we totally ROCKED IT

Holy crap, we did it. We completed *AND PLACED* at our very first event. I am beyond happy with Lucy today, and I am proud of myself too.

Image by Amanda Rains/Red Horse Photography

My one goal today was not to make a fool out of myself. I came away from the day proud to say, "this is MY horse and she ROCKS". I think that's pretty damn good!

We got a super late start because both horses were idiots about loading, UGH. I really cannot believe we are dealing with this crap again. How many hours did I spend last summer working on loading? Ridiculous!! Lucy wasn't as bad as Wind (my friend's mare) but she was not good. They both did get on eventually, though, and we started the drive to Groton, MA (100 miles each way).

We got there about 40 minutes before my dressage time, which was not enough. I had to rush to check in, get changed, tack up, get on, and warm up before my test. If there is one thing I absolutely HATE, it's rushing, but that's what I had to do so we did the best we could. My nerves rubbed off on Lucy a bit :( Also Wind was very keyed up and got loose, and while Lucy kept it together, she was very confused about what was going on. Poor thing.

The test went surprisingly well, though! She was tense but she was a good girl. She was very obedient and really TRIED. I was so happy with her. I talked to her the entire time, which apparently I wasn't supposed to do...woops? :D My score wasn't great at all, but I know what we have to work on.

done with Dressage!

We went back to the trailer, did a tack change, I ditched the wool coat, and my friend and I learned our jumping course. We walked the XC course and went back to the trailer, mounted up, and I did a quick warm up over fences. We went right into SJ, where Lucy promptly refused the very first jump. GRRRR. It was totally my fault; I stared right at it as we approached and I was not there for her. Second time around we did it just fine, and the rest of the course went very well!

We went straight from SJ to XC. She stopped at the first jump on XC but didn't back up at all, so I made her jump it from a stand-still. HA. We weren't penalized for that, YAY! After that, we got in the groove and XC went by super fast! I let her canter about 50% of the jumps but chose to trot up to jumps that I wasn't 100% sure she'd be good over. She ended up being so honest and I really had a fun time. I think she did, too!

(c) Amanda Rains/Red Horse Photography

(c) Amanda Rains/Red Horse Photography

(c) Amanda Rains/Red Horse Photography

(c) Amanda Rains/Red Horse Photography

(c) Amanda Rains/Red Horse Photography

We ended up 4th overall. I am SO proud of Lucy. She started out a little frazzled, but so did I. She pulled it together and really came through for me. I adore that horse, I really do. She has grown up so much and I was just thrilled with her good nature and attitude. Out on XC, I was cantering toward fence 4 and I thought "wow, I'm really doing it. 3 years of work for this day and here we are!" and I almost got a little teary!! Then I was like, SNAP OUT OF IT! hahaha. I was just so pleased that we had a good day.

we had an INCREDIBLE support system. look at all these wonderful people
who came to cheer us on!!

Lucy, me, Wind, and my friend Cassie, who also competed! She had a rough
day, poor Wind was stung in the NOSE by a bee...um OUCH!! Their day
ended abruptly in show jumping because Wind kept shaking her head
and she refused a jump three times. They did go out on XC though, just
to school. The event organizers were awesome about it!

We packed up and headed out, and stopped at Pinkberry on the way home. If you don't know what Pinkberry is, let me tell you:

IT IS AWESOME.

You should go.

trailer door on left, Pinkberry awesomeness on right.

the girls content in the trailer, sharing hay

pink and yellow Davis boots!

 We have video of the XC and SJ phases coming up in the next couple days!!