Woodstock Fair 2014, Long but Pictures!

Cassie made us all stall signs.

Getting comfy in his new digs.

Thank you for everyone's words of wisdom and support in preparation for this show. I had a really good crew with me for the weekend and one of the best coaches I could ask for. I took every class in stride and things started a little heavy in the hands but as the weekend went on, I relaxed and so did B.

Checking out the fair.

Figuring out our trail course.

We spent Friday morning getting comfortable, giving baths, and hanging out around the show. The afternoon came quick and I checked in for my weekend classes. I picked up my trail course map and well... Almost scratched right then and there. Pick up a bucket? No way. But we went in, and he didn't want to get through ANY obstacles, even the bridge. We were in the busier of the rings with lots of people in the stands and hanging on the fence so I don't blame him. But the judge let us go around the whole course and smiled at us when we left so that made me happy. Apparently we had a fan club in the stands. Before I entered the girl working the gate said I'd probably be disqualified for not using a shank on a horse over 5... I told her I wasn't going to make it past the bucket so I wasn't worried about it. She didn't find it amusing.

Wendy and I watching the girls!

I spent the rest of the day watching the other girls ride and the barrel race. Then rode again later that night... In the lights... at 10:15pm. LOVED IT! And he was so quiet and calm. Didn't even think twice about the shadows. We cruised for a good 45 minutes, cooled out, and stayed up until 1... Well at least I did.

Sleepy Pony

Saturday was an early morning and Amanda showed up to play coach which is EXACTLY what I needed. Warm up over cross-rails went okay, a few refusals, but there were 3 other horses in the ring and I was definitely nervous. A kept telling me to just relax and let him do it (in a matter of words). Our flat classes came and B handled some sticky situations pretty well. Maybe riding with the greenies wasn't the best idea. We dealt with a rearing horse and someone falling off... Aka: loose horse. What did B do? Stand calmly and stare at the judge.

We made it through our 2 jump courses but I as A says, "For someone with the softest hands I know, I can see your knuckles." But we made it! We trotted most of the course which gave us a more confident approach. Then 2nd course was better... But I forgot my opening circle but he did great. I can't complain. The 1st was pretty terrible, but while he was getting nervous about the halter class in the ring next to us, I was worried about everyone screaming loose horse. But the gate girl told me to still go in and do my course. Horse was still loose when I was done and well... I dismounted right before the horse plowed into mine. But I got back on and ran my 2nd course... Holy shit.

I entered another class that afternoon with Wendy and Elijah but scratched immediately. I walked in with 10 horses and more horses working their way in. People were trotting in from every where and B was starting to shake. Plus people were screaming in the stands... Tiny ring... Tiny tiny pleasure ring... I almost stayed and worked through it until I came around the corner and horses were still pouring into the ring. I called to the judge and excused myself. After I left the ring, the total number was 36... Elijah was a perfect gentleman though and made it through the class. We cruised around the warm up hunter ring and called it a day because he was perfect.

The biggest surprise of Saturday though was that my Dad came. I was ecstatic! I was also surprised by Deb, my friend Caleb, and my cousin Kat who I haven't seen in years. It was so nice to have him there. He's always been my biggest support system between Lucky and especially with Brantley. I may have argued at first but I'm glad he pushed me to get another horse... Maybe not his idea of a new horse in the beginning, but you can tell he loves that I'm happy and B is doing so well.

Sunday was an amazing day... I can't even explain... Videos and pictures instead? I think so.

 

Promise I'm not crying.

I know he looks angry... And so do I... But I was trying not to cry and he was sneeze. I love him.

And here's a video of us being awesome. The one of our walk trot class I couldn't steal from Amanda but... He was awesome and looked like a pro!

All in all it was an amazing weekend like I thought it would be. But we were both very happy to get home. I was really happy to get back to this guy...

And here's a quick tribute to an awesome show coach. Love you Amanda!