happy to see me and I hugged him as hard as I could.  But guess what happened while he was gone…. he shrunk!!!  No, not really, but I did grow.  When my mom saw him she said that I would have never made it through this season with him. 

 

My mom and I talked about it and decided that Skittles should just retire from showing.  I won a lot of ribbons with him and learned a lot of things but he is so little and I do not want him going far from me again.  So, my mom found a great home for Skittles right down the road from her job.  He will be living with Autumn and Summer.  They are two little girls who are looking for a little pony to live on their farm that they can play with and take care of.  He will love it and the best part is I will get to see him any time I want. 

 

Well, I think you all are all caught up now.  Don’t forget we will be showing in Raleigh on Feb. 20-22.  I will have a new update and photos then!  Be sure to check back soon!