Showtime

I survived SAGE!!!

Or at least the English portion of it...

Well you're probably thinking, "Did a bush try to kill you or something?"

Actually no you're probably not thinking that. You could be thinking anything like, "What's for dinner tonight?" Or, "What dress should I wear to that party?" (actually never mind, if you're thinking that, you probably don't even know me, let alone read my blog...). Or you could be thinking, "I wonder what a taco would look like if it had hands. Like would I be a cannibal if I ate a taco with hands?"

Okay guys, take a moment to imagine what a taco would look like if it had hands. *Shivers*

Okay not too bad

So I was at a show this last weekend and, yeah, I got first (insert applause here). Just kidding, I'm just as surprised as you are that I got first.

 So at the show on Saturday, I was warming up this pony named Goldie for this little eight year old who is kind of on our show team. It was early morning like 7:00 in the morning on Saturday (therefore very early) and I was cross country schooling her so she would be warmed up to the jumps, wouldn't spook, and would take all the jumps with the kid on her.

The first 3/4 mile went great; only a few refusals and that was because the jumps were pretty strange looking in the shadows. Then we got to the water, and she was still fine. And then she spooked at the jump coming out of the water. So I took her through the water again, soaking my show breeches. She took the jump without even looking at it (great, thanks, Goldie). Then there was a ginormous tunnel tent thing that was pretty sketchy and had a loose tarp on top of it, and it was windy.

So this dark horrifying thing creating shadows and a ton of noise was right next to the last obstacle. So Goldie doesn't even look at it. Then as we get to the bank, at a canter, she decides to stop and step to the side. I went over, and was hanging on her neck like a sloth on a tree (and let me tell you, that horse was not in the least bit okay with me hanging from her neck).

Probably something like this

Well, um yay I didn't fall off! What was my motivation? Keeping the show breeches clean. They were all soaking wet, so I refused to get them muddy too. Wow, I care more about my pants than my health..

There was also a dressage test which, let's say that did't go too well. I'm riding this ex-international show horse, and I couldn't do well on a simple dressage course (proves that it's not just the horse that does the work and the rider just sits there; you have to work your butt off). We were supposed to go down a center line, and I was about six feet off the center. Also, part of the dressage test was filled with random circles, and on my score sheet, the lady put, "Your circles look more like lopsided squares. Please fix geometry."

I have something to say, but I won't.

Even though I knew I didn't do that well, I may or may not have gotten touchy after a poor dressage test.

Sorry about a super horsey post, but I was just In the Mood for that, and thought I had some pretty exciting news.

Gambit

Hey guys! I talk about Gambit quite a lot with you, but you probably don't know what he's really like. Well just to let you know (not to brag or anything), he is the sweetest, kindest, cutest, most caring, biggest dingus, talented, want-to-please horse out there. He is really a diamond in the rough and I will love him forever. Anyways, I'm going to show you a few pictures of him (sorry, my phone's camera is pretty lacking in photography abilities and Gambit doesn't really like to stand still, so what you get is the best it's gonna be...).

People say one picture is worth a thousand words, so here you go.

I'm guessing this is where he got his race name, Justa Fast Mule. He looks more like a moose here.

This horse's sass does not wear out. Ever. Or his personality. He's a fun one, and requires minimal babysitting.

Oh, umm this blanket he has wrapped around his neck, it's a cooler. It soaks up all his sweat (ewww!) so he doesn't get cold!

Gambit's favorite food? Sugar cubes. Oh, and cheerios.

Sleepy buddy

This was after the show I told you about how to prepare for. Yeah, we rode pretty well and took home some first, second, third, and fourth place ribbons (yeah, we're pro). He jumped perfectly in all the rounds (score!), except one... He conveniently refused to take this one jump, resulting in a confused Pauline and my teammates on the side cracking up.

Funny story, at that show, the first round was a 2'3" course, and our team was the last to go. Well the first TWENTY people in front of us we're all on the same team, and they seemed all preppy, and like they had their stuff together. APPARENTLY NOT! Every horse on that team refused three or more jumps (some refused every jump they came up to), and the lovely judges let all TWENTY FREAKIN HORSES eventually get over every. Stinking. Jump. It took about an hour and a half. Another funny story about that show: We were supposed to be home by four or five after the show, but because of that very convenient, polite, selfless, efficient, and totally amazing team, the one where the horses just totally wanted to try every jump five times (if you couldn't tell, my typing is dripping in sarcasm) we didn't get back to the barn until 10:45 at night. WOO, planning helps.

You've seen this one before

I love this pic

He's so perfect, and mine, and we make such a fantastic team. He's like that one friend you have that you always look for in the hallways, you always finish each other's sentences, you can be who you are with them, and you can communicate just by looking at each other.Yup, that's Gambit!

He has this curious, sweet look to him, and really this picture sums him up because he's fuzzy, nothing fancy on the ground, sweet, and always in tune to things.

He's also a mess...

And he loves, loves, LOVES to jump.

Pardon my position

This picture is just bad.

I don't really remember why I thought this would be a good idea...

Human, what are you doing? Staaaahhhhpppp

This really wasn't a good idea either...

Classy

If you couldn't tell by what I've said already, he's amazing and perfect in every way imaginable. But he's gone forever now. He'll always be my baby and I'll miss him forever. Gambit, I love you from the very bottom of my heart and you mean the world to me. You taught me so much, and we'll always remember you and your place in our hearts. Rest in peace, buddy.