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Wentworth Hunter Pace - June 6, 2021

After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time!  most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the

NER United States Pony Club Show Jump Rally - July 20, 2019

Ellie and I had SO MUCH FUN at our first Pony Club jump rally this year.  We drove up to Clay Brook Farms, where we had our D-1/D-2 rating, in order to compete for the day on July 20.  This happened to be one of the hottest days of summer, so the organizers modified the schedule a bit.  Instead of doing two rounds in the morning and one in the afternoon, we all did just two rounds (with a ten-minute break in between) all in the morning, so we were done and headed out just after lunch.  

Everything ran so smoothly despite the condensed format.  We were able to do our formal inspections right before we mounted up, and we were all encouraged to limit our warm up time.  We were not allowed to wear jackets, and there was a TON of horse water and ice cold human water available at numerous stations around the field.

Ellie chillin' with her new BFF for the day
I was competing with Epona Pony Club, but I was again put on a Horsemaster team with two other adults from Foxcroft Pony Club, Angie and Beth, the two riders I competed with at the dressage rally!  It was so much easier this time around, as we already knew each other and got everything set up much more quickly.  It also helped that it was 476253 degrees out and we wanted to be super efficient haha.

I think Ellie and I warmed up for approximately nine minutes haha.  I trotted and cantered her around, we did a warmup crossrail, and then I did the crossrail, vertical, and oxer once.  She was listening and happy and there was no use doing more than that in the heat.

The first round was judged as an equitation round in the grass ring.  Then we had a few moments to stand in the shade to catch our breath and drink water.  And from there we went straight into the adjacent larger sand ring to do the timed jumper round.  I entered the 2' division, which was not timed, so I did not push Ellie to go fast but focused on having a confident and flowing round.

Our first course went quite smoothly.  I was really happy with how well Ellie listened to my half halts and I was able to choose good lines throughout the course.  The judge noted that I made good use of the ring, and I do agree with her that I allowed Ellie to speed up towards the end when the jumps were not as close and the turns were not as tight, which I know I do because I depend on the turns to help rate her speed haha.


entering the ring

lots of media bc PC parents are the best! haha











I was thankful for the time to relax in the shade and drink a few cups of water before heading in for our next round.  Overall, I was super happy with this course as well, though I got a little excited at the last fence and leaned up her neck (my nice jumping bad habit that still comes back once in a while!), so she chipped in and we had a rail on the very last fence.  DUUUUHHHHH.

But whatever.  This is Pony Club and it is not the end of the world haha.  It does bug me that I lose my brain sometimes (blame it on the heat!).  I am happy I did not go off course though hahaha since that seems to be my doofus move this year.  Ellie was so good and so brave, with no bobbles at all other than the rail that was all me.  It was clear that 2' was "easy" for us, but it was a good confidence builder.  I don't get caught up in defining my worth (or my horse's worth) by the size of the jumps.  ;-)

entering the ring







after the last fence - so happy with her!

drinking more water at the end of our courses
I look hot, Ellie looks happy with herself

As we were headed back to the trailer, this little girl and her dad were just standing there watching.  Ellie had to go up to say hello.  The dad stopped in because his daughter loves horses.  I told him it was the best thing my parents ever did for me!  ;-)

The Epona kids!  And I look like a kid myself haha


they are the cutest

And my intrepid team!  We rock! 
The ribbons were old hot pink ribbons the club wanted to use up hahahaha.  We technically won both the horsemanship and the overall, but we were happy with the fun ribbons instead of blue!  ;-)

This is exactly the kind of experience that I was hoping for when I joined Pony Club!  SO much fun and additional jumping practice, which gave us both a confidence boost!

Comments

  1. That sounds like so much fun! :D That is awesome the organizers were able to make modifications because of the weather. Congrats on a great outing!

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