Youngest and Zac bring home the blue! Rocky Point Farm.

Yes, my horse blog fest continues, but with this time of year, that is one of the big efforts around here- get on the ponies!
Yesterday was Youngest and Zac's debut Horse Trials. And, they were great. I give Youngest some credit here for dragging himself out of bed before dawn to get rolling, as the day before was the big band contest run by our very own Golden Sound of the Vikings at our high school football stadium. It is a huge undertaking, and the band members and their families are the worker bees that make the thing run. The weather was not favorable, and made for a cold, wet, and challenging time. The kids made it home with Huz around 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. I had done my job in the admissions booth, and then made my way home to finish the barn chores before 11 p.m. Lucky. But, I also was determined to get things ready for our early departure. Finding Youngest's show clothes, cleaning them, drying them, ( since I am the one that cares if they are clean)... I even polished his boots when I did mine: my treat to him that he may or may not appreciate. Or is it my treat to me, since I didn't despair of him riding his dressage test in dirty boots and stained breeches? Anyway, he stumbled out of bed and off we went, into the sunrise.

Zac is such a joy, and as I watched them begin their dressage test, I was struck by how beautifully schooled he is- an experience I am unfamiliar with, as I have never spent the time to have an agreeable and well schooled mount. He gets right to his job with a straight center line, square halt and even, charming rhythm.

Who could resist this pair? Not the judge, who gave them a very nice score, placing them in first after dressage in their level. 

Cross country was next. We walked down to the warm up about 25 minutes before his ride time. I told him to go walk Zac around for a bit, trot him a little, if he'd like, but we wouldn't jump him until about 3 minutes before his start time, just a few warm up fences. Next time I look around for him, he's in the start box- 15 minutes early! They were running ahead, and when they called his number, he went in, having no warm up to speak of. Coach Mom pulled him back out of the start box, and let him have a few warm up cross rails first- more for the boy than for the pony, as the boy was slightly out of sorts that he hadn't given his pony any warm up fences. (The pony would've been just fine.)

 They quickly came together to have a very nice well done course. It was even paced, never fast, and executed well. Rider and pony showing some "Team" right away. They both had fun!

Here they are heading into their last fence. I think they are both smiling!

 With a clean cross country trip, they were still sitting in first place. So, going into stadium, they just had to continue their run. There were some difficult rides before his stadium round, with a few hearts in throats in spectators, parents and organizers. A loose galloping horse, some tears, a fine "save" (used when you think someone is going to fall off but manages to stay aboard) by a rider before a fence- the previous rides included things that cause gasps, and anxiety.  Since they were in first place, the boys went last in their division, and had a beautiful ride. When it was finished they had a lot of applause, and the judges in the truck mostly gave them a standing ovation ( mostly because of the relief of seeing a safe ride, I think.) I can tell you this Mom and Coach was very proud, and pretty darn relaxed.

 Great Job boys!!

Chaser and I had a good day as well. He stayed calm, fairly focused and was pleasant to ride.
 We had a decent, if not sensational dressage score, and he pleasantly jumped clean in cross-country and stadium, with a lot of control and only a few moments when his mind wandered from his job and things went slightly wonky. Mostly well done.

Thank you, Susan. I was not going to ride this one. I had determined that I was going to take the easy route and just escort Youngest and Zac, leaving my horse at home. Then an image popped into my head. It took me a moment to figure out what I was seeing, but it was my friend, Susan. Susan passed away last year from metastatic cancer. Two years ago, she was at this horse trials, for her last competition on her horse. She was sick, but she was there. She can't be there anymore, but I realized I had an opportunity, and I should take it. Susan would have. She was extraordinarily brave, so, saddle up, and give it a go.  So, thank you, dear, for reminding me how valuable is each day God has given to me, and the extra-wonderful days when he gives me a calm horse.

Photo credits to Lori Kannally , Youngest, Kelli Wilt Ramey and Shane Schooley- thank you all for picking up my camera, and with little, or no instruction, providing me with pictures of my boys!