1. Google maps LIES LIKE A RUG about how long it takes to get there. It said 4 hours one way... it took us 6 hours to get there and 5 hours to get home, including a 30-mile detour since the interstate was a parking lot for miles.
2. Always, ALWAYS pack a fan so your poor horse doesn't melt into a little puddle in the 97 degree heat. Especially when he decides to re-grow his winter coat (that you clipped a week and a half before the show) overnight.
3. If they waive coats, don't wear a coat. Because nobody will care how awesome your new brown Pikeur looks if you pass out and fall off your horse.
Looking fancy is not worth losing consciousness.
4. It's OK that you're competing against a bunch of big fancy warmbloods. Everybody notices the cute Haffie; nobody notices yet another bay Dutch horse (sorry if you have a bay Dutch horse).
5. I apparently cannot remember a dressage test to save my life. Seriously, off course AGAIN?
At least the judge was nice about it...
6. Angry Orchard hard cider now comes in a 12 pack of cans. Epic.
7. I can probably survive a show by myself, but having Fuzzypony there to make sure I had everything together was awesome. She also braids WAY better than I do. And drinking aforementioned ciders alone is probably bad form, so it was good to have someone to drink with. Also, thank you MC for stepping in at the last moment so Fuzzypony could keep me company! :)
8. Thank the volunteers. No seriously, get off your horse and go thank them. It only takes a minute and they really appreciate it! Almost as much as I appreciate them out there in the blazing sun herding cats dressage riders.
9. I need a different white saddle pad. Mine is huge and looks stupid.
10. I will totally take that blue ribbon and run with it, even if there was only one other person in my class.
Also, I won a thing! Even if it's only a coffee chai mug.
LOVE LOVE the brown coat!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Except that it's like wearing an oven.
DeleteYeah totally disagree SUFFER FO FASHION! Brown coat looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteY'all are just cruel. Fashion isn't worth it.
DeleteDamn - that brown coat looks sharp! Fashion for the win :D
ReplyDeleteFine, YOU wear the non-breathing coat in 97 degrees. I'll sit on the sidelines in my shirt sleeves!
DeleteYAY! That brown coat looks amaaaazing. I'm jealous of your chai mug!
ReplyDeleteI'm quite fond of it except that it's so damn hot.
DeleteAnd you too can have a chai mug, probably for a lot less than I paid for that one! ;)
Congratulations on your prize! I liked no. 6 the best ;)
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, another cider lover? Nice to meet you! Here, have a cold one...
DeleteFashion is worth death, but only in the show ring. (Coat looks AHMAZING !)
ReplyDeleteGo for the SmartPak dressage pad in white, then wash it in hot water and dry it. Boom. Haffie sized. Then send me yours. ;)
Fashion is never worth death. Never ever.
DeleteThere are a couple of saddle pads that I'm going to try, but they don't involve washing in hot water. Also, Brego is inheriting mine.
I LOVE THE COAT!!!!! I agree, suffer for fashion. Plus it was new, so you have to wear it.
ReplyDeleteI did have to wear it. For one test. Then it sat in the trailer and looked sad and hot.
Deleteyay congrats!!! also the pics of you looking great in that coat will last way longer than the memories of heat-induced near-death
ReplyDeleteActually I'm pretty sure the memories of heat-induced near-death will last longer. Because nothing is more fun that going down centerline as you realize how light-headed you are and that you suddenly have tunnel vision. ;)
DeleteHaha. "Herding cats." Awesome. I am also looooving the brown coat. I think I need a brown coat. And a green one. And basically all the colors. But whatever, yours is gorgeous and looks so nice with your horse.
ReplyDeleteEveryone definitely needs all the colors!
DeleteCongratulations on the blue!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you for thanking the volunteers - it's so important. :)
Volunteers are amazing and I luff them all!
DeleteLooking sharp, cute horse AND a blue ribbon! I don't think that gets any better :)
ReplyDeleteI think you're right!
DeleteI can almost see the heat-waves in your first video still!
ReplyDeleteThose are totally heat waves.
DeleteThat brown coat is STYLISH. I love it!
ReplyDeleteMe too! If only it weren't so hot...
DeleteNever suffer for fashion. NEVER.
ReplyDeleteAlso. LOL at bay Dutch horses. Paddykins ftw.
AMEN SISTER. FASHION SUCKS.
DeleteAngry Orchard is THE BEST. Expect when Paddy is involved... then Paddy is the best and Orchard is second-best.
ReplyDeleteAnother cider lover! Woot!
DeleteGoogle maps ALWAYS gives the best case scenario traffic situation and than in tiny writing the tiny if there is traffic information which is an average based upon people who leave their GPS location thingy on so Google can watch them like a HAWK. Haet traffic.
ReplyDeletealso YAY you won a thing and look awesome doing it :D
That's the first Thing I have ever won!
DeleteSo jealous of the brown coat. But if I have a brown coat, brown dressage tack, and brown boots... is that too much brown?
ReplyDeleteWELL DONE on the blue ribbon, definitely take it and run!
I see no problem with all the brown. In fact, pretty sure you need a brown helmet!
DeleteOoh, that brown coat is making Paddington look even cuter than he already is! Next time if you get too hot, just drape it over his adorable bum like a cape. I bet it goes smashingly with that blue ribbon, too!
ReplyDeleteOooh, Paddy as a superhero with a cape! I like the way you think!
Delete