Poor Bart is WAY too tired to blog this evening, so it falls to me…
Horse showing is hard. It’s fraught with danger…
There are many ups and downs, victories and debacles, that can buoy us up or devastate us in a split second of luck, or lack thereof. Yet we do this for fun. We don’t have to do it, and it costs a fortune. And it can make us miserable.
Derry and Jane decided to sit out today after yesterday’s refusal. But, as good friends, they came to the show with Bart for company and moral support.
Naturally, Bart napped before departure…
We had plenty of time to kill before the High Children’s / Adult classes. For my readers who are not horse show literate, the class is designed for people below the age of 18 – children – and amateurs over the age of 18 – adults – combined in one class. This favors the brave and fast children, of course, and certainly the younger amateurs. The “High” division is contested at 1.10 meter (3’7″), a height at which difficulty increases. A trainer I used to ride with said “There’s a reason the big equitation classes are 3’6″”. Mistakes amplify as jumps get bigger, and 3’6″ is big enough to demonstrate that.
There were only 7 entries in the first class, but all very nice, competitive horses. Bart was first in the ring and he was double clear, finishing a very respectable 4th. I would have been quite happy to scratch the next class. After all, we did the right number of strides in the in and outs today! But Kris encouraged me to do the Speed Class. Only four horses returned for that class, and Bart was even better than in the first class. He earned a primary color ribbon – second! – with a slick round and an amazing effort to jump clear at one jump I dead missed to by over covering the distance for a change. How he jumped clear I do not know! Jane took great video – the little stills do not do justice, but they are all I have tonight…
Bart bails us out of trouble Bart jumps well on the angle
Speaking of ribbons, Bart also ended up Reserve Champion in the Hopeful Jumper Division, so our banner is looking good. It helps that it’s a small show. Next week is rumored to be huge – there are figures like “500 horses” being bandied about. And big name trainers (BNTs in horse world lingo acronym speak) will be here with the Maclay Regional Finals a big draw. And a $50,000 Grand Prix! The excitement builds.
But first we have to get through tomorrow. Bart is home and out in the field regaling his buddies with tall tales of his prowess (he really was good today!).
Tomorrow will be late, so the blog may file on Sunday…
Incredible.You are something else and I love your horse and of course you too.Good luck tomorrow.My best to you both.susan
Oh my, trying to remember if I remember Midnight. I remember a Midnight but I don’t believe he was your Midnight. He came from the eventing world and he came with an unusual bit I treasured because for many of his successors it was just right. Some kind of a hard rubber port snaffle with D-shaped cheeks and a little heft like a Kimberwicke but with no place for a curb chain or slots for the reins . Anyway, happy to hear the banner is looking good and I hope that you and Jane and Bart and Derry have a good Saturday!
An intriguing bit! No, this was a Midnite (officially Midnite Blue) you may not have known. I will tell his tale on the blog. It is worthy of a post. Soon…