There’s a strange energy here this morning. The nerves for those who still have to jump, including of course, the CIC 3* which will be last to go in the main arena. An exhaustion after a busy week in all sorts of weather, from freezing, to rain, to baking sun. Some packing up has already started; Hawley Bennet-Awad’s crew are planning on leaving at about 6pm tonight and making the 24 hour drive straight through. On top of all that, an end of term sadness that it’s all over again for another year.
It’ aint over ’til the fat lady sings!
However, as I mentioned, there’s still plenty of action to come. Our Questionnaire has been prepped for his CIC 3* show-jumping with the now obligatory red lipstick kiss on his nose from Cassie Segal, owner of Ballynoe Castle RM. It worked wonders for Heather Gillette and Questy in the dressage, and again yesterday on cross country, so Heather told me she’s going to make sure Cassie’s around to kiss Questy as much as possible from now on!
Heather also told me that Questy pulled a shoe off at the water yesterday, and but for that she might have been a bit quicker, but overall she was really happy with her ride. (she picked up 4 time faults to lie in fourth position going into the show-jumping)
Jessie Phoenix told me Pavarotti also pulled a front shoe on course yesterday, and someone actually handed it in this morning. He looked terrific out on cross country yesterday, very mannerly in a double bridle. He looks none the worse for wear today either, and trotted up like a champ this morning – they go into the show-jumping with the lead in the CCI 2*.
I spotted supergroom Max on her way back from the tradestands, she’ll be taking a little piece of Montana back to Virginia with her. Karen O’Connor also told me how thrilled she was with her lovely mare, Veronica. Although she was kicking herself for galloping past a fence in Jurassic Park, it’s been a great, educational first advanced run this weekend for her horse, and she certainly came out and looked impressive this morning, she didn’t want to touch a fence.
Karen said she’s excited that Veronica will get to run every couple of weeks or so now.
I’m excited because I’ll be re-united with my kids tonight – I left them at the ranch with my long-suffering mother, a big thank you to both, and an apology to the sweet boy of about ten years old today on his bike who asked me a question, and without thinking my maternal instincts kicked in and I answered him, “my darling”, as if he were my son, not sure which one of us was more mortified! It’s been a fantastic weekend here, I’m just sorry I’m going to miss the very end, but I have a plane to catch as usual. Thank you to all the volunteers, organisers, riders and grooms. Thank you for reading, and Go Eventing!
