Academy rider trotting into class

Laurie and Rachel crashed in my room last night, and they didn't get there until after midnight.  I woke up, thinking that they weren't coming, and was going to throw the deadbolt.  That's when I saw the glare of a cell phone.  It was Rachel, who didn't want to stay in the trailer with M & D because they were really bummed out about Woody.  She was so funny, because I think she thought I would be upset that she came with Laurie.  I laughed at her and told her to turn a light on so she could get her stuff out of her bag.  Laurie was in the shower, and I didn't even hear them enter the room! 

They left like ghosts at 5:30 the next morning, and even though Laurie's cell phone woke me up, I soon drifted back to sleep.  When my alarm went off at 6:00, I was surprised to see that they had left.  I didn't hear them exiting the room, either.

My first driving class was the eighth one in, so I got dressed at the hotel and went over in my dress.  And my riding boots, my hose safe from runs with a pair of white socks.  I looked so classy!

Our first class had two entries.  I wasn't aware that there was a pace change at the trot until I was on the track warming her up.  D told me to slow down for the first trot, and then ask for more when they called for the extended trot.  I couldn't get her to walk to save my life! 

Once we trotted into the ring, I had trouble keeping her head straight.  We totally blew the walk both directions, but D said that she was bridled better the second way.  The winning horse wins all the time, so I didn't think I had much of a chance my first time out driving.  Next year will be another story!

As we trotted past the in gate, D yelled at me to keep my knees together!  Damn these stupid dresses!  I might have been earning points had the judge been a male, but of course she was a woman.  Now he keeps teasing me about flashing.  It's not that kind of horse show!  Ya, whatever.  You don't have to wear a retarded dress to sit at the pooping end of a horse!

After waiting around for my second class, I started getting a teeny bit nervous.  There were three horses in the next class.  After we trotted in, I wasn't nervous anymore, because I was concentrating so hard on keeping Blondie bridled and her head straight.  we did a lot better, but we were third out of three.  I need to lean back on the reins and keep better contact on the bit to get her head set better.  I can hardly wait to try again tomorrow!  D even said that he would have placed me 2nd, but he's a little biased.

D mentioned that he's going back to the farm tonight and picking up another horse so I can drive it in the Fine Harness class tomorrow.  Because the buggy is higher off the ground, he also told me to wear pants.  He asked if I had my driving suit, which I do, and I can wear that tomorrow to drive both horses.  Ha!!!  M won't like it, but I sure do!

I'm really happy with my first outing driving.  It's really fun, and I don't have to worry about canter leads!!  Oh, and they just announced over the p.a. that Blondie and I won a free oil change!!  I don't know why; I missed that part.  I'll have to go to the office to find out why.

Oil Change Update - It was a random drawing, and I gave the coupon to Suzie.  It was for a place in Okemos!  Like I'm there all the time...

Jen & Woody in Delaware 2006

The Medallions horse shows started yesterday, and I arrived at the Ingham County Fairgrounds without incident.  I even had time to locate the bookstore at the local mall, where I finally scored a copy of the July Shojo Beat.  I have been having a terrible time getting my hands the this issue of the mag.

Yesterday was for academy classes, and I ran around taking pictures and getting a bit of a sun burn.  I was getting a little nervous about driving Blondie this morning, but I tried not to think about it.  I ran into Roxanne, and it's always nice to see family at the show!  I wish more of you would come and check it out!

When I arrived, M & D were nowhere to be seen.  M finally appeared, and told me she was having a horrible day.  I asked what was going on, and she gave me some really bad news.  They were going to put Woody down later in the day because he was in so much pain and wasn't responding to the antibiotics that they have been flooding his body with.  He hasn't eaten in a week, and has lost 150 lbs.  This really makes me sad.  He was so  fun to rack, and I really learned a lot from him.  The treatment for his arthritis did not go well, and he developed an infection in his hind legs.  The vet thought he might be foundering in all four feet, and he wouldn't get up yesterday morning, and it was decided that it would be the most humane thing to put him down.  This is the hardest part of owning an animal, and my thoughts go out to Jen.