CTHJA Manor March 1st
Even though I decided to cancel my plans to show in March, I’m a horse show addict and I usually can’t stay away. I headed out early to watch our hunters go, planning to ride Simon during lunch before the jumpers and then come back to the horse show to watch and photograph the jumpers in the afternoon. Of course, we know how horse show schedules go and I ended up staying all day and getting properly sunburnt.
The morning started off super foggy and overcast. I swear the gray horses totally blended into the sky.
Our hunters put in great rounds and were rewarded fairly, which is always a great start to the show day. I enjoyed watching the divisions Simon and I would be shooting for this year – Green 2’6″ and Modified 2’6″ – go around. Not everyone was perfect, and I felt like if I could improve getting leads over the fence and our changes we’d be pretty competitive.
There was a bit of trickling between the start of jumpers and the end of hunters… per always. I brought Pascale with me for an outing, and even though she was on her best behavior I’d sometimes turn around to see her covered and mud and digging a whole by the arena… whoops. When she got wild I just let her tug on her leash until she got tired, but most of the day she resorted to just watching the horses go around and being a good, patient puppy.
When the little jumpers started up, 2’6″ – 2’9″, I felt like it didn’t look giant or terrifying. This is big progress for me, because usually anything in the jumper ring = death. This time I felt more like, “We could probably get over these but I don’t guarantee it would be pretty.” Who knows, maybe by the end of the year I’ll feel like getting around properly is doable. No telling.
The sky finally cleared towards the end of the day for the Open Jumpers, 3’3″ – 3’6″ and I got to watch our people put in some more nice riding. I stayed for most of the show before my stomach demanded lunch and Simon needed to be ridden, so I headed out early afternoon as the jumpers were finishing up.
On the Simon front, I’m cautiously optimistic. I’ll do a fuller post on his progress this week, but I hacked him around at the trot on Saturday afternoon and he felt much better to me. It will take ten days for the injections to have their full effect, but hopefully the next time I’m able to ride him he’ll be even better! For now, that cloudy Saturday helped bring in some rain so I’m spending a lot more time in the house than at the barn.
16 thoughts on “CTHJA Manor March 1st”
There is nothing I love more than sitting around watching horse shows! Fun way to spend the day!
It was negative 6 degree today..incredibly jealous of your weather! Lovely pictures! Watching horse shows is a great way to spend the day.
Well it was 21 when I woke up this morning, so I guess we used up all our good weather juju on Saturday!
Yay for improvements!
I still don’t quite understand why spending 294839 hours at a horse show is so much fun. I could literally waste an entire weekend just WATCHING horse shows… but then I’d never get any work done.
It’s like a time vortext that sucks us in with pretty ponies 🙂
That’s the best way to spend a Saturday! At a horse show AND riding! The puppy face is adorable too!
Lovely photos! I’m in love with that flea bitten gray. 🙂
Goooooo Simon! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
I love Jumpers! You should try it! Even if you don’t go for speed, the courses are fun and challenging and are great for helping you tune your communication with your horse. And wow, jumpers were going by early afternoon?? I remember when I did hunters the shows were so packed we were there ALL DAY. Jumpers didn’t start until late, late in the afternoon. Although the last show I went to was about three years ago and no one was there- I have a theory that you can tell how the economy is doing by the number of entrants at horse shows. In eventing, the entries are starting to increase again so that has to be a good sign 🙂
Yeah, I agree with you about signs of the economy! This show runs 4 rings, and the jumpers start after our “big” hunters (3′ -3’6″) which were small at this show. The smaller rings were huge classes!
What a great way to spend a day, glad to hear it is all looking less terrifying.
The photos are fab, thanks for sharing. Pascale is stunning, I know you guys adopted her but do you have any idea as to what breed (s) she might be and/or how big she’ll get?
I super stoked to read that Simon was feeling better under saddle, I hope he keeps improving and next time we’ll be seeing pictures of you guys showing again 😀
Originally she was supposed to be 40 pounds, but she’s probably closer to 40-45 and not full grown yet… so no telling. I think she’s mostly lab with some hound or some pitbull or both!
Looking out my window at all the snow on the ground and the thought of a horse show seems like it must be on another planet. Then I remind myself that I’m back in the states and waiting for Spring is loads better than waiting to come home from the other side of the world!
Beautiful pictures, as always!
The older I get, the more I enjoy spectating at horse shows. Glad you got out and supported your fellow teammates 🙂
Those are some beautiful horses! Nice shots.
I love showing but I also LOVE going and being a spectator and soaking it all in.