Kayla's LJay

So, good news, farrier came out and was a lot less concerned about Enrique's rotating feet than I was :P He shifted the angles of the feet a bit, and thinks that should help get things back on track. He wants to see him again in 4 weeks. We are going to try to hold off on shoes for a bit longer and see if this trim work might be enough.

So I need to get riding. A lot. With lots of lunge lessons. Because I need to sit the trot properly. Because I got the Dressage Canada show schedule, and I need to get my act together, so that Enrique and I are somewhat competitive at 1st level!

Here is the list of shows available for me this year:
(any of the bronze shows are schooling shows, the Gold are National/FEI level shows)

March 13-14 Carrots & Cocktails Bronze Show
April 17-18 Carrots & Cocktails Bronze Show
May 1-2 Carrots & Cocktails Bronze Show
May 21-23 Amberlea Dressage Gold Show
June 12-13 CA/ADA Summer Festival Gold Show
June 24-27 CA/ADA National Gold Show
July 15-19 Edmonton Gold Rush Gold Show
July 30-Aug 1 Amberlea Dressage Gold Show
September 16-19 Alberta Provincials/Western Regionals

Obviously I'm not going to do ALL these shows. Because any of the gold shows are about $500-$750 each, by the time everything is done - so definitely not going to be able to do them all. Definitely the 3 schooling shows, because hopefully thats where we test the waters for our 1st level debut. And Costa will be shown training level (assuming I still have the little man). But I need to go to at least 2 Gold shows (probably the two CA/ADA shows, as they are close to my barn) and get 3 scores over 60% to qualify for the Provincials/Regionals.

So I need to devise a plan to get my act together. Sadly, my trainer is going to Florida for 4 months (figures) -after she carries the Olympic Torch on January 20th :P to compete and train down there (up there?) with 3 of her horses, so that leaves me with Costa's trainer. Which actually might not be a bad idea, because she is much more about the rider than just focusing on how the horse is going. She's a very pretty, and correct rider, and well, I've gotten sloppy at some things, so might be nice to have someone yell at me for that for a change :P

But that brings me to my Schedule of Life. Which deserves capitals, because its almost epic :P (and brilliantly organized, if I do say so myself)

Monday;
School from 8-1pm
Work from 1:30-5:30pm
Ride Enrique

Tuesday;
School from 8-12pm
Gym
Lesson on Enrique @ 3pm
(yay slacker day. Probably errand day too)

Wednesday;
School from 8-12pm
Work from 12:30-5:30pm
Ride Costa

Thursday;
Lesson with Costa @ 9am
Ride Enrique
School from 1-5pm
Personal Trainer @ 6pm

Friday;
School from 8-3pm
Ride Enrique
Hang out with friends/social commitments

Saturday;
Work from 8-4:30pm
Gym at lunch

Sunday;
Work from 8-4:30pm
Gym at lunch

So that's not too bad; if I stick to it, I get to the gym 4x a week. I ride Enrique 4x a week, and Costa 2x per week. So not too bad. The trick now is not to burn myself out or exhaust myself, otherwise I do nothing :P

beybladesabre sent me a couple of photos from the show to appease my mother who was most cranky that I didn't take my own camera up :P

Because there's so much to DO beforehand-let alone actually riding your own horse!

I've been called on to help the two younger kids with their ponies, as the assistant trainer will be riding a greenie and can't be there for their warm up. Which means my plans of braiding Rico in the morning need to be adjusted :P So I think I'll braid him Friday night, leave him inside and hope he doesn't rub them out.

My happy dreams of going down to the barn at 830am, loading the horses and being down at the showgrounds by 930 went up in smoke when I read that the younger riders entered the dressage equitation classes, which start promptly at 8am, after the 730 warmup.

So that means that I'll likely have to be there at 5:30am, have the horses (7 of us are going) loaded and everything packed and gone by 6:30am. I'm hoping to get the majority of things packed on Friday, as I really don't function well in the morning.

Then, I'm driving the 4 horse about 30 minutes to the showground, while assistant trainer is driving the 6 horse.

So, because we all know I never remember anything unless I write it down, here's what I need to do and my checklist. Please add anything that I've missed!

-pick up jacket from alterations Friday (a bit last minute, eh?)
-wash white saddle pad
-wash shipping boots
-pack show clothes;jacket, breeches, sweatpants, stock tie, boots, whip, spurs, helmet, gloves and safety pins (I HATE wearing a number around my waist. they're slowly making that practice obsolete, but just in case! then i can pin the number to my saddle pad)
-tack; saddle, bridle, leather halter, cooler, saddle pad
-load the trailer with enough hay to cover the day for 7 horses-so about 2-3 bales, water buckets, a couple of extra halters, book of tests, lunge line and lunge whip
-friday night I have to bathe Enrique, braid him, and then braid Simba and possibly Missy as well-its going to be a long day. I believe I'm fully justified in skipping class ;)


As a little side note that figures well into my life. I got my period. And I KNEW that I would-best time ever, when you're wearing white breeches. But its not like it's because I'm regular either. In fact, I've been 11 weeks without a period because I'm off my birth control pills. But sure as hell, I knew that as soon as I signed up for the show, my period would delay until a couple of days before the show. And because I've been so long without one, its REALLY heavy. I can quite honestly predict my life sometimes; generally anything that can happen to inconvenience me or piss me off happens ;)


Hopefully that's all!

Yup. Show jacket got FedExed to me this morning. It fits, although perhaps a bit snug (I love how horse clothes make me feel like an obese whale. I particularily love how I have to go up 2-3 sizes larger than what I take in regular clothing in order for it to fit everywhere-especially my chest), but definitely doable. I did send it to alterations to see if they could give me an extra inch across the bustline, and am going to pick it up Thursday.
So the show is a go! Saturday, we are heading out by 6:30am to cheer on the younger kids in their dressage undersaddle equitation classes which start right at 8. And then I ride at 10:30, and am the first rider after lunch at 12:30pm. Going to be a LOOONG day though. Last rider from our barn goes at 4:15, so I don't think we'll be back until around 7pm or so...and then get to do it all again Sunday :P (i'm not showing though, as I only wanted Rico to get his feet wet, but I am helping the younger riders with their classes)
Now, I only have to get out there and ride :P
The goal for this show is to make it a possitive experience for him. I'd be happy with anything above 58% and thrilled to death if we make over 65%. But really, regardless of the score, I just want him and me relaxed.