Happenstance April Horse Show (and A Bad Dog)

To continue catching up with the blog, I will begin by confessing that Eddy is in serious disgrace. TWICE last week, he bolted. The first time, we had just returned from an errand. I opened the door of the car, missed his leash, and he bolted toward the east woods. He was gone. Luckily, he was wearing the GPS collar, and Harry arrived home while I was desperately searching for the fugitive. He guided me to Agape Lane, and here came Eddy, covered in black sludge, out of the lake. He was delighted with himself, and happy for a ride hime in the Mule. Meanwhile, several people in the subdivision are now familiar with our bad dog. His punishment was a bath on the barn wash rack, which he did not enjoy! Unfortunately, I was so upset I failed to take a picture.

The very next day, I was hooking Eddy’s long tie up to the dumpster when three deer jumped up in the woods. Before I could hook the tie, Eddy bolted again, and I pursued at top speed, with no effect. Again, luckily, the GPS collar informed Harry that Eddy was in the east woods, and stationary. I was able to recover once I knew he was trapped somehow, and went to find him. That very bad boy was not at all repentant. Miraculously, the hook I had been unable to fasten had caught on a sapling, stopping the bolter! Poor Jane was called on both occasions and helped in the desperate searches. What a naughty dog is Eddy, but we still love him!

Speaking of Jane, she was dedicated all week to her riding preparation for the Happenstance Show, putting me to shame for my recent riding indolence. It was inspirational, but sad, to see her setting off to ride without me, since I have been otherwise occupied. I did get to the ring to take some pictures, though.

Marianne continues to help in the barn, though I seldom actually see her. I was lucky last week to have my camera and Marianne at the same time. She still has a great smile.

There were many smiles at the Happenstance April Horse Show. Friday, schooling day, I picked up Crumlin and another horse, Clover, and drove them over to the show. I protected Crumlin’s head after his misadventure last week, which he thought was stupid. Watching Ali ride those two green horses was quite inspiring. She appears to do very little, and the horses just get better with each ride! I returned home to find Nathaniel ready to help with mowing. He came back on Saturday with Allison and did some significant fence repairs while I was away at the show. We are so lucky!

Saturday was a red letter day, with horse showing and a visit from one of our favorite friends, Linda McClaren Parkhurst, who is here from Michigan for dedication of a trail in her honor at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. Following that honor, she will be teaching a clinic this week in Eureka. Linda was excited to be at the Happenstance Show before coming here, meeting Facebook horse friends in real life. As someone who does not do Facebook, I am almost on a different planet. Now follows a gallery of Happenstance faces, friends all. There were many more I failed to catch with the camera.

Jane and Susan both rode extremely well. It was bittersweet, with this being Susan’s last show for several months, but fun to watch friends shine in the ring both days. I did a lot of videoing of rounds, leaving most still photography to Jess, though here are a few …

Around here, there is plenty of beauty as Spring goes wild with warm temperatures.

At last, back in the saddle myself…

And in the studio…

In the house, Harry gives Eddy a lecture about rules…

The very bad dog, who is not allowed on our bed, continues to break the rules.

Keep smiling when you can. Break some rules, and count your blessings. Slava Ukraini! Peace.