I want to start this post by thanking my barn family and all of the trainers at KBF for being so supportive, and fun, and keeping everything low-key and running smoothly all day. I am especially grateful to my trainer, who thinks for me when my brain shorts out. I am also eternally thankful for media from Diane Rice Segura–all pictures in this post appear courtesy of her and she documented the entire day of showing for everyone at KBF, even with her own mare competing.

Over six months after our last show, Eli and I FINALLY got back in the show ring at a local one-day show on Saturday. The division we entered typically runs at the end of the day, so sometimes not even until 4pm. (Eli had a stall and all-you-can-eat hay.) This Saturday, however, I was in the middle of lounging around the 2’6″ ring at 11:45am, drinking rosé, watching some barnmates compete in a fairly large division that was taking forever, and chatting with barn peeps when I looked over to the 3′ ring and saw jump crew carrying around brightly-striped poles. WAIT WHAT. They were already setting for the jumpers. There goes my nap. Quite a few of my barnmates were going in either the 2’6″-2’9″ jumpers or the 3′-3’3″ jumpers so we were all a little stunned they were ready to set so early, but some hunter divisions didn’t make and that’s horse showing for ya.
I walked the first course and two of the lines were set a bit short, and a tricky triple combination had me a bit worried–it was a regular one-stride to a tight two-stride, and in two of the three classes. Thanks, course designer.
Eli warmed up just fine and we had minimal drama while I gave him extra time to walk around and get over everything. We hopped over a few low verticals at the trot, cantered a low, ramped oxer which my trainer then jacked up to a slightly higher square oxer, and then finished over 3’3″ vertical feeling ready to go. There were seven in the division of three back-to-back classes.

For the first class, I was a little too amped, over-thinking, and over-riding, and Eli hadn’t exactly settled either, so I was barely keeping up with him. Most everything rode okay, however, I checked Eli too hard in the last line, forgot where I was, and held for a ridiculously tight distance and had a rail. Rider error all the way. There were plenty of rails for other riders, so we pinned regardless. Surprising, though, because the fences were an awfully soft 3′-3’3″. I swear one vertical was still at 2’6″.

The second class was a speed round, but knowing Eli there were some inside right turns we would not be attempting. For once, EVERYTHING came together, went according to plan, and we had a great smooth round, clean and competitive enough for a ribbon.

The last timed first jump-off class went reasonably well for us, too, although I again checked Eli too much in one of the short lines (the one by the grandstand that he found spooky) but he cleared that line anyway. Unfortunately, we had a truly cheap rail at the last single vertical that we had jumped from the exact same distance without issue in the other classes. Again, still good enough for some satin. We wound up with two thirds and a fifth, although I’m not sure in which classes. For these local shows and small classes, blue is easily within reach for us if I get out of Eli’s way and let him go double clear like I know he can.
I bathed Eli and wrapped him up for shipping back home, where I unpacked while Eli ravenously ate his dinner and then sacked out in his stall for a bit, as his typical mid-day nap had been interrupted by the horse show. He will ultimately have most of this week off because of stormy weather and he’s getting vaccinations and whatnot on Tuesday. He definitely deserves a break from work and some extra apples!
There is some video of our rounds, so as soon as I get my hands on it I’ll post some. I also spied one of the professional photographers (oh, Eli did, too, ha, that was funny!) so I will be stalking her site to see what she got of us. I am already itching to show again. One more little thing that’s bugging me–my black tall boots look like they have dropped a shade too much–I’d like them about 1/4″ taller than they look–what do y’all think?
Yay! Happy to hear y’all are back out in the ring and kicking ass 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It’s always fun to show this horse 🙂
LikeLike
These pictures are great, I’m not sure if I can decide on a favorite! 🙂 Glad you and Eli ended up competing and that the day went relatively well. I think Eli is enjoying looking extra fancy in those white polos! Congrats on the satin!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m kind of liking the white polos look, but in the jumper ring it still makes me cringe a little, haha
LikeLike
Yay Eli! Sorry I missed it! Next time…
LikeLiked by 1 person
The jumpers started crazy early! Plus I lost my phone and couldn’t text/tell people that.
LikeLike
I’m in love with the green matchy matchy. You two look fantastic, glad to hear it was such a successful show!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I had fun picking a show outfit this time around 🙂
LikeLike
Yay! Congrats. What a great day. Such great pictures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ❤
LikeLike
You look fantastic in that show-fit! I do see what you mean about your boots, but only because you told me to look, otherwise, I wouldn’t have noticed.
Glad it went well, Eli looks great! Can’t wait to see what else you guys do this season 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yeah, it’s not major with the boots, but they are near the end of their show life span anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
woo congrats – these pictures are all fabulous! Eli looks like he’s loving every minute! bummer about the cheap rail but it otherwise sounds like the courses all rode exactly how you planned!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Eli was fantastic and didn’t bat an eye at any of the jumps 🙂
LikeLike
Glad you guys had a great show, you two look fantastic!
LikeLike
Thanks so much!
LikeLike
Nice job! Could you check out our blog and comment some advice? we could use it haha!
LikeLike
Thanks for reading! I will take a look soon 🙂
LikeLike
Love the last two pictures! Y’all look awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
Man you guys know how to bring it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eli does, at least!
LikeLike
What a great return to the show ring for you both! The pics are awesome. And I agree with Carey about the boots — I didn’t notice until you said something.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, it was so fun!
LikeLike
Hey, I have a question, I’m in Texas and have been looking for to do some H/J schooling shows, but I need 3’9″+ where was this and did they offer those classes?
LikeLike
This was at Manor Equestrian Center in Austin. This particular organization does not offer classes above 3’6″. There are schooling shows in San Antonio that offer 3’9″/1.15m jumper classes, but I’m not sure if they always make or not.
LikeLike