Zone III Finals!!! October 30, 2009

Well….The picture says it all!

Richie and I had a fantastic time at Zone III Finals in Upper Marlboro Maryland.  We brought home a third place ribbon!

As many of you know, on October 16th my mom and I left for Upper Marlboro Maryland with Tory, Carly, Tony, and of course the ponies

 

We left NC and it was pretty gloomy but we had no idea what was in store for us.  As we approached Washington DC the rain started to fall and it got cold….really cold!  When we got to Prince George Equestrian Center we hoped we had stalls in the upper barns but no way did that happen…. instead we were down in the tents and all the horrible mud!

 

 

 

We lived all weekend in the rain and MUD!  Forget trying to have white socks on the ponies.  There was no where to school since all the rings were knee deep in mud and we did not want to risk the ponies getting hurt. 

 

On Friday night we got settled in and then went out to eat.  I got to share a room with my friends Carly and Tory.  On Saturday morning we were up at 5:15 a.m.  We had to meet Tony and get in the ring to school by 6:30 a.m.  There were so many people schooling in the ring.  All we could do was flat.  Since it was still raining we knew that would be the last ride we would get in before the warm up class later that day.  To stay warm we all sat in the indoor and watched the Children’s Hunter divisions.  After a while our moms decided it was time for lunch and to go to the hotel room to rest a bit before we ride.  We thought it would be around three p.m.  …  WRONG…we got the call in the hotel room that we would not ride until 9 p.m.   We had been up waiting around since 5:15 p.m.  Carly’s mom took a nap and my mom cleaned my saddle and bridle and we waited….and waited.

 

At about 7 pm, we headed back out into the rain, cold, and mud.  The warm up class was the only time we would get to go over all the jumps in the ring.  We had to wear show clothes and our numbers just like it was being judged even though it was not.  Richie did great and we cantered around the course easily.  After the warm up class, we headed back to the hotel.  That is when we got silly!  Carly and I played and played.  We set up jumps in our room and made a little course.  It was so fun!

 

Sunday was the big day.  We were up by 7 am and went to the I-Hop to have breakfast.  It was still raining and the mud was out of control but we were ready to show.  My mom usually braids Richie but this time she decided that she would have the braider take care of him.  He looked so pretty.  Finally at 3 pm it was time to go.  Carly, me, Richie, and Willy headed out to the ring.  We watched several rounds.  Tony watched the rounds also.  Boy, the diagonal lines sure looked long!  They said we should get seven strides but it looked like all the ponies were galloping as hard as they could go to get the seven.  Tony watched and then told us he wanted us to add in the lines.  That means that even though the judge wants you to get seven (for me) or eight (for Carly) we should add an extra stride.  Carly would do eight because her pony is a small and has shorter legs so with adding she needed a nine.  Richie is bigger and has longer legs so he was to do the seven but we went for eight.  It meant that we could pretty much count on not getting ribbons in the over fences but Tony said that it was the right thing to do for us and we listen to Tony.  He told us we are still little and too young to be galloping our ponies down the course.  It was ok with me! 

 

 

 

We had a great time!!

 

After our round, we had the under saddle.  I know Richie always does well in this.  There were so many ponies in the ring.  I did not know how the judge in the stands would see us all.  After going around at the trot and the canter the announcer called for eight ponies to line up in the center….he did not call Richie.  I almost paniced.  The judge asked us to reverse and we went at the trot the other direction.  Soon after the trot started, the announcer called my number to line up and dismissed all the others.  My mom told me later, the judge had not seen us up until that moment.  She almost missed us!  The called out the pinnings.  When they called our number third I was so happy.  What a pretty ribbon that yellow ribbon was!

 

When it was all over we all headed back down to the tents to get treats and start to pack up.  Everyone was running every which way and splashing in the mud and packing up the trailer.  I just wanted a moment to spend with Richie.  I hid in the stall in the corner on the ground.  I had a hand full of mints just for Richie.  No one could find me.  He is big enough to hide me in the corner while he ate his mints.  I heard my mom calling for me and telling me it was time to load up.  Richie got a big hug and kiss from me before he got on the trailer.  We headed back to Wake Forest.  We all went to sleep in the back and woke up around mid night back home. 

 

All day Monday, my mom and I cuddled  in blankets on the couch and watched TV.  I knew that Richie was at the barn enjoying his much deserved day off.  Boy, what a great year we had.  There were a lot of ups and some downs.  It was all worth it.  I will remember Zone Finals for a long time to come.  And….We will be back!!  I am only 10 you know!

 

This weekend we will be getting ready for Duke Charity Benefit Horse Show.  Richie needs to be clipped and we need to pack.  On Friday we will head over to the Hunt Horse Complex.  I will be showing in the 11 and Under Equitation and the USEF Pony Medal.  It will be my first time doing these divisions.  I am very excited.  Equitation is my favorite!

 

 

Happy Halloween!!!

 

 

 

Did I Ever Tell You….. October 21, 2009

 

I know that some of you are waiting to hear all about Zone III Finals!  I am waiting to get the photos back and hopefully video to share.  In the meantime I wondered if I ever told you about my Chihuahua “Boots”? 

 

I wanted a Chihuahua soooooo bad but my dad kept saying “no way”.  I begged and begged.  Finally, back during the winter circuit in Raleigh my dad told me if I got Champion of my division he would get me a Chihuahua.  To be honest, I am pretty sure he did not think there was any way that was going to happen.  Well……

We got Champion of Schooling Pony 2′6 and Children’s Pony

 

and

 

 

I Got….

 

 

Meet Boots….the official Horse Show Dog!

 

Boots weights four pounds and is soooo cute!  My mom and I dress him all the time.  He has all sorts of clothes.  Whenever I get home at night he runs over and wiggles his tail and barks at me.  He thinks he is really big!!:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boots now goes to all the horse shows with us.  He even has a stroller I push him around in!  Tony says the only reason he took me as a student is because he could not say no to a girl who pushes a Chihuahua around in a stroller!!  Tony is so funny!!

 

Stay tuned for a post all about my weekend in Upper Marlboro Maryland at Zone III Finals!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!! October 9, 2009

 

I had no idea how popular this site had become.  My mom and  I also had no idea that so many of you liked to read about what we are doing.  I came to this blog to start writing again and was shocked to find all of the pending comments!

 

So……………

 

Back by popular demand:

The Horse Show Kid!!!

 

Boy have we had a lot going on!  Last I could tell we left off during the winter circuit in Raleigh.  With Winter II over I only had a few weeks until the March and final winter show.  Boy were we ready.  It was a tight race.  If I remember correctly we won all of our classes and ….

 

Won Children’s Pony Circuit Champion! 

I was so happy.  I had never won anything that big.  Ritchie and I actually won a fantastic cooler that was so pretty and a HUGE ribbon!  I got my photo taken and all!  It felt great.  With the winter circuit over, we started thinking about warm weather and spring time shows.  It was back home to start practicing again. 

 

During the spring, I had the opportunity to ride several ponies for a pony breeder here in NC.  Four days a week I would finish my school work early and Lisa would pick me up to ride sometimes as many as four ponies each day.  I felt very lucky and learned so much from these ponies. 

 

Everything was on a roll and I seemed totally ready for the Greensboro A show in April.  I arrived on Wed. and my mom came on Friday.  Harold and Jenn were there and I was all ready for Schooling Pony.  Then it happened…while schooling Ritchie I fell off.  I missed my distance and took a long one.  Well, Ritchie did not appreciate it and decided it was time for me to get off.  I just remember crying and Jenn telling me it was ok.  I told my mom I did not want to show.  They told me I did not have to and I went to the hotel room.  I am not sure why I was so upset.  I had fallen off of Skittles so many times.  I knew that it happened.  I think I was not expecting it.  I was pretty mad. 

Then next day my mom asked an older rider to ride Ritchie in the warm up so that  I could see he was alright.  She did great and I thought he was so pretty.  I was still shaken up and had a hard time focusing.  We left the first show of the spring with a couple of 5th places and a second in the hack.  My mom said I just needed to have a few weeks off and move forward. 

 

In May, we decided to leave Ritchie and home since he would be showing quite a bit in June and July.  Instead, I was asked by the pony breeder to ride one of her ponies at the Carolina Horse Park A horse show.  Ella or Pepperwood Enchanted was a pony I really enjoyed riding at home.  I was so thrilled to get to ride a pony for a nice person.  Well, it rained and poured the entire show.  It rained so hard that as I was riding the water was pouring off the brim of my helmet.  I could hardly see in front of me.  Ella was very green and she was not happy about showing in that weather.  We were drenched with water.  It was still fun though.  That night we even camped on the show grounds instead of driving into town.  It was so much fun!

 

 

 

June rolled around a little to fast.  The first week of June we went to Tryon NC for the summer A shows.   Ritchie and I did great!  He was a star.  Tryon is a great show.  I went there in June and July and it was so fun.  It is in them mountains and they have a huge jumper ring so I was able to watch the jumpers whenever I was not busy.  So Cool!!

 

 

 

The summer was starting to wind down and we had the Lexington National Horse Show coming up soon.  I had not been doing as well since the fall in April and was hoping Lexington would go well.  In the meantime, Lisa had some exciting news!  She had been selected as the new head coach of Wakefield.  We were all proud of her!  This would mean she would be very busy and it would be difficult for her to help out as she had been doing.  My mom said she was tired of driving so far to see Ritchie and wanted to move him closer to home.  I missed riding with other girls like me.  We decided to move Ritchie to my best friends farm right down the street from me.  I had been friends with Carly for a long time and always had fun at the shows with her.  I was so excited.  Unfortunately, Lisa would not be able to come out and help with her being so busy at Wakefield.  We were both sad.  She told me she knew I would continue to do well and I will still see her at the shows. 

 

Seabreeze Farm in NC has now become quite the hang out!  I get to go out every day since it is so close and get to ride with my friends.  There is Carly, Tory, Devney, Sidney, and Hannah!  We have a great time and my mom spends lots of time talking to thier moms!!  That means more play time for us!!

 

Tony Albertson is the trainer there and he is a very funny person!  I have been having a fun time taking lessons with him.  My mom and Tony wanted to see how things would go at a show recently so we went to a schooling show for a weekend.  It was great.  Ritchie was fantastic and I got to work on the butterflies in my belly!

 

It is a good thing I got those butterflies out because…..

 

I got my invitation to Zone III Finals at Whashington International Local Weekend!!

Ritchie and I were number four in our zone and qualified for finals.  I am so excited.  This weekend and this week my mom and I will be getting prepared and we will be leaving on Friday.  I plan on keeping you all posted as to all our preperations and the show!  There will be lots to tell.  Check back next week for all the photos and details!!  I hope I have great news then!!!