The Horse Show Goal My goals were: to ride from the horse trailer to the arena to ride in the show classes, occasionally doing what the judge called for to ride out of the arena to the trailer  We got big huge virtual blue ribbons and met everyone of these goals I thanked everyone that came, clapped and cheered. I discovered that smiling when people clap is a great way to release tension. I know Sue enjoyed the clapping. Sue knew it was her night. The arena was ours!  We have a nice group…

Show day minus one.  We practiced today.  Jenny rode Nova  in the arena with us.  We were pulled by an amazing force of gravity to follow Nova around the arena. Boy Howdy - It will be great in the show arena.  Nova, Diva (Sue's own daughter) and Velvet ..all of them or at least one of them will be in every show class we enter. Way cool I have show blanket.  I have ribbons.  I have a Western shirt for the fox trotter western class.  I have a shirt for…

I understand catatonic behavior now.  After I made the annoucement that I was going to show Sue, someone asked me what I was going to wear. There are people who like to match clothes, saddle blanket and horse ribbons. Me, I went catatonic.  The idea of riding Sue in a horse show is really all my brain can handle. The thought of having to figure out some sort of matching show wear made me unable to participate in speech or thought. I did finally respond "black slacks, some kind of long sleeved…

I understand catatonic behavior now.  After I made the annoucement that I was going to show Sue, someone asked me what I was going to wear. There are people who like to match clothes, saddle blanket and horse ribbons. Me, I went catatonic.  The idea of riding Sue in a horse show is really all my brain can handle. The thought of having to figure out some sort of matching show wear made me unable to participate in speech or thought. I did finally respond "black slacks, some kind of long sleeved…

FLUIDITY CLINIC- The last time I rode Sue in an indoor clinic, I was overcome by emotional non-fitness by noon and had to quit. This indoor arena clinic was full of horses and Sue and I rode two days.  What a difference. The first day when we first started riding, Tony told me I didn't look fully relaxed.  I thought I hid it well, but there it was...tension.  We can't have tension in a Fluidity Clinic! So, I started to whistle without sound.  Amazing how whistling, even when you don't produce…

Remember the water bottle crinkle-crunch noise that scared Sue?  It occured to me today, that I've not really taken care of that. This coming weekend, Sue and I will be participating in a trail ride clinic.  It will be very hot.  I will need water.  In the afternoon, I'll be out in the middle of 500 acres on a trail ride.  I will need water. I have Thursday nite and Saturday morning to fix things so I can take a water bottle out of the saddle bag and drink it.  If I don't…