Circles.

Last weekend, I sent Middlest off with her Pony Club teammates to Pennsylvania for "D"rally.

I followed in the early morning hours on Saturday, to arrive in time to watch her compete on Patches. It was another full circle moment.

I don't remember that much about my first D rally. I'm sure I was nervous. I'm fairly certain (if that day went like most others) that I fell off at least once in the proceedings. The equipment was a bit different, the mount was certainly very different. But much of what made Pony Club, Pony Club, continues today. Comforting, i'nt it?

Okay, this is me at a rally, early Pony Club years pour moi. You can tell it is Pony Club, because I am sporting my Pony Club Pin front and center on my helmet. (Still a requirement to wear your PC Pin at all PC gatherings, but now you must also wear your arm band with your medical information. They hadn't thought of that back then.) This picture is valuable though, in that along with my missing teeth, a testament to my tender years, I am wearing the de riguer in safety helmets of the time. That is to say, a plain velvet cap with a detached harness that slid over the cap and then buckled under the chin. I've tried to explain this to the current Pony Club kids. Well, now here's a picture. Also, on the subject of safety requirements that have changed, I am either heading out or just finishing Cross Country phase of the competition. I am not wearing what is now required- a safety vest that protects your chest, back and spine to some degree when flying over fences in the open. Also, if you are very observant, you will see my crop in my hand is a pointy metal thing- no longer found because of the propensity for pointy metal to make damaging contact with eyeball.

 Still, in Pony Club, there are still stringent requirements of knowledge, care and ability. There is still the teamwork ethic, and the non-interference by parents....well, that is a bit relaxed, I must say. They now allow a parent "coach" for the D level (least experienced) kids and they also have a "C" Advisor ( a "C", or more experienced Pony Clubber that can help the D level kids in the barns during their competition).
The venue was different, naturally, as I competed in the Metropolitan Region of Pony Club- which was southern Connecticut, Long Island and parts of New York. Middlest is in the Mid South Region, which is parts of Huge. ( As far as I can tell, western PA, northern OH, and WV. )

This is me in very early horsey years. I am mainly including this picture because of the adorableness of  my best friend and neighbor, Tommy. Peanut might have been sporting a jaunty feather, but Tommy had the hat.

And this was the earliest picture I found of me on Frosty, maybe this is my first competition with him? I don't recognize the barn in the background. But, to me, of note are the helmet, once again, but this was pre-detachable harness. This was when we just used an elastic strap like on a party hat. Also, I am tickled by the too-short jodphurs without knee-straps (which leads me to believe this was not Pony Club, for that I would've needed the knee-straps) and the jodphur boots, which were ancient even then, and had no zipper or laces, but instead had a leather piece that wrapped around the ankle of the boot for security. The best, though, might be my "riser pad" under my saddle, which appears to be (and no doubt is) a hunk of cushion foam hacked out of an old sofa with a penknife. Classy improvisation.

I share these parts of the circle with you because they make me bewildered- it was a long time ago, but also because I love circles!
Now, it is Middlest's turn. And what a nice turn it is.
The D Rally was held in Pennsylvania, in the stomping grounds of my ancestors southeast of Pittsburgh. The grounds of the Rolling Rock Estate and home of the Rolling Rock Hounds Pony Club hosted 7 teams for the competition. Boy, was it beautiful!
Extra special was the visit to the event by my one and only Auntie! Aunt Sib and her (and my) dear friend, Donna came down for the afternoon to politely cheer the kids on. (Pony Club and Golf tournaments are similar in their subdued applause). It was so great to see them both, and I felt so fortunate that they were able  and willing to come watch Middlest and sit with me.
The first part of the competition was dressage.

Middlest and Patches looked beautiful, and made it through the test with competence. Middlest was not wholly pleased with her performance, but that leaves room for improvement!

After dressage, they move to stadium jumping, which is jumping obstacles in an arena. This is a large departure from my previous riding career. Stadium was always done last, after the Cross Country phase, but at some point since then, the cool heads of logic have prevailed, and if you are not successful in taking your horse over obstacles in an enclosed arena, they do not permit you to attempt the jumping of challenging obstacles out in the open. I would guess this does make for fewer injuries and many fewer calls of " LOOSE HORSE!"

Middlest and Patches were successful in their negotiation of the stadium course and were all smiles on their way to cross country.

All Smiles.

Then, out to the cross country course. Bye baby. Good luck. Be safe, have fun. No sense in worrying, momma, no sense. (this was my mantra).

They had a great time, and a clear round. Altogether a great showing!

Meet the team(s)

Katie (C Advisor), Kaylee, Kelly, Lainey, Jamie, Hannah (Team 1)

McKenna (mascot) Middlest, Katey, Rylee and Michaela (Team 2)

Team 1 wins the first division in both Horse Management (their scores kept all day long for their presentation, teamwork, preciseness, knowledge, and care of their horses) AND first place overall in their division! Sizzle.

Middlest's team won the Horse Management for their division and placed third overall.
I am most concerned about the Horse Management score, so for that alone I am so very proud of all these girls!

WAY TO GO MIDDLEST. Nice circle.