Well, our life is careening along, and here we are at Day 1 of the “Charity” or SLNCHS, the “biggest” hunter / jumper horse show of the year in these parts. Unfortunately, this year the show is not well attended. Nonetheless, it still feels special, and the weather is glorious. This horse show typically marks the approach to Autumn.
Yesterday, Kris, our trainer from Kansas City, came here to school me on Bart and Derry en route to the show. He always challenges me to do more than I think I can, and the horses rose to the occasion. I jumped both of them, with Jane warming Derry up for me. The ring was perfectly watered by a light rain. Since our jump school went well, we are only going to show on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the Low Adult Jumper division. Susan will return tomorrow to do the same.
Speaking of Susan, she and Galatea were stars in the Low Adult jumpers over the Preview Show weekend. I didn’t compete at the weekend, but we did go up to watch. Teah was Reserve Champion, and they made it look easy.
Saturday morning, Harry left at 6 AM to drive to St. Louis and do artwork on an underpass. While he was hard at work, Jane and I went biking. We were shocked at how much busier the Katy Trail is on a weekend, but the weather was delightful. My bike lost its rear brakes, but I was still able to work on fitness for the upcoming bike trip.
Saturday afternoon, Harry and Weedy and I went to a party in honor of Laura Carpenter Balding. The event began with a basset hunt at Wheatfield Cottage, where I lived for five years, before becoming Bridlespur’s Huntsman, marrying Harry, and living a life I never expected, but dreamt of.
Unfortunately, Harry’s heart has been in atrial fibrillation since just before the Labor Day weekend. He was scheduled for the earliest possible cardioversion, but that availability wasn’t until Monday, September 11. Our healthcare system is broken, and this was a long and miserable week. As a result of the length of time in Afib, following the bassets really stressed Harry’s heart. In the end, we departed from the dinner party abruptly to get home to anti arrhythmic medications. Harry was, of course, a hero, and the pictures do not show how unwell he actually was!
At 3 AM on Sunday, Harry’s heart finally converted on its own to normal sinus rhythm, making the cardioversion unnecessary. It was a great relief, but he is still recovering from the difficulty of a weak and inefficient heart. I expect it will be a couple of weeks before he is back to full strength, but we are very grateful. We had to go in to St. Louis for an EKG, which confirmed sinus rhythm, but wasn’t perfect, so Harry went back for another EKG yesterday. Today, he is better still, and had a busy day at a press conference at which he was announced as a Missouri Sports Hall of Fame honoree to be enshrined in November.
And so it goes. Life with its ups and downs, steady and irregular, is always an adventure. We are surrounded by beauty, animals, and interesting friends. We are counting our blessings.
I am exhausted, and nervous for this coming week’s competition, so I am going to take the example set by Bart and Weedy and sleep…
Be safe, be well, stay in sinus rhythm! Slava Ukraini! Peace.
Harry’s art will soon be all over St Louis. Where is this woodpecker found?
Best wishes to Harry. I hope he will feel much better soon. The woodpecker is wonderful. I would drive out of my way to see it.
I always enjoy seeing the horses and I have a soft spot for bassets.
It’s sad about what was once a grand horse show. I remember the enthusiastic group, inclusive of Bea Brown, designing the renewed St. Louis Charity Horse Show. Change, an awkward thrust whittling down what once was. Well, Harry defies that nonsense! Truly a man of fortitude. As always I love the photos. And, the old ladies continued love of horse showing. Anne, relax!
I’m glad your statement that “Harry was going to work on an underpass” was clarified by photos. It could have been taken several ways. I’m also glad that Harry converted back to NSR on his own. Afib is not fun. Good luck at the show!
Best of luck at show Ann! Hope Harry continues to improve!