Optimum Eventing

Big Cheese yesterday was a fun show and had two noteworthy moments that I am going to brag on. As most know Signed in Ink doesn't always have the best focus on the task at hand and often has squirrel moments, but yesterday he was checking out the surroundings before our first test and when the cow bell rang I felt a shift in him. As soon as he heard the bell I heard him say, alright it's time to go to work, and he went on the bit and it felt like he blocked out the surroundings and only focused on the job at hand. Not only did he do this before the first test but I felt him do it again on our last test. To work he went too, we showed Training Level Test 1 scoring 66.538% placing 3rd, Training Level Test 2 scoring 67.586% placing 1st, and Training Level Test 3 scoring 65.600% placing 3rd.

Jenna & Bailey also came to play and as anyone who has brought along a young horse knows you will have three steps forward and then five steps back in your training. Yesterday had a few steps back, like forgetting to halt and stand still instead of turning sideways at X ;-), but she was still well behaved, did all the things, and stayed in the ring. So definitely a win when it comes to a not quite three (but getting close) year old. They showed Intro A scoring 56.563% taking 4th and Intro B scoring 54.375% taking 5th. For not having this horse for two full months yet and having to be on a green bean I am so proud of Jenna and that she is going out and doing things. It will all come together eventually and they will have a beautiful partnership. For right now Bailey just needs the exposure and mileage without stress and Jenna is doing a great job at that.

Foxberry Farm show was hot yesterday for sure, temperature wise and competition wise. Mary Catherine & Athena smoked it in their Starter CT scoring a 30.88% and jumping double clear to earn 1st and a Foxberry fox! They also showed Training Level Test 2 scoring a 64.820% taking 2nd and Training Level Test 3 scoring 63.80% taking 4th.

Brylee & Phantom of the Opera were also on fire showing Training Level Test 1 scoring 64.80% taking 4th and Training Level Test 2 scoring 65.690% taking 1st. They also flew around a Starter jumper round to bring home 2nd.

Michelle & My Dodgy Endeavor showed Intro A scoring 59.060% to take 3rd and Intro B scoring 62.810% taking 2nd. They also braved the Pre-Amoeba jumper round to bring home 6th. It is so exciting to watch them progress together!

Lu is back in the show ring after a long hiatus called life, she is riding Fortitude and they showed Intro A scoring 60.620% taking 1st and Intro B scoring 61.560% taking 3rd.

What a great show we had at AYDC today! Jenna brought her new baby Bailey and did Intro A scoring a 57.813% and Intro B scoring a 56.875% taking first in both. Not too shabby for only having her since April 24th. And come to find out Jenna thought she was buying a 3 year old but when she looked at her papers to register her Bailey's official birthday is in July, so she is really only 2!

Carley brought her new girl Izzy that she has had two weeks and rode around as a non-compete and this girl has the bestest brain. She took everything in stride.

Lee Ann & Signed in Ink competed Starter CT scoring a 34.063%, jumping double clear and taking 4th, and they showed Training Level Test 2 scoring a 68.276% bringing home a 1st. He was such a good boy at this show and I felt a shift in him in warm-up that he is starting to figure out this showing thing and staying better focused. Our T2 test was the best and most focused test we have ridden and I cannot wait to watch the video. Thanks Jenna/Carley for videoing.

Marketing 101. Same company, same formula, but clearly one of these two products is geared specifically toward horse owners. And more times than not it’s going to work because would you be more inclined to pick up the Absorbine logo that had the horse or didn’t have the horse if you were buying for your horse. 

I want to give a shout out to Carley Johnston for being a brave soul that goes on a wing and a prayer these days. Her personal horse Cas has decided he needs front shoes and life half in a stall and half on turnout because he has thin soles, and this is not something she can offer him. Last time she had shoes on him he kept pulling them off because they have a pond in their pasture. So she had a stand in horse she had ridden only twice before for the AYDC show in March and he was going to be her mount for the GDCTA show as well but his old injury decided he couldn't play anymore. So what did she do, well she bought a horse at the auction on April 4th and brought him to the show. Yes folks she had this horse for a week and brought him to the show. She bravely showed Intro B and Intro C on a horse she has not had time to figure out the buttons on yet and he has not had time to figure out what her cues are. I love that she just goes with it! While she was not happy with her scores I am thrilled for her because she managed to score a 55.937% on Intro B and scored a 49.5% on Intro C when she didn't get the canter one way and got 4-5 strides of canter on the wrong lead the other way. I can see the potential in this partnership because of those scores, where all she saw was the number. When they start to figure each other out they will achieve great things!