I drove home from the National Equestrian Center this evening with a huge full moon, the color of a chanterelle, rising in the east. The sun was down, and our classes were cancelled because we had run out of daylight. The stars have not been aligned today.
It started with rain here at 3 AM, and light rain again as I brought the horses in at 6, so the plan of riding Oisin and Stone was scrapped. Jane and I left in the car at 8 to watch Louise in the Crossrail Hunters. It’s difficult to describe how big this Kirkwood Show is. It’s a local show, but very popular and there were a huge number of entries.
The parking lot at the NEC (we are stabled in the barn beyond the cars, top center)
While it promised to be a long day, we had a great time watching Louise and visiting with people. It was especially good to be stabled with Melissa and Susan H and Riley (along with Tyler).
Melissa on Cecelia (Bart’s elegant sister) with Riley 
Louise 
Louise and Annie 
Louise and Annie 
Jane and Pam
We had many laughs and lots of fun. Louise got good ribbons in a huge class of twenty competitors. It was a fun morning. I took pictures of some of our friends, and at 11 o’clock we made a Starbucks run and returned home, thinking we would go back around 3 PM.
Joe and Joey Kyger 
Joey, mother Jojo and father Joe with their super pony 
Mother and son
The judges had a very long day. Here they are at the start.
Janis in the Crossrail and Jumper RIng 
Kris in the Main Hunter Ring 
Janet did a great job on marathon ingate duty 
Mo, the show manager
Paula with her husband, Robert, and dogs.
Marian with one of her lovely homebreds…
Then, somehow, things sort of went off the rails. We were texted that things were moving along more quickly than anticipated, so we hurried back to the show at 1:30. Susan C met us there, and we watched, and watched, and watched. It was an excruciating, long day. Harry did all the work at home, and came up to the NEC two or three times, bringing fizzy water and even food. Louise and Pam returned to watch, even though we advised against it.
I left my camera at the barn, and I was too tired to walk back and get it, so there are not many afternoon pictures. Then, to top it off, I left my bag at the show (retrieved by Melissa for tomorrow) so I cannot download what pictures I took. To make up for it, here is a picture from earlier in the week, of Oisin and Susan.
In the end, our classes were cancelled. Derry and Bart went back into the trailers and home to turnout. It was a frustrating day, but there were many pleasant moments. We must return tomorrow for a 7:30 AM start. I might be getting too old for this!
Weedy and Harry arrive as the sun is setting
Stay safe, stay well. Peace.
Oh dear, sorry you didn’t get to play. Good luck tomorrow. Love the pictures, thanks!
Peace
I loved the pictures, too. I also loved your endless back-and-forth , the heat, the hopeless attempts at scheduling to get to an event that never occurred anyway. It is exactly what I remembered. My footprints are still in that dirt path going back to the Bridlespur barns from the ring when the show was still at Johnny Otto’s on Lindbergh. I was always pudgy even at 10 years , and I swear I lost five and six pounds both days. Have a great day today. Best of luck to you both. Congrats to Louise.
How did you get that picture of me? Sneak attack! Nevertheless m thanks for including me.
Gorgeous mare, Cecelia! I love the great photo of Joey and Jojo. So frustrating for you and Jane! I’ll look for the other days to come!