The Last Blog Entry...

1. TRAFFIC on 495 :(
2. The rain!
3. My co-pilot working hard in the back seat...she's exhausted!






The last one. It was a LONG drive home today. The weather was fine just up to when I got on 495. Then, the heaven's opened and it poured the rest of my way home. 4PM + the sluicing rain + rush hour = a VERY cranky Hillary when I finally got home at 5:30! But all the wash is done, all my unpacking is done and I cleaned out my fridge (ew).

1. I thought it was appropriate to end the blog with the big truck that is taking Harry home.
2. Harry after his class, soooo mellow and happy.
3. My VERY tired horse show dog!
4. Sheryl's dog Stevie, also exhausted!
5. The show grounds this morning in the fog, it's really pretty.






Tonight is a bittersweet night. I feel like one more week would really have let me get in the jumper groove. The weather has been beautiful, it was a perfect break from the cloudy, cold, depressing Maryland winter. I'm ready to get home and get back to my "real life" but I truly miss my life when all I did was the horses. I don't think I could go back but after 10 days like I've just had it sure is tempting to run off and join the circus :)

Winding down...

1. Harry hanging out today after our round.
2. My tack trunk with the cover on it, all packed up for the night.
3. My trunk...with all my stuff! It takes a lot to get organized!
4. Emma helping wake Lexi this AM..."cuddle time"
5. Ashley on the golf cart.




Today was a long day. I was at the show by 10 but didn't ride until almost 5. I got to watch most of the kids ride and I got to help out. My round was good. Not fast, but well ridden. I've developing better control of my body, looking UP over all the jumps and holding my upper body away so my horse can jump up to me. Harry's learned to be much more careful to the verticals and today I really felt like he was jumping better than he has all week...maybe because I'm riding better!

It's interesting because I was talking out the switch to the jumpers tonight with a friend and I figured out how I feel. I may not have WANTED a jumper. And I may have planned to be in the 3ft hunter ring. But Harry was EXACTLY the right horse at the right time for me. I needed one I could trust to jump the bigger jumps and remind me that I DO know how to ride in either the hunter or jumper ring. Duplo and Perry were great horses in their own ways but they sucked my confidence away for 6 years. And Lego was retired. Harry had given me my confidence back. So, whether I keep him for a while or sell him and get a hunter I will ALWAYS be grateful to him for reteaching me trust in my horse. I used to be afraid of a 2'6 jump...now I'm schooling 3'6 and not even batting an eyelash. This horse has brought me home.

A HUGE shout out to Ashley Foster who was 3rd of of 70 in the Children's/Adult Grand Prix tonight. She and her horse Jordy were just incredible to watch!

These are the action shots taken today by our AWESOME barn manager (I use that word a lot). Harry looks great and I feel pretty good about my riding. I wonder if my stirrups are too long and I wish I looked skinnier but that's a work in progress. My position is pretty good overall though and my leg isn't doing anything too strange...sometimes my leg does weird things!

1. This was a really cute horse lying in the field and eating. It's hard to tell but he's adorable!
2. Harry wearing the "magic blanket": it's got some sort of therapeutic property and it helps the horses' muscles heal and repair so they are less sore.
3. The GIANT rice krispie treat at Disney. There were a bunch of flavors and sizes...I managed not to give in but I REALLY wanted one!

Well. Yesterday I didn't update the blog. I fail ;) My trainer rode Harry yesterdy in a jumper class and they ended up 8th out of about 30. The 8th place ribbons are brown, which we now call "mocha" as I'm very proud of my mocha ribbon. Even MORE exciting: I won a mocha ribbon today out of 30. ALL BY MYSELF! I was riding well and Harry loves his new job description as a jumper. Life is good in Ocala. The weather continues to be amazing, it's been 80 degrees and sunny pretty much everyday. I'm wearing my 85SPF so I'm not as tan as I'd like but I'm being responsible! Maybe on Sunday I'll take my chances and feel a little burn before I head back up north on Monday.
I forgot to mention that I also jumped at least three jumps with only one stirrup! It was terrifying but I was more afraid of what Mary (my trainer) would say if I circled than I was of falling off!
Emma continues to be an awesome horse show dog and is currently exhausted. We both ate dinner (Chik Fil A for me) and are all washed up and ready for bed! I have another jumper class tomorrow afternoon and one horse to ride earlier in the day. The days are long and I feel like I never really sit still but I love every minute of this sport!

DISNEY!!!!

1. Ashley, me and Kimmy waiting in Pirates
2. On the carousel, can't spend a day away from the horses!
3. Me, waiting for Pirates
4. Kimmy, Ash, me and Katie
5. TIRED kids (me too) at the end of the day with our loot!

Today was Disney Day with the three teenagers: Kimmy, Ashley and Katie. I would be lying if I didn't tell you all that this was a very large part of the appeal of the trip. I love Disney maybe as much as Paris, certainly more than most places I've visited. We spent the day at the Magic Kingdom. First, we followed the staff to the staff parking but after that little mistake the day went great. We rode EVERYTHING on our list by 3:30PM: Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, It's a Small World, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted House, the Carousel...whew...I think that's it? Then, we shopped. Then, we drove home exhausted! Back to the horse show tomorrow!

Monday Funday

1. Me, Grammy and Si. My grandma had never met Emma before.
2. Harry and I prepping yesterday for our round.
3. The place I had lunch today, it was GORGEOUS!


4. My friend Mollie's dog Fiona snoozing in the sun.
5. Self portrait of me at the restaurant...no laughing!
6. The view from our lunch table. And escargot on the menu...I was in heaven!






















Nothing happens at the show on Monday. The horses get the day off and so do the humans. I slept in and then ran to Walmart to pick a few things up. Then, I drove to a really pretty spot in a town called Ellenton to meet my grandmother and her husband for lunch. The weather was perfect and lunch was great; we ate outside.

This afternoon I did some laundry, gave Harry a few carrots and then tutored before making my microwave gourmet dinner of ravioli with parmesan. Now I'm trying to stay awake a little while longer so I can get up early for DISNEY tomorrow! I love Disney and have three great teenagers to come with me :)

Jumpers!

Lots of pictures tonight because our AMAZING barn manager Sheryl took these "family portraits" today at my request. I love them all. It's my mom, her boyfriend Ronnie, Emma and Harry and me. I really love the one where Harry and Emma are "kissing"!






















Well, still no ribbons in the jumpers BUT today was a huge improvement riding-wise for me. I was slow but left all the rails up and Harry and I were really in tune with each other. He tries so hard. He was really happy to see the jumps up a little higher and he jumped them GREAT.

My mom was still here which was so much fun too. Sometimes it's nice to be a little spoiled and have your mom take care of you! Emma continues to enjoy the horse show and is currently passed out on the bed. I would also like to be on my way to sleep but I need to wait another hour and take Emma out once more! I have plenty of grading here with me to keep me busy.

Tomorrow Harry has a day off and I am heading to Sarasota to see my grandmother for lunch.

1. Harry and I in action in the jumper ring.
2. Walking the course to prepare for my round with MaryLisa
3. My mom and me at dinner tonight.

My day started on a really positive note: clean round without time faults. Harry was great. By the time our second class rolled around I'd been sitting at the ring for 2 hours analyzing others riding my course. I'd taken the course apart and ridden in backwards, forwards and sideways...This is not good for me at all. I was always the jumper rider who wanted to go FIRST and get it over with. I do not do well with lots of time to think. So, tomorrow, there will be no thinking. None at all. ;)
Then, MaryLisa had a ring conflict and we waited some more. By the time Mary came back and was ready for me I had stressed myself out pretty well. Then, once I was in the ring I was rattled because the rider before me had a rail down and the jump crew missed it so I had to halt and wait. I picked up my canter and EVERYTHING we had talked about flew right out of my head. Poor Mary...I looked at her desperately and there wasn't anything she could do for me at that point. I only had one rail down but it was just poorly ridden and I was disappointed in myself and I felt bad for letting Harry down; he's trying his little heart out!

Career Change

Sometimes we can't fit a square peg into a round hole and it isn't fair to keep trying. This is the truth about Harry and the hunter ring. As much as I love the Hunters, Harry doesn't. After a test run last week and a stressed out, skinny horse who needed a LOT of time to wind down enough to be ride-able, I had come to terms with the jumpers this weekend. And now, having done it, I'm so glad I was gently pushed in the general direction of making my horse happy. I haven't shown the jumpers since...um...1995 maybe? On Lego? In Wisconsin? So, overall it went really well.

1. I don't have to wear a hunt coat! Today was a navy polo...tomorrow might be black...or pink!
2. Harry comes out of his stall and goes to the ring. No prep. No stress. No lunging. It's great.
3. My horse was relaxed and happy!

I did have one slightly scary moment: my trainer made the jumps in the practice ring up REALLY high (higher than I have jumped on Harry until today). And I was more afraid of Mary Lisa than I was of the jump so I put on my big girl undies and cantered on down!

No pictures today, sorry! I was really busy and my mom is here. LOTS of pictures tomorrow, I promise!

LONG Day!

1. This was in southern South Carolina, it was pretty.
2. North Carolina
3. The tackiest place ever in North Carolina
4. Emma, sleeping in the backseat. She is a great copilot!


I'm here! Emma's here! We are all unpacked and settled into our room at the Ocala La Quinta hotel. I've even been to the grocery store already. It was a long drive and I'm exhausted but so glad to be here. I went from Maryland through VA, NC, SC, GA and finally to FL. My friend Rachel was also driving to FL today so she and I talked a lot and kept each other company. I also listened to a GREAT book on my ipod so that helped pass the time too. I'm attempting to be creative for dinner: I bought the ziplock steamer bags for the microwave and ravioli...note to self, add water to the bag or you get ravioli that are more like fried ravioli and not soft and squishy :) I was hungry enough to eat them anyway and have learned my lesson!

LONG drive!

I know it sounds strange but I'm really looking forward to my long drive tomorrow for several reasons. I love to drive and it means I get to listen to a book and catch up with my family on the phone (bluetooth of course). Also, I'm not very familiar with the south of the US. I've flown into many of the cities I'll be driving through but I find that you don't get to see very much of the country from a plane. I'll be driving through Richmond VA, Raleigh North Carolina, Savannah Georgia and Jacksonville Florida...I'll try and take pictures when Emma and I stop for gas.

PS: If you are reading this, anytime between 3:30AM and 4PM tomorrow, East Coast time, I'll be a captive audience...

Back at work

I've been back at school since 6:30 this morning...my computer apparently died yesterday (RIP) and poor Mrs. Firey had to improvise! Working on one of the old laptops is challenging! Florida can't come soon enough ;)

I am tired!

1. That's my shadow, and Harry's. We are standing just inside the track. In the distance you can see the tents where horses are stabled and just on the other side of the track are the turn out paddocks for the horses.
2. Our barn with the ribbons we've won so far. Harry has a few on there :)
3. A perfectly groomed schooling ring first thing in the morning is a beautiful sight. Harry and I made sure to mess that up when we trotted and cantered on it.
4. Harry's pretty little ears as he watched the action...although there wasn't much happening, it was really just us and the birds!


It's 10:45 and I JUST got home. Emma was happy to see me and the laundry has been started. As soon as this load is ready to go in the dryer I am going to bed! Tomorrow we have a Costa Rica meeting at school at 7AM and I know it's going to be hard to get back in the routine for just a few days but I am looking forward to seeing my kids (I hope some of you are reading this)!

This morning I got to the show grounds around 8. Unlike show days it was REALLY quiet. The show is closed on Mondays and not much happens. I took Harry out on a long walk and did a little trot and canter just to stretch his legs. Then, it was tutor time and I put on my "teacher" hat and went to work. The weather was perfect, the sun was shining and it was VERY hard to get motivated to come back to Maryland. I cannot wait to get back to the show on Thursday...and to see my mom and Ron on Friday!!!!!

Whew!

1. Stevie (barn manager Sheryl's dog and one of my favs) after a long hard day in the lounge!
2. The barn aisle in the setting sun.
3. Harry doing what I hope he does a lot of! He's so cute when he's resting. And see, horses DO lie down!


Not as many pictures today...I was busy! I took Harry out for a long walk and light trot in one of the rings first thing this morning and I'm really glad I went out when I did. About 10:30 I started helping with everyone who was showing and I'm pretty sure I never stopped once I started! I must have walked 4 or 5 miles today, no exaggeration!

Now I'm heading out for a much deserved dinner!

For those of you following this: Harry and I won two PINK ribbons yesterday in honor of my mom ;)

Happy Valentine's Day mommy, from Hillary and Harry!

Awesome

Picture 1: Me and Harry hanging out this morning
Picture 2: The main hunter ring, it's BEAUTIFUL here!
Picture 3: The view from Harry's back
Picture 4: Harry's stall (that's him in there)



I'm not even sure where to begin. First, the amazing barn I ride with runs a TIGHT ship at Rolling Acres. From Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson in their 80's to the grooms and the AMAZING trainers, it's truly a team effort. I feel so grateful to be here in Ocala with them.

Callie and I got up and went to breakfast in the hotel lobby (hard boiled eggs to be taken for lunch, for those of you who know me, this is PERFECT). We headed to the show grounds and Callie and I agree that the Florida roads are some of the most poorly marked we've ever seen.

Harry was happy to see me and tired of being in his stall so we went for a long walk around the grounds. This was really an excuse for me to get the lay of the land: the grounds are HUGE and I did a ton of walking. Harry was very happy to hang out and watch the action in the rings. We went back to the barn and tacked up to go for a ride. Harry was his usual mellow, happy self under saddle and I was happy to have my horse after 10 days of not riding. The grounds are amazing and we just wandered for a while before having a schooling session with my trainer Patty.

I had some time so the barn manager put me to work at the pony ring. I got to help two of our kids with their ponies and watch some really lovely ponies and kids in the ring.

Then, finally, it was Harry's and my turn! We were competing in the 2'6 HITS Hunters to prep for the 3ft Adults next week. Harry schooled beautifully(prepared and warmed up) so we headed over and I learned my course for the first round. I'll admit the minute and 30 seconds was kind of a blur...there were lots of things I need to do better...I need to put my butt in the saddle sooner and I need to pull my shoulders back and I need to BREATHE a little bit more. Harry needs to work on just chilling out and understanding that we actually DON'T want him to go fast! His last two jobs: race horse and event horse, often involved going very fast.

Things that were good: the first 3 jumps of all our courses. I kept my eyes up. I didn't throw my body too badly. Harry was NOT a fire breathing dragon. I kept my cool and had a great attitude. Harry jumped ALL the jumps. This is just the list of good things that I remember, I'm sure there were many more...Oh! One more: the purple yarn in his braids!!!! So pretty!

Tomorrow I'm working and will take Harry for a bunch of nice long walks and have a mini-lesson with Patty and watch MaryLisa in the grandprix! Whew!