So, what a blast in Kentucky! Between the rain showers, torrential rain and sparce sunshine, it's kind of nice to be back to blustery plus 16 weather. I still have half of my stuff totally soaked from the monsoon conditions. My trailer has finally dried out, I thought Keira and I were going to contract some mold respiratory condition! Too rainy to keep the windows open as the rain storms were totally sporatic, and I did'nt bring my little heater to try to dry things up.
Well, I know a lot of you have been checking out things on Facebook with some pics I put on there. Glad I had the trusty IPhone to keep you all informed of the exciting activities that have unfolded this week.
It was an uneventful drive down, other than the torrential rains as we crossed the Ohio line into Kentucky. South of Covington there was 2 huge accidents on the North bound lanes of the I-75; glad we were going south! At one point there was about a 15 mile back up, and I could see a plethora of horse trailers that had come out of the Horse Park just sitting in traffic. I felt for them, as it's never fun in a traffic jam, never mind sitting there with a bunch of tired horses, trying to get home!
We had Monday to check out the facility, and all I can say is WOW! Although the whole Park is 1/2 torn apart due to the fact the World Equestrian Games is going to be there next year, if you looked at the big picture, well, there could not be a finer place to have this show. Literally world class, million dollar footing, a climate controlled indoor, and gorgeous stabling (that I would love to have in my back yard!)
Tuesday morning brought brilliant sunshine for our Fourth Level ride. Allie albeit a bit tight; she took a sh*t fit at the guy videoing the rides from the side of the ring, and decided to engage Trakehner brain on me. Well, I think she knew that she'd better deal with it, and after some careful coaxing decided that the guy perched up there with his camera was not going to eat her!
I was quite happy with out Fourth Level ride; probably one of the most mistake free rides I've had with her, although still a hair tense, it was good enough for a top 10 out of 24 competitors, and 6 percent behind the winner.
Medium Canter
The dreaded camera dude in the tower!
So we had the 3rd Level Championship ride on Tuesday afternoon. Thinking that the sky was looking a tad threatening, I donned my tacky top hat cover, and made the almost 10 minute ride to the dressage ring from our stabling. Not 5 minutes went by, and the heavens opened up, so bad that I stopped to ask one of the stewards if top hat covers were legal in the ring, and it started to rain harder. I let Allie put her rear end towards the rain, and let her lower her head. This did nothing for keeping my tack and show clothes dry, but we sat out the driving rain, shook ourselves off, and proceeded to the warm up.
By the time I was ready to enter the ring, there was brilliant sunshine again. I was a bit freaked out not being able to get Allie into this dressage ring......it's kinda funky with a plastic lattice work around the perimeter, but surprisingly she did'nt mind.
We went into our Third Level Championship ride with determination, and put out a smooth flawless test with definition of transitions and accuracy! The flying changes that I have struggled with came out with clarity and expression! Even if I did'nt place, I was very happy with the quality of this ride. I thought at the time this was one of our best efforts yet. Little did I know out outcome. With a record 32 competitors in the 3rd Level Open Championship from all over the US, and me being the lonely Canadian in the class, I was still sure I had a good shot at at least a Top 10 Honor for this quality of ride.
I returned back to the dressage area for presentations for the 4th Level Championship, very happy to receive a Top Ten award out of the 24 competitors. We'd kinda blown it at Canadians, and this was a sweet redemption. Technically we ended up in Eight Place! As I came back down the hill after receiving my awards, I still did not know the outcome of our Third Level ride. I asked the whipper-in if she knew the Top Ten numbers, and waited a few minutes until she got the numbers of the horses/riders for the Third Level Class. My number was on her sheet, and I proudly returned to the ring for a Top Ten Award! Little did I know the next outcome. I did'nt bother having Keira my groom run way over to the tower to check my score, as I did'nt see the point of finding where I had placed. I was really happy to get a Top Ten! After I received my Ribbon, the Champion and Reserve would receive their awards also. The Reserve Champion was named........no not me.....oh well, better luck next time I thought.......wait a minute......there is still the Champion to be crowned.....it was like sitting in a Bingo hall. Would my number be called next? Nah, I thought. Well was I wrong. The announcer kind of floundered the number, "the 2009 Champion Third Level Open is number 2..9...(oh the suspense was killing me)....8! with a 66.5% score. Bingo, that's me! I thought I was hearing things, until I heard my name officially called up to receive my trophy! Holy crap! Could this be a dream????? No Elaine, you just won a US National Championship!
A big congratulations to Danielle and Twister! Danielle and husband Kyle have only been riding with me for a couple of months. This was Twisters' first ever show, and the first one for Danielle in 8 years. This just shows what good training is all about. A horse that focuses on the rider no matter where they are. Although things got a little shaky outside of the ring with spectators and umbrellas, once Danielle was back in control, things didn't matter. Danielle received a 59% in her Training 1 for second place, and after a pep talk went in the ring riding the "Elaine way" and won with a 65%! Well done.
