Weaving, Riding and Arithmetic: Fiona Learns to Share

Just back from the Almaden Farms July show, in Watsonville, with so many stories to tell. Fiona was a star. Stepping up, with her junior colleague, Hanalei, to the 1.10 meter classes, she won and won and got championship too. It was thrilling to see the big eared enthusiastic powerhouse maneuver the lines with aplomb. She brought lots of bling back to the barn every day. But finally, she had to share the spotlight with another bay mare.

A huge transition took place this show. Princess was a nervous distracted scooting rabbit at previous shows. She did not exude the confidence of a capable calm hunter or equitation horse. And the result showed. But every show was a bit better and better, with a good round here and there. But I really felt a difference this time. She stopped being so distracted and nervous. The poor thing had been exhausted after the first day of previous shows. Toe tripping tired but still wired. Like the babies who are too tired to fall asleep. They thrash and reduce their already limited vocabulary to a simple, "No!"

She never really said no, she did jump the jumps, but showed an extra drain on the energy which was not good. But this time, this show, she had a compliant and correct bend in the corners, neither cutting in or bulging out as evasive maneuvers. She also moved up when I asked, held steady when asked, and loped in and out of the ring with alacrity, able to to much more than previous shows without the slightest appearance of fatigue. All the unnecessary adrenalin did not drain her. It was lovely.

Of course, winning the last class I entered at the show (Adult Eq 3') merely confirmed all my suspicions were correct, that I was reading the improvement in capabilities and not imagining them. Again, a mother analogy (having tried it once, I am of course an expert), trying to avoid the "my kid can do no wrong" mentality.

There were buddies who shared this fun weekend. Hugh had three mounts, the above mentioned Fiona, Hanalei, and Holligan, all gaining experience and doing fabulously. Lindsey on Capote did their first 3'3" courses (you read right, pleural, as in more than one 3'3" round) and was not nervous at all! Debbie marched around on Gypsy and won her share of blues.

Antonio, Ignacio, and Jose Antonio (in training) were especially helpful, from first morning light till late at night. Home safe and sound, this was a weekend to remember.