Susan gave Oisin another day off this morning. Looks like he needed it!
With estimated taxes ready for Harry to take to the Post Office, Jane brought Derry over so we could trailer the horses together and leave the real world for a big horse show at last!
The course was beautiful and rode well. We were in the 1 meter class, which was the fourth class of the day. A clear round earns a blue ribbon. Those classes are called Blue Ribbon classes, and included the first four classes of the day. There is now a website to predict class times, called whendoigo.com This is a great idea, but cannot predict the St. Louis delays, so it was off by an hour. Waiting around is always nerve wracking, especially after two years out of the game.
Kris asked me if the hamsters in my brain were going crazy, and I assured him they were stampeding around my head. Luckily, Kris is such a good coach that he gave me things to think about which gave the hamsters no room to scurry. The course for 1 meter included two in and outs (also referred to as combinations), which the earlier classes did not. I was extremely nervous.
Our aisle neighbor’s dog, Domino, set a good example of relaxation for me, but my heart was pounding.
I rode Derry (Irish Amber at the horse shows) first, giving me a bit more time to prepare her, since I haven’t jumped her for two years. Jane assured me that she had no expectations. It was a privilege to ride her magnificent mare, and to my delight, she marched right around, never touching a jump. The jumps looked big to me, but they really weren’t a problem for Derry, and it was a blast.
Next, Bart (Bartholomew Fair) had to live up to his girlfriend’s high standards. He succeeded, despite touching the last jump, all rails stayed up for another clear round. Kris gets a lot of the credit, and those two horses are amazing after such a long time away from the big shows. They were really good, and it was so much fun!!
Our friends, Louise and Pam, came from their lesson at Griffin to watch Derry and Bart. I expect their enthusiastic support helped, too. Louise and Harry both took video, and I extracted some pictures from video, not great quality, but they give a feel for the event.
Irish Amber starts the course 
The penultimate jump 
Derry on the way to the final fence 
Bartholomew Fair starts the course 
Bart jumping the ninth fence
We had put up the Bronze Fox Farm drapes, this being a fancy show, and we were worried we might not earn any ribbons to decorate the display.
Harry & Weedy arrive to watch – Harry checks out the stall drapes
Bart and Derry did us proud!
Bart was exhausted after his bath. It wouldn’t be a horse show without a picture of Bart sleeping.
Once Bart got up, we loaded the horses and took them home. We will ride them here in the morning tomorrow, then show again on Friday and Saturday.
At home, life goes on as usual.
Tom Morris 
Marmalade 
Licorice in her shed habitat
The stream shut down again on Monday. Connie came today and discovered another stone in the pump. She fixed it, restarting the babble of the brook, which we always miss when it goes silent.
Pineapple sage in bloom
Harry needed my assistance in the studio, which is even more pressure than horse showing! It was a good day – no faults there, either.
End of day, Harry took the dogs out, and I snapped some pictures. Cedar was off in search of varmints. The final shingle dumpster has not yet left, and we continue to find an alarming number of nails around. Much gratitude to Marianne for the wheeled magnet tools! We are hoping to avoid flat tires.
Weedy 
Nettle 
Mistletoe
In the eastern sky, a half moon floats over a wonderful day.
Stay safe, stay well. Peace.
Both of those rides today were lovely. It’s very helpful for beginners to watch experienced riders sail through those jumps. Mistletoe is such a hoot.
Yay! Have more fun!
Peace
YAY! And I have never before herd of “blue ribbon classes.” What a great invention!
A wonderful day indeed!
Love that photo of Bart over the 9th fence.
Mistletoe has miniature BIG FOOT feet!!