Charity Show Friday

Today, the old ladies returned to the show ring. Susan arrived yesterday with Galatea (Teah). This morning, Bart and Derry were loaded early into their trailers and ensconced in horse show stalls for the day. The show is very light on entries, with the Low Adult (1 meter) division being the biggest classes at 7 competitors.

We had a great cheering section in friends Laura and Leslie, fellow old lady horsewomen. Kris was schooling me, and, as always gave great advice. He also took a picture of me when I was walking the course.

I disgraced myself in the first class on Bart by going off course in the jump off. Bart jumped clear in the first round, and after we had a rail at the first jump in the jump off, I lost my concentration. I haven’t gone off course in a long time. As Dennis Mitchell would say “Well, you can’t say that any more!”. Not a good start.

Derry made up for that poor ride by jumping double clear and fast, to finish in 2nd place just behind Susan and Teah. Bart was 4th, with elimination in the jump off, but a clean first round.

Then came the Speed Class, which was the same course as the first round in the previous class, but timed, so no jump off. Derry blazed around, not quite beating Teah and Susan, but into 2nd place. Then Bart jumped really well, and just a bit slower than Derry. So it was an old lady sweep of the primary color ribbons with Galatea 1st, Irish Amber 2nd and Bartholomew Fair 3rd. We were ecstatic. It was a fun day.

Our friend, Melinda (who is NOT an old lady) sent me some video, which was a nice surprise. I extracted some still photos. Many thanks to Melinda.

Back at the barn, the old ladies had fun. Alas, Harry and Weedy had gone home to meet a workman who is going to fix the front porch pillars, so there are no pictures of them, though they were there to cheer us on while we jumped.

So, today was a good day. Preparation over the past two days was mainly trail riding. And resting.. Harry, too, needs rest to recover from his rough patch. Bart sets a good example.

Weedy went with me to the horse show Wednesday and yesterday. He misses his pack. Harry was busy with a press conference on Wednesday, having been named an inductee into the Missouri Sports Hall Of Fame – a great honor and a surprise. Harry is a sport sculptor (amongst other subjects), so he has many sculptures AT the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. The actual induction ceremony will happen in November.

A fawn stopped to watch me work yesterday.

Oisin has recovered from his pastern injury and is ready to go back to work.

Bart is enjoying his night turnout and will be back to horse showing early tomorrow.

Be safe, be well. Slava Ukraini! Peace.