Shepard Ranch

SYVPC Shepard Ranch Event was our first REAL official USEA event. Even though in the scheme of things I haven't really been on the 'english side of equestrian sports' for that long it feels like it has taken FOREVER to get to this point.

Even though I was only showing intro division.. I'm not gonna lie that weekend was like being a kid in a candy store, because I'm weird and I LOVE horse shows.. and shiny ribbons who doesn't love shiny things.

Though I did spend most of the weekend in a bit of a panic because my tank of a horse had managed to do something to his legs resulting in swelling and some painful skin issues. I was paranoid I was going to be DQed, though he never actually came up lame.

Fridays dressage went OK we scored a 45.0 (with our uniquely braided mane that I refuse to trim and pull.. ) Cross country went well on Sat finished in 3min40sec clean, and my stadium course was clean as well.

In the end I think I did fairly well for my first real outing.. and with a bum leg. 6th closest to optimum time in my division, 4th overall in my division, 2nd place Adult area VI rider team in our division, and 1st place high point pony clubber in intro.

All in all lots of fun, hopefully next show we will bump up from intro to beginner novice.. anyway on to getting ready for another meadows event!

Back to square.. 2?

Even though the heat was again insane today I did get to do a little work with my ultimate project today, FINALLY. I haven't been able to really focus on him, or attempt to ride him again for a few months (he broke my ribs.. right before I cut my leg open ) and now that I'm on the mend, and Shepard Ranch is over I can play again.

I have this somewhat magnetic attraction to Adonis (Tribal Reign). I think it's because I can see the ridiculous amount of potential he has, even though several of his screws are very loose if not missing(which I happen to love..). I really think he could be very successful as an event horse, and I want to start him on that path.

Today was very low key.. minor roundpen work nothing too intense, but I had this great idea to start using Juju as a pacifier for him. I thought maybe if he had another horse to look to when we were doing all the scary things it wouldn't send him into a blind panic. So I jumped on Juju bareback and led Adonis around.. first in the roundpen then in the field.. which is full of lots and lots of scary things like horse eating standards and bushes. Adonis could have cared less, Juju wasn't worried why should he be? over ground poles and in between hay bales and standards. It was so exciting to feel like I had accomplished some small feat. Later this week I will take them to the riverbed. So excited to get this boy rolling.