Regionals - Victory is Ours

Sunday's Third - Level AA freestyle championship was at least not at 8 p.m. 

I got a massage on site from a vendor in the morning and felt 100x better and half drugged. A massage vendor at a horse show is brilliant.

"hears angel voices"

Hampton enjoyed his own version of massage.

Hampton warmed up great for the test, although was a little more tired. Who can blame him, so was I. But our freestyle went pretty well, he unfortunately stumbled in the extended trot and it took me a minute to rebalance enough to then push again. And he was most definitely more on the forehand than the night before. 

What made this class so awesome was competing side by side with our adventure besties, barn buddy and fellow eventer. She blasted an absolutely badass Taylor Swift freestyle and it was perfect.

Somehow, Hampton barely squeaked by them (like by less than a point) and ....

I know that winning at Regionals is old hat for many people. But I do not ever win things like this and it was so exciting and special, and to have such a good friend in that victory gallop with me was just the best. 

There are a million things I can say to really invalidate this victory, but I am not going to. I am going to celebrate it and own it. Because Hampton deserves that.

Oh you owe extra toll today lady for all the gallop sets
I have done at this show with your ribbons

... and yes, we are going to Finals!

Regionals: 4th Level Freestyle

 

I will just jump the shark with this photo.

***

Our Fourth-level freestyle championship class was at 8 p.m. Saturday night (so actually 9 p.m. our time, the amount of caffeine I had to consume is illegal).

Hampton was unaffected by the late hour and LOVES entertaining indoor arenas that other horses might find to be spooky or a big atmosphere. I had easily one of the best tests OF MY LIFE. He was so responsive and light and just on the money. We rode a clean freestyle and Hampton was at 100% capacity. He could not have given more. The shit-eating grin I had on my face coming out of that arena was mildly embarrassing. I didn't even care what score or place we got.

Some quality competition in this class!
 Great ladies too we had great fun in the victory gallop!

What a horse

"Now you pay toll lady."

When we were confirmed Reserve Champions I thought hell yes, this as as good as it gets. 

But I was wrong.

Road to Regionals: Swift Traffic Cones

 Where did I leave off -

Friday:

We leave bright and early for the trip to St. Louis. Hampton travels great and later in the day we go for a little stretch in one of the outdoor arenas. I am not sure what the magic trick was here but Hampton felt sound ... good even. Very perky and seemed to enjoy the entertainment that bigger shows bring.

Also ... you couldn't miss us.

"Hey do I know that guy over there?" - Hampton, probably

Our bright orange Life of a ShowGirl shirts were a huge hit and joyfully obnoxious. I think we made it through the album two or three times during the haul to the show. haha. #nerds

Barn Swifties!
Eldest Daughter, Baby That's Show Business and Life of a Show Horse

Saturday:

Stall decor!

I decided to ride a random 4-2 test in the morning as a warm up test and basically a schooling because my championship class was not until 8 PM AT NIGHT. I will say I have never ridden 4-2 before and I found it to be really fun! I did have a HUGE goose egg in the left pirouette because Hampton thought I meant halt. I probably stopped moving my hips and he was like ah ok, I shall stop. Soooo we got a 2 and a 3 in that portion of the test. Whoops. But otherwise it was lovely and we earned a 63%+ even with a massive fuck up. Most importantly, Hampton felt great!

Now it was hurry up and wait until night time...

Road to Regionals - "What is that? What IS that?"

Monday before Regionals

Hampton is still quite lame, shuffling around. I call my beloved farrier and send him the video.

Tuesday before Regionals 

9 am: I bring Hampton in from the field, he is still lame. Beloved farrier says he will be there to check the foot around 11. I have to leave because of work.

11 a.m.: Farrier gets to barn, pulls Hampton out of a stall. He texts me "Fixed him." I am like what? Do not joke with me. Did you have to pull the shoe? Farrier says no, your horse is sound. Friend at the barn confirms the horse is sound - maybe 1/5 lame if you stare at him. I am astounded as just hours earlier he was VERY lame.

Wednesday before Regionals

I ride. Hampton feels sound! Feels pretty good!

Thursday

I ride. Hampton feels ... off. Not lame like before, but stiff and short in front. I re-start anxiety spiral. Hampton gets Legend and a full hour of Magnawave during which he appears to slip into a coma haha.

Actual footage of magnawave coma

Friday

I throw the animal on the trailer. 

The Road to Regionals - "oh no. oh no no no no no."

 I took Hampton to the KDA Fall Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park for a spin around the ring in our Second Level Freestyle (I love this freestyle - the music is all Women-Power themed).

Rolex Arena!
Photo by Lisa Dean.

Hampton LOVES the "lower levels*" and cruised around happy as could be. He felt great and we managed a lovely 70% and won the class.

Perfect I thought! Great prep for Regionals!

We were all set to leave on Friday for St. Louis and the Sunday before I bring in the following horse:

The left front was also BLAZING HOT and just a touch of swelling was creeping up into the fetlock. I thought well that's a gnarly abscess. SHIT. Poor Hampton was so painful but the best thing for him was to go back out to the field and hopefully get this monster to pop.

However, my hopes for regionals were quickly fading ....

To be continued.

* - Second Level is in fact NOT easy and I hate using "upper" and "lower" levels because it infers those doing higher levels are somehow better when that is in fact NOT the case. 

 

A Moment to Complain About The Tropical Weather

This heat has been brutal on humans, horses, tadpoles, anything alive really.

Hampton has had brief periods where he has stopped sweating, or sweats very minimally. Other times, he will sweat pretty decently. He gets:

• Beer (Guinness)
• One AC
• Black Oil Sunflower seeds
• Finish Line Sweat supplement (although he ran out recently)

I have no idea if any of this helps at all. I did have one of my favorite clinicians recommend the Equiwinner Patches. These are one of the few "remedies" I have not tried because I thought they were total B.S. Anyone else tried these?

I did sneak in a clinic with said clinician
on one of the blessedly cooler days in August.

Meanwhile, on super hot days I don't even bother to ride him. He just gets Shower Beers and love. Other days, I can ride for 20 minutes before 9 a.m. and get some decent work in. 

Hacking and trail riding has also been a decent option.

The forecast is saying 98 degrees next week. Please make it stop. I am tired of sweating through my clothes every damn day. 

That's all I got. Argh. 

Imposters at Pony Cup

I have always been curious about the National Dressage Pony Cup. I have heard many good things from various friends, but never really thought I would go because my horse is ... not a pony. Or a small horse.

But this year we said let's do it and entered the open show. And I am so glad I did because now I see why people rave about this show. It was SO fun, such neat prizes, SO MANY CUUUUUTE PONIES, a well-run show and lovely facility (at WEC Ohio). 

Mani/Pedis on site!

The famous ride-through coffee shop

I broke out the shadbelly again and entered Prix St. Georges on Friday. We had a very organized, accurate and workmanlike test. Nothing jaw dropping, but solid enough to win against some NICE horses.

PSG

Just the best guy.
Photos by Winslow Photos

On Saturday we entered the I-1 - probably my favorite of all the tests. I warmed up in my shadbelly but as I was trotting, I started to feel sick and crampy. Then saw stars. Ok, I will walk for a minute and it should pass. It did not. 

Rut ro.

Since I started running, my heat tolerance has not given me an issue in several years but after the summer we have had, it just started to catch up with me. Plus I was in the shadbelly. I literally stripped my coat off at the ingate of the show ring, walked another 5 minutes and went in. Hoping to All Gods Above that I would not 1) puke or 2) pass out or 3) actually pass away in the middle of my test.

Just laugh through the nausea.

Hampton was like "Hmmm, my rider appears to need some assistance today" and pretty much pumped out an I-1 by himself. I was disassociated, lost count in the 2s (he did the right count anyway) and my eyes were stinging from sweat.

What a horse to do that for me. And he didn't do too bad - 66%! One of our top scores at the level! 

Could not have been more proud of him to step right back up to the FEI levels without missing a beat.

I don't think that will be my last time at the show either, really top notch. And so many friends to gossip have intellectual conversation with.

The Sancturary Ring was so pretty.

Meanwhile, we are BOILING here in Kentucky and have been since I dunno, JUNE. It is relentless. Please send help.