The Last Hurrah

Jill loved the album Hell Among The Yearlings.

She still felt stoopid for the way she'd piped up at the horse id meeting at the conference, with the ear tag question.  "Why can't we just do what they do for cattle?" DUH! Every horse person in the room was aghast, looking at her as she finally actually pictured in her mind the tags sold for id of ugly non-ptet livestock cattle in a herd…  A friend of hers, who's consistent simple kindness that always did impress her, spoke up defending her out of the box thinking, while explaining the invisible ear tattoo used on his cats… Many options could be considered viable by many!  

kentucky.com/wegphotos

He probably aspires to that speech-y job," Jill sighed to herself, listening to the president of the FEI go on and on. She was anxious for the set of music she'd estimated to her ticket buddy would go from 5-6, after all this "tradition" was overwith, ha.  The Princess was teary-eyed, commending everyone - the volunteers and event's organizers could bask in the glow of this phenomenal success blah blah blah.

Jill remembered when she'd left work in a huff because the boss's unfair tirade, and how she didn't go home because her evil-to-her-landlord needed access to her attic again that day… So, Jill had run to the library with her computer to vent and calm down.  She could use if for phone calls and email for there but was too teary to even go inside, she just sat on a bench in the lobby to collect herself, and lo and behold a woman she'd like to impress not distress walked by, with her young daughter.  Jill was both hurt and fortunate that they didn't recognize her or stop to offer any kindness.

On the stadium stage, there was even congratulatory hoopla about the footing, while Jill wondered what the groom's are doing out there on foot,  when they dismount after obstacles…  the newspaper had even showed a picture and the caption that the competitor was tightening "a loose tack."  A piece of tack or an actual tack? Jill would like to interview team manager/chef d'equipe about specifics. And, also the president of the equestrian games federation in the host country - how dangerous/safe are some of these FEI disciplines anyway?

"16 days…" the speaker's amplification had an echo voice "762 horses. 6,000 volunteers and 600,000 spectators" ? Jill wasn't quite sure she was hearing everything correctly.  Obviously this would be including a stadium crowd of 60,000 she was sitting in at that very moment…

She'd noticed nine countries competing in the Driving, and only 7 of them with teams entered.  One country was eliminated when the driver with the broken left foot went off course during the cones, just two pairs from the end of the course of 2 obstacles.  The Aussie who won did so on a world-record setting dressage test mark.  The Dutchman contending a tie for second spot had his carriage messed with and was subject to FEI drug testing as well as competing with a broken right hand.

The timing system broke down repeatedly, with clearly no contingency plan.  But it was worth the wait for the first double clear that would ensure the retiring chum a team medal.

She was into honouring promises, and was glad in way, when she could honour a previous pinkie swear about future concerts.  But first, she'd texted an allusion to an invitation to closing ceremony in a wish to hang out with a nerdy handsome, that hadn't worked…  she'd hoped for a reciprocal rain check kind of suggestion at least!

Were FEI officials considered "Games Officials?" Were the paid security guards really gone from their duties from 3am-5am? An Olympian blogger Jill was reading, published that the accusation in one of his early entries, but how credible was his info?  There was subsequent sabotage to one of the carriages out of camera view, right?

She listened intently to one of the field reporters, or so Jill thought of the randomly located driving expert she found at each obstacle, who said how nice it was as a sport to do "together." His wife was a driver, they did do four-in-hand, and she relied on him as brave and solid navigator. They were in it togethers, ha, and spent a lot of enjoyable time together in this way. And then again he made a few so-called-romantic jokes about the DRIVING tension that could be shared on, and off the course, ha.

She pictured how her handsome had bent over the h'ors deouvrs, over interested in the food, as they shyly passed each other at the gala where they'd last encountered one another, in person.

*

Jill thought it was cool how the city had created free mulch compost, available at the former landfill site, (not recycling centre), and was hosting a fire prevention parade!  If only someone would invite her to be his date.

*

What he loved about watching the team and individual vaulters freestyles, was how clearly it was about connecting to the music, to each other and, to the audience. They were not horse and human athletes, or acrobats, they were theatrical performers!

What could ever happen if the horse were allowed off the lunge?

The competitors that really excelled were clearly so in their bodies, in the moment.  It was amazing to see it all come together.

Clearly, it took flair and focus to excel.  Jill had loved watching the practice and drills with the announcer explaining the moves and methods and other insightful details.

*

Once again, she unbridled her spirit in the Kentucky Horse Park, ha.  Third time lucky? ha  

She texted some young friends about the local Pony clubbers that not only got front row seats for certain events, but had delivered bouquets, double 9 lb trophies and medals, with clear rounds all round!  Wearing medical armbands, lol.  Should they all plan now to render-vous in Normandy?

*

The Equine Extravaganza

The show was well underway by the time Jill arrived there, sitting down to eat, having shook the whole time she delivered a good deed.  What a gift to also cash in a free meal voucher on the way there!  

What she saw from a place she took in the bleachers started with the 1994 Mustang Troupers with Inner City Youth mounted on a formerly wild herd rounded up across the state.  One kid's pony wasn't do what he wanted and he cropped it several times in a blend of misguided show nerves and good determinism and bravery, eventually the pony bucked, and the kid stayed aboard but ended up out of order, frustrated his musical ride buddies and then he gave up when the pony went back to the gate.  He hunched over there until the routine was over and was first out, poor guy.  It was heartbreaking, but the crowd hadn't actually noticed.

This was followed by a spotted saddlehorse musical ride and then the amazing gus mclain from Australia, who had one horse lie down on command while the three others side stepped over him, including the one he was mounted on.  What Jill liked most about the herd of entertainers, is that they all seemed to find it fun, there was nothing resentful or fearful about their execution, as there were in other acts.

Watching the connermera pony refuse to walk in the gate twice til rider decided to jump him over the fence beside it instead of as entrance was fun.  The same youngster popped the pony, no hands, over a picnic table (set for a meal with table cloth et al) reminded her of her old pony friend stormy at windy haugh farm. When she was about 12, she had whipped him over the picnic table between the trees on the cross country course, in her weekly lesson with the farm owner -- and she loved doing it.  The boys on the rugby team at school had thought she was kinda cool when she talked about doing that…

*

She wondered if he was feeling pain in the litter box and thus spraying elsewhere?  For sure he sprayed every time he unrinated, all his life he had done this.  Now she heard him dig dig, digging in the litter, which he had also done All His Life, ha. Better of course… And, then she saw him scooting along the bathroom floor in the middle of the night.  She had no idea what was going on.  Otherwise, lol, he seemed fine.  Purring all the time, just sitting around.  He didn't want to go out, and was eating and drinking and snuggling and meowing like his contented self.  And, she sure had enough friends to choose from when she thought about calling the vet!

*

Jill LOVED reading the headline CANADIAN HORSE #1 ~ with the story of Hickstead as the lead story in the entire publication.

Jill didn't get a copy of the commerative book, "of course… because you didn't check in."

Uh, yes indeed, she had checked in, and in fact, provided a credit card for incidentals.  How she loved the sound of THAT word, ha.  The specific phrasing comforted right up until the very moment when she checked out.  Said check-in had also came with an invitation to the reception… what she really wanted to imagine though, was a wedding on horseback, ha.

She noticed the wedding ring on the woman's hand, and her starchy new team colours wardrobe.  She also noticed how her eyes welled up with tears when Jill had provided her hotel room number in answer to the waitress-inquiry.  But she wasn't sure exactly how she could cause them.

"Whatever snit you're in, you better get out of it right now," Jill actually kind of admired the co-worker's blunt and hard-hitting observation.  "We have FOUR more days to go."

*

In the meantime, she read into the penguins in the official booth and kept a saddle in her apartment.   She thought maybe she could find a carpool to the stinky town for the Ian Tyson book launch.  She'd kind of like to know more about his life, because she knew through his music that even if whiskey was his mistress, his heroes were his horses!