This weekend, for the first time since college I competed in a horse show. Riding my own horse as well! I was super excited to start showing again, even if it was just a rinky-dink little schooling show, where my top competition was an 8 year old(well, at least one of them was!).
My biggest fear was that Wiley(my adorable pony) was going to act like the pony from hell at the show. He hasn’t been off the farm in, oh….about 4 years. So I was expecting the worst. I was pleasantly surprised. He was well mannered, a complete gentleman and a little shining star in a sea of leggy bay TB’s and Warmbloods.
Honestly, my show nerves were a problem I have dealt with since childhood and I was worried that I would be too incapacitated to perform well. Luckily, I was smart and focused on relaxing and enjoy the moments and letting things roll off my back. The day went off well in that regard. I for once wasn’t a complete wreak and monster bitch to my entourage.
The most nerves I had was for the one and only jumping around I had signed up for. We made it through, with only the scary yellow flowers at fence #2 causing us any grief. I thought after that round that I just didn’t have it in me to jump competitively anymore, but as I sit here on Easter Sunday, I’m thinking I just need to compete in more jumping classes so that it’s as relaxing and enjoyable as my dressage tests are.
My Entourage :: Dad, Mom and Granny. Not pictured, the photographer, my hubby Jason.
Jason got this great shot of Wiley semi-smiling. Adorable.
So, we ended up with two 2nd place ribbons and a 3rd place ribbon. Funny thing was that I was tied for 1st twice and 2 once and lost both the ties to come home with those ribbons. Doesn’t matter though, we had fun and Wiley had a great first show experience. I won’t say that I will be back to Toopler Branch anytime soon. The show was run fairly smoothly, but there was some confusion about my jumping round and people seemed to think I needed advice. Please don’t give people unsolicited advice at a horse show, unless your the judge.
Funny thing, all the show people thought I was a kid (even though I competed in the Sr. division) and would say things like “Do you know your coarse?” as If I was 12 and would think that I could go into the show ring without knowing my coarse. Oh well, the haircut, me being 5’0″ and riding an adorable pony makes me look like I’m 12.
Hope everyone Else’s Easter weekend was just as fun!
