Six Days and a Wake Up

 Show day is only seven days away.  I'm not nervous at all, which is a miracle in itself.  Only five months ago I was showing on the back of a Thoroughbred that did acrobatics in the show ring that the Spanish riding school would be proud of...in a walk/ trot class.  And though I loved and still do love Grace, my new mare is simply amazing. 
 We've worked through bit issues, collection issues, flexing issues.  Six more days of training, and we'll be loading into the trailer and going to our first show together.  This is where my nerves lay.  The only time I trailered my girl, she had an accident in the back of the trailer, which resulted in a month of nursing a hurt fetlock, a swollen eyelid, and am expensive vet visit.  This time, she will be wrapped, traveling with barn buddies and kept busy with hay even on this short trip.  And along with a week of prayers to the horse gods, and fingers crossed, we will make it to the show grounds unscathed.
 With new show shoes, a new show saddle, and many, many hours working together, we're ready to take home some ribbons, if only to prove to hubby that my new horse is indeed a winner.

A Snaffle and a Show

  As of last week, we are in an honest to goodness dressage legal bit.  It's amazing actually, considering that she was heavy even in a curb.  With the help and patience of my trainer, lots of hours in the saddle, and prayers to the horse gods, we are now in a Baucher bit.  !!! Of course we have some other hurdles to get over before our first dressage test next Spring, but our biggest challenge has been solved.  The Baucher has quickly become my favorite bit to ride her in.  She can start to charge in it, but she does listen to reminders to take it easy.  It also helps that she is very intuitive.  She wants to do the correct thing, and she is also a mind reader.  Mind reading is a bonus when it comes to training a horse. 

In addition to our breed show at the end of the month, we've also entered a benefit open show in just a couple of weeks.  A practice show for us, but still, will be our very first show together.  It also involves two canter classes, which I desperately need and secretly dread.  Cantering with 15 other horses in a ring is so intimidating I almost can't even think about it.  What if I pick the wrong line?  What if she picks up the incorrect lead?  What if we run into someone????!!! 

Thank God there are two of us on this team. One of us has done this before, I keep reminding myself.

A Short Time to Get There

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted...time flies when prepping for a show!  Our first show is at the end of August, 6 weeks away. She's come a long way since April, when she stepped off the truck into my life. "Shaggy Bones" as my hubby named her. He's eating his words now.  She's sleek, shiny, perfect weight, building muscle, and above all, has an incredible work ethic.  Now we have to get in sync.

At the moment, we're working on collection.  She wants to start out strung out, heavy on the fore and heavy in my hand.  By the end of a workout she is working from the hind and lighter in the bridle, but still not show ready.  Alternating between riding and long lining, my trainer feels we will get her there and I'm keeping the faith.

What makes me most anxious is that I know the competition.  Morgans that have been to Grand Nationals with trainers that have been in Morgan barns their whole careers.  That's not to say my girl can't hold her own, she's got the fire and the confidence and the drive to compete.  And she's been in the ribbons.

The ribbons...didn't I once say I was here to have fun, that ribbons really meant nothing once you left the show grounds?   I want to bring home the ribbons.  I want to show the Morgan world that my mare, from a little run down barn in the woods, can rock it in the Hunter Pleasure ring.