Jimmy Wofford Clinic- Opportunity Accepted!

Big doin's for Cowfeathers. We have just returned from a week of intensive riding at camp...more in the next blog. For now, I must rewind.


The weekend before we left for camp, Middlest rode in a clinic taught by none other than the great Jimmy Wofford. (Think multiple trip Olympian, and US Eventing Coach longstanding, emeritus- in the world of Eventing, he's done it. )

Jimmy Wofford, going Cross Country, 1978

She couldn't afford the clinic, and neither could her main backers (me and Huz), but amazingly, two ladies who think highly of Middlest decided to sponsor her entry cost! I expect she will pay them back in labor and pay it forward as well, but without a doubt it was especially generous of Kara and Des. And Middlest took advantage of the opportunity.
Jimmy is not a "warm fuzzy" instructor. That isn't what he's paid to do. He gets results. I think some of the riders had a harder time than others with that, but Middlest accepted it with aplomb. Quote from day one Jimmy to Middlest "Your eyes were in 16 different places, NONE OF THEM CORRECT." Or, day two "WHERE are you going???? Look at me. Look at ME! LOOK HERE!LOOKHEREHERE  HERE!!!!!"
But she figured it out, and had a ton of fun.

The first day of the clinic began with a Q and A and a short lecture, mostly clarification of the "three point, light three point and two point seat" In this shot, Middlest had asked about working of Nelle's current head set issue, and Jimmy is explaining a following hand. "A good hand follows when a horse goes forward, takes when the horse comes back. A trained hand resists when a horse resists, and softens when the horse softens."

 The clinic was divided into three groups of 5-7 riders. Middlest and Kara were in the intermediate group.
Riders up!
The first day was in the arena, and was mostly two hours of what we call "gymnastics". This is jumping a lot of jumps in a row with different numbers of strides between fences. They are designed to work on balance, accuracy, evening the speed of stride and training the eye and the position of the rider. These exercises help in a lot of ways and are important to take out on the cross country course with you. Accuracy means you go over the jump with your horse.

The sequential photos of this gymnastic line show Jimmy riding it right through with Middlest. He's practically in the line. When I was a kid, my Dad would watch me take a bite, and he would unconciously move his mouth too, afraid the food was going to fall off my fork, he would go through the motions of the whole bite from plate to mouth. Jimmy did this with Middlest while she jumped. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not worried a bit about Kara, he just watched. 

Des rode in the last group. She is a new rider, having picked up the sport only a few years ago. She's gutsy and game. But she's also riding with 4 broken toes, courtesy of Patches, acquired only that week after another jumping lesson. A two hour jumping lesson with Jimmy was a lot to ask of those poor tootsies, and Des sat out of day two's cross country lesson.

The cross country day went really well. So, it is strange to start it out with this photo! Middlest had a bit of a direction and balance problem early in the schooling that landed her off the horse, but on her feet.  Jimmy's thoughts?                      "Don't. Fall. Off."

 

 

 

 

 The mare was doing her silly head tossing, nose in the air, like a turkey in the rain thing all through the warm up fences. Then, when they came down off a hill and over a large coop, you could see the mare realize "Hmm, maybe I should pay attention, and look where I'm going!" After that they got to business.

 If this fence seems directionally challenged, this is because the moment before takeoff is when the mare realized she had to focus a bit.

Kara's mare, Indy, loves the open jump and started showing her stuff right away. But, new things make her stop and have a look. She did NOT like the look of these barrels, but Kara rode her just right, and on time two they were over without issue. Jimmy said to those of us watching " Notice I'm not yelling anything at Kara? This is because you can't ride it any better than that, and I've nothing to say."

 Indy and Nelle coming down off the hill next to the beautiful house at Red Tail Ridge. They had just completed their first set of obstacles, with great success.

One of the challenges you face on Cross Country are ditches. Jimmy wanted to see if they would do a ditch. The answer from Indy was "I will jump it, but I'm gonna make darn sure I don't get too close!" 

 See the mare tucking up her hind feet? Just in case something is in the ditch pops out and tries to swallow her. Not a balanced jump to ride, but Kara sticks it. Your camera-lady is standing on a log. Indy's front feet are still about 2' above the ground.

Nelle is more reasonable about the ditch than Indy, but she's still not casual about it! Nice ride by Middlest though!!!

Jimmy coaches Middlest through the bank- another one of the complexes of Cross Country. 

 

 

 The biggest challenge on a Cross Country Course is often the water. Indy was pretty uncertain about jumping out of it. The water at Red Tail Ridge is deep, and black....horse-scary. But again, the second time Kara asked her, Indy took the leap!
Middlest and Nelle went right in and through and out. But, Middlest dropped a stirrup on the way into the water. After she finished the complex Jimmy said " You lost your stirrup...what happens when you drop a stirrup on cross country? You fall off. Why do riders lose a stirrup?" Middlest answered loudly back "Because they didn't keep their weight in their lower leg!" Jimmy Said "RIGHT!"
I think she's heard it before. :-)

Middlest thanks Jimmy for his time and knowledge.

The gray mares with Team Green! 

 

What a weekend!!
Now, time to go to camp.....

Pony Club Show Jump and Dressage Tri-State Region

This weekend was the first big riding competition weekend for Middlest and Youngest. It was the Tri-State Region Pony Club Show Jumping and Dressage Rallies. Middlest has been competing in this rally for 3 years, but this year was a first for Youngest. It was a challenge for me, as well. Having started the riding season rather late (lost Youngest's pony to colic in early spring, then Middlest's horse had the colossal battle with a bull gate that had her confined on stall rest for a month, and Middlest and me confined to lots of nursing care...plus Mother Nature enjoying winter so much she kept it around until summer) this competition zoomed up pretty quick! And, I haven't had two kids to prepare before. It was all great fun, mind. But in order for them to ride I have to trailer the kids and horses somewhere- our front field footing is a disaster- and my truck hasn't been, let's just say "reliable". Which has all meant a very involved preparation.
The truck quit "going forward" on the way to a Pony Club lesson 5 days before departure for the rally. Thanks to quick thinking, and a lot of effort, another Pony Club Dad, amazingly, with his mechanic, seems to have conquered the problems in the truck (well, these problems) by installing a Bullydog Chip. Beyond my current scope of understanding, I need to do some reading to comprehend the thing, but it got us to the competition and back in good order. It is a 3.5-4 hour trip on the Semi-truck saturated Interstates and a few backroads. Not an easy drive. I did some sweating on the drive, and not just because my air conditioning is kaput either. But, God did not make horsewomen short of courage or long of sense, so off we went. "We" were four Moms, driving four truck and trailer combos full of horses and children. It is always nice to have a little convoy!
My job this weekend was that of "Coach" to the two teams from our Pony Club. I enjoy this role. The kids I have to work with are each little gems, with well suited mounts, and they make my job easy by being well- prepared, smart, confident and handy little riders. That being said, it is not a relaxing job, and it left me quite chuffed to crawl into our tent and recharge at night.
Middlest and Youngest were on separate teams ( always a good idea to split up the sibs), and on arrival set to getting their mounts settled and their competition tack rooms set up and organized. Youngest made a break for the parking field before it was dark to set up our tent- thank goodness for his efficiency and  favorite saying "I'm on it!" Between Youngest and the Moms, we soon had sleeping quarters, cooking and dining areas, a place to wash and food to eat. The kids got the horses settled, (two water buckets on double snaps- snap facing wall, clean stalls, hay, fed, walked and put to bed) and we had dinner after dark. 10-ish? Then, to sleep for tomorrow is a big day. Well, I didn't quite get to sleep. Youngest and I went to check on his pony before bed, and she was anxious, weaving, whinnying, not drinking... so I stayed up with her for a while until she drank and settled. The people that spend the night at the barn to care for the horses kept an eye on her all night, which was a comfort.

 The sun was waking by 6 a.m. and so were we. The competitors to the barn to prepare for their Formal Inspections, and the Moms to our support jobs. Pony Club is unique, in that the parents are not permitted to even be in the barn area, let alone do anything for their kids. Parents are not permitted to give instruction or help, beyond helping a child in danger, or a catching up loose horse. As "Coach", I have a special dispensation. My job is to interact with the kids in a coaching capacity when they are mounted and away from the barn.  I am there to keep them safe, encouraged and to help make necessary corrections between rounds of competition. So, I got to watch from the sidelines as my own left the barn and presented themselves for Formals.

 Clean, polished, perfect. The Formal Inspection is meant to demonstrate that the rider knows how to care for their pony, tack and equipment and themselves in a way that not only keeps pony and equipment safe but also sends a polished impression. There is no scurfy skin bits in their tails. There is no dirt or dust on their tack. They are fitted perfectly and appropriately. The kids know what every piece of equipment is there to do on their pony- and why. They are judged as "Meets Standard", "Exceeds Standard" or "Does Not Meet Standard" on a host of points that get more technical as they get more experienced. Proudly, Middlest works very hard on a regular basis to meet these standards, and at her Formal, she "Exceeded Standards" in 6 separate areas! That is unheard of. Well, until now.

Then, it is through the jog-outs to demonstrate the horse's "soundness"- that they are not lame atall atall- and up on ponies! (FYI, in Pony Club, they are all "ponies" no matter how huge, and there are some really big ponies at these events! )

 Nelle and Scooter had the first rides of the day for our group. They were both fairly calm and seemed ready to get on with it. So a lot of walking, some nice loose trotting, a bit of a canter to get muscles warmed and nerves out, and into the warm-up arena.

 "Coach Cate" observes over a few warm- up fences...
And then into the arena for the first round.

At this point last year, Nelle was rearing up- too much energy to contain. This year? Calm and settled. I love progress.

 First round always has inherent challenges, and Scooter and Nelle both had positive rounds, but Nelle and Middlest miscommunicated about fence #3, and had a stop there, and Scooter and KZ had a stop and a spin at fence #3 too. I guess Scooter watched Nelle and thought that must be the scary one. Scooter is fairly new to jumping, but sooo cute and willing!

 See his face? Adorable.
They had great second rounds in this arena- Scooter just ticked a rail and it fell (which is points off) - and then it was time to go to the "Big Arena". This was a first time for one of my own to head to the big arena. Middlest and Nelle were going to try some really colorful fences and a complicated course. KZ and Scooter were also going "big".

 Meanwhile, it was time for the next set of our team to get up on their ponies. But when I got back to the warm up after course walking, Youngest was not on his pony. His pony was having a "moment". One that included behavior with no feet touching the ground. This is not typical of his pony, and not suitable for a beginner to ride, either. So, I took her into the warm-up in hand, and reminded her with a lot of ground work commands that paying attention and staying calm has benefits.

An anxious Youngest looks for teammate support as Coach Cate works to settle his pony in the background.
To test her relaxation, I put her on a lungeline and indeed, she lunged calmly (this is her going in a circle around me on a long line). So, I put my baby boy up on her back. Sometimes it is hard to be a Coach and a Mommy.

But 5 weeks after picking up this pony, and 3 weeks after jumping for the first time, they road three clear rounds, and did it with style. SO PROUD of them!

 And how adorable is this pony??? This is MZ riding "Starz", and they are a perfect little pair. They also pulled out three clear rounds, for a successful day. Easy coaching. 


And, talk about PROUD! Middlest so confidently approached the jumps in the big arena....

 She and Nelle going over fence #2 "Captain America". The sides of the jump have big cut outs of the patriotic superhero. Nelle was a big apprehensive of the Captain, but over they went!

 And over the Jungle, Sea World, Carousel Horses, Buckeye Proud.... building confidence with each fence.

 Now, they are "in it".

And pleased with their well done, clear round! Great job girls!  Scooter and KZ followed next, and had some "HOLY MOLY! You want me to jump that?" moments from Scooter, for whom this was a huge leap of faith, but they managed to finish strong. That darn Captain America was just a bit too intimidating at first.

Now, at this point I should mention all the previous photos were courtesy of Huz! He made the long trek up just to watch the kids ride for the day. And, with a long trip home yet, he departed after our own children's last ride. But there were other teammates yet to go, and go they did! With RL on her long time pal "Falcon" turning in two clear rounds, and one stop in round two, and VG on her new mount "Listo", an accomplished dressage horse who is new to jumping , gently jumped all three rounds clear!

 Eventually, all are done, ponies again clean, tack polished and ready to go for tomorrow, and a tired, happy bunch show up for the Show Jumping awards.

 First competition was a success.

 With pretty ribbons to show for it. This is their second place Horse Management award, finishing with NOT ONE PENALTY POINT ALL DAY LONG.This means for one day in Youngest's life he put things back, kept his world tidy, did not leave one sock on the floor! It can be done?

 "Do I look happy about it Mom?"

Well, he was! But he's also a silly, wonderful boy. 

 Middlest's team also incurred zero...ZERO penalty points in Horse Management for the day, also taking second in HM for their efforts, and winning third place overall. Well done, Ladies!

The Hunters Run Pony Club Team Photo for Show Jumping Rally 2014! 

 18 jumping rounds, 13 were clear, and all were well ridden. I am enormously awed by these young riders.
Way to go team! And, the green ribbon in RL's hands is her sixth place in equitation overall. Wonderful!

But, we are not done...sorry. And as long as this blog seems, the days were much, much longer.
One More Day.

With rain predicted, severe storms possible, and no Huz as Papparazzi, I was divided on whether to bring the camera down to the horse park at all. But I did. As Coach, the camera was not in my hands much, but between storms, the Moms did their best to get pictures. Thank You Moms!

 Youngest and Sunnygirl turn the corner to start their first ride.

They rode the Intro test A and Intro test B, the first two tests in the Dressage playlist, and scored very high, marking a 69.4 and a 74. 8 to start the day. This nice forward trot earned an 8!
Plus they got in both their tests before the downpour began.

 Look at that nice square final halt. Good Pony!

Middlest and KZ, on the other hand, started their warm-up dry, but a few minutes in were soaked to the bone. Both had nice warm ups, and The only thing we worked on for Middlest and Nelle were improving their canter depart, because otherwise they were ready and lookin'good!

That is where the day became...interesting. The calm, pretty pair left warm up and somewhere in between the warm up arena and the dressage arena, everything changed. The elevated trot, the back to front connection...it all disappeared, and Middlest was riding a resistant, inattentive horse whose nose pointed to the sky and body wiggled like a snake. She looked uncomfortable and irritated. Middlest kept her cool, but didn't know what to do. I couldn't blame her, having had such a nice warm up, the unexpected change would've rattled me too. But that is what it is like to ride a horse. I the scant minute between her first two rides, I tried to give her help and encouragement, but there is little you can do when you horse is really NOT cooperating.
After her rides she had a long break to groom the pony and reset the expectation for her last ride. It was her Musical Freestyle. This is an optional ride, but probably the most fun. This is where you choose music to suit your horse's gaits and personality, and create a dressage test that shows off the pair's best traits, with a few required elements. There are two judges for the Freestyle that watch from the front and from the side and score all the things you do technically, and artistically. Middlest and Nelle chose music from West Side Story. I include them both, because Middlest chose a few different options and then played them all for Nelle while riding her. It was obvious that Nelle liked the song "Cool" from West Side Story. She also like "America" from the musical, and so "Cool" was the trot music, "America" was the canter music and "Somewhere" was for her walk. Youngest and I learned how to mix music and created the soundtrack for her ride, with the correct timing for the walk, trot and canter, weaving the songs together to give them a opportunity to shine.
Middlest and Nelle worked out the test with my help, staying within the requirements, but letting them choose what to do, "dancing" with the music. They worked hard for the weeks leading up to the competition, and I know Middlest was disappointed that on the day of,  Nelle was not feeling cooperative. During their warm up for the Musical Freestyle we worked mainly on relaxing the horse. Watching her, I just felt like there was something wrong. We hadn't seen Nelle be this resistant all year. So I worked on her back, and sure enough she was back sore. Whether it was sore from her jumping the day previously, or her saddle was bothering her, or what, I think it was more than just inattention, I think she was ouchy. I worked on her back in the warm up, massaging her muscles from loin to poll and we stretched her out. Middlest decided to ride the test anyway, knowing it wouldn't be pretty, but choosing to follow through. And, you know, it wasn't bad. Middlest rode it very well, staying off the horse's back and letting her have her head instead of restricting her or fighting about it. I was deeply proud of her maturity. And, of Nelle too. You could see her trying over and over to come round and step into the bridle, but no, not comfortable, so instead, she would pick up her head and bop to the beat of the music..selling it.

 These were some of the best pictures. You can see Nelle trying to make it happen. Now we are home and will try to figure out what is hurting and why. Maybe they can perform it for just our club, one more time, and show off what they created together.

Our club had three Musical Freestyle riders,  RL on Falcon and VG on Listo put in very pretty rides with nice scores. Both of the pairs did so well throughout the day that they qualified to go to USPC Festival Championships in Kentucky to represent our region in Dressage! Congratulations to both pairs!!

With the rainy day, a 4 hour drive home and six ponies to pack up, we raced through awards and proudly brought home a first place blue and a second place red ribbon in Horse Management for the Dressage competition, with ONE point off for the entire weekend for both teams. Gulp! Fantastic! And, that one point, for a brush box left in front of a stall on the ground will likely never happen again for these kids...
they had serious vigilance to have that kind of score. Kudos to Horse Managers KS and HH. You earned it!

Overall, Youngest's team brought home a second place finish in overall dressage and Middlest's team earned fourth place.The kids had the tack rooms broken down and horses ready to load in no time, and we rolled out of the Buckeye Horse Park well before dark, making it half way home before nightfall. In our own driveway by midnight.
Truck made it there and back, thank you, thank you, Gerry Z. Bullydog and, the power of prayer.

And now to unloading, washing, drying out everything after a day out in soaking rains, oiling saddles that got wet, helmets that are still soggy. It ain't over 'til it's all put away!

Me and MY Mom.

In our recent Mother's Day celebration, I enjoyed the many pictures people posted on their Facebook of their moms. I noticed that usually it was a picture of "Me and my Mom", and that most pictures fell into two categories:

1. Picture of me and my mom when I was a baby.
2. Picture of me and my mom at my wedding.

And it got me thinking about pictures I have of me and MY Mom.
And there aren't that many, especially ones of JUST me and my Mom.
I could think of one "recent" picture, taken about 3 years ago?  But, then I was stumped.
So, knowing my parents and I were about to have a too rare visit together, I decided that my goal was to get a picture of Me and My Mom.

They arrived, and then, we got busy. So busy that the picture was forgotten and put aside, and then, this morning, as the sun came up and my parents prepared to leave, I got a picture.

Me and My Mom.

 Happy Mother's Day (albeit belated) to Me and My Mom.




And, because I didn't want to miss the opportunity.....

Happy early Father's Day to Me and My Dad!

These two have given me such gifts in my life.  I am a lucky girl.

Youngest gets a new pony-partner!

 It's been a few weeks since our latest addition to the barn arrived. I tried blogging about her arrival from my tablet, but it came out in jibberish, so...a non-entry. And, I have a bunch of pictures of this cutie, with Youngest, on my phone, but my phone and computer don't agree about their existence. My phone, incidentally, has also determined that I live in Providence, Rhode Island, and cannot be dissuaded by fact, nor GPS. So, my announcement of Youngest's new pony is belated, and not well documented photographically (except on my phone, which has pictures and video...)


In any case, Sunnygirl, (a.k.a. Cheez-It; because Youngest is 13 and she is red/orange) is a Quarterpony mare. She belongs to a lovely young lady who is at University and finds herself with too many horses and not enough time to enjoy them all. So, for now, S.G.(I've shortened it a bit, or sometimes lengthened it out with the whole "Sunnygirlcheezit") is a member of our family.

After Pearl died, I knew we needed to begin a search for a mount for Youngest, but it was just so darn cold all the time. Today, May 21, I still arose and put on polar-tech. But, with the horse season beginning regardless of the decisions of Mother Nature, we still gave it a go. And, found S.G. with little time to spare. So, the day after she arrived, she got to start working with Youngest, first in the ring, practicing their dressage tests, then on a ride out in the open.

 I was curious to see if S.G. would come back without her rider, not knowing exactly how she would feel about riding out cross country- would she get excited and a bit too much for Youngest to handle? Also, would Youngest stay focused and on top of the horse? So, off they went. Middlest with Nelle, KZ with Scooter and Youngest with Sunnygirl.

This is not just a picture of a beautiful cloud-filled sky! On the grass above this word is S.G. then Nelle, then Scooter a bit behind. Youngest and his new pony, off leading the pack. No worries.

At this point, I must mention the gorgeous field above and the amazing ring at top- that, despite days of torrential rains still has great footing- belong to our friends, the Z's, who generously allow us to come ride with them. Without friends this spring, little riding would have been achieved yet, as our field has dangerous footing, and is suitable for the walk only. So, we have been to the Z's many times, Dr. S's several times, and the fairgrounds arena has become our other back yard.

Youngest is learning to jump aboard S.G., who is generous about taking the cross rails with little guidance, as Youngest learns how to position his body over fences. He is making great strides in his abilities, and they are cantering around the arena now- I knew he'd find a taste for speed!

Welcome to a sweet, kind and red/orange pony!

Something's gotta give? Done.

Thoughts on Cleaning, as I spent my six unalloted hours of May, 2014 partially cleaning my kitchen, dining and living rooms:

 When they say "Something's gotta give" apparently for me, it's a no-brainer. Cleaning goes.

 There are people who vacuum everyday. My Eldest Sister is one of these. I am vacuuming up both Easter grass and Christmas tree pine needles.

 I dust with a shop-vac.

 I have brought this upon myself. As I have a house, animals and child(ren)- I don't see that the sheer number of kids makes the difference as much as the kid itself. And, I have also brought this upon myself by having dishes, furniture, an indoor toilet, a refrigerator, clothes, food, dogs....which all provide kids, adults, wind, bugs and dust opportunities to coat the home in dishes, food, clothes, dog hair, dirt, hair and bugs. If you have a place to sit, someone will sit in it. If you give them a place to rest their feet, and place their beverage, they will do so.

It would dismay my mother, and hopefully be no surprise to my m-i-l, that they keep much neater, cleaner houses than I do. I say this would dismay my Mom because if you ask her, she will tell you she is not a cleaner of houses. Yet, if you wandered through her home, you'd not agree. And, I think she might entertain the illusion that her Youngest (me), keeps a tidy home. This state of denial is possible as I live a day's drive from my parents, and they rarely stop in. ( I say rarely because I did get a call, while we were living in TBC, that they'd like to stop by for an iced tea. This was an unlikely request being that they lived in Tennessee, but a welcome one. I was laying a brick patio that day, and I don't recall that house being in this one's current state of dishevelment, which may have supported the illusion.) My mother and I approach house living/cleaning in a similar way. When you have a project to do, you do the project, allowing the house to do it's own thing. When the project is finished you look around, and get to work, and then you have a completed project and a clean house. But while the project is happening, the house? Not too much. Unfortunately for my house, I have been working on a project for 5 months.

 My Mother-i-l is an organized one who I believe has always kept a tidy home.

 House cleaning takes place for me in two instances.
- The house is distressing me so much that I am thinking of moving, which then leads me to the realization that no one would ever buy the house in this state, and I begin cleaning, after which the distress and the moving thoughts go away until the house demands it again.
- I decide to entertain.
               -No one has come over since my kidney stones in March, and then I didn't care because I was dying of kidney stones.
               -Feeling like your dying helps you not worry about your mess.
               -I'm glad I'm no longer dying of kidney stones.

 A room doesn't feel clean and right to me until it has flowers.

 If there are flowers I can overlook some cleaning shortcomings.

 My work of six hours will be undone in much less.
 Which, is a blessing. My house is full of kids, animals, dirt and love.

Rolex 2014- workin' it!

I think that in order to get some things up on this blog, I am going to have to admit to myself that I do not have several hours at a time to do so, and thus, if I have a few minutes, pin something in, and maybe in short bursts, I will have shared our lives.
But, what....
Salem house hallway and stairs B&A? The new pony? Easter? The attack of the killer rooster? Eldest completing her first year at University? The termite swarm that is taking over my life, and probably the amazing house we inhabit? Or, shall I jump into the Rolex? There is no way I can cover our Rolex adventure in a single blog entry, so I will just give it the minutes I have and see what happens in tomorrows minutes!

 In this sea of khaki-panted, french braided girls, our very own Middlest is the one in the center, black jacket, grey piping (thank you Terry McKie Johnson).... this is their orientation early on the first morning of competition, Rolex 3-Day Event CCI ****, Lexington, KY, 2014!!!
So, the long and short is that Middlest was chosen to work as a volunteer at the biggest, most prestigious 3-Day Event in the sport of Eventing in all of America (North and South). There are only 4 CCI **** Events in the world. 3 of them are in Europe. One is under Middlest's feet. I, as her AOR (adult of record), was also included in the volunteer line up. We, along with 5 other of the members of her Pony Club and their AORs were on the dressage crew. We worked the first two days of four (yes it is called a 3-Day, but at an event this large and prestigious, the dressage phase takes two days for all the riders to present.)

 And, she was up-close and personal with the top athletes in the sport! She did various jobs during the two days, including poop-scooping in the warm up arenas.

 In the elite level of the sport there are many riders who are graduate Pony Clubbers. This is Doug Payne, who turned in the third highest dressage score of the first day of competition, proudly wearing his USPC Championships pin on his lapel. Thank you Doug for the inspiration! He was not the only one, I spotted several pins on top riders. I was just quick with my camera here, while working the ramp gate into the stadium!

 The workers had a few minutes each day to sit in the VIP stands, "courtside", to watch the amazing dressage rides. And, watch Hunters Run Pony Clubbers do the integral jobs- we had several collecting score sheets from the three dressage judges, one member who scribed for a dressage judge, and one who for most of both days opened and closed the main competition arena for each riding pair. They were fantastic, responsible and professional throughout. I am very proud of them all!

Middlest worked at the "bit-check" for a few shifts both days. The bit check is where a FEI Steward (Federation Equestre Internationale) and her crew (Middlest) check the horse after it has completed the dressage test to make sure the bit is legal, and their is no ear plugs in the horse. She is tucked behind the Rolex clock in this picture, in her Official ribbon and volunteer cap.

 The horses here are amazing. Athletic. Talented. Fearless. Powerful. In this photo is Buck Davidson (son of the legendary Bruce Davidson, 5 time winner of the Rolex) well on his way to becoming a second generation legend. He is on Ballynoe Castle- a personal favorite of mine, and as I was gushing about my admiration of the horse to the woman next to me in the VIP stands, I find out she is his personal veterinarian.I felt a bit sheepish, although I must have made her fill with pride. It was interesting to chat with a fellow DVM that is in such an interesting job.  Also in the photo are the Pony Clubbers running the scores...one of ours is on the left!

And just when I am star struck and moony-eyed, I see that though amazing, the horses are some times resistant none-the-less.

This is my Bit-Check Girl, the last day of competition, the last group of riders to go, waiting on Arthur and Allison Springer to ride past and begin their dressage ride. The ride that would put them on the top of the 82 entries with a top-notch score of 39.

I didn't get any pictures of Arthur in the ring, although I had my camera on and up. I just didn't notice anything but this pair. MAN, they were special, elegant in a way I hadn't seen yet, soft and relaxed, yet powerful and precise. I was in awe of the ride.

 When they finished the pair knew they had done something extraordinary.

 And Middlest was right there for it. I certainly hope this will be a lasting memory for her as it is for me!