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!!!!!