Maryland Horse Trial @ Loch Moy Derby 9/12?

[Tazzie]

Anybody planning on going? I won't be competing but I am planning on volunteering all day. I might be the scribe or at xc start or jump judging. If Sara Smallwood is the dressage judge then I hope to scribe, I learn lots from her each time.

A few from my barn also might be coming over too.

[Catalina]

A friend of mine who I am trying to lure over to the dark side (;)) will be there for her eventing debut and I will either be there to help her out or I will bring Mark and attempt Training :eek:.

[Tazzie]

Exciting! I love being xc start at the derbies b/c you get to talk to all the people either doing their first event themselves OR their first event with that particular horse. Lots of nervousness and then smiles at the end, plus usually quite a bit of family out for the first time.

[Dr. Doolittle]

Hey Tazzie (and now I KNOW and remember your "actual name", and will use it when I next see you :lol:)

I'm planning to bring a greenbean to his first "cross countryish outing" at the Elementary level--and am trying to arrange to get him out somewhere between now and then (he did his very first x-country schooling at FPP a couple weeks ago), but I am HOPING that Carolyn is scheduling the lower divisions at the END this time--since you are "in the know", do you happen to know??

[LexInVA]

Bumping because it is two days away and ride times are now up!

[curlykarot]

I will be there all day volunteering, most likely playing secretary. Hows the weather look for saturday?

[LexInVA]

Looking good so far but I expect it to be somewhat hot later in the afternoon. Much like it was for the DerbyCross event at LFF. I'm definitely slathering on the SPF 50.

[Catalina]

My friend can't make it, but I told her she was going in November if I had to kidnap her and her horse :lol:.

[LexInVA]

My friend can't make it, but I told her she was going in November if I had to kidnap her and her horse :lol:.

I would imagine you can only fit one of them in the trunk of your car. :lol:

[yellowbritches]

We'll be there. The boss is having a test go on his new ride. The kid and her absolutely adorable pony will be in attendance as well. Our new client is also going to warm up for the fall event season. Actually looking forward to it!

[yellowbritches]

Dr D, the reason I have to drag my ass out of bed early for a schooling show is because YOU don't want to get up early?!?!? grrrrr....

[asterix]

yeah, ditto that, yb. I have a horse going at 8 **$#@*# AM. Apparently Dr. D's fault....

I am so in a state of denial right now...did I really sign up two horses? (yes, practiced the 10 minute warmup I will have if I am lucky on the munchkin today...why the munchkin? Why can't the experienced horse have the 10 minute warmup)...
is my baby horse actually ready for training (apparently, yes, according to him...)?
Is my broken horse really sound? (I keep climbing on, waiting to feel something wrong, but no)

Can I really ride two horses in four phases in an hour and a half?

Can I still ride Training at all after 15 months off?

What am I thinking???

I would say I'll see you all there but I expect most SANE people won't even be there by the time I am pulling out....
eieieieieieiei
:eek:

[Dr. Doolittle]

Dr D, the reason I have to drag my ass out of bed early for a schooling show is because YOU don't want to get up early?!?!? grrrrr....

:lol:

Don't know whether I have THAT much pull with Carolyn, but she and I are of a "similar age", so are able to relate to that menopausal thing...maybe she is willing to cut me (and her other kindred spirits) some slack as a result ;) Though she DID say that she never got to "enjoy" those wretched hot flashes. Damn her! (yb, just wait 25-30 years, get back to me, and I'm betting you will then say, yeah--I would trade getting up early and being young for being old and broken down and never sleeping well and chronically feeling like crap--BUT getting to sleep until 8:00--in a New York minute ;)) Don't worry, I'm sure she'll switch it up the next time (when it will no doubt be FREEZING in the morning, for the early bird divisions.)

I'm just thrilled that I will finishing up *after* 1:00, for a change, so that I can enjoy a beer without guilt afterwards! :D


Good luck to everyone, and it looks like we'll have some great weather.

[asterix]

so are you saying that I can't have a beer at 9:50, when I am done? :D

I think I will deserve one, no matter the outcome. You'll have to have one for me...

[Dr. Doolittle]

yeah, ditto that, yb. I have a horse going at 8 **$#@*# AM. Apparently Dr. D's fault....

I am so in a state of denial right now...did I really sign up two horses? (yes, practiced the 10 minute warmup I will have if I am lucky on the munchkin today...why the munchkin? Why can't the experienced horse have the 10 minute warmup)...
is my baby horse actually ready for training (apparently, yes, according to him...)?
Is my broken horse really sound? (I keep climbing on, waiting to feel something wrong, but no)

Can I really ride two horses in four phases in an hour and a half?

Can I still ride Training at all after 15 months off?

What am I thinking???

I would say I'll see you all there but I expect most SANE people won't even be there by the time I am pulling out....
eieieieieieiei
:eek:

Poor asterix (and since you are closer to my age, you get more sympathy from me :winkgrin:)

The answers to your questions are: Yes, you signed up two horses for the same event, at the same level.

Why can't the experienced horse have the short warmup? Them's the breaks, and Piko has had more "time off", so may actually *indeed* be the one who will NEED the longer warmup.

Is the "baby horse" (note quotations marks, for sarcastic emphasis) ready for Training? Well, according to the Woff, he is "toying with Novice questions" in clinic settings, and according to "you" is toying with Novice questions in competition (and during schooling), and skipping merrily through some toughish T questions. So I'm thinking "yes." And didn't Carolyn promise that there would be NO Trak on the T course this time?

Is the "broken" horse really sound? Yes, and you know that you would NOT be doing this with him if there were even a *shadow* of a doubt.

Can you ride two horses in 4 phases in an hour and a half? Yes, but it will be tough; perhpas you can "channel Philip Dutton", but then again--it's really "two phases in one", so it's more like "dressage" and then "x-country/stadium". And only one course to memorize per phase! For both horses! (There are no stadium schooling rounds available, per Carolyn, since her stadium CD is still dealing with the fallout from the tornado at his farm :()

Can you still ride Training after 15 months? :rolleyes: YES! Please...You give yourself insufficient credit. Just expect Piko to have a rails at one of the stadium "sticks", and Rafferty to go "OOH! That's a big 'un!" on the approach to a couple of the log oxers. Otherwise, you and they will rock.

And too bad for you that it will be too early to "crack a cold one" afterward, since you will both need and deserve one! Good luck to you and your boys, and we will be expecting a full report afterwards...

[Dr. Doolittle]

Well, it's always 5:00 o'clock somewhere, as they say :D

Gotta go, the Steelers are driving down the field against the Titans, husband is snoring upstairs, and must watch game to the end, cause the damn man forced me into being a Pittsburgh fan...:sigh:

[patterson]

Big cheer for Team Asterix from New York City...

[pharmgirl]

so are you saying that I can't have a beer at 9:50, when I am done? :D

I think I will deserve one, no matter the outcome. You'll have to have one for me...

Instead of a beer, how about either a bloody mary or a mimosa? :D

[asterix]

rain, rain go away :(
I have no stud holes -- didn't want to be tempted to run rehab boy in the mud and the young'un on questionable ground.
Now I am kicking myself.
Someone tell me footing'll be fine...

(and Dr D, he is still SUCH a baby, I can justify calling him that. He'll probably jump the big lox oxer just fine and goggle at the white plan stadium fence, trust me).
Carolyn told me NO trak and NO ditch and wall. I am so not ready for the ditch and wall...

have fun on your elementary baby!!!

[Tazzie]

Can't wait to see you all tomorrow, especially Dr D on a new horse!

We have 2 judges, Kim Murphy and Sara Smallwood. I'll be the scribe for Sara, so say a quick hello if you get a chance.

I love these little shows, so much fun and so much to learn for horses and riders. And so laid back! I hope everybody has a fun time and comes away happy!

[Dr. Doolittle]

rain, rain go away :(
I have no stud holes -- didn't want to be tempted to run rehab boy in the mud and the young'un on questionable ground.
Now I am kicking myself.
Someone tell me footing'll be fine...

(and Dr D, he is still SUCH a baby, I can justify calling him that. He'll probably jump the big lox oxer just fine and goggle at the white plan stadium fence, trust me).
Carolyn told me NO trak and NO ditch and wall. I am so not ready for the ditch and wall...

have fun on your elementary baby!!!

STOP WORRYING!

This rain is supposed to stop, and it will have cleared out by tomorrow (and will be sunny), and the ground has been *rock* hard and dry; I'm sure it will suck it all in! The only time that I've ever seen the footing even the slightest bit slick at a Short Course event was the time it rained most of the day "of" the event. (I decided to *not* school cross country afterward on my barefoot horse--and Carolyn, being accomodating as ever--gave everyone the option of doing 2 stadium courses *instead* of the Short Course, so that's what I did.

(And they have never had the ditch and wall on the Short Course, but often DO have the Training Trak on it. So you lucked out this time ;))

Tazzie, since you are right down the street from Loch Moy, maybe you can give us a quick report on the footing conditions tonight!

(I will be riding a little black horse, who spooked and knocked me on my ass 10 days ago, bruising my sacrum. :( I'll be the one trying to ride a dressage test in 2 point :lol: I need to find a seat saver with a "shim pocket" for an ice pack...)

[asterix]

ok, ok, ok, i will stop worrying. any moment now.

have you tried arnica on your sacrum? ow!

I will provide my own worrywart footing report as I have got to get over there today to walk the course, since, yeah, my faux upper-level multi-horse schedule does not allow for it tomorrow....

[Dr. Doolittle]

ok, ok, ok, i will stop worrying. any moment now.

have you tried arnica on your sacrum? ow!

I will provide my own worrywart footing report as I have got to get over there today to walk the course, since, yeah, my faux upper-level multi-horse schedule does not allow for it tomorrow....

Good girl ;)

Yes, I have actually been using Arnica since it happened; popping the pills (I have the gel, too--but the area is, er, kind of "hard to get to", plus it's a bone bruise, as opposed to soft tissue.) I'm probably going to have to go back to the chiro again today, since once one thing is at all screwed up, it tends to screw everything else up. I'm sure I'll be fine to "muddle through" an Elementary course tomorrow and do an adequate job...

Please give us your feedback on how the footing looks up there after walking the course tonight, if you would! I suspect it will be perfect for tomorrow...You know it's relatively short (and untimed), so that takes some of the pressure off. ;)

"Faux upper-level multi-horse schedule" :lol: Love it!

[Tazzie]

Tazzie, since you are right down the street from Loch Moy, maybe you can give us a quick report on the footing conditions tonight!

Will do!

[LexInVA]

I just hope it's not a smooshie mud puddle tomorrow. Rain is highly probable in the next few hours and this evening.

[Dr. Doolittle]

Latest forecast indicates rain leaving the area (it's moving off to the Northeast), and just some random light showers possible tonight, clearing tomorrow, but with a cloudy sky.

Says the "weather guru". :cool:

Methinks the hard ground will suck it all eagerly up like a college student on a Margarita.

[Tazzie]

Methinks the hard ground will suck it all eagerly up like a college student on a Margarita.

Very funny, luckily very true! :lol:

[yellowbritches]

Instead of a beer, how about either a bloody mary or a mimosa? :D
That's how MY family certainly thinks! :lol:

I think the boss' horse is the first ride of the day, and since I've been working none stop for almost three weeks now- and we won't talk about the fact that things tried so hard to go disasterously bad while the boss was away- (day off Monday...hopefully), I think it is only fair that I get to whine a little about having to leave the barn at 6:30...which means up at 5, at the latest.

My mantra- at least I don't have to braid, at least I don't have to braid, at least I don't have to braid..... And then I try not to think about the fact that I have to braid 5 horses next weekend and I seem to need an orthopedic surgeon for BOTH my hands....sorry....I'll stop whining now.

asterix, the boss' horse isn't drilled and tapped either, so you guys can start a club. Footing should be lovely...right??

[FrittSkritt]

And then I try not to think about the fact that I have to braid 5 horses next weekend and I seem to need an orthopedic surgeon for BOTH my hands....sorry....I'll stop whining now.


Recount! I'm braiding my guy, and if the Big Fat Horse's mom does him, then you're only doing three. :D Right?

[yellowbritches]

Recount! I'm braiding my guy, and if the Big Fat Horse's mom does him, then you're only doing three. :D Right?
Vernon, Rhys, Zeke, Alfie, and the Big Fat (who is rapidly losing weight and looks quite good right now) Horse.

[asterix]

YB, the boss and I must be going in parallel -- I am riding at 8 (so stop complaining, I live in dc, must get up at 4 and dog had the runs all night last night, getting us up every 2hours....)

sigh.

Anyway, as promised, the footing report.....
drum roll....

it's actually really good. You "like a college girl on a margarita" folks were right.
It's not AT ALL muddy. If anything it's still a little hard underneath the grass, so one might miss studs for THAT reason, but not for the muck.

We're on! I did have a minor course, er, suggestion for Training which makes it a bit more friendly, and it looks big for the baby but very inviting.

I also met a COTH lurker who figured out who I was in about 2 minutes. Guess I talk too much.:D
HI lurker! Sorry we parted ways, hope you liked your course!!
Good luck tomorrow....

[LexInVA]

That's good to know. I just hope it's not too unpleasantly hot tomorrow. I don't want to be fried and unable to do anything on Sunday.

[Dr. Doolittle]

Thanks for the report, asterix! I hope you were at least somewhat reassured ;) Told you so, BAHAHA.

I'm wondering who the "lurker" was who you ran into at Loch Moy? I know it was not "my" lurker :D, who will actually be riding in the JW clinic at Waredaca tomorrow. In the T division. And her horse just recently bumped up to N! :eek: (I advised her NOT to allow JW to put her green horse at the Intermediate Trakehner...)

Fritt, surely you are joshing about the braiding thing. POOR yb! She has enough on her plate, fer Pete's sake! And poor asterix; though you board closer to Loch Moy, that trip from D.C. has got to be a bitch. Ugh! (At least there will likely be NO traffic at the ass crack of dawn.)

My back is now hurting, in addition to the sacrum (so am taking Robaxin, drinking wine, sitting on heating pad for mid back, ice pack for sacrum, popping Arnica, etc.) I did ride the boy today, briefly (and gave a half lesson on him; he threw a shoe on Wednesday, so hasn't been ridden since Monday), and the farrier *finally* got to the barn at 7:15. Was REALLY late (and was, in fact 10 days late to re-shoe him in the first place--hence the lost shoe :()
Wow, I was in a considerable bit of pain when I was A) walking, B) doing transitions. Trotting and cantering were no problem. Luckily, this horse is pretty much push button for me, so I am not expecting that there will be any issues tomorrow. Let's hope he doesn't peek at anything on our "6-10 jumping efforts" Elementary course :lol: This will be his very first w/t/c dressage test, but I'm sure he will be good--as he always is in the dressage ring--at least at these baby levels. I hope the judge is forgiving of my "wincing" through the transitions! Ha! Wish me luck, and this crap of being so F**ed up (in spite of taking the best possible care of my health) is growing tiresome.

I LIVE for Brett Favre, since he is my "symbolic hero"; I consider him a lucky charm, and his career moves "a sign". IOW, Should I just give this up, or do I have more in me?!? :sigh: Thank goodness for that beer thing. (And then there is always Mark Todd...;))

Anyway, and yes--for Lex, the high tomorrow is supposed to be in the low 70's, and not much sun, so no worries!

[asterix]

I loff mr asterix. I described what we are doing tomorrow (although perhaps I have glossed over the part where he will bring horse B to dressage for me to leap, Phillip Dutton-like, from horse A to horse B with nary a moment to waste, leaving him to cart horse A back to the trailer...:lol:)...and he said..."cool! Maybe when we are done I can take my horse around the BN course!"

Have I trained him well or what?

Dr D, perhaps a gentle diet of mimosas tomorrow morning will be just the ticket! Straight center lines are overrated anyway...

[Dr. Doolittle]

I loff mr asterix. I described what we are doing tomorrow (although perhaps I have glossed over the part where he will bring horse B to dressage for me to leap, Phillip Dutton-like, from horse A to horse B with nary a moment to waste, leaving him to cart horse A back to the trailer...:lol:)...and he said..."cool! Maybe when we are done I can take my horse around the BN course!"

Have I trained him well or what?

Dr D, perhaps a gentle diet of mimosas tomorrow morning will be just the ticket! Straight center lines are overrated anyway...

:lol: :lol:

To ALL of the above. And good for mr. asterix :D

Nice to know that you WILL have some help (and there is NO help as reliable as family; mostly because they KNOW they will have to live with you afterward :winkgrin: Nice to hear that he has that "shared passion thing" going on...) MAYBE I will see you tomorrow (you are still UP?!?), if not, GOOD LUCK!

And really, there can never be enough booze available at these things...;)

[asterix]

not still, AGAIN.
getting ready to leave.

[yellowbritches]

Boss learned A LOT about his new horse and is glad we did this "test run" prior to an actual outing.

The "Big Fat" horse WON. He and his mommy got a 29.5!!!! She has never scored below of 35, and when we went to tell her her score, she cried a little. :winkgrin: That is a VERY nice verification that our "program" works. :yes:

The kid and the pony had a lovely day and met all her goals (getting him more bent and forward and dressage, riding forward and assertively, and GETTING HIM IN THE WATER!!!). She learned a lot about why being assertive and aggressive and he totally rewarded her for it. :cool:

Fun fun!!

[LexInVA]

Whee!

[asterix]

hah! Red is green and black is white. Topsy turvy day for the big ponies. Arrived at dressage warmup with the rusty horse as previous rider is doing her test. :eek:
Yeah, so, in case you were wondering, yes, it is helpful to have more than 2 minutes warmup. (what can I say, we got up at 4:15 but horses were hard to find in dark 70 acre field and trailer tires needed more air than I thought).
Big horse, usually lovely in dressage, finally felt warmed up by end of test. :eek:
Oh well, I know we can do dressage. Went out on xc feeling super rusty all around and did not ride hard enough to fence 4, which was the biggest question on course (upright bench 2 strides before water...one more nice simple xc fence prior to this would have been a nice idea...). He never loved this sort of question and put in a totally preventable stop. Grr! Also gave a massive peek and slither at the drop into water (also not his favorite, are we sensing a theme?)

We both felt SO rusty - -but that's what this outing was for, that's ok.

Meanwhile, mr asterix has discovered that they are allowing only one horse on course AT A TIME due to having one jump judge ....total...so he volunteers to jump judge (after having volunteered already to be starter when that person was awol -- sick -- delaying start). He later tells me 70% of the training horses had a stop at 4...

This makes me double super extra proud of the munchkin, who rocked the house and finished on his dressage score to win his first outing at Training level (ok, so it's a short course, but, hey, I got a blue ribbon!).

I was very pleased with him in dressage -- some things are a work in progress at this level and he did decide to just gift himself a 4 by pooping (in extra slow motion) during his free walk (judge said, just bad luck, nothing to do)...but the judge really liked him and said he was "correct" :D

And then he went out and just was a total champ about jumping around the course. I am tickled pink!!!

I have to apologize to anyone who was in the first group of Novice riders -- I held you all up to jump because there were 5 rides total between my horse #1 and horse #2 -- not enough time to untack/cool out/stash horse/tack up new horse/ warmup!!!! The plan was to have mr. asterix be waiting with horse #2 at warmup...but...yeah...he was jump judging...

so they had to hold everything up for me, and I'm really sorry. I didn't realize that was what they had done and tried to do the shortest possible warmup (which was a bit nervewracking while 20 grumpy novice peeps sat around watching me with some pretty obvious pique...)

and then we got home and mr asterix went off to watch the JW xc clinic. What a husband!

[Dr. Doolittle]

Ah, asterix; thanks SO much for the comprehensive (and hilarious) report. ("Pooping in slow motion" :lol:...This is ONLY a good thing when you have a horse who wants to run through the bridle, hollow, and lock their back: NONE of which are possible when in the process of pooping! :winkgrin:) And I think the delayed Novice folks will "get over it." (At least will have to "get used to it" if they ever compete against Boyd, Philip, et al. ;))

It sounds like even though you had (essentially) NO warmup, both you and the boys stepped up the plate. And yeah, a "tune up" was exactly what this was--also, a "test" for the Munchkin--which he passed with flying colors, apparently; and congrats on the first place!! :D Playing in the big leagues, now. And no problems with the T Trak?? As for Piko, it seems that he just needs a refresher course in that "trusting the rider implicitly and staying in front of the leg thing". Good thing he has a depth of good experiences to draw from. And now you know where you need to "kick on and encourage" him more when you do your first few HTs after his layoff. IF Her Majesty comes back (still in question), I will have to address that too. Though she tends to want to "take over and do it HER way, thank you", so I will have *that* particular work cut out for me. ;) But this is IF she comes back...

As for the volunteers, yoiks! Good for mr. asterix for stepping up to the plate: damn! I have to give a shout out to Tazzie, who is the VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE for Carolyn, and is just the bomb, period. Very gracious and tireless, and there should be more folks like her...And mr. asterix has surely been "sucked into the vortex" if he went BACK for yet more punishment, and watched the JW clinic! (According to my lurker, who rode in the T group, it was a good clinic; and Jimmy managed to contain the glint in his eye, and tested the riders in the Training group over "only appropriate questions" ;))

In spite of the fact that my back went into spasm this morning, forcing me to stretch for 30 minutes and scream and cry in order to become moblie and upright (and thanks to Mr, Dr. D for putting elbows into my back, heating up gel packs for me, packing cooler and truck, etc.), I did manage to get out the door, drive to the barn, hook up (I had an ice pack on my sacrum AND a hot pack on my mid back while I drove, both to the barn *and* on the way to Loch Moy--plus several drugs on board--while sucking down Arnica), and get there in time for my ride. Thank GOD for late ride times :p And tons of help from both the horse's owner and another student who accompanied me; bless them! (It is SO much appreciated, especially when one is impaired, and simply is unable to do everything oneself...) So the boy warmed up extremely well for dressage, and put in a LOVELY, LOVELY test for me, even though I was unable to really use my seatbones (and which was under-rewarded, IMO...:() And I actually NEVER say this, but oh well. Judge had NO comments under the collectives, and simply said, after the test, that "the canter could have been more forward, and had more 'jump'; the horse was SO submissive, that you SHOULD/COULD have asked for MORE!" :confused: This was BN A, and was his FIRST EVER w/t/c test! OY! He was perfectly wonderful, though, and so great and consistent and rythmic and obedient and round and responsive and non spooky, and basically just a dream. I am SO NOT used to this :lol:...I was happy enough to get my score of 35--which deserved a score in the 20's IMO, and I am used to being scored better than I feel I deserve! (Though it was ungenerous, it was fully 9 points lower than the next closest score in my division, which was filled with actual green horses who were mostly doing "giraffe impressions"), and then we had to wait FOREVER to jump around the short course, mostly because the lower level horses/riders A) had a bunch of issues (not surprising), and B) trotted or even WALKED over the course. :lol: They are VERY patient and accomodating at Loch Moy, which is why it's such a great experience for green horses *and* green riders! I especially liked the "optional water crossing" (which I took FULL advantage of, since the boy is still a little :eek: at the water--this was his very first actual outing, after a sum total of two schoolings over baby logs!), and there was NO penalty for attempting it and not "getting them in" the first time. I did manage to cajole him into "getting his feet wet", and he managed to squirm his way through the left side, INSIDE the white flag--but his eyes were HUGE at all the different things to look at around the water, so oncehe was all freaked out by this, he then went :eek: at the next wee log and did his "Bambi impression", but I just spanked him on and cajoled him forward--he kept the feet moving and popped over that log, and then the next log, and the next (tried to worm his way sideways each time, put I put my left spur into him and kept him going forward), and he actually (kinda) galloped up the hill between jumps 4 and 5. Whee! Then more peeking at surrounding stuff, and more "you can DO this" encouraging (and insisting) from me, verbally, and with every natural and artificial aid available--and amazingly, he managed a "clear" round. :lol: It just reminded me of how much work it is to give the greenies their first confidence-building experiences--though of course very, very rewarding, and big fun--but thank goodness for beer and heating pads and more Robaxin afterward. (Which reminds me, I need to take more ibuprofen, since it has been 8+ hours. ;)) Anway, we won our division, sorta by default (and generous jump judges); out of 7 in our division, 3 were "E"ed on x-xountry! Almost a win by default. But the owner was thrilled (as was I, since I did all the basic training on this guy :)), and now I have to figure out how I can get him out to more x-country outings. I don't think he will be ready in time for Rubicon (to go BN) :(, and after that, the half leasor will be back to riding him every weekend, so that will mean no more competing by me. (DANG! He is so nice, and so sweet.)

Anyway, congrats to yb's student, and of course to asterix! :D

As usual, a great event, and I don't know why Carolyn can't get more loyal volunteers. Tazzie is a candidate for sainthood, BTW! If I am able to (and have no students riding), I will volunteer for the next one.

[asterix]

congrats, dr d!!!

hmm, no comments under the collective, scored a bit ungenerously...judge wearing dark glasses, blonde? (Tazzie was scribing). That would be my judge.

mr asterix got to see the N/BN group not the T group, but they all looked sufficiently challenged but not overfaced when I saw them.

:D

Yeah, it's funny what sticks and what doesn't after lots of time off. The water thing we had totally worked through (as evidenced by his confident go through the very tough prelim water at MCTA last spring), but it was his biggest bugaboo and we had not touched it on our one outing to date except to jump in over a little log...

He also just felt sort of unfocussed, not in a green way, but in a, wow don't remember where all the pieces are. That's fine, it's been 15 months. We'll both be better next time.

No Training Trak, Dr D!!! After today I suspect the munchkin would have jumped it better than Piko (who lists ditches only second to jumping into water as his least favs), but I had asked Carolyn ahead of time as I did not feel ready to give either a confident ride to a fence I hate :D

Your timing may have been affected also by the delay at the front of the day. I was supposed to ride Piks at 9 am xc-- by 9:30 no one had gone out at all as there was no starter...and then they sent Yb's boss out alone (and he took, er, the slow route around:lol:) bc of the one jump judge thing. So they didn't get me, horse #3, out until something like 40 minutes late. Then the munchkin and I held up Novice for I don't know how long (but let's hope not more than 5-10 mins)... so they were behind from the get go

[Tazzie]

I hope everybody had a good time overall. Thanks to everybody for dealing with our little "glitches". These derbys are still a work in progress, but the overall idea is to be laid back and have fun along with the most important - be safe. Thanks to Mr Asterisk, he was so very nice to help out!!!! and I can guarantee all you competitors that I do have a plan to make sure that xc runs smooth and quick at the next 2 Derbys and the unrecognized. No guarantees, but I promise to be trying 110% percent!

Thanks to the kudos from Dr D, I love this facility and I love Carolyn, who I can honestly say wants to do right by everybody, and often stresses herself out trying to please everybody, which we all know is never possible. But she never stops trying!

I had great fun scribing in the morning with Sara Smallwood for the Training division, then working the xc in the afternoon.

On that note, Mike Smallwood (who became xc start at the last minute, his first time at that job and I think he did great!) took a bunch of photos and added them to the MDHT Fan Page on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.php?aid=101943&add=1&id=119361391733#/pages/Frederick-MD/The-Maryland-Horse-Trials-Loch-Moy-Farm/119361391733?v=photos

Hopefully the link works, it's my first time trying. I'd love it for riders to tag themselves and, if you feel like it, add any comments you'd like on who you were riding and your day was.

Here's looking forward to the rest of the MDHT season in 2009!!!

[asterix]

It did work! Tagged and commented, very cute picture of the munchkin tackling fence 2. He looks so game!!!
Mike did a great job, very encouraging and relaxing :winkgrin:

[yellowbritches]

and then they sent Yb's boss out alone (and he took, er, the slow route around:lol:) bc of the one jump judge thing.
Yeah. Sorry about that. :winkgrin: We only kinda comprehended the one jump judge thing when he left...I don't think he realized it at all. We were grateful for the schooling opportunity, though.

[asterix]

I wasn't complaining -- I don't imagine he realized it either and it shouldn't have made him alter his ride plan or anything... ...but it was funny, because when they told us one horse at a time he was about half way around...and not going very fast, and mr asterix took one look at that and said to Carolyn, well I don't want to be here all day, so if you need more jump judges, count me in! :lol:
(little did I realize it wasn't that he was sick of horses, just that he needed to rush back to see the JW clinic..;))

[hopefultb]

Hi ~ I am the lurker who ran into asterix on Friday night... I have come out of the shadows.

Asterix - It was nice to run into someone there. Since I had never been there, I didn't feel so lost at the beginning thanks to you. (It was also funny how I figured out who you are. I obviously spend way too much time reading on here!)

This was our first outing together in the big boys field. Going BN, we ended up being E because of refusals. He just likes to canter up to the jump, stop, look at the fence, then go over from a dead halt. I think we just need mileage, but if anyone has any suggestions, I am open to just about anything. Once he gets over it one, he is fine. I know that if we could have gone a second time, it would have been clear and smooth.

Other than the E, it was a good day. I really enjoyed Loch Moy and I am looking forward to going back. This is my first time back at eventing after 5 years. I had forgotten how much fun it is! I'm looking forward to our next event.

[asterix]

hi hopeful!!! Thanks for posting!!!

I don't have any good advice except that my young horse was a lot like that -- didn't stop at every fence but anything funny looking deserves a good look first and then, once conquered, is a non-issue.

What helped for us was lots of schooling and just generically getting him in front of my leg, all the time.

[hopefultb]

I was afraid that would be the answer. I am a pretty patient person, but I think my boy has taken me to the edge. 4 years to be comfortable at a dressage show... I hope it won't take that long for XC. He does likes to jump, so maybe this will come faster. I guess our problems are the ones only mileage can fix... (at least that is the trend).

[asterix]

well, don't get depressed on my account -- god knows I am no expert, with the grand total of one green horse under my belt. :lol:

Now that you are posting (congrats!), you could start a thread asking for suggestions for your guy -- as you probably know, there are lots of folks on here who have a real depth of experience with bringing horses along!!!

[curlykarot]

As usual, a great event, and I don't know why Carolyn can't get more loyal volunteers. Tazzie is a candidate for sainthood, BTW! If I am able to (and have no students riding), I will volunteer for the next one.

It is VERY hard to get volunteers for these unrecognized derbies. I'm not sure why but it is especially hard when those who usually volunteer can't show up due to prior commitments, sickness etc. So if you are free, please step up and volunteer - these shows don't last all day (we were done by 2:30 - 3pm at the latest) and it is a BIG help.

I was the dressage steward all day and then did some xc start for about the last 10 riders. Dressage was actually entertaining due to the cool temps and the breeze that got some of the ponies a bit frisky!

[FrittSkritt]

Vernon, Rhys, Zeke, Alfie, and the Big Fat (who is rapidly losing weight and looks quite good right now) Horse.

Oh durh. Forgot about Vernon. (I know, who could forget Vernon?!)

BFH can be BKFBLWRH (Big Kinda Fat But Losing Weight Rapidly Horse)

[Tazzie]

Attn Asterix - please see the newest photo on the MDHT Facebook Fan page that Carolyn was very excited to have me upload last nite. :D

[asterix]

OH MY GOD.
That is too funny. I have to say it never crossed my mind that my, ahem, PRELIMINARY horse would have such a heart attack at a little drop into water. I hope I was looking up originally :lol: but at this point in time I seriously thought we would end up head first in the drink.

I wish I was WFP, steadily head up as his horse topples straight down into the Head of the Lake, but, alas, I am not.

The silly horse will get some serious water play before going out. 15 months off does not equal a brain wipe. At least I hope it doesn't.

Clearly my horse is too big --I don't see how I could hold the reins at all and NOT end up in such a comical position....

[toeknee]

omg! that picture is great:) it is like a slowmo of him wanting to see if the water was warm before getting in! too cute!

[asterix]

slomo is right. It took him what felt like 45 seconds to sink, slowly, slowly, slowly, into the water, which apparently had tiny little invisible sharks in it. :lol:

[Dr. Doolittle]

Why am I unable to find this infamous pic?!?

Argh! I re-clicked on the same link (they must have taken more pix earlier in the day, so as to get TWO of asterix on different horses :winkgrin:), but didn't see this "extra slo mo drop into water" shot...

Poor asterix; I'm sure the Big Man will figure it out (and will "reboot" his memory banks) after another outing or two...

Also, does anyone have a link to the website of the photogs who were taking pix? The owner of the horse I was riding (and I) would love to see whether they got anything good.

[Tazzie]

Dr D - they don't have a website. They had photos to show that day that you could order, and I saw them handing out business cards with an email address. Maybe we can get their info from Carolyn.

[Dr. Doolittle]

Dr D - they don't have a website. They had photos to show that day that you could order, and I saw them handing out business cards with an email address. Maybe we can get their info from Carolyn.

Okay, I did get a card, but gave it to the student who was helping me. I hope she kept it!

I still want to see the photos of asterix's Big Man, though, if anyone would share the link ;)

[Tazzie]

I still want to see the photos of asterix's Big Man, though, if anyone would share the link ;)

Lee - see if this link works for you :)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2460403&id=119361391733&ref=mf

[asterix]

Trust me, it's worth it :D
Tazzie, I'd love the info on the photog -- didn't realize I had to look at them on the day of and, you know, perhaps they caught us at a better moment somewhere out there....:lol:

[Tazzie]

Ok, finally got the info I wanted, the photographer was Mike Uzil and wife, and their email is mbuzil@yahoo.com. Feel free to get in touch with him, he and his wife were very nice to talk to last Saturday.

[Dr. Doolittle]

Trust me, it's worth it :D
Tazzie, I'd love the info on the photog -- didn't realize I had to look at them on the day of and, you know, perhaps they caught us at a better moment somewhere out there....:lol:

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think I just choked on my cereal...OMG! :eek:

My mare has a bit of a "peek" down drops sometimes, but Piko, DUDE!!!! :lol: :lol:

"Big Brave Prelim Horse has Moment of Doubt"....:D

asterix, you should have that one framed!

And Tazzie--thanks for the link to that, and the photogrpaher's e-mail addy!

[Tazzie]

Ok, finally got the info I wanted, the photographer was Mike Uzil and wife, and their email is mbuzil@yahoo.com. Feel free to get in touch with him, he and his wife were very nice to talk to last Saturday.

Slight correction to this: His last name is Uziel and email is mbuziel@yahoo.com. Sorry about that!

[Dr. Doolittle]

Thanks, Tazzie!