Shenanigans - of the Destructive Kind

You might remember last month the post with all the pretty (wet) snow photos. And my comment on the torn neck cover and heavyweight blanket? You do, fabulous. Well before leaving to Texas I dropped the blanket and cover off at the local tack consignment shop, a drop off location for our equine laundering service locally. I used them last spring to clean all my blankets and they did a fantastic job, even doing minor repairs I hadnt asked for for no extra charge. I was eager to drop off the blankets and get them repaired before they got any worse.

Friday I picked them up and inspected them over - they looked great and the laundering service even washed them for me with no charge! I was eager to get the heavy blanket and cover back on Milo, who had been sporting a lightweight blanket over the midweight blanket, and no hood. The temperatures are still dipping into the twenties here overnight, and I didnt want him without his winter-wear for too long. But work kept me away that evening so it would have to wait until Saturday after a six hour cart shift to get the newly repaired blankets back on.

So, what did I find when I got to the barn that evening? Can you guess?

"Are you kidding me?! Well. That's just lovely, Milo," I glared at him leading him out of the stall. "Just lovely."

Thank God he didnt tear completely through the lightweight and into the midweight. But goodness sakes, I just bought that lightweight blanket in September!

Now this is coming from a horse who hasnt even scratched any of his blankets in three years. Last month's "inconvenience" I tried to blame on catching in the stall, the fence, or anywhere. But I think I know who the real culprit here is ...

... Cabo.  You little poop stain.

In all fairness, Milo had a hand in this too. After all, it takes two rotten boys to face fight. 

Ok, well, they aren't rotten. But still!

Milo: anything Cabo can do I can do better!

So, I think I want to move Milo out of the #2 stall. Which makes me sad. I want Milo to be happy and he loves Cabo and Torik, but I can't afford $40 on blanket repairs every other week. This is just ridiculous. There is an empty stall on the other side of the barn, #6 stall, that I could move him into. He would have quiet Colby and old mare Anna. I dont think face fighting or blanket tears would happen from those two. Milo could still see his buddies across the aisleway too. In fact, it might help him get over Torik and Angel leaving the barn...

Here is his current paddock:

And the potential new paddock:

It's a tad shorter at the end with that weird covered thing and the run down to the pasture. I liked that about his current one with it expanding on the end how it does. I really like the stall he is right now as a matter of fact. Good lighting and an easy door (the #6 stall door sticks a bit). But....is that worth blanket repairs?

The turnout schedule will be the same, with the pasture behind the barn being split in two; one for the left side and one for the right side. 

I left a note on the white board for the B.O. to get his opinion on the situation. There are opening in the upper barn too if it comes down to it...but I do prefer the lower barn. Hmpf. 

At least the heavy blanket is cleaned and repaired now...

Agenda-less Riding

I decided after looking at the show roster a second time and discovering that only Open Reining was offered instead of both it and Reining 1st/2nd Year as I had believed I saw, that I was not going to attend the Washington State Finals show coming up here in only a few short weeks. I had been looking forward to going to this particular show since October of last year, and as summer began coming to a close, I was beginning to get very excited for it. This show is the final one of the Washington State Horseman's B System series throughout the state, and it is the "must" event of the season. Everyone goes to it - many locals we have all known and competed against, and even those we dont know from the breed circuits come to vie for one of the many, many buckles offered. Needless to say, my final decision was a little hard to swallow.

Granted, there is nothing physically stopping me from going still, it's not like I "can't" go. Its that I dont see a real need to go. See, as I watched the Open Reiners beautiful runs at this last weekend's show and listened to their fantastic scores, I knew they were a league out of reach from me still. I am happy with where Milo and I have come in only a short span of time working with Sarah, but we are still not at the Open level. Sarah encouraged me saying that she believed I should still go to the Finals show. But why? Spend money on the class cost, the judges fees, the office fees, take time off of work, and pay in gas prices for the haul an hour and a half away. And even if I did haul in the morning-of and save on overnight fees and stall rental costs, would this big-ticket event be worth one class that I didnt feel I had a strong contention placing well in? Basically, a schooling show for me? The experience would be great, but the numbers dont seem to be adding up.

I've been mulling over my decision for the last two days since I finally voiced it, and I am feeling more and more secure about it. In fact, it seems, my agenda-less riding has improved. Suddenly, my horse wants to execute flying lead changes, he spins great, and our lope is continuing to develop nicely (more on this in another post). We feel more straight and connected than only a week ago. The poundage of stress for the impeding show seemed to have improved my riding. No longer am I riding thinking in terms of calendar days left before the "big show". Instead, I'm riding without a calendar, simply trying to improve upon my horsemanship.

In the last two days, I have been able to find connection on the groundwork again, find my left seat bone, and ride much more relaxed and quietly.

It's amazing how an agenda truly effects our outlook on riding. And you know what? I'm not too bummed about my decision, for there will always be another Finals show, and a whole winter series of schooling shows to look forward to now. Yippee!

What to Do...What to Do

So I've been trying to develop my show schedule for the upcoming season, but am having a difficult time of it. The problem is, I want to do too many things, but also feel that some are more for my skill bracket then others. Its rather confusing to explain, as there are many parts to each, but I have to start somewhere so here goes:

I was recommended by Sarah to join the Washington State Horsemen (WSH) through one of their Zone Clubs, Olympic Penninsula Zone (OPZ), then I found a club beneath that Peninsula Performance Horse Associaion (PPHA). PPHA is a new up and coming club approximately one hour away from me, but I have been told they are offering reining on their roster as well as year end and high point awards. Their classes will count towards OPZ and WSH awards as well. PPHA does not have a class list out yet, but OPZ does. Their shows (first in May) are offering Open Reining (towards their's and WSH's Open Reining Year End Award),  Reining 1st or 2nd year (towards WSH Reining 1st or 2nd year award), Novice Reining Reiner to Ride (no year end awards), and the Dave Reaume Memorial Green Reiner (title as OPZ year end award). Follow me so far?

These classes sound fun with lots of options available, as well as WSH points and awards. However, only one of them offer me the ability to ride two handed - the Dave Reaume Memorial. I feel we are not ready to show one handed yet, so basically feel as if entering any of the other classes would be a waste of effort if we arent even good enough to place. Not to mention, none of their classes offer simple lead changes with no point deduction. While a discussion with Sarah about lead changes for Milo has not been made yet, I dont want to put a deadline on this advanced maneuver for Milo.

The plus sides to showing OPZ, PPHA, and WSH however, are their location. With the farthest travel being only an hour and a half away meaning I would not need to stall overnight (so long as the class times allowed) and it wouldnt be a huge spectacle to show unlike....

The Northwest Reining Association (NWRA). In a moment of excitedness, I already sent in my membership fee of $30. So I am a member of the NWRA and am eligible for their Year End Awards. The great thing about this club is that it is NRHA affiliated, and is beginner and intermediate focused. They offer a plethura of beginning reining classes and options, and even offer their own Year End Awards (not approved for WSH points however). So many in fact, I had to really look at each one and determine which ones would be best since I cant enter in all of them. I decided on Beginner A (modified pattern, two reins, simple lead change not penalized), Beginner B (same stipulations as Beg A), and Beginner Horse/Non Pro Rider (two hands ok, simple lead penalized 1 point). Each class offers its own Year End Award. So on classes alone, I am really pulling for the NWRA shows.

Unfortunetly, these shows are two and a half hours away, plus a half hour ferry ride. The ferry alone is about $50 to cross with horse and trailer. These shows would most certainly require me to stay overnight as not only is the travel time larger than the OPZ shows, but my classes are the beginning ones for the day starting at 8am. They are two day shows, the second day a repeat of the first. So basically they pack two shows into one weekend. Which is a plus because that would kill two birds with one stone and reduce how many times I would need to haul up there.

But that makes for a very expensive show weekend. Plus, for Year End Eligibility, you have to attend at least three (full) shows out of the four (six shows total...make sense since one show is really two?). I already know I cannot commit to the show in June as I have a wedding to attend then. But missing the one would still keep me in the running for awards, so long as I could attend each one to follow.

In all reality, the chances of me really being in the Year End Awards are probably slim. I looked at the show results from last year and the winners for those classes were in the 68-70 range. I know I shouldnt beat myself down because it is obvious that each judge judges differently and being a beginner club they could be more lenient. But I still want to make sure my ducks in row for year end awards in case I were to do well. Id hate to do well but not be eligible.

So theres my problem. Attend shows that are geared towards beginner reiners with modified patterns, with the downfall being the cost to attend the shows. Or, attend shows whose classes are higher then my level (or reduce to only the one class), but are closer and would cost less. Boyfriend already says he would prefer to haul to the OPZ shows, but would take me to NWRA shows if thats what I wanted. Oh, and Sarah will be attending the OPZ shows, thats a plus having my trainer right there.

What is your opinion? I wish the NWRA shows were closer then my decision would be made for me! Im also torn because I already paid my membership fee, so I feel like Im obligated to go to those shows or surrender my membership fee. I suppose if I wanted to could try and get the money back, but Id feel like a real boob being as Ive emailed the president, secretary, and show stewards many times for information on the club.

Ugh. Showing should NOT be this difficult.