he's ba-aack!!

I remember my sophomore year in high school being... kinda challenging. Like, on one hand I thought I knew everything. But.... on the other hand I was kinda a seriously major idiot. Ya know. It happens.

Seems like moving up with horses is kinda like that.... Our sophomore novice effort at Plantation was a shit show. But our junior "year" effort at Olney this weekend? Fucking priceless. Charlie's back, guys, and he means business.

"HAPPY HAPPY RUN RUN!!!" - charlie, probably

Obviously much much (much MUCH) more to come. But it was a very good day. Charlie put in his most obedient dressage test to date. Then, ya know, got to chill in his stall like any other Sunday this summer. Perfect.

Then back out again to jump. Homeboy had some emotions about this - mostly bc I was running a little late (you better believe I had to be out on course to see Brita tackle her second Training, and Rachael move up for her first! and yea the totally both killed it!) and ended up trotting Charlie most of the way up to the jump field, when he may have preferred a little more time to look around at all the different things. Oh well...

"but also i do dis thing too. just don't ask what mum is up to with those hands tho lol...." - also charlie

He was a good egg tho. Very business-like through the stadium round. And then fucking phenomenal across country. Such a good dog, I just fucking love him omg.

It wasn't without mistakes or whatever - and yea half the farm heard me growling and yelling at him out of the start gates (not edited out of the video bc reasons). But he went forth and did the thing. And this course was no slouch either. Lots of big fences, tricky combinations, and a massive fucking galloping fence shared with Training.

Charlie cruised through it all tho. Like it was easy. Good boy!

we won ribbons!! and  A CAT OMG!!! haha jk, but wouldn't that be some shit tho?!?

The scoring got a little screwy tho, and for that I have some regrets and moral dilemmas. Immediately upon taking care of Charlie after our rides, I went right out back to the xc fields to jump judge. Meanwhile, we saw on live scoring that they hadn't recorded my rail in stadium.

I texted a couple ppl letting them know (didn't know the ppl who were doing the actual scoring) but it still ended up that when I got back to the office at the end of the day to collect my dressage test, the error still had not been corrected and ribbons had already been distributed. So.... I went home with a 2nd place on the record, when it ought to have been a 4th.

I feel a little badly about that, but also feel like I took every step I could have to get the issue corrected. So idk. Update: the scoring was ultimately fully finalized and Charlie did in fact win 2nd place. Way to go, big guy ;)

It hardly matters for me and Charlie bc as far as I'm concerned we FUCKING WON THE WHOLE THING OMG lol..... But still tho, seriously, it really does feel good.

I'm really proud of the horse, and so happy with how he settled in on course. Nothing is too big for him (actually some were too small) and he definitely seems to enjoy the game when he feels like playing.

So. Another N in the books. Finally. Stay tuned for more details soon!