Today may have started less than auspiciously in our warm up - let's just say that the maple leaf leapt out of nowhere causing Mighty's patented look prop and bolt. And when he did it at the other end of the ring - I couldn't tell you what it was...air maybe.
ANYhoo...we went in for our Low 3' and had an okay round...just need to smooth it out a little. Next was our Hunter round - and it went great. I saw distances from a mile away, so could look across to the next fence, he maintained a nice rhythmic cadence all the way around, got his leads...all in all a round to be very proud of. So we were feeling pretty good when it came time to do the Equitation class.
\
I opted for the bold opening move of walking in, immediately galloping down to a 7 stride line. And it went exactly as planned, then the 6 stride line, then the single oxer on the diagonal - all going great. Land the oxer soft, turn right and trot over a teensy trot fence. Easy peasy right? Tell that to the Mighty who did another of his patented moves; go right up to the fence lift off in front like you're going to jump it, then slam them back down and slide into the fence sending dirt flying. I was so flabbergasted! I just back him up 4 or so steps and put my spurs into his heart and he trotted right up and jumped over (like he was supposed to do the first time!) and then down to the stone wall, rolling back to the other stone wall and done. Winning round ...except for that one tiny glitch...arrrrrrggghhhh!
Easing the pain was the fact that we got called back first for the jog. Now - for those of you who are runners this probably seems simple right - you're jogging the length of the arena - no problem right? Well now do it in tall boots that are NOT meant for running, deep footing, a horse in your right hand that you are trying to keep in a straight line and moving well, and you have to keep up him - and DON'T look like a dork doing it. Go on...try it....I dare you. Well, we won the Hunter class; I'm sure the judge could hear The Mighty laughing at me running with him all the way there!
So, it was a good day - coulda been great - but I'll take it anyway :-) We had successful turnout with our buddy Cruiser, and got a good roll and grazing time in. Tomorrow will be a busy day - hopefully it goes at least as well as today if not better!
Random thoughts:
Teri threatening us with a summer's worth of trot fences (nooooooooo)
Tiffany and Jessica coming to turnout armed with cameras to catch The Mighty's famous antics - only to have him wave them off with a 'not today folks'
Doing the mosquito clappy dance in Fort Langley ( I think Teri actually got it on video)
Fake tail (is that like fake boobs? false advertising???? discuss amongst yourselves)
Playlist: Toxic, Sexy Sax Man (Careless Whisper), Praise You
"We've come a long long way together
through the hard times, and the good.
I got to celebrate you Mighty.
I gotta praise you like I should"
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
1-2-3-4 Come on Mighty...
Haha...just a little giggle and some old-skool Miami Sound Machine. JLord will get it.
Well the 'r' word made an appearance today - but we've certainly ridden in worse -so it wasn't an issue.
I rode Mighty in the U/S - and we got 4th, after pulling a few of his patented LPB's during 'work at will'. Apparently working at will to him means look, prop and bolt. We kept it together long enough to make it through the class, and were happy to be done with it frankly. Teri had him for 2 jumping classes, and he finished 3rd and 4th. So it was only a so-so day.
This getting to sleep in and roll in to leisurely get ready has rocked - but that's all over now. Tomorrow we have 3 jumping and 1 more of those damn flat classes. Fingers crossed for sun!
Today's Soundtrack:
Rumor Has It
Heads Will Roll/Thriller
1-2-3
And, with apologies to Travie McCoy and my man Bruno Mars:
I wanna be a billionaire, so frickin' bad
Buy all the horses I never had
I wanna be on the cover of PH Magazine
smilin' next to Rodrigo and Beezie
Oh everytime I close my eyes
I see my name in shining lights
A different horse show every night
Oh I swear, the world better prepare
for when I'm a billionaire
Well the 'r' word made an appearance today - but we've certainly ridden in worse -so it wasn't an issue.
I rode Mighty in the U/S - and we got 4th, after pulling a few of his patented LPB's during 'work at will'. Apparently working at will to him means look, prop and bolt. We kept it together long enough to make it through the class, and were happy to be done with it frankly. Teri had him for 2 jumping classes, and he finished 3rd and 4th. So it was only a so-so day.
This getting to sleep in and roll in to leisurely get ready has rocked - but that's all over now. Tomorrow we have 3 jumping and 1 more of those damn flat classes. Fingers crossed for sun!
Today's Soundtrack:
Rumor Has It
Heads Will Roll/Thriller
1-2-3
And, with apologies to Travie McCoy and my man Bruno Mars:
I wanna be a billionaire, so frickin' bad
Buy all the horses I never had
I wanna be on the cover of PH Magazine
smilin' next to Rodrigo and Beezie
Oh everytime I close my eyes
I see my name in shining lights
A different horse show every night
Oh I swear, the world better prepare
for when I'm a billionaire
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Mighty does his thing....
Day 3 - and hot, Hot, HOT! But....considering that summer didn't even arrive in the (great?) northwest until about 2 weeks ago, I'm not complaining!
Let me also say I feel quite decadent sleeping in until 7:30 at a horse show! We breakfasted here at the Holiday Inn Express, and trundled off to the show. Teri forgot her show coat, so I had to go back for it - since I had the only motor vehicle - and it was a little too far for the horses :-)
We went for a nice stroll on the trail to stretch our legs, and then it was time to get ready to show. It was trainer day today, so Teri got to take him around - and what a lovely boy he was. He had 3 classes today, and took 1st, 3rd and 4th. He seems happy and relaxed - which is all I could ask for.
Big Red Truck is now repaired! I took Teri down to pick it up - and then we headed to Otter Co-Op. If you've never had the chance to go - it's amaze-balls. They have everything you could imagine! Farm equipment - you betcha! Clothes - sure! Groceries- uh huh! You name it!
Random thoughts:
Supposed to cool down tomorrow - so fingers crossed!
The Mighty entertained folks today by taking the stick out of my pocket and waving it around while we were walking in front of the show rings. He always plays to his audience :-)
To the people in the room next to mine - your child screams non-stop morning noon and night. He was screaming in the breakfast room this morning, he screams at night. You are poster people for birth control.
So, I wanted to upload my video - but TMobile essentially sucks, so will have to wait until I am on another computer (work :-) )
JLord and Tiffany's dad (Sid) arrived tonight - so more hands and fans!
Let me also say I feel quite decadent sleeping in until 7:30 at a horse show! We breakfasted here at the Holiday Inn Express, and trundled off to the show. Teri forgot her show coat, so I had to go back for it - since I had the only motor vehicle - and it was a little too far for the horses :-)
We went for a nice stroll on the trail to stretch our legs, and then it was time to get ready to show. It was trainer day today, so Teri got to take him around - and what a lovely boy he was. He had 3 classes today, and took 1st, 3rd and 4th. He seems happy and relaxed - which is all I could ask for.
Big Red Truck is now repaired! I took Teri down to pick it up - and then we headed to Otter Co-Op. If you've never had the chance to go - it's amaze-balls. They have everything you could imagine! Farm equipment - you betcha! Clothes - sure! Groceries- uh huh! You name it!
Random thoughts:
Supposed to cool down tomorrow - so fingers crossed!
The Mighty entertained folks today by taking the stick out of my pocket and waving it around while we were walking in front of the show rings. He always plays to his audience :-)
To the people in the room next to mine - your child screams non-stop morning noon and night. He was screaming in the breakfast room this morning, he screams at night. You are poster people for birth control.
So, I wanted to upload my video - but TMobile essentially sucks, so will have to wait until I am on another computer (work :-) )
JLord and Tiffany's dad (Sid) arrived tonight - so more hands and fans!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Equitation? Why yes...please.
Day 2 of our Northern Adventure! We actually got an earlyish start, and had the horses ready to go by 10. Teri did Cruiser and Tiffany first, then it was The Mighty's turn. He motored around like a pro, but the real fun kicked in when we got to do some equitation stuff; 2 roll-backs to a trot fence (my nemesis!) bending to a single oxer in the lower center 20 metre circle. Can we have more like that please?! Teri believes I have too much time to think in the hunter courses, and not enough to do, and the equitation is the perfect marriage of having to think AND do.
We cooled out with a nice trail ride, then had a good bath and lunch. We were (again!) not particularly successful at having turnout....good grief! I have a portion of the mania on flip cam, and will attempt to upload. We were efficient and got out of there after feeding dinner at 5, and now I'm ready to turn in. Tomorrow is trainer day, and the arrival of Tiffany's dad and JLord (one of The Mighty's favorite cheerleaders!!)
Big Red Truck update: looks like it will be fixed tonight and ready to go tomorrow.
Hmm....they have So You Think You Can Dance Canada! I'll tell you though, their host is no Cat Deeley! But Jean-Marc Genereau is hilarious.
Gotta find 'Unstable' on the tv now...I still think we could film the stateside version!
Soundtrack to date: Rumor Has It, Bright Lights, Bigger City, Paris - Ooo LaLa
We cooled out with a nice trail ride, then had a good bath and lunch. We were (again!) not particularly successful at having turnout....good grief! I have a portion of the mania on flip cam, and will attempt to upload. We were efficient and got out of there after feeding dinner at 5, and now I'm ready to turn in. Tomorrow is trainer day, and the arrival of Tiffany's dad and JLord (one of The Mighty's favorite cheerleaders!!)
Big Red Truck update: looks like it will be fixed tonight and ready to go tomorrow.
Hmm....they have So You Think You Can Dance Canada! I'll tell you though, their host is no Cat Deeley! But Jean-Marc Genereau is hilarious.
Gotta find 'Unstable' on the tv now...I still think we could film the stateside version!
Soundtrack to date: Rumor Has It, Bright Lights, Bigger City, Paris - Ooo LaLa
Monday, July 4, 2011
Bright Lights (not) Bigger City
Here we are - back in the great north - also known as Canada. Just before I left - Debbie made sure to send me a photo of the Stanley Cup - however I sadly left my Bruins jersey at home :-) Just a little joke for my Canadian pals.
There are just 2 of us this trip, The Mighty and his buddy Cruiser. We made it up to the show park without incident, although it appears red truck needs some work before we can go back. Shades of 2001. Red truck was dispatched to the mechanics, and we set up our stalls and canopy, etc.
I decided to take The Mighty for a leg stretcher - which turned out to be more like a leg-stretching-back-cracking-make-everyone-think-you-are-crazy mini-adventure. I thought a nice stroll on the trail would be good - until he screamed and lunged sideways and backwards. I think it was a maple leaf. We finally got going forward again, but the rest of the stroll (and I am using the loosest interpretation of the word now) was a series of halts, jumps sideways and yells (him not me). I got him to his designated turnout spot, a nice fenced paddock with grass, and put him in there for a bit. He rolled, leapt up, let out an ear piercing shriek, and proceed to amaze and entertain the folks watching with his very realistic portrayal of a completely insane horse.
When I finally caught him (he did manage to, thank god, grab some grass in between the leaping, while also pulling off one of his boots) we headed back to our barn. He actually walked....most of the way. Cruiser was calmly munching away, and as I put him back in his stall, I hoped The Mighty would follow that example.
The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully (PTL!) and we are all set for schooling day tomorrrow. Both boys seemed nice and quiet as we tucked them in for the night.
There are just 2 of us this trip, The Mighty and his buddy Cruiser. We made it up to the show park without incident, although it appears red truck needs some work before we can go back. Shades of 2001. Red truck was dispatched to the mechanics, and we set up our stalls and canopy, etc.
I decided to take The Mighty for a leg stretcher - which turned out to be more like a leg-stretching-back-cracking-make-everyone-think-you-are-crazy mini-adventure. I thought a nice stroll on the trail would be good - until he screamed and lunged sideways and backwards. I think it was a maple leaf. We finally got going forward again, but the rest of the stroll (and I am using the loosest interpretation of the word now) was a series of halts, jumps sideways and yells (him not me). I got him to his designated turnout spot, a nice fenced paddock with grass, and put him in there for a bit. He rolled, leapt up, let out an ear piercing shriek, and proceed to amaze and entertain the folks watching with his very realistic portrayal of a completely insane horse.
When I finally caught him (he did manage to, thank god, grab some grass in between the leaping, while also pulling off one of his boots) we headed back to our barn. He actually walked....most of the way. Cruiser was calmly munching away, and as I put him back in his stall, I hoped The Mighty would follow that example.
The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully (PTL!) and we are all set for schooling day tomorrrow. Both boys seemed nice and quiet as we tucked them in for the night.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
2011 Kentucky Derby
“Wide open race” may quite possibly be the most over-used phrase on the first Saturday in May – every year. This year is no different, and yet it is. There is no clear cut favorite, a case can be made for almost every single horse in the field, and with the scratch of last year’s juvenile champion Uncle Mo…well it just goes to show that it’s a tough road to Churchill.
That said, the usual saws apply. Look for a horse coming up to a good race, not one that may bounce off an extreme effort last time. Are they training well and holding their weight at Churchill? Do they have a couple of races over a mile and an eighth on their resume? What does their pedigree suggest (i.e. speed bred to speed on top of speed last gen probably does not bode well to go a mile and a quarter). Does the trainer have some experience in the big races (not necessarily need to have won, but has handled the pressure before, and not let armchair quarterbacking change their gameplan). Lastly – who looks like the now horse that just grabs you visually ?
In post position order:
Archarcharch: Won the Arkansas Derby, and is sired by a horse I loved in his Derby year – Arch, out of a Woodman mare. Honestly though, this one makes me go ‘meh’ . Will finish in the first half of the field.
Brilliant Speed: Won the Bluegrass. By Dynaformer out of a Gone West mare. Me thinks his name says it all. *However* if it rains at Churchill Fri/Sat – you should consider keeping the best of the speed horses in your exotics, as speed holds in the slop there. If the track comes up sloppy – use this horse.
Twicetheappeal: Won the Sunland Derby (NM). By Successful Appeal out of a Cormorant mare. BooBoo Borel gets the mount – which may be the best part of this entry. Nope.
Stay Thirsty: Won the Gotham. Beautifully bred; by Bernardini out of a Storm Bird mare. This one may be a live one at good price. I’d see what the track condition is – but I like this horse.
Decisive Moment: Won the Jean Lafitte stakes (second in the Spiral to Animal Kingdom). By With Distinction out of a Dehere mare. Nope.
Comma to the Top: Won the Cashcall Futurity, Generous and Real Quiet Stakes. By Bwana Charlie out of a Stormy Atlantic mare. Um…PVal rides…and I say possible Rose Colored Glasses award here. Back of pack.
Pants on Fire: Won the Louisiana Derby. By Jump Start out of a Capetown mare. I think his pants may be the only thing on fire. He *would* move up in the mud/slop – but I don’t see him winning or even in first half of field.
Dialed In: This is everyone’s hot horse. He won the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes. Beautifully bred by Mineshaft out of a Storm Cat mare. Has the hot rider and trainer hand also going for him. He and Shackleford were 1-2 in FL. So if you like one, you pretty much have to like the other. He *is* the morning line favorite – and friends don’t typically let friends bet the chalk. However, I think it would be foolish to leave him out. Top 4.
Derby Kitten: just won the Coolmore Lexington. By Kitten’s Joy out of a Menifee mare. Nope.
Twinspired: won the WEBN Stakes. By Harlan’s Holiday out of an El Prado mare. Nope.
Master of Hounds: ran second in the UAE Derby. Regally bred by Kingmambo out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. The Euros keep bringing over horses trying to win the Derby, and keep missing. This horse is certainly bred to go the distance, has a US rider w/Garret Gomez – and Aidan O’Brien is one of the great trainers. I can see this horse getting a piece of the Tri or Super fecta pie – but not the win. As lovely has he is, better have tried from over the way, and failed. He’s never run on dirt before – not sure the Derby would be my choice for first start.
Santiva: Won the KY Jockey Club stakes and was second in the Risen Star to Mucho Macho Man. By Giant’s Causeway out of a Smarten mare. Will split the pack.
Mucho Macho Man: Won the Risen Star. By Macho Uno out of a Ponche mare. Mid-pack.
Shackleford: finished second to Dialed In in the Florida Derby. Big old chestnut by Forestry out of an Unbridled mare. Another hot horse that has a lot of people on his bandwagon. Move up in the mud/slop, but I feel like he’s a mid-pack finisher.
Midnight Interlude: Won the Santa Anita Derby. By War Chant out of Groom Dancer. Nope.
Animal Kingdom: Won the Spiral Stakes. By Leroidesanimeaux out of an Acatenango mare. He’s never run on dirt before – not sure the Derby would be my choice for first start, but he’s been training like a…well…animal.
Soldat: Won the Fountain of Youth and With Anticipation stakes. By War Front out of a Coronado’s Quest mare. Have him in my top 4, and moves up in the mud.
Nehro: 2nd in the AK ( to Archarcharch) and LA (to Pants on Fire) Derbies. By Mineshaft out of an Afleet mare. Had a ho-hum final work up to the race – but looks fantastic physically – and I would use him in my top 4.
Watch Me Go: Won the Tampa Bay Derby. By West Acre out of a Deputy Minister mare. Nope – another Rose Colored Glasses contestant.
Top 4:
Stay Thirsty
Dialed In
Nehro
Soldat
(if it rains and is sloppy – must also toss Brilliant Speed in here)
If you don’t like those – how about (as in…these have a good shot if luck fails the top 4):
Shakleford
Archarcharch
Animal Kingdom (mostly because I love his breeding – not so much that he hasn’t raced on dirt)
If you really wanted to – you could fabricate a case for:
Derby Kitten
Master of Hounds
Santiva
Mucho Macho Man
Midnight Interlude
Rose Colored Glasses award:
Twicetheappeal
Decisive Moment
Comma to the Top
Pants on Fire
Twinspired
Watch Me Go
And of course – I may be completely wrong and you should go to the windows on everyone I picked to lose! Here’s to a great…and SAFE..Derby Day for the horses!
That said, the usual saws apply. Look for a horse coming up to a good race, not one that may bounce off an extreme effort last time. Are they training well and holding their weight at Churchill? Do they have a couple of races over a mile and an eighth on their resume? What does their pedigree suggest (i.e. speed bred to speed on top of speed last gen probably does not bode well to go a mile and a quarter). Does the trainer have some experience in the big races (not necessarily need to have won, but has handled the pressure before, and not let armchair quarterbacking change their gameplan). Lastly – who looks like the now horse that just grabs you visually ?
In post position order:
Archarcharch: Won the Arkansas Derby, and is sired by a horse I loved in his Derby year – Arch, out of a Woodman mare. Honestly though, this one makes me go ‘meh’ . Will finish in the first half of the field.
Brilliant Speed: Won the Bluegrass. By Dynaformer out of a Gone West mare. Me thinks his name says it all. *However* if it rains at Churchill Fri/Sat – you should consider keeping the best of the speed horses in your exotics, as speed holds in the slop there. If the track comes up sloppy – use this horse.
Twicetheappeal: Won the Sunland Derby (NM). By Successful Appeal out of a Cormorant mare. BooBoo Borel gets the mount – which may be the best part of this entry. Nope.
Stay Thirsty: Won the Gotham. Beautifully bred; by Bernardini out of a Storm Bird mare. This one may be a live one at good price. I’d see what the track condition is – but I like this horse.
Decisive Moment: Won the Jean Lafitte stakes (second in the Spiral to Animal Kingdom). By With Distinction out of a Dehere mare. Nope.
Comma to the Top: Won the Cashcall Futurity, Generous and Real Quiet Stakes. By Bwana Charlie out of a Stormy Atlantic mare. Um…PVal rides…and I say possible Rose Colored Glasses award here. Back of pack.
Pants on Fire: Won the Louisiana Derby. By Jump Start out of a Capetown mare. I think his pants may be the only thing on fire. He *would* move up in the mud/slop – but I don’t see him winning or even in first half of field.
Dialed In: This is everyone’s hot horse. He won the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes. Beautifully bred by Mineshaft out of a Storm Cat mare. Has the hot rider and trainer hand also going for him. He and Shackleford were 1-2 in FL. So if you like one, you pretty much have to like the other. He *is* the morning line favorite – and friends don’t typically let friends bet the chalk. However, I think it would be foolish to leave him out. Top 4.
Derby Kitten: just won the Coolmore Lexington. By Kitten’s Joy out of a Menifee mare. Nope.
Twinspired: won the WEBN Stakes. By Harlan’s Holiday out of an El Prado mare. Nope.
Master of Hounds: ran second in the UAE Derby. Regally bred by Kingmambo out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. The Euros keep bringing over horses trying to win the Derby, and keep missing. This horse is certainly bred to go the distance, has a US rider w/Garret Gomez – and Aidan O’Brien is one of the great trainers. I can see this horse getting a piece of the Tri or Super fecta pie – but not the win. As lovely has he is, better have tried from over the way, and failed. He’s never run on dirt before – not sure the Derby would be my choice for first start.
Santiva: Won the KY Jockey Club stakes and was second in the Risen Star to Mucho Macho Man. By Giant’s Causeway out of a Smarten mare. Will split the pack.
Mucho Macho Man: Won the Risen Star. By Macho Uno out of a Ponche mare. Mid-pack.
Shackleford: finished second to Dialed In in the Florida Derby. Big old chestnut by Forestry out of an Unbridled mare. Another hot horse that has a lot of people on his bandwagon. Move up in the mud/slop, but I feel like he’s a mid-pack finisher.
Midnight Interlude: Won the Santa Anita Derby. By War Chant out of Groom Dancer. Nope.
Animal Kingdom: Won the Spiral Stakes. By Leroidesanimeaux out of an Acatenango mare. He’s never run on dirt before – not sure the Derby would be my choice for first start, but he’s been training like a…well…animal.
Soldat: Won the Fountain of Youth and With Anticipation stakes. By War Front out of a Coronado’s Quest mare. Have him in my top 4, and moves up in the mud.
Nehro: 2nd in the AK ( to Archarcharch) and LA (to Pants on Fire) Derbies. By Mineshaft out of an Afleet mare. Had a ho-hum final work up to the race – but looks fantastic physically – and I would use him in my top 4.
Watch Me Go: Won the Tampa Bay Derby. By West Acre out of a Deputy Minister mare. Nope – another Rose Colored Glasses contestant.
Top 4:
Stay Thirsty
Dialed In
Nehro
Soldat
(if it rains and is sloppy – must also toss Brilliant Speed in here)
If you don’t like those – how about (as in…these have a good shot if luck fails the top 4):
Shakleford
Archarcharch
Animal Kingdom (mostly because I love his breeding – not so much that he hasn’t raced on dirt)
If you really wanted to – you could fabricate a case for:
Derby Kitten
Master of Hounds
Santiva
Mucho Macho Man
Midnight Interlude
Rose Colored Glasses award:
Twicetheappeal
Decisive Moment
Comma to the Top
Pants on Fire
Twinspired
Watch Me Go
And of course – I may be completely wrong and you should go to the windows on everyone I picked to lose! Here’s to a great…and SAFE..Derby Day for the horses!
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