Derby time!

Day 1
pack up and drive to Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles
set-up camp, bathe horses, walk your x-country course, feed horses, eat dinner, feed horses again, walk horses, sleep















Day 2
up at the crack of dawn
get your show clothes on and start braiding that mane! (good thing your groom is a pro), tack and head down to the warm-up arena
intro derby dressage test
back to stall to change clothes and tack
walk your jumping course
head to the warm-up arena
JUMP!




























cool off and head home.

we spent thursday and friday of this week doing just that. k has been working towards this for over a year now, and it was quite a thrill. she did amazing for a first go. great dressage test. clean stadium jumping, then came out of the water at the wrong spot and got off course for a moment and took an unassigned jump before realizing what was happening and getting the pony back on track to a strong, beautiful finish. she had her friend and mentor (ty and her new horse ember) at her side - and her super-groom sister keeping her calm and making sure everything was just right.

she can't wait to do this again.

IEL #3 (and last of the season)

ended with the final banquet and friend and team member jillian getting reserve champion. these friendships will last a lifetime. until next year!

Mission Pacific

starting to realize if you can't find me on the weekend, its because I'm with one of the girls at a horseshoe...









(and that this has become much less of a place for me to write down my thoughts / concerns / complaints / dreams and much more of a photo album. and I'm good with that.)

ETI - Let's Jump!

K has been very motivated this year to try her skills at jumping - with an end goal of trying eventing (!) This little show was a nice place to start...

















ended up being a super long day. (downside - super tired riders - and horses. upside - gorgeous sunset.)

show day!

A fabulous day at the Pacific Dressage Oktoberfest schooling show for this girl & our horse with a red and a blue and junior high score (whoohoo - and a cowboy hat to go with it!). And some of her very best people there with her. Couldn't be prouder.

::15::

this is the first time I've been out of town for a birthday. harder on me, I think, than anyone else. in any case, one of her closest friends sent me this. (and brought homemade cupcakes to their jumping lesson :) ) love our village.

happy birthday to this strong, smart, beautiful girl. love the young woman you have become. excited for all that lies ahead xoxo

enter at A

E did two tests over the weekend (Training Level 2 & 3)at beautiful Thole Farms in Moorpark. her first tests with Phantom. she was very pleased with her results - and is looking forward to another show in September. Go #teeriders :)