A crazy weekend..

Like any other Friday I hurried home from school, threw some polos and riding pants in a bag and headed off to Kate's for a weekend as a working student. I arrived at Waradaca to help with cross country schooling on such a beautiful day. Then we headed back to the barn for a late night of preparing for Marlborough horse trial. Within four hours we had three of five horses braided, all of them washed, tack cleaned and trailer loaded. By the time we got home we all collapsed and fell asleep.
The next morning at 4 am I was jolted awake by my alarm screaming. I rolled out if bed got ready and we all were out the house before 4:45. We managed to leave before 5:20 and hit the open road. By the time we got to Marlborough it was crunch time. Kate had two horses in the prelim and three horses in the novice. All back to back. Between putting in studs and taking video it was a morning full of craziness and quick tack changes. By the time the show was over we had a Reining champion for the second year in a row, first, and second in the novice. Since it was only 1:00 we raced home hoping we could make the Columbia Classic Grand Prix. We did and spent our time in luxury in the VIP tent critiquing the riding and munching on some delicious salads among other things. After we finished up at the Columbia Classic we cleaned the barn and went out for dinner. It was 7:00 when we got home and we all happily went to sleep.
The next morning we worked until ten and then Kate generously let the other working students and I go watch the bareback puissance at Plantation Horse Trial. The atmosphere was amazing and fun. Caroline, Dom, and the other competitors put on a great show! The other working students and I then hurried back to the barn, stuck in traffic we managed to make it on time to feed the horses.

A Really "Fun Show"

I'm not quite accustomed to waking up at 8 am. It's probably the latest I've woken up since last spring. Especially on a show day. But a lot has changed since last spring.
With Kate and Jenny away at the American Eventing Championship leaving me all here by my lonesome I decided why not take part in a local Merry Acres "Fun Show" to support children with Autism. It had the set up of a horse trial only you could choose you test(s), jumping division and cross country division.
For dressage I chose to compete the same test I did when I went to Millbrook horse trials Beginner Novice test B to see my improvements. I had an impeccable test. Dobbin scored his highest ever with a 36.2 he even had an 8, as did I in my position. I ended up coming in second place and I was beaming.
For the show jumping portion I rode two rounds in 2'6 and 2'9 both were clear rounds. I placed first in both. I owe this to an incredibly stressful pre Culpeper show jumping lesson I had with Kate that really improved my show jumping from before.
After show jumping there was a break so I proceeded to walk my course, which was two miles long. By the time I made it back to start box my division had already started. I trotted up from the trailer, popped over a log, and they sent me on my way. It was about to rain and I made my way over the first few jumps at a steady rate before I began hand galloping . I ended up lapping the girl in front of me. And having a great ride placing fourth.
Congratulations to everyone competing, especially Nahye Kim, Teagan Przyborowski, Taylor Martin, Gaby Esquivel and Katie Oler. Overall it was a great day and I was happy to be there to support kids with Autism and put a smile on their face.