windy hunter trials

Sunday was another cold day - dry but WINDY. The game plan was to participate in a Hunter Trials event at a nearby farm that hosts a variety of different shows (including a jumper series, hunter shows, and horse trials), but that Isabel has never been to before.

There were two courses - one with 2'6 and 3' options run over a 1/2 mile course, and another with 2' jumps run over a 1/4 mile course in an enclosed field. I obviously chose the 2' course because, well, just because. 

course map

The obstacles were natural and solid type fences (the stone wall was literally stone and concrete) that you might encounter out on a hunt. In fact, the show was held in conjunction with a local Hunt Pony Club, which seemed kinda cool. 

These pictures don't really do the obstacles justice, but there were coops, roll tops (but only 2' - definitely inside my safe zone, phew), logs and log piles, the aforementioned stone wall (concrete is decidedly NOT in my safe zone...), stacked railroad ties, and gates, all with plenty of brush and terrain. 

My whole idea for this outing was to sneak in a few more miles that would essentially amount to xc schooling. I planned to ride in three consecutive classes: Adult Hunter, Novice Adult Hunter, and Green Hunter. And maybe, if we missed a class or wanted another go, Open Hunter. 

The wind obviously had me a little concerned (it was GUSTING), and my fingers were so numb that it took approximately 15 minutes to button up my blouse (and screw the collar, ain't nobody got time for that). But Isabel seemed pretty content, and warmed up nicely. She really looked around on our walk from the trailer to the warm-up ring and flinched a bit at the PA system, but got straight to work and jumped the three warm up fences beautifully. 

pre-show noshes

I thought we were running late (and have apparently been spoiled by a summer of assigned ride times), but were actually early. They were still finishing up the Family/Pairs/Teams class when I got over there. 

Side note: if I ever do another show like this I DEFINITELY want to do the pairs thing - it looked so fun! The teams rode the jumps together (so if one refused, the other had to circle back and stay with them), and the final fence was jumped abreast. So cool. 

post-show noshes

So we stood around for a while - plenty of time for the chill to set in again. Tho I'm pleased to say my new RJ Essentials wool coat did a nice job blocking the wind, despite its light weight. Because the wind was just gusting away - to the point where some pipe fence sections (think temporary or round pen fencing) that were leaning against the rail actually blew over right behind Isabel. Thank god I was holding the neck strap or I would have been a goner - she LEAPED out from under me lol. 

Poor thing. Isabel's funny tho - just kinda turned around, gave everyone a look that said 'that was RUDE,' and went back to eating grass. Lol.  

'nope - can't pose, must eeet' - isabel

Anyway, Isabel was great and pretty much got us started on a really nice pace. She moved up to the longer spots when I got her to them, or adjusted for a tighter distance when I was holding. (I had to constantly remind myself to LET GO, since she really can set a good pace herself)

She looked a bit, but a little leg was more than enough encouragement. Otherwise she pretty much gobbled up everything on course. Sure, some of our distances were questionable, but we took the questionable long spot more often than the super awkward chip stride. Her rhythm was very steady, and she easily came down to trot for all our simple changes. I was very pleased!

We were the last to go in Adult Hunter, and I asked to go first for Novice Adult Hunter so that I could go right back in. Trip two was pretty much identical. Good girl!

despite my shitty braiding skills, she still gets those cute curls

I decided to just finish on that. Isabel had two nice, consistent trips, and there wasn't really anything I felt needed to be 'fixed.' Plus it was shaping up to be our shortest outing ever (at this point we had been on the grounds for an hour and a half), compared to the HTs that were lonnnnnng days for Isabel. 

Got Izzy all untacked and situated at the trailer with her hay before running back to the office to turn in my pinny and pay (holla for the most inexpensive show we've ever done!). Turns out they had already placed Adult Hunter (our first trip) - and we were first!! Yay Izzy! 

There was a Master's Class later in the day open to first through third place winners, and I thought briefly about sticking around for it... But decided not to. My objective for the day was a fun, positive experience, and Isabel had accomplished that in very short order. Plus, we'd have to wait through five more classes - a few of which promised to be very large (pony and junior divisions) - and it was just too cold. So why push it? 

'omg - guys, the floor! it's WET! guys guys!! water = danger! danger!! must paw furiously so the whole world knows!!!!' - isabel the desert horse

'wait - why is everybody laughing at me??'

So I got Isabel back home around 11-11:30am, which seems like a criminally early end time for a show day - not that I'm complaining! Mare was very happy to be home, and danced and pranced and pawed around until I finally got her back out to the field. 


Update: Learned from show management that we actually won both classes - way to go Izzy!!