Schooling Day – May 4

May the 4th be with you!

Our first full day in Omaha has been pretty tiring, but lots of fun.  Today was Schooling Day, meaning just an opportunity to practice in the ring before the competition begins tomorrow. We were fortunate that Patrice Urban, who runs the office, let us check in early. Our paperwork was in order, and Bart has number 159.

We are stabled sort of in a back corner, which makes filling water buckets quite tedious.  The water access is not great.  Also, the mats that cover the smooth concrete floor (deadly to shod horses) have been rolled up and stored for three years.  So we have a sort of mogul run in the aisle.  We are all learning to walk with higher steps, and learning to catch ourselves when we trip. Difficulties aside, it is wonderful to be here. Patrice Urban’s son, Dan Urban, is in charge of the stabling, an inconceivably difficult job that he is handling phlegmatically.

It is so nice to have a dog here, since we miss our dogs so much (not to mention Harry). Jane’s housesitter sent an adorable picture of Clover. In front of the Arena, there are sculptures, one of which reminds me of Mistletoe, who is sorely missed in our life.

But I digress… Once Bart woke up from his after breakfast nap, I took him for a ride, and he was fresh and frisky. Jane and I watched Emily school one of her two horses, Lima. She looked very much on her game. Bart was scheduled for a 1 PM ticketed schooling in the arena, and Kris prepared us well. It was great fun to ride with Kris again at long last. Bart was forward and brave, and we feel ready. I missed Lindsey’s ride, which was at 1:15, after mine, but Jane videoed and Auggie was very good. Lindsey and I will proceed to competition day and see who is the most nervous. The schedule has come out, and we ride one after the other in the class of 37 horses at 12:30 tomorrow.

After riding, the bathing here is wonderful, because there is plenty of water pressure, cross tie stalls, and lovely, warm water. I should mention it is pretty cold here, but pleasant for riding. Jane was cold all day, but with nerves and riding, I was fine.

There was a mandatory temperature check, so we had to stay by our stalls at 3:30 – the team arrived around 4 PM. What a job! They had to take the temperatures of every horse on the grounds!

We went back to the hotel (across the street) for a very brief rest before the Riders’ Meeting at 7 PM. On the way, we saw Kris and Lindsey, and I had my camera handy.The light outside is much better than in the arena.

A short walk took us to The Mattress Factory, where the Rider’s Meeting took place. There we had food and drink and fellow competitors (mostly much younger than we Old Ladies). It was a nice ending to the day. Officials were introduced. The course designer is from Portugal and well respected. I am excited to ride his tracks. Business was fairly brief, and we Old Ladies made it back to the hotel at a fairly reasonable hour after fun with young friends and a final visit to Bart, who is quite happy.

Be safe, be well. Slava Ukraini! Peace.