It is very tiring showing from home. And this week, the weather is hot. So this will be a short report.

We were up early and I went off to horse show, as Harry went to Augusta to give his quarterly speech to wounded Marines. He is very much affected by these brave men who have met with bad luck. Often, they do keep in touch with him, and he feels a great responsibility to help them as much as he can. So, today was quite tiring for Harry.

The good news is that the jumper schedule has Bart’s classes going early in the day for the final three days. Today, we showed before 10 AM. Susan and Jane were there before the show started and were a big support as I dithered around getting ready. Lou Ann Klump came to cheer us on, and she took a very good picture with her phone camera. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of any of them!

Bart jumped a clear round over a challenging (to me) track, but had a cheap rail in the jump off, finishing fourth. I rode badly in a couple of places, and Bart jumped really well, bailing us out of trouble, so I felt very fortunate indeed!

Friends Geri and Leslie arrived to watch – too late, but they did get pictures with Bart.

After bathing and packing feet, and enjoying lunch provided by Baskin Farm, Bart returned home and I was reunited briefly with Harry. Then, back to the show to prepare the stall for tomorrow, since start time is an hour earlier for Saturday.

Eddy was a perfect horse show dog, and a joy all day. Home to chores and now to bed.

Be safe, be well, be kind. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

The actual 9/11 (in 2001) happened during the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show that year. There were television sets at the in gates, but the show went on. It was a frightening and dreadful day. These are frightening and dreadful times now. The horse world and the shows go on, but we are all disturbed.

No showing for us today, as Fred came to reset Bart’s shoes. It was hot shoeing indeed!

Derry and Oisin were shod, too, of course, but I have little time to blog tonight. The schedule tomorrow (and Saturday and Sunday, too) is early for the 1 meter jumpers. I will be wandering out into the pasture at 5 AM in search of Bart.

As always, Eddy is loved – we stopped over to the show to check on the schedule and make sure Bart’s stall is ready. Lee Ann in the office put Eddy through his paces and fed him delicious Savannah’s treats!

Harry has a difficult day ahead tomorrow, but he is always more chill than I am!

Bart advises we all stay hydrated, since we are in for a hot spell of weather for most of September.

Be safe, be well, be kind, and stay hydrated. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

The St. Louis National Charity Horse Show (SLNCHS) began in 1856, before the Civil War, and was quite an important affair! It ran for many years, including being a part of the 1904 World’s Fair in Forest Park. The horse show went on hiatus for a while, but was resurrected in 1978, when it was held at Queeny Park in St. Louis County. In 1999, it relocated to St. Charles County at the National Equestrian Center, which is where we are showing this week.

The transformation in the facility since last week was astonishing. The place looks like there is a real horse show going on, with nice tables for spectators, and banners and decorations galore.

Bart and I are still in Barn 7 with Kris and Kirin Farm, but some more horses have arrived and the excitement is building. It is even more fun now than it was in 1978. I feel very fortunate to be able to participate!

Bart and I left at 8 AM and endured school traffic, but arrived on time. As soon as he was in the stall, Bart took his morning nap.

The schedule, with three rings going this week, was frustrating and slow. Harry and Weedy arrived, to join Jane in supporting us. Then I found I had missed a text from my 7th brother, Eddy, who is in town from France, where he lives. He spent an hour watching hunters before I saw his text! I rushed over to the main ring and found him there. Luckily, he was able to stay for a little while. I was definitely in a state by then, and suddenly it was time to show (almost noon!). Kris prepared us, and Bart was really energetic and happy. We jumped around clean, for a blue ribbon and a bag of horse treats as a reward! Good boy, Bart!

Pictures are only possible with help from friends. Jane videotaped the class, from which I pulled pictures, Randy took pictures of Eddys and me, and Christine took a picture of Bart with his ribbon.

Home again, I noticed the beauty berries are ripening, a sure sign of autumn, even though it feels like mid summer.

I snapped pictures of two old lady cats in the barn.

And that, folks, is a report on Day 1 of the 2025 SLNCHS. Tomorrow Fred will give Bart some fancy feet for the upcoming 1 meter JR/AO classes on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We will definitely need to stay hydrated for this hot week!

Be safe, be well, be hopeful, be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

After a “day off” yesterday, Bart and I skipped schooling this week in favor of a ride here at home with Jane and Derry. It was cool and very autumnal, but terribly dry. The forecast is for hot weather ahead this week, unfortunately. Today, though, Bart was quite fresh, and Derry jumped well.

It was a beautiful morning for a ride, and we did see a Monarch butterfly, which makes for a good day. Harry was on a mission, so could not join us, though his horse had very fancy feet, fixed by Fred yesterday.

It was a great relief to watch Stone walk out to the pasture yesterday in comfort. This dry weather is hard on the horses’ feet. Of course, wet weather is hard on horses’ feet, too!

Harry came out to the barn to help me with chores yesterday, and we had a good laugh, inspired by some of Eddy’s antics, which help to keep us sane in these disturbing times.

Today, September 9th, is my brother John’s birthday. Here is the way I picture him, though he is somewhat older now, at 68…

Harlan was here this morning to empty the dumpster, and Eddy enjoyed visiting with him. Tom Morris likes the ramp to the dumpster as a place to nap.

Eddy and Weedy spent the day at home, as Harry and I were out and about, and the temperatures are warming this week. I went to the show to pick up my number and enter a class for tomorrow. I am pretty excited to be showing at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show (SLNCHS) again!

Tom Morris and Marmalade await their evening dinner…

Harry came out to help with barn chores this evening, and alerted me to a spectacular sky.

Be safe, be well, be grateful for luck and wonder. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

The stars were perhaps a bit out of alignment today. I loaded Bart into the trailer, in good time. Then, the truck would not start – a dead battery, which I had worried might be a problem after the Happenstance incident, but I was lulled into a sense of security by the last few days. Ah, well, as problems go, this was not a big one. Harry dashed over and jump started the truck, and I called AAA to install a new battery at the show grounds. A real benefit to cell phones- I was able to make arrangements as I drove to the show. Once there, Bart settled in.

I saw Jules as I walked into the show barn. She is Hillary’s dog, we have known for 13 years. She is now 16. Also, I did get the name of Kate’s gate assistant dog…

Well, I had a big cheering section today, but I was overstimulated, and did not get pictures of everyone. Susan arrived first – she bred and raised Bart, and he is always very happy to see her. I am incredibly lucky to have him.

Louise and Pam arrived, too, and Louise videoed Bart’s rounds, along with Jane. It is helpful for me to see videos, and I can pull some shots off video clips to share. Pam has a particular affinity for Bart.

Justine, too, came to support us. She and her beautiful mare, Callie, show locally, but are giving this week a miss with a trip east planned for next week, alas.

Bart was inspired by all the support, and, more importantly, by wonderful preparation by Kris. Unfortunately, rusty as I am, the course was difficult to remember, and I missed two inside turns in the jump off. Nonetheless, Bart was double clear, and there were some good moments. We finished 2nd (primary color!) in the 1 meter Jr/AO class of 3 entries.

Harry was there to watch with Weedy, but I failed to get a picture. Then, our friend Joe Walsh arrived and I never took a picture of him, either! Joe missed Bart’s round, but he stayed to watch a bit and learned some things about a different horse sport. Joe has two race horses, which is a very different game, but he is definitely a horseman.

A new battery arrived, courtesy of AAA, and the ancient truck lives to drive on, and drove us home.

Once home, the mower repairs were in progress, but problematic. They should be solved next week. The drought has kept grass from growing, anyway.

To finish the day, Jane and I went for a wander on Derry and Oisin. We are very lucky old ladies!

Tomorrow Bart and I will show again, while Harry leaves early for the “Chalkfest” in St. Louis, where he will do artwork on an underpass. He promises to get a picture for the blog!

Be safe, be well, be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

I aimed to school at around 11 this morning, but I was fairly inefficient. Bart came in and had a good rest, early. Some rain fell, but only a little bit, and only for a few minutes. It is desperately dry here.

We had a visit from the heating and A/C guy, named Bill, doing routine maintenance first thing this morning. Noticing the skunk stink, which is still quite pervasive, he described to us a misadventure he had when he was 8 years old and was thoroughly sprayed. He told us that the musk skunks spray is not liquid, but slimy and sticky. Not a pleasant bit of knowledge! Poor Eddy – and poor Anne and Harry and Weedy, having to live with this odor.

I puttered around, making sure I had everything I needed, and was distracted by a small toad – I do love those amphibians. Then there was the reblooming catmint, and of course, the camera cannot resist a sleeping Tom Morris.

Eddy and Bart and I set off on time, but our trip was stalled by the cutest little varmints I have ever seen, just around the corner from our place. Quadruplet raccoons! I did have the camera with me, but I missed the best shot, when all four were staring at the truck and trailer.

Then, before we left the gravel road, there was a doe with her growing fawns, on the edge of a pond.

At the show, Jane met me and helped me unpack and get ready. Then, Bart and I eventually got to the East Ring to school with Kris. I was not at all happy with the new footing, but we are hoping it will be improved by tomorrow. Bart was very good, and we feel fairly ready to show tomorrow. We are going to do a .95 meter class.

I went to the office to provide my documents to Mickey and get my number. Most importantly, I stocked up on treats for Bart at The Tack Trunk shop in the lobby. Maura had just arrived and Gremlin was visiting. I took a picture of them, but Gremlin would not look at the camera. She had eyes only for Mickey, her human.

After much visiting with friends, I took Bart home, so that he can graze overnight. Stone and Oisin were happy to see him.

Just after turning the horses out, Eddy saw a deer in the pasture. Off he went, not at all tired after a day at the horse show. Even stinky, he is always happy and full of energy. Eddy is surrounded by a cloud of joy stronger than skunk stink!

Overhead, there was the autumnal music of geese flying south.

Stay safe, stay well, stay alert for the beauty around us. Slava Ukraini! Peace…