Typically, in the past I'd take advantage of this little blog platform to spew forth all those random ideas and thoughts and plans and wishes and what not. Lately, tho, I'm finding myself more hesitant and reluctant to commit words to
this is goose |
Because.... Oh yea, we're entered in a show this weekend. If you were paying attention to my Events Page you'd know that, bc I keep that page pretty updated to help my friends and me stay organized. But I haven't written much else about it.
goose is a big boi lol. and he loves him some sunshine |
he's sweet and clever too, tho i definitely feel better about being in close proximity since he got his tusks off haha |
one of my favorite views <3 |
wandering around the farm, per usual |
Alas, tho, as you already know our fall season had barely begun before it ended early for Charlie's splint extravaganza and resulting surgery.
saying hi to some of the ponies |
The weekend's forecast looks mostly promising, but with just enough sketchiness to keep us obsessively checking every few hours lol.
this farm is literally crawling with shetlands |
Obviously there are zero expectations in the dressage ring, beyond hoping that Charlie will be more or less the same horse he is at home. And he's usually a pretty reliable guy. I'll be pleased if we end up with a middle-of-the-pack performance, but unsurprised if we are bringing up the rear instead.
honestly i'm not sure anybody even knows exactly how many there are. but it's a lot haha. they're very sweet tho! |
Sure, I'm still 100% fully capable of missing a distance to spectacular result lol, and won't be surprised if we have one / a few rails. But the idea of 2'6 stadium round with Charlie feels pretty comfortable right now. Ditto the xc course, most of which Charlie schooled in the arena in January.
charlie for his part seems pretty cool with all the other critters |
So ya know. Yea. I think the riding parts should probably be fine. Honestly the only thing I'm really nervous about is.... being disappointed again. Something happening to ruin the day, whether that's a weather-related cancellation or a soundness problem with Charlie, or something else I haven't even dreamed up as a possibility yet.
he keeps an ear on goose tho, just in case lol |
Excited to condition all my tack and boots. To wash Charlie's tail and groom him to sparkling. To pack the trailer and set out my clothes the night before. To pull up the venue's long driveway and feel the butterflies begin fluttering. To walk my courses and finally swing into the saddle for our rides. And most of all? I'm so so so excited to cross a finish line with Charlie again.
Charlie is everything I dreamed of in an eventing partner, and feels poised for a big 2018. Anything is possible, sure, but cross your fingers for me that this weekend gives us the chance to get back out there and enjoy kicking off the season!!
And in the meantime I'll be going through all my little pre-show rituals and routines. Checking my list and cleaning things up. What are some of your favorite things to do in preparation for a show? Especially if it's been a while? Have you even dusted your stuff off for the season yet or will it still be a little while before your own opening event?
Our first show is this weekend too, so I have everything dusted off and ready to go, although I feel really really unprepared riding wise. Best of luck to you this weekend - you're going to have so much fun!
ReplyDeletethanks! and i feel ya on the "unprepared" sensation too. but it's still exciting all the same - i hope you guys have a total blast too!!!!
DeleteYay!!! Good luck!!!
ReplyDeletethank you :D
DeleteSo excited for your show season to kick off!! Good luck and have fun :D
ReplyDeleteThanks I'm so excited but also so afraid of jinxing it lol
DeleteAll fingers and toes and any other crossables are crossed that you and Charlie have a fantastic show this weekend!!
ReplyDeleteThanks I appreciate it! Hopefully it'll be a nonevent in the best way haha
DeleteGood luck!!! I don't think I have any pre-show rituals, just make sure I have carrots for Cupid and gatorade for me!
ReplyDeleteThe ponies and piggy are very cute!
yup extra carrots and cookies and snacks are definitely on the list!!! :D
DeleteGood luck!!! You'll be great!!
ReplyDeleteThanks it should be fun!
DeleteHave fun! My pre XC ritual if I'm feeling nervous is to sing 'Don't stop me now' by Queen. Loudly. and Badly. My friends all join in too now, definitely helps with the nerves!
ReplyDeleteLol that sounds like quite the sight to behold!!
DeleteI am crossing every crossable body part so hard so you can show!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! So far everything looks promising but with Charlie I'm learning to never take that for granted haha
DeleteFingers crossed for you! :-)
ReplyDelete;)
DeleteAhhh I feel your anticipation and excitement! I'm sure you guys will do wonderfully. :)
ReplyDeleteFull of anticipation and excitement, and so hopeful all goes to plan!!
DeleteYay!! Good luck!! You guys will be great.
ReplyDeletethanks it should be fun!
DeleteMay and I haven't competed since May or June of 2016... That's kind of a long time ago. I know that the first time we go out this season will probably feel surreal and a bit hectic, but it will also be so exciting. I hope that's the overwhelming feeling you have this weekend. Pure Excitement! Good Luck!
ReplyDeletei'm full of excitement haha, that's for sure! just slightly dreading something happening to spoil all the fun. hopefully tho everything will be ok! and here's hoping you and May will have a blast too when you get back out there soon!
DeleteCrossing fingers and toes!
ReplyDeletethanks!
DeleteThis makes me so excited for you!! Fingers crossed it all goes according to plan.
ReplyDeletewe've got contingency plans and whatnot, but yea i'm really hoping everything will go just fine :D
Deleteis there snow??? i hope that calms down. we got that storm and i was like "haha... sucks to be loch moy"
ReplyDeletewhistfully dreaming of when I had plans to go. I'm going to a gun expo instead >:)
yea there's snow but it's melting pretty quickly. honestly most of the fields might even be clear by today. tho i'll be curious to see how they end up configuring the xc courses....
Deletei wish you were still coming but the gun expo sounds fun too ;) hope to see you around soon tho!
they should include the snow as a jump. that would be hilarious.
Deleteand i'll probably make the trip to the fair hill ST in early may!!
Whoo hoo! I'm crossing my fingers for you guys! I agree that I think Charlie will be fine, but good luck!
ReplyDeletethanks fingers crossed!
DeleteYaaa!!! Good luck! I love the packing and the cleaning and well, all of it!!!
ReplyDeleteyessss i love all of it too and am really spreading it out this time around, enjoying all of the little small steps haha
DeleteYour caution is totally understandable. You've had some really random shit this year. Good luck with the show and have fun. I've not written it out yet but Carmen and I are headed to a clinic next week. And we are MARSHMALLOWS. I can't wait to read about your fun weekend!
ReplyDeleteoooooh that's exciting about the clinic!! this time of year is so hard to really feel prepared, but we do the best we can! i hope you have a blast too!!
DeleteBest of luck!
ReplyDeletethanks!
DeleteI'm holding my breathe with you!!!
ReplyDeletethank you!!! haha i feel like i might pop but don't dare rock the boat for charlie lol
DeleteEverything crossed you guys finally make it back out there!
ReplyDeleteAt first I was like 'ehh I don't have any rituals', but then remembered in college, when I wouldn't know who I was riding until a few minutes before my class, I'd always try to find my horse before and give them a breath on the nose (hoping my breath didn't smell terrible lol) and a scratch in their "spot" if I could find it :P Naturally, couldn't always do this but whenever I could get my introductions in, it grounded me and the horse at least had an idea of who was being chucked up there haha!
ReplyDeleteCautiously excited for you and I hope this weekend is wonderful!!
Goose is so cute and big he could always be your backup...
ReplyDeleteAAAAAAAAH! So psyched for you!!!
ReplyDeleteWe won't be heading out until May or June. Winter has held true this year and conditioning isn't as easy to get in as a result. The commute between home and barn is also something I still don't have ironed out - especially during inclement weather. C'est la vie! I know we've got more than enough time to do things, so I'm not worrying too much. In the mean time, I'll live vicariously through others =) I can't wait to hear about how tomorrow goes for y'all!!