Our friends, Susan (breeder of Bart) and Riley (newly married to Tyler) were at the Happenstance Horse Show this weekend without Melissa, who stayed home to manage her stable of horses. Jane and I were enlisted to set jumps in preparation for classes, and that contributed to a busy, fun weekend.
Yesterday, I turned my horses out, then biked over to Marilyn’s to feed Trigger. Jane picked me up, and we made it to Happenstance just in time for the jumper classes. Susan and her beautiful mare, Galatea, were flawless. Riley and Melissa’s favorite horse, Joseph, who is NOT for sale, (though people always inquire) were also stars. Jane and I were proud to be setting their warmup jumps, though Melissa was much missed.
It was a fun and successful day of showing. Horses and riders acquitted themselves well, the weather was delightful, and Ellen Baehr always runs things well (no pictures of her, as she does not like like photographs).
Jane wanted to ride Derry, so Susan joined us to ride her boy, Bart. It was great fun for the humans to see the reunion, but Bart was underwhelmed. Still, we had a fun trail ride together. I was lucky to ride Stone. Oisin would have had way too much fun, so he stayed home.
Weedy was a bad boy, and wandered off to “Mr. MacGregor’s” as we jokingly call the Herters’ when he visits their dog, Holly. Harry retrieved him in the car. The one thing Weedy likes better than anything in the world is going for a ride in the car. He was somewhat chagrined to be brought home. Not much of a drive!
At home, the pineapple sage is starting to bloom. Rebecca brought us the herb this Spring – it is one of my favorites. I like plants that bloom at the end of the season – they seem sort of daring, waiting almost until frost to show their finest. I also recently bought a pair of end of season daisies. One was planted on Daisy’s grave, and another here, by the house.
Marianne often comes and goes, doing her much appreciated work without our crossing paths, but I actually had a chance to talk to her on Saturday, and to get a picture of her ever present smile.
Today began with a bike ride to feed Trigger, and I snapped a picture of the Herters’ lake on the way home. It was a beautiful morning.
On to Day 2 of the Happenstance October Show. Susan and Teah moved up to start in the 1 meter High Adult class, and excelled. Riley and Joseph had a spectacular round in the Low Adults and finished moving up, with a beautiful round in the 1 meter class. Susan and Galatea were 2nd in the MOHJO Mini Prix, to end on a very positive note.
At the horse show, dogs are a big part of the fun. I do not remember the name of this Happenstance dog, but she is another one of my favorites.
Joey, and his mother JoJo, are two of my favorite people. They live in Columbia, Missouri, and I have known JoJo since she was a little girl. Now, she is a professional rider with a large stable, and a son who brings joy wherever he goes. Today, he found some money on the ground, and turned it in to the office. The person who had dropped her money rewarded Joey with a fancy cookie. I believe there is much goodness in the world, and Joey is already part of that. As is Chloe, one of JoJo’s students, with a lovely horse called Amy, who corrected a placing in a jumper class that dropped her down in the standings, because she knew the other horse had jumped clear, when she had a rail. Honesty and sportsmanship abounded this weekend!
This evening, we attended an 80th birthday party for Denny, one of Harry’s closest, lifelong friends. On the way home, we saw an armadillo! What an incredible planet this is, with astonishing creatures! It is a privilege to see such things, and just down the road from our house!
Autumn is here, the weather is glorious, and geese are flying. North, south, I am not sure, but I love to see them overhead.
Be safe, be well. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
Good to see you this weekend!
Harper us the name that eludes you. A pleasant, busy horse show dog indeed.
Thanks, Janis! You know everything!
Cool pic, Joseph & Riley not only in flight, but also in conflux with a rainbow 🌈
The photo of Joey, pony and the blue ribbons=–priceless.
Big Blog!! What fun to see competitors helping one another, being honest, thank you Joey, and do love – love your pony!!! Weedy, that vagabond! The Armadillo is striking in his markings: who ever sees an Armadillo?? And the squirrels, I also love them because they seem to have so much fun! Interesting comment about the late blooming plants, “they seem sort of daring.” I like that! Thank you Anne, this is a delight