Watch and Learn

OXI/Multi Moron (?)(!)

1) She was also soooooooooo frustrated with herself! She couldn't master her reverse shyness - an affliction whereby she couldn't even go and say hi to the folk(s) she most wanted to chat to, while she could boldly intrude or make conversation or introduce herself to any other random strangers!

How could someone with such a fearless reputation and soooooooo theoretically brave (i.e. confrontational) be also such a chicken? She was sick of herself. "Oh i'm a walker," she heard herself say, afraid of a ride?

2) She hadn't realized that the "around the world" exercise she used in teaching beginners hailed from a cavalry move called "the mill" where you would quickly spin to see (or shoot) an enemy coming up on you from behind.  "Scissors" too.  The boys in her practice were bound to like learning this new tidbit, ha.  What an amazing demo the US vaulting team did in the Clinician's area of the event!

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She had studied books and looked at pictures but never had actually watched any driving competition.  When she moved on to the Combined Driving arena for the Dressage phase, she was actually walking past the ring with a test in progress ~ towards her assigned seating.  She suddenly realized it would be more appropriate to stand still and so, did so.  As the show unfolded, and volunteers developed in their roles, they p r e v e n t e d   folks from walking past during a test, and Jill was glad to note this.

Jill hadn't known before that were 5 judges in the Dressage phase of combine driving ~ one at B, E, H, C and M.  Was it like that in Grand Prix ridden dressage too?  She couldn't remember, but could see how it was useful as it was often one horse of the four deserving demerits, and how could that be seen from the other side of the team?

One competitor had a blended team of cross breeds that had an amazingly consistent action and manner of movement - did the hackney/clyde cross naturally move like the percheron/saddlebred cross, or was it a result of training?  She shuddered to wonder, remembering the hackney ponies she'd worked around in her youth with the posts chained to each foot forcing them to lift so high for every single step.

Sometimes the grooms faced forwards, sometimes backwards, sometimes each other.  And what they wore was never the same team to team, brown bowlers  black top hats or black or brown hunt caps, on ladies and/or men, and always different than the driver… Fedora vs. Cowboy hat.  How were all these decisions made? And-oh-to-be a lady driver!  Her longstanding hat obsession would really fit right in, ha.  Overall, she was a tiny bit ashamed to be so enthused and curious about the fashion of a sport.  Certainly not something she actually brought to real life, despite her designer label conscious family influence, ha. 

Jill thought squeaky or rattly carts and the driver's tone of voice surely influenced the judging too, like in the olden days when it was optional to type an essay but when doing so would ensure extra accidental good impression and better marks.  Speaking of marks, she found it cute, even though she knew better, to see any horse nuzzle its neighbour at any halt.  She also wondered what effect the damp, crisp morning vs. the hot, sweltering afternoon had on the actual scores and results.

Jill resolved that if she was ever involved in the sport, she were perfect a dramatic farewell salute!