What an amazing weekend! It’s hard to believe how much we crammed into four and a half days, but we did it!
Wednesday started dark and early, but loading was uneventful and we were to the coffee shop shortly after they opened! After a bit of construction, and then some more construction, and then a few more orange barrels, this sign was a welcome sight! A lovely welcome made finding stalls easy.
Bling says it’s exhausting being a show pony, but in no time we were all set up and ready to go!
With everybody all settled in, it was time to explore! We found the arena…it was HUGE! The farm is incredible. Not even the clouds look real….
Bling was still sleepy, but we decided to wake her up with a tour of the facility. She analyzed the flower arrangements very carefully. Little pony, BIG arena!
Then Amy and Callie stretch their legs (and Amy draws her dressage test)
Thursday morning was up early for a dressage marathon! Amy and Callie worked through some tension to really improve by their last ride. All in all they had some very consistent tests and finished with two seventh places and a sixth place ribbon! Anna wasn’t especially submissive either, but she still put in several solid rides throughout the day, earning two fourths and a fifth place at training level, and a second place at first level.
After dressage, we had to hurry and change for the 2 and Under In-Hand Trail class. Enzo went first, but was disqualified for being attacked by flowers 😛 Bling rallied however, and in her first ever in-hand trail class, successfully navigated every obstacle and finished third in a very competitive group!
Friday was a day free of classes, and a great opportunity to relax and get ready for the chaos of halter day. In the cooler morning air, we walked out to the road to get a better view of the welcome sign. Then it was time for baths all around…and we helped Bling air dried a bit after her shower. Bling also learned the finer details of being a show-pony, like begging for lunch (even if lunch happens to be Greek pasta salad!)
And then….it was halter day! Enzo was named National Champion Yearling/Two Year Old Gelding. The girls didn’t place in the massive 6 and Over Mare class, but they sure cleaned up nicely! And Bling placed 4th in the Yearling Filly class.
Then, Anna had to prepare to take her second National Champion title, this time in Open Costume! The Cat in the Hat won’t come back after this one, and unfortunately the photographer lost all the pictures from this class – we were so excited to see the too!! Thankfully a friend got this shot of us waiting to go in.
All in all, we pinned in 10 out of 15 classes entered. Not too shabby!! We have lots to go home and work on, and can’t wait for next year!
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