Although I admit to being completely bewildered as to what was going on when I arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park this morning, I had a fantastic day.
A good start: How to welcome competitors when they pick up their packets!
From what I could gather, with the help of some very friendly pony clubbers, officials and parents, the C level were doing their cross country this morning. I made my way out on course and was even more confused because there was a vet box, but this was for cooling out AFTER the cross country, not a ten minute box BEFORE hand! When I’d first seen some of the competitors walking and trotting around the course, I’d assumed (mistakenly) that they were doing roads and tracks, but this was not the case!
Rood and Riddle vets were on hand volunteering all day – checking pulses, heart rates and temps,
as the vet in charge, Woodrow Friend explained.
Luckily for everyone, the weather was superb – cool and breezy, which meant an almost incident free day for the vets…
There was definitely a wide variety of horse and pony competing today, over the beginner novice level cross country track,
and we definitely like colours – on ponies, boots, saddle pads, helmets…
I talked to Abbie who was waiting for her horse Montana to be checked by the vets before she could head back to the barn,
and Pierre Billard had a long day, but an even longer week as horse management inspector, which probably made a nice change from his day job of Property Inspections! He endeavoured to explain the basics of the MegaRally to me, but might have lost me when he said he preferred tetrathlon to eventing!
In a stroke of genius, all the tack that’s taken off the horse, and rider after cross country is stored in a big plastic bag, labelled with the appropriate number, then delivered via pick-up truck to the stables – simple but brilliant!
I bumped into Mick Costello who is responsible for five courses this weekend, and also had a lovely chat with Mary Fike, which I did video, but due to wind noise it’s not worth putting up. However, she told me that along with JJ in cross country control and the two Aarons helping Mick with the building, it’s almost like Rolex again. Mary designs the stadium and cross country courses this weekend, then she escapes on a much needed holiday to upstate New York, where the only thing she shared was “no mobile phone reception”! Then it’s back to the Horse Park to prepare for the North American Juniors and Young RIders Championship. Mary said that it’s a huge perk for her to get to work alongside David O’Connor who designs the Championship courses in July, “he has a lot of creative ideas, and he’s so generous with his time and his knowledge and expertise that you don’t feel like you’re intruding when you go around with him and ask him questions. We’re really lucky to have him.” This year will be slightly easier as the riders won’t have to contend with WEG roping and restrictions.
I thought this was interesting; these are the the tables used towards the end of the course at Rolex, and I’m presuming that the “watermark” on the bottom of their feet is how far embedded in the ground they are. I’m sure if I don’t see Mick Costello first tomorrow, Eventing Safety John will be all over this and let us know, but it just made stop and have a second look.
Once the cross country was finished I wandered down to watch the Horse Trials proper, which started Friday afternoon with Preliminary Dressage.
Warming up/Cooling Down?!
Dead Giveaway: Cathy Wieschoff is in the house! I did spot her training in the distance!
and of course I always seem to see the best dogs! Meet Gus…
and friends,
Just when I thought I was too old to be embarrassed by anything, Leo, (who already mortified me at The Fork by peeing on Karen O’Connor’s hay right in front of her – shameless) sank to a new low today. I stared in disbelief as he actually looked me in the eye when I called him to go, got up, and walked under the belly of my friend’s horse, literally between the front and hind legs as if he was going through a tunnel – safety aware! I didn’t see my new friends Jake and Jester the police horses out today, but I did meet Gayle, a member of the Kentucky Horse Park Police,
This was definitely the prettiest stock tie and pin I’ve seen in a long time
Which brings me to thank-you’s. Thanks to everyone who let me take their picture knowingly or not! Thanks to everyone who talked to me for the videos and especially thanks to Kathleen for recognising Leo and I and saying Hello, that was a lovely surprise, and it was great to meet you!
It’s a bright and early start tomorrow morning, and a long day of cross country, I’ve already prepped my kids for a 7am start by bribing them with a promise of McDonalds Drive-Thru Breakfast – stooping to new lows myself! Thanks for reading and revisiting Pony Club with me, let’s go eventing!
