Horse Show History
This weekend the baby, Uno, went to his first ever horse show. Cue panic!
My horse show history is at best a story told with copious wine. When I was younger and rode the hunter jumper circuit it was pretty basic for a horse mad girl on school horses. Predictably average.
In high school I got the chance to start going to bigger A rated shows and was amazed when I was am to keep but gutsy but average streak going even amoungst "the big leagues." Then I fell. It hurt. A lot. The doctor told me to take a year off riding and maybe no more jumping.
I went to college.
Enter horse # 1. Dressage superstar. Imported. Super Fancy. Hard. To. Ride.
One month later I fell and broke my back. When I was able to ride again we scored really well. Taking home ribbons at training and first level.
One year later we lost him to colic. I was emotional done.
Enter horse # 2. Skinny. Plain. Covered in rain rot. He was emotionally damaged.
This was the best and worst horse that I could ever have asked for. He was the love-st of love bugs. He was constantly in my business and very territorial of me. He was soft and sweet. He bolted unexpectedly for who knows what reasons. He had absolutely 0 self preservation.
We toddled along from trainer to trainer, discipline to discipline. Acquiring knowledge and broken bones.
Showing him was like a mixed bag of tricks. He was equally likely to go around like a dead head hunter packer as he was to jump out of the arena and go for a run.
I stopped jumping. I had jumped GP horses over 5 foot jumps, I had shown over 3'6", I had practiced side pass and tempi changes. Suddenly, I was happy with calm 20 meter circles and 2 foot jumper rounds.
But.. you know there is always a but somewhere. On every test I have ever ridden with this horse are two comments, "Cute horse," "Good partnership." On a notable occasion we have even had a hunter judge approach us after the class to say, "Cute horse, nice ride. You are clearly not a hunter."
As he has aged he has gotten better. He is still my best friend. And maybe at 16 he finally has enough sense not to kill us just because.
Enter horse #3. Small. Scared. Very much "in the rough" Actually a pony.
One year of love, food, and consistent handling and he is a solid citizen. He gives pony rides, he hacks out on the buckle.
This was supposed to be my husband's trail horse. I don't know if he will ever get him back. He foxhunts, trail rides, and meets most challenges with calm capability. Unless they are hard, then he has a baby freak out about so. much. work.
We still can't canter 20 meter circles, but the gift of a partner that you can trust not to kill you is priceless. Blue ribbons don't hurt either!
My horse show history is at best a story told with copious wine. When I was younger and rode the hunter jumper circuit it was pretty basic for a horse mad girl on school horses. Predictably average.
In high school I got the chance to start going to bigger A rated shows and was amazed when I was am to keep but gutsy but average streak going even amoungst "the big leagues." Then I fell. It hurt. A lot. The doctor told me to take a year off riding and maybe no more jumping.
I went to college.
Enter horse # 1. Dressage superstar. Imported. Super Fancy. Hard. To. Ride.
One month later I fell and broke my back. When I was able to ride again we scored really well. Taking home ribbons at training and first level.
One year later we lost him to colic. I was emotional done.
Enter horse # 2. Skinny. Plain. Covered in rain rot. He was emotionally damaged.
This was the best and worst horse that I could ever have asked for. He was the love-st of love bugs. He was constantly in my business and very territorial of me. He was soft and sweet. He bolted unexpectedly for who knows what reasons. He had absolutely 0 self preservation.
We toddled along from trainer to trainer, discipline to discipline. Acquiring knowledge and broken bones.
Showing him was like a mixed bag of tricks. He was equally likely to go around like a dead head hunter packer as he was to jump out of the arena and go for a run.
 |
| He doesn't look like he wants to kill you does he? |
I stopped jumping. I had jumped GP horses over 5 foot jumps, I had shown over 3'6", I had practiced side pass and tempi changes. Suddenly, I was happy with calm 20 meter circles and 2 foot jumper rounds.
 |
| Check us out looking almost capable. |
But.. you know there is always a but somewhere. On every test I have ever ridden with this horse are two comments, "Cute horse," "Good partnership." On a notable occasion we have even had a hunter judge approach us after the class to say, "Cute horse, nice ride. You are clearly not a hunter."
 |
| My best friend. |
As he has aged he has gotten better. He is still my best friend. And maybe at 16 he finally has enough sense not to kill us just because.
 |
| No reins = All the trust. |
Enter horse #3. Small. Scared. Very much "in the rough" Actually a pony.
One year of love, food, and consistent handling and he is a solid citizen. He gives pony rides, he hacks out on the buckle.
This was supposed to be my husband's trail horse. I don't know if he will ever get him back. He foxhunts, trail rides, and meets most challenges with calm capability. Unless they are hard, then he has a baby freak out about so. much. work.
We still can't canter 20 meter circles, but the gift of a partner that you can trust not to kill you is priceless. Blue ribbons don't hurt either!
Comments
Post a Comment