Growth, and Learning

The Pay Off
We had an amazing this weekend. I entered the weekend with trepidation. We had several people travelling with us who either haven't travelled with us in the past, or haven't travelled in quite awhile. The last several shows have run quite smoothly. I was worried that the addition of so many people to our group was going to rock the boat. I was proved wrong. We had our occasional moment where some of my seasoned kids had to step up to the plate and do a bit of hand holding, but all in all everyone pulled their weight. We were unpacked in lightning Sunday night.

Grazing at the Gas Station

We had a long day Friday. We picked a nail up in our tire on our way up. We had to stop in Chapin for Mr. Thomas and Shelton to plug and slime the tire. Our location was convenient because Lexy and Miss Sandy got to have lunch with Travis (her brother). One silly nail delayed us almost an hour.

We arrived at the show grounds about 3:30. We unloaded,unpacked and fed the horses dinner. Several of the riders schooled Friday night. As tradition dictates we did a late dinner at Fuddruckers. It was hard to find a table for all of us. The back room was closed for the night and we had 14 people at dinner.

Bailey and Sassy
Olivia and Doodle

Saturday was a full day. We had people showing in both arenas most of the day. Bailey and Olivia kick started the day in the amoeba division. I've only taught these two a couple of times each, so we are still getting to know each other. This was Bailey's first show. Sassy was a brilliant mount with the addition of a $4 piece of equipment. Now we're hoping she remains that good at home. Bailey will be moving up to 2 foot and 2'3" in the coming weeks. Olivia and Doodle have shown marked improvement in just the two weeks they have been with me. Olivia has found a love for the jumper world via the low gambler class. We will start working towards her goal of transitioning to jumpers.

Chipper and Pickles 2'
Chipper and Gia Flatting
Gia and Jessie 2'

Chipper and Gia rode the ponies in the hopeful hunter division. Gia and Jessie were an amazing pair. They are really coming into their own. They were the division Champions winning 5 out of 6 classes. Pickles gave Chipper a run for his money on Saturday. If there is a dirty pony trick Pickles pulled it. Pickles challenge turned out to be the best thing for Chipper. Chipper accomplished more than one of his life goals for his riding. He earned a "man up" award for how quick he climbed up after his fall. We have all been waiting years for that to happen. They went from the ground up. Each class improved until he was in the ribbons several classes in a row.


Sean and Maggie. Know that's square

from halt to gallop...

Sean was the King of Versatility for the day for Saturday. He rode in both rings. He showed 2' fences, trail, disciplined rail, and ran barrels and poles. He had a good day all the way around. Sunday was his outstanding performance. He rode both Intro dressage tests for the first time. He won the A test with a score of 62 and took 3rd in the B test with score of 67.

Shelton and Sonny w/t

Shelton also got to show the his horse Sonny. Sonny is a work in progress so we did not have high hopes, but they did very well in the trail class. I spent a few minutes tuning Sonny up, and then Shelton went to it. Placing 4th in the class. He also "ran" more standard bred trotted the barrels and poles.


Lexy and Pickles 2'6"

Lexy and Em Intro A

Sunday belonged to my teenagers, and for an odd occasion myself. Lexy showed Pickles in the moving up division at 2'6" and 2'9". They won the hack with 7 in the class. They were the smallest, but apparently the cutest. She also showed Em in Intro A scoring just 1 point behind Sean on Em. Her final class was the 2'6" jumpers on Jessie. The course was going well until Jessie refused an aquaduct. She's never seen one, so we have something to work on there.

Possibly my all time fave pic of this pair

Kaijsa showed Em training level and designed her own training level freestyle test. She set her test to Tim McGraw's "I Like it, I Love it". She came home learning that sometimes a horse is too well schooled to move down the levels, but had a great experience learning how to put together a freestyle test. Her rythm was compunded with my showing Em in the jumper division.

I showed Em in the 2'6" jumper, 3'-3'3" jumpers, and High Gamblers. I rode off course in the 2'6" as I was in a mad rush from one arena to the next. I settled for the 1 meter class and placed third. Then finally we were 5th in the Gamblers. For a mare notorious for 4' bucks on course I was very pleased to get clean lead changes instead.

My weekend continued into Monday when I picked up a new horse for the Serio's. I am very excited to announce that Palmetto Walk aka. Bella has been added to the Charleston Riding Academy stable. Look for her very soon being shown in the large hunter ring by myself or one of the teenagers. Hopefully she will soon be packing her new girls in the small ring walk/trot.