Sleepless in show season

This is the time of year a lot of us are thinking about all the shows we are hoping to go to this year, filling out entry forms and writing a lot of cheques. When the first entry form of the year showed up in my email forwarded from a friend I was thrilled (Shows!! Right?).

Now I have a stack of show entry forms with the first show being 33 days away.

33 days away!

I haven't ridden all winter, and the one time I was on, I got hurt. Badly. I still can't bend my knee.

But this is what I do. Eternal optimist or simply a total fool.

Seriously though, this first show really is a unique opportunity that will allow me to show at a venue that I have always wanted to go to and it offers a lot of flat classes which I know I can totally handle (if my knee can by then), no matter what brain comes with my horse that day. I am entering two jumping classes: X-rail Hunter and 2'0" Hunter.

I emailed my entry yesterday, and last night I had my first sleepless night of the show season.

Spring is in the air!

This feeling is like an electric current running from the top of my head to each finger tip and toes and it is heaven! Something amazing is happening in my back yard. Snow is MELTING, birds are SINGING! I cannot contain my joy that I have quite nearly made it through another winter!

With the melt has come the idea that yes indeed I will ride again and I want to trailer to ALL the arenas and I am compiling a list of ALL the shows I will take my girl to.

I have not done any real riding since December of last year (holy crap/how did I live without my horse) but I have been getting in horse time with my almost-2-year-old filly, Shiraz. She has been learning to lounge, yield to pressure, wear a saddle and basically hang out with me and learn her job in a horse/human relationship.

Looks mas, I cans bes a ridding horse too! -Shiraz

My first attempt at riding Miss Tea last week ended in a bit of an injury for me. My girl was so amazing for not being ridden in so long and as I was just riding along, beaming from ear to ear on our awesomeness, she suddenly slipped in the snow and went down so hard, we both had the wind knocked out of us. She then got up slowly and proceeded to just stand there while I rolled around on the ground, lamenting over the unbelievable pain coming from my knee. Shock got me through to get her put away and get myself to the house. I called hubby and begged him to come home early from work and either put me out of my misery with compassionate euthanization or magically make me better with his love. :P

But not even injuries can dampen my spirits these days with warm temps and that incredible smell of horses in spring time. This is going to be a great year with Miss Tea!

Say wha? I am going where and doing what? Haha! we'll see ;) -Madam T.