Monday, July 27, 2015

aloha horse trials! (and some unwelcome rain)

I spent yesterday morning and afternoon at Full Moon Farm's Aloha Horse Trials. Guys. This was maybe the COOLEST event I've ever attended - it was Hawaiian themed and competitors were very strongly encouraged to dress the part. There were even leis in the registration packets!! 


this pair's dressage outfit was amazing. and their jumping outfit included an even bigger floppier hat and hula grass leggings for the horse. incredible. i will never be this cool haha
I should have taken pictures of the jumps too bc they were off the wall and covered in decorations. Think: beach towels and inner tubes and surf boards and pool noodles. EVERYWHERE. 


see the lei threaded through Wick's brow band?
The divisions were pretty legit too - with a tight and winding stadium course and level appropriate questions. Meaning plenty of full-height obstacles for each division (plus there were 3 sub-BN levels). Definitely a solid venue for pairs looking for more mileage!


Wick looks ready to party, and obvi B came prepared with a Hawaiian shirt too haha
(also, for those curious - things ultimately worked out with Wick's lease situation and all parties are now quite happy and satisfied. phew what a relief!)
Part of me was bummed about not bringing Isabel too... but seeing as neither of us had done anything for a week and I was battling the aftermath of 4 nights on Bourbon St... well, it seemed prudent to just serve as groom for the day lol.


trainer P makes novice look very easy
It was a popular event tho - meaning I had the pleasure of watching both trainer P from OF ride her novice horse, and Dan run through with a couple of his own. We're definitely spoiled in this area with how may pros can be found at any old event schooling their horses. 


that is one wet pony! :(
Naturally I then felt all inspired to get back into the saddle for Isabel's first ride in a week. I figured we wouldn't do anything too crazy - just push all the buttons to make sure they still work, and get her back into a working frame of mind.


#notfair
But sadly it was not to be as there was just one dark ominous cloud in the otherwise blue clear sky. And it was directly over our farm. Le sigh. The forecast wasn't calling for rain so I hoped it would pass. Once it lightened up off we went... only for it to start absolutely DUMPING on us about 15 min in. 


everything was dripping...
I was pretty disappointed, esp since Isabel was working well and we hadn't even cantered yet (and believe it or not I'm starting to think we might be making progress on our canter transitions so I REALLY wanted to try them out...). But as the rain got heavier, Isabel became more and more over bent, trying to keep her precious little face out of the rain. So oh well, we just called it a day and will hope for better luck tonight... Boo rain, BOO :(

42 comments:

  1. That looks like a super fun HT!! How did B and Wick do!? I am hoping to get in a good school this afternoon as well but the forecast says 50% chance of rain for my 'barn time' hours... blah. :(

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    1. it was so much fun omg! B and Wick did really well and checked off all their goals. a dressage test that showed a lot of progress (complete with REALLY encouraging commentary from the judge - like, 'love the consistent forward energy, next start working on bend and suppleness for better scores' - how nice is that?), and the jumping was awesome as usual (minus one bummer rail). their scores aren't quite where they need to be at this level to ribbon (since it's essentially a dressage show) but it was a blast

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  2. yay for rain!! #eventerproblems

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    1. lol NO - boo to rain!! i want to riiiiiiiide and not fight with my pony haha. i think we need to be actually at a show for her to agree that maybe it's worth it to actually work in the rain

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  3. that looks awesome. i want to go to a themed ht!

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    1. ooooh you totally should!! it was such an awesome and relaxed vibe, even tho it was still a pretty legit outing for competitors

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  4. That HT looks like so much fun, what a fun concept!!

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    1. it was really great! i like getting all dressed up in the traditional sense, but this was definitely a world apart. there were riders doing their dressage tests in bikinis of all things lol

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    2. OMG In a bikini! I would be so self conscious...

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    3. lol right? mostly it was little kiddos in bathing suits, but there was one adult... that takes guts haha (or, ya know, a distinct lack thereof lol)

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  5. That's so awesome - I want to ride in a grass skirt! Not sure what Apollo would think of that hahah

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    1. seriously! i could NOT believe that saint of a horse cantering around and jumping with all that loose grass fluttering around his knees and feet, let alone having a grass-skirted rider

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  6. Keys to a great canter transition: Less leg/more seat & Less rain/More sun ;)

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  7. I love Full Moon Farm. I did their Long Format 3 Day a couple years ago, it was a blast (and also very educational). If I still evented, I'd definitely go back!

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    1. they are so friendly there!! i think they're hosting an event this fall too and i definitely want to go now haha

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  8. Oh, Full Moon. Memories! It was only about a 15min drive from where I was a working student.

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    1. no kidding! it's about 35ish minutes from our own farm - but in the total opposite direction of our usual haunts (we're much further east)

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  9. Coolest theme for a summer event ever.

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    1. right? it was a very chill vibe (despite the heat) lol

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    1. ooooooh yes bobby would have fit right in with one of his costumes haha

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  11. What a crazy and FUN looking show! Stupid rain... I also got poured on this weekend.

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    1. it was definitely fun! and such a bright dry day that the later rain took me totally by surprise lol

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  12. Never heard of a themed HT before but I love it! I have a waterproof saddle cover with openings for stirrups and force my ponies to ride in the rain, ha! #allweathersport But I understand her curling to get her face out of the rain.

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    1. yea we certainly don't shy away from weather, whether schooling or showing (as has been very well documented these last two months bc omg so much rain!) - but yea it was our first ride back from a week, she was trying and being good, but also not super pleased with the downpour. some battles are not worth picking and i had only wanted a light ride anyway. oh well!

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  13. Sounds like a fun show! Too bad it rained when you rode though!

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    1. I was pretty miffed about the rain but oh well... It was a fun day anyway ;)

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  14. That's a really cool idea for an event! I once dressed Simon up in full Hawaiian gear.

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  15. Love Isabel's face! She is priceless! The HT was so fun!!

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    1. Lol she certainly expresses herself! And I'm so glad you had fun - you guys were great!

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  16. I have had the two best dressage tests of my life, on one of each of my previous arabs, in the pouring rain. Nothing motivates an arab to keep its nose out of the sky more than fear of drowning.

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  17. I have had the two best dressage tests of my life, on one of each of my previous arabs, in the pouring rain. Nothing motivates an arab to keep its nose out of the sky more than fear of drowning.

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    1. Very true! And Isabel is certainly capable of buckling down to work in the rain (look no further than our last event at fair hill for evidence of that!) but I really saw no value in fighting with her to unpin her nose from her chest in the pouring rain after a week off work. Might as well try again another day in friendlier circumstances!

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  18. oh wow, that is a great concept! I would love to go to a show like that!

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  19. Oh my goodness. That event looks fabulous. I wanna go.

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    1. it was so much better than i could have imagined!!!

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  20. You guys will be back to rockin' out on the XC course in no time!

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