Monday, November 28, 2016

maiden voyage

Phew. I need a long weekend to recover from this past long weekend. Does anybody else feel like that?

Anyway this is mostly just a quickie teaser post as I certainly can't be the only one who is only slowly pulling things together to get back into a normal rhythm. It's just been... wow. Just so much pie. Ya know?

get on the bus, charlie!
As I was saying, tho, here are a couple teaser pics from Charlie's first actual outing in the new trailer (his third outing total with me). We went back to my favorite weekly stomping grounds, OF, but not for a lesson this time around.

Nope, instead Charlie went out for his first little dressage schooling show!!

first setting eyes on the dressage court!
It might as well have been a whole new place for Charlie tho, bc aside from parking the trailer in the same place and using the same mounting block, everything else was different. He warmed up in a new-to-him field, and rode his tests in the new-to-him dressage court. Very exciting!!

charlie already knows how to dress like a dressage horse tho
And ya know what? It was actually pretty fun! Personally my first return to the show ring since the ill-fated Jenny Camp last spring... And Charlie's first 'event' since his final race on Aug 9.

Sure, we had a little bit of tension with Charlie processing all the activity and trying to figure out exactly what in the fresh fuck was about to happen to him. And naturally I had my own nerves too.

chillin at the trailer like a grown horse
But this outing wasn't about the performance at all - it was purely about that experience for him. The rides weren't what mattered (and I PROMISE we are not breaking new ground at Intro, folks, have no fear. not like that's gonna stop me from posting the video anyway tho haha).

Rather, I was most interested in Charlie feeling that build up of anticipation for.... something. But then having that "something" end up being quite easy for him, something at which he can easily succeed (hello, w-t test!). And obviously I wanted him to experience that atmosphere and the hustle and bustle of horses everywhere, plus spending quality time tied to the trailer.

The whole shebang, ya know? But in an easy, laid back and ultimately safe environment. And he was so good!! Actually so good that we even managed to snag some satin in a somewhat crowded intro b class!! More details to come on that tho ;)

Hope you all had a great weekend too - whether it was a long one here in the US (filled hopefully with fantastic food and PIE) or not!

53 comments:

  1. Congrats on a successful outing! I'm firmly on the struggle bus today from the long weekend.

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  2. Yay for low key first outings and double yay for some satin! Whoo hoo Charlie!

    And yes, I literally always need long weekends to recover from my long weekends haha.

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    1. idk why that is? sometimes i wonder if i was cut out at all for this modern day career type stuff lol ;) it's cool tho. the weekend satin helps make up for the weekday doldrums, right?!?

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  3. Sounds like Charlie did an awesome job!

    This week in horses for me is mostly be "feed, ensure no bullet holes, put back in field" because it's deer season and our usual riding locales are filled with gun-totin' rednecks who might think we are deer and/or might be put out that we are invading their deer hunting spots. The season is two weeks but the second week tends to be more rational. Bird and Nick will enjoy the time off.

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    1. yea seriously plz don't get shot by some wayward hunter!!!! we were always lucky at my last barn that our woods were protected state park... but even still, it could be nerve wracking!

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  4. So much pie. Can't wait to hear all the details! :D

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    1. the details cometh!!!! along with omg so many pictures of my handsome fancy dressage giraffe!!! :D

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  5. yeah the pie turned into a real problem for me.

    so glad it went nice and calm and he looked like he handled everything in stride!! hes got such a good brain, you did a good job picking him out.

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    1. ha, how could pie ever be a problem?? but thanks tho - i'm really proud of how the big guy is handling everything. we've got a LOT of work ahead of us bc while his brain is starting from a really good place, there are some holes (obviously) and we just need to keep conditioning for, and reaffirming, his good reactions and thinking. so far so good tho!

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    2. i dunno i think i took my 'post half diet' a little too seriously. pie + peppermint stick ice cream + hangover = unhappy camper on the flight home.

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    3. ooooh yea i can see how that might be the case lol

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  6. Sweet satin, excellent pie topping!

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  7. ❤❤❤ yay! Can't wait for more adventures!

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  8. Can someone please get you a decal for your trailer that says Chuckles-mobile?

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    1. thanks!!! and the ribbons are PRETTY !! even better! :D

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  10. Can't wait to hear all about it!! Congrats on a successful first outing with Charlie

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  11. Wow, can't wait to hear all about it! Congrats!

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  12. This is awesome!! Great job on getting out and about soon and having it be just what he needed. also I only ate two slices of pie because they made too many pies i didnt like.

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    1. pies you... don't like?!? i'm not sure i understand!!!! blasphemy!!

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  13. Hooray Charles! What an awesome idea. I'm glad it went so well!

    I will probably make more pie today.

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  14. Congrats on your first official outing!

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    1. thanks! actually his third outing now, but first show ;)

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  15. Satin on the first outing?! Atta' Charlieboy :)

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  16. Congratulations! I predict more and more successful outings. You are going to have so much fun together

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  17. People always say it isn't about the ribbons when they bring home the satin. Lol :p great work!

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    1. Lolz apparently! I guess it's hard to be sincere about that with a blue ribbon in hand haha

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  18. Yay Charlie Man!!!! He's such a trooper!

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    1. Woo we had so much fun with you and Bella!! Can't wait til next time!!

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  19. I feel less guilty for just having eaten a rather large slice of Costco pumpkin pie right before I read this.

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  20. I feel less guilty for just having eaten a rather large slice of Costco pumpkin pie right before I read this.

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