Winner's Circle

"You really broke his heart," the Olympic coach said, her former 6 week intern boss was frowning in greeting.  She dreaded seeing him in public now because she had fled the working student opportunity, rather unceremoniously on New Year's day, partially because of the boss's brother's suffocating crush, and the boss's pressure to move into bro's apartment on the farm.  Partially also because of the unsafe, unfair horse practices, and partially because of her illegal status while the aforesaid incidents were being investigated by the authorities.  She shrugged and sat down while he walked on.

Roomie was watching them across the show grounds and asking her student, as they walked the aisles of the barn at the competition, if she had ever been called by 911.  What? The young equestrian wasn't following...  Roomie said that one day during her stint in Ocala, Jill had been alone working in the barn when she answered the ringing landline.  It was the fire department, sounding desperate to find the farm.  Jill gave them the remote, rural address, calmly, and added that she was standing right in the barn and didn't see anything on fire...  The operator said, "We have that address.  We can't find it, and need directions from town.  We are responding to a medical emergency, called in on a cell phone from somewhere on the property."

Jill was new at the job, new in town and had no idea how to further define the location.  It was awful how she had time to go knocking on doors at neighbour's asking for help, while the emergency personnel waited.

The injured woman waited 45 min for their arrival, laying on the ground where the rearing horse had struck her down and crying the whole time, "I can't feel my legs, I can't feel my legs."  At the time she ended up airlifted to the nearest hospital, and then remained paralyzed for life.

"Thanks for housesitting!" a woman came up from behind and joined them, delighting "The pets seem so grounded."  Roomie had just taken care of not just the dogs and cats, but also her first birds!  Apparently the last pet sitter left the unruly puppy unattended and unexercised to the point the creature ate lightbulbs and batteries and electric wires, and then didn't even akcnowledge the housekeeper's text about it.  Roomie enjoyed taking over the babysitting assignments from her friends for the company and privacy and extra pay the mutual pet joy provided.

*

When the president of the equestrian federation passed with a joke about Jill being seated rather than officiating on the grounds, said she was "saving her energy for future exploitation," ha. "Maybe we can connect another time," he was serious.  Jill really wanted to hang around with David O'Connor and would start pitching articles as soon as she got home.  Or, how about "A Day in the Life of Chester Weber?

She still felt like the young girl who wanted to be like the star of National Velvet who won the Grand National and made headlines for being disqualified for being female before turning down the money available through the glory. "Everything comes in its proper order, Mrs. Brown" meanwhile, her mother was cancelling on her again. Jill would read the email later - she knew without reading it that the woman was either discombobulated about the date to meet at the horse show, or had come down with a sudden ailment.

Riders were chatting in line at the snack bar, "if he is expected to deliver perfection there where is the reciprocal?"

Jill caught up with Roomie and her student in the same line up, "Because i am a rider and coach i get thrust into senior positions sometimes at events and i have to ask after the basics like how to work the walkie talkie, ha." Jill caught up for the laugh.

The student wanted to know who she was riding now.  "I just work with whatever horse falls in my lap." For some reason Roomie added "Even when Jill has a boyfriend, she just expects him to stay out of the way." 

Sport Office Work?

Jill was well aware that the facility owner insisted on over-ruling the certified coaches, on what should be taught to students and how, and eventually she fired each and every one by one. It seemed she preferred subordinate staff with less knowledge, professionalism and training as teacher. So then, why was she allowed to maintain membership in the accredited facilities that were expected to have a certified head coach?

Jill had heard Cavalia was seeking a barn manager, but she was sure she was too late to apply. Instead she was considering another more current want ad.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage detail.
organizational and computer skills, excellent oral and written communication skills.
high ethical standards and the ability to manage confidential information.
capable of providing effective leadership and supervision of staff.
knowledge of rules, experience with a discipline recognized by the Federation and current License as Official

Q. If you are not a resident of the greater Lexington area, are you willing to relocate at your own expense?

She liked to imagine living in Lexington. She knew could take the heat in Georgia, Arizona and Texas and love it more than anybody. California and Florida didn't even get warm enough, but Kentucky would have some of the warmth she craved right? 

Then, since Jill was not legally able to work in the United States, she wished the Canadian Sport Office would hire her for such a role instead. She was daydreaming and not getting any applications progressed.  She missed working! 

And then, she was nostalgic about the date that Jim said "I am really impressed with your stride. People are always telling me slow down slow down but we walk in a comfortable rhythm."

Jill had thought he had a charming smile, and was glad to see his eyes without the sunglasses for a change, ha, and she liked holding his sandpaper farm boy/farrier hand through the crowds on the street of the big city.

Meanwhile, she'd told her friend the night before, "He's the boss's brother, I am not even going to hold his hand." ha.

Dreams, Dreams, Dreams

I feel like a princess!" Jill said, as she exited the WEG shuttle bus. "You should!" her new, elderly acquaintance agreed. "This is one of the more expensive hotels in the area." After she'd blurted the p-word, she remembered how she'd told her band-mate on departure, "Of course I'm okay with going alone. And, of course I've got 8 hours to invest investigating what passes are flying, ha. It is after all, a handsome prince who has invited me." She'd had no idea really, at that point, how AMAZING the whole experience would turn out to be.

Her Australian bus-seat neighbour had once shipped a horse from Perth to Japan, when sold for $95,000. His wife was retiring from competition then, and that was a long time ago… One of their travel buddies, then and there, in fact, owned a horse on the team, and traveled to all the shows, but he was getting a bit frail for the next Olympics at 86!




Her traveller friend wanted to know now how the instructor certification process was in her country. Jill enthused that at least there was, at least, basically ONE certifying body in Canada, and not such a confusing array of credentials as in the country they were both visiting for the horse show… "but, in terms of actual horsemanship and riding skills I'd say pony club was the stronger model. Do you have that too?" Jill was glad she had that background to bring to the process, and in common with her new chum. "I have to admit that the whole national certification process in Canada was useful in terms of developing my teaching skills ~ especially in terms of an ability to formalize lesson plans and build progressions etc. But the nonsense about almost failing because I braided with elastics and not wool or because my belt buckle didn't show enough, THAT's a bunch of malarky." Her companion was nodding in agreement! He'd liked the Instructor's Handbook she'd purchased that day at the Pony Club booth on the horse park.




And then he amused her citing verbatim all the pony club rules he did not adhere to on their farm back home where they did still have two horses, ha.
*
She'd asked a lady sitting in the stands beside her, if the little bay stallion was a Conermera too. She shrugged, even though she had in fact been there since the beginning of the demonstration and also had the official literature. "I always thought that being a GREY was part of hailing from the Irish breed" Reading over her shoulder Jill pointed out the phrase about breed colouring and commended her for clarifying, "good work!" The woman gave Jill her brochure ha.

When she passed the driver on the pathway later Jill announced, "What a beautiful horse you have!" The woman in the lovely hat, who had driven in the 4-wheeled combined driving carriage asked, "the bay?" and Jill smiled and nodded. She was a sucker for a bay horse.

She forgot to take pictures at the Natural Horsemanship clinic. And, she had mixed feelings about the suggestion to drop the rope in doubt or trouble, but everything else was fun to watch…

*
"And what sport is that?"

Jill could easily still recall how her respect for him skyrocketed exponentially the day he asked that at a conference meeting, seeking clarification of a board members claim to animal cruelty. She could also remember how she got on the phone immediately trying to rustle up a mount for the hunt the very next day!

More Anti-Training Methods?

On one hand Jill was glad the property owners were addressing the things around the facility that needed attention -- but on the other hand, she'd enjoyed having the student send her pony right through the snow drift at the about-to-be-repaired end of the arena. What a great training exercise!
*
Every time Jill tried to sell a brood mare in her lesson pony herd, the owners of the place shut her down. If they weren't for sale, why were they working up the ponies? For the show ring? For the beginner lesson program? ha. She recognized that they were talented, sweet, sensible athletes, capable of show ring performances. And, she only wanted the best for the ponies too. She thought they were all to be in the family! Jill thought of herself as a trustworthy match maker, teacher and horse trainer, but they wouldn't allow it...

Therefore she wondered for what purpose that she was putting in about 2 hours work, plus cell phone expenses and mileage for every $15 earned in lesson fees. She'd thought it was at least toward the cause of developing part boarders. Why did the head coach pay less for the use of ponies, while she charged more and supervised less?

Jill had single-handedly done a lot of work to clean up the urine-smelling barn, to make it more presentable, more business like and safer. She had done a lot of work creating an Emergency Plan, organizing both a human and equine first aid kit, planning/giving stable tours, following up to ensure waiver signing, invoicing, filing, cell phone calls back and forth, in order to do all the work of catching the ponies, switching the stirrup leathers, clearing the ring of jumps.... only in order to get started on the real stuff, the stable management and riding parts of the lesson. Whew.

The ponies did not like to be seperated, so private lessons did not add the usual level of additional security, unless she had extra volunteers to lead companion animals! She celebrated all the challenges in the months it took to get a few animals reliably independent and to get two beginners ready to matching levels! She knew it was easier to teach in the lesson factories, where you could shoot a cannon in the arena and a horse wouldn't even blink. But Jill was doing the work here with every one's best interest at heart.

Once things were ready to really get rolling, the owners said they had decided to keep only one coach on the property, the other one, that had been coming and going with them for about a decade. Ouch. It was actually painful how much she would miss the place, specifically, the ponies, not to mention the students in the tiny lesson practice. It was so unfair!

Now that she had ridden all the ponies and pulled the manes, trained all the students and parents about farm rules and organized the payments and schedules to maximize efficiency the boarder/head coach who had recruited her to ride in the first place was squeezing her out, and authorized to take over her students.
*
Jill had experienced it before though and what goes around comes around. She knew eventually she'd be getting calls from those riders who would have had quit from that teacher, and would want to find where Jill was teaching by then!
*
"Why do you think the Sport Office shows her name as a Level 2 but no contact info for her?" her rider pal was asking. Jill was pretty sure that there were complaints lodged against the coach in question, and felt somehow justified to benefit thus, as the only certified teacher listed in the area. Was the "superior" credential flawed?
*
Its true this all came down as Jill dated one of her ex-boyfriends. "So her name is Jill?" It was only a text message but it was still shrill. They'd been spotted together out for a burger and a beer and his current girlfriend was clearly (also) livid. Jill could see why. Behind her back he said he wasn't into her but he was afraid to mess with his professional success by dumping her. "What you feel comes out in what you do," Jill was forever a teacher, always one for doling out advice. "You may as well be consciously truthful. For sure I am getting nothing romantic going with you, though I value our friendship."

At least once after that she'd tried to help professionally. With another opportunity to attend an amazing competition that he declined. The event would in fact make the cover of the magazine he was hoping to sell to, and he would send them a complaint letter about their priorities. In a way she agreed with his point that their choice of the big show cover shot alienates the all-important grassroots members of the sport but on the other hand, did he see the irony?
*
The expert and heavily invested farrier said the academics and executives often didn't know their horses and Jill kept an eye out to see if his theory would hold up. She noticed the new colour photograph at the big Agricultural expo showed this same coach lunging a horse and rider, with three points of contact. There were side reins attached, the rider had reins and the teacher had the lunge line attached. Instead of trashing them in public, Jill wrote the Education Centre, after the fact, trying to stress her interest in being helpful (about the esteemed-in-error-coach's inaccurate display, which she thought was accidentally being heralded by a not-quite-knowledgable-enough Equine Studies program as a model). Jill had sometimes found the scientific types at the healm of the certain programs quite ignorant about actual day to day horse interaction. "By the way, there was a display at this year that showed a picture of a student being lunged. It is not quite a perfect example of the lunging process that would be suitable for a certified instructor to model." and she attached feedback from a Sport Office trainer to support the reasons it was incorrect, to her note.

But, Jill was not surprised there was no reply, no effort for any clarification offered.

One of the key learnings Jill had taken away from that esteemed trainer's teachings was never to SHOW the WRONG way, only to clearly demonstrate correct method.  Because of people's way to retaining visual info, the trainer said it was important not to plant WRONG pictures in anyone's mind...

Wishful Reminiscing?

While attending the World Equestrian Games, as a volunteer-blogger for the National Sport Office, Jill was surprised that about half her informal, verbal survey results indicated that 50% of attendees were local, but NOT horse people.

No wonder it seemed so different from when they were held on European soil...
*
It was amazing to see what was happening around the world.  When 20% of a population have a cell phone a dictatorship can no longer exist! Jill was thinking of getting on board.
*
Jill did not want the group lesson exception the woman was willing to try and arrange for her.  She graciously declined.

Obviously long gone were the days when Jill would get PAID to ride.  Two different winters in the last few had been spent with Olympians, hours and hours of exciting, challenging and valuable training rides.  One season in sunny warm Florida and one season in snowy, hilly, amazing Ontario.  Jill missed that kind of opportunity more than she could begin to express.  Priceless access and pay.

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!

Pop Test(s)

"So, why wouldn't you want to work for them anyway?" Jill's new pal for the conference asked, in a voice that may have carried to the passers-by. Jill didn't want to be caught gossiping, but she did want to vent, ha. While submitting her resume about 1,000 times, she had tried very hard with volunteer effort, in different capacities to make a difference to the organization... But the people responsible for influencing the management didn't really seem to care about actual improvements. Or so Jill decided because they never hired her, and seeing who they did select (and how they all interacted) was frivolous and frustrated her beyond measure. It was an old boys club that she had decided to give up on changing, or exposing, ha.
*
Her new roomy said the attic was now off limits.  Apparently the last tenant had borrowed a scarf from the landlord's storage up there. The frustrated blond learned this when the landlord came through, unannounced in her absence and the rotten tenant put said dirty, stained, ruined pink pashmina on her coat hook, ha. It was a first impression with the landlord she never could shake.

On a more positive note, said that she had a box of rosettes somewhere. She wanted to bond over a shared love of horses! Her collection would be "in serious need of ironing" but she still had it… Jill didn't say that in a way she lamented the year she threw out the entire stuffed filing cabinet drawer's worth of ribbons, or that in another way she thought ironing? I don't even iron clothes! To put such effort in to something so simply sentimental! All her awards were sooo old… her winnings as a junior? Its true that even as she matured she was disappointed to learn that ribbons won nowadays, technically belonged to the horses' owner, not the competitor, ha. She hadn't received a new one since she was about 18 years old! She'd only earned one medal and never, never, never (despite all her hopes) had she ever taken home a trophy!
*
Sitting near an official's vehicle, as the competition neared its end, Jill heard the call over the radio for the vet to take a look at the distressed mare, that had just come off course and returned to the stable. A draft cross, who had found the marathon phase in the southern heat a bit much it sounded like...


The requesting voice just wanted to be sure she would okay. Was it the owner requesting the vet care? The competitor? Jill heard much difficult back and forth question and answer about whether this was a courteous suggestion for general horse-health welfare or an actual order from the ground jury? "You realize the implications of asking for a vet check, right?" the walkie talkie changed its tune and asked instead for a casual walk by in one hour.
*
As they came back from their hack around the hayfield, with all the freshly baled squares strewn in rows every couple of feet, making it impossible to find one to jump with even a stride or two on landing, Jill shocked her riding buddy. "I see a line," she announced, gathering up her reins, urging the pony into a few steps of trot, and popping length-wise over a hay bale, with the short side testing their accuracy and sending them leaping a nice, long spread of a jump. Whoo hoo!

Jill had never jumped the pony before, but she knew her history as an eventer and she knew from the feel of their rides that she was an honest, go-ey kind of girl that might enjoy the pop test. What fun!

Beginner's Luck

Jill had jotted down a higher number than the one she saw elsewhere as the male Canadian driver's dressage score, but she couldn't understand what the judges didn't like about the performance.  Was it the dramatic slowing of pace for the circles?   There was nothing else so different than the prior rider that she could recollect…

Jill carried on as the German women behind her left, between horses.  After all this, you're not even going to stay for the last ride, the woman???!!! And they laughed and swooned, sweaty in the heat as their excuse, as they did indeed depart. 

During the woman's drive there had been much head bobbing in the audience, especially from Jill's new American more-than-she-driver-expert friends about the head bobbing in the ring.  Eventually the worst of the leaders steadied out, and the other one just faded away.  Jill commented, "There's no sparkle, but at least they seem solid."  Her pals thought that was a good way to put it and loaned their camera for her to snap pics they promised to email if she reminded them.  After that, people in the bleachers behind her had comments for the first time the entire competition, "there's no flash." etc. 

He wondered why she would shy away from a stable pass, and it was true that Jill did not approach any of the competitors for comment or discussion of their sport whatsoever.  Not because she didn't want to, or see the access or because she doubted her ability to engage them in meaningful dialogue, and not so much because she believed the hoopla about the need for media passes and the media blackout even for those with credentials, but more because if she actually managed to obtain quotes and write about them, she would make herself so resented sooooo much more, by soooooo many…

And besides/after all, she didn't even have an outlet nowadays.

*

Once she realized that she didn't even KNOW the guy, her crush stopped running away with her and she was able to send a text like she would to any potential friend she was hoping to get to know a little better, making her 3 for 3 that day with many overdue hello's and hi's here and there, ha.

"I've been seeing your hair around the last few days.  Its fantastic!"

*

Beginner's Luck meant she missed the Canadians in the cones phase, not realizing their order of go would be based on scores (Duh!).  She was lucky to get in without a ticket, quoting someone who had said she could get in with her Closing Ceremony ticket and hoping for charm and goodwill to open the gates.  Therefore watched most of the event from beside the announcer in the car parked in the corner, although she did also claim a patch of shade by the entrance for a time too...  His commentary to whatever media he was speaking for was quite educational, although it was not a good spot for photos.

*

Trying to find the bridge to Canada in Detroit was a nightmare.  The exit the signs said to take, at the last minute, was marked closed.  She took the next one and she was glad to be doing in the light of a bright sunny day.  Why hadn't she gone all the way to the Port where she had come across in the first place?  There were construction/detour signs, but they had been graffitied over and it lead Jill to think how easy it would be to just post some of those of one's own.  The GPS was going crazy telling her to turn around and every time she reached the left turn of the detour route the road would again be closed.  It was nerve wracking, but eventually she caught up with some other confused traffic and took a spot in line for the $4.00 toll, in order to cross the bridge that was so majorly under construction.  Only on the other side, in the huge line for the customs officials could she relax, ha.

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!

* 

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!

Hotel Hopeful

For once Jill had actually remembered to toss some sort of swim suit into her luggage, and lo and behold at this facility there was sign up "no swimming alone."  Their buddy system made good sense in one way, but in an other way, wasn't it discriminating against singles?  She was tempted to call the management office and ask if they provided the buddies.

She hated sending a text and not hearing back.  What exactly did NOTHING mean? ha. She actually dreamt about it, and in the dream it turned out she'd been offended by a non-reply from an invalid number.

Jill did not know how, even after remembering her sunscreen facial moisturizer AND hat that morning, she ended up with such a sunglasses-racoon-face sunburn.  "You're pretty fair-skinned." her new friend splained her, spectating at the horseshoe with a shrug passing a drink of water instead of having sunscreen to offer, ha.  But she related to Jill's story and said she was tired of people looking sorry for her because she travelled alone.  "What am I supposed to do, wait until I'm married again to have a life?"

Finally she remembered that the man she'd seen in the restaurant and hoped to see competing that day was in fact, the father of the delightful gal whose hoofprints she'd followed in the snow.  For one whole wintery season, she'd never managed to ride with her, but was somehow always tacking up as the admired daughter-fun-lover was coming back into the barn with her amazing black pony.  Jill had wished to synch up her random ridings time better with such a good time spirited rider. Alas.  She had at least appreciated the updates about the footing and the option follow the trail already blazed tho, ha.

At the horse show, she was happy to catch a 10 min snooze on the lowest metal bench momentarily between events, vaguely watching the vaulters warm up in the background.  She was then thrilled, despite sun-walk-exhaustion, to find herself standing at the back of bleachers screaming and cheering during the exciting example match.

After the demo game, she asked where exactly one BUYS the equipment.  She wanted to promote the purchase to lots of people and then just borrow theirs, ha.

More News

The librarian had told her about emergency shelters and asked if Jill thought the politicians might soon go seeking a long term solution for homelessness, making the point that dressage and stadium are not the same as thoroughbred racing -- "due to the associated costs and training times, your equestrian sports are available to a select few."  Jill knew that the opening ceremony cost $1,000,000, and maybe even strategic sweeps the week of to arrest the homeless.  And, she was also haunted by the risk of homelessness increasing, with rising utility costs on the way…  she sometimes felt guilty for such frivolous interest in sports.

Jill had recently come home to find her landlord had propped the front door wide open for the open house.  She asked if her indoor kitties were locked up safe someplace and the woman stared blankly at her, eventually stating  "You didn't give me any specific instructions about the cats." Jill hadn't realized the open house would be such a LITERAL affair, ha.  She went looking for the precious pets and was unsettled that they didn't come when she called. She was shocked that the woman would forget a brand new mac computer behind and act so ungrateful when Jill returned it to her, finding it while searching for the missing animals.  What did it mean when she said "I've dealt with crazy people before."?  Was she referring to her new prospective tenants, the current lot, or her past representative in bringing in new renters?  Whichever, Jill thought maybe it meant she MADE people crazy, ha, and tried not to be crazy mad.

It turned out her cuddly pals were both hiding in the rotten walls of the attic, which was normally kept locked off limits.  Quite a relief, after all.  Quite a relief too to be making a nice new home for them all across town.

*

It was true that to see how small the event is in the national perspective one only had to look for coverage in the national newspapers…

Jill thought it was a little bit anti-marketing to criticize a competitor in public, at the arena cafeteria, about not wearing team colours, but what would she know -- she wasn't part of the team. "EVERYone got a jacket."  Were they for sale?  Could she buy one?  The competitor said he didn't get one, could he? 

Jill had travelled with her occasional student and occasional equine journalst buddy from the Cayman Islands, carrying their Public Relations job hunting aspirations along too.  She foolishly delegated the route-researching, car-renting, and driving to the foreigner, because she was so busy wrapping up things on deadline at work and because the young, clever woman asked to help!  

As Jill began (finally) to predict, their rental car GPS map took them right into the heart of a brand new subdivision in a nearby development instead of the giant horse facility they were supposedly headed to and indicated they'd reached their destination… making them very, very lost and very, very late, and in fact, very torn about continuing on and making an appearance at all.  Clearly the volunteer roles they'd committed to would be overwith by the time they actually arrived on site.  Jill was mortified to be so mortified…

Becky was the one with the epiphany that they should just figure out their way there and show up and offer a good attitude, and make the best of whatever the situation was.  What a good call!  Good lesson too, ha.  

Other Bits and Pieces...

Was it in a dream where she saw the woman-she-had-just-met's name in a driving caption photo? Jill flipped and flipped and flipped through her Driving Program over and over but couldn't find what she thought she'd seen.  She remembered she even saw the place of Perth mentioned, but couldn't spot it now.  Perhaps she was crazy!  Obviously, she had to get the tickets back to them because of the confusion over what day the access was for.  Why hadn't she noticed when they'd stood in the hotel lobby and she was given them?

*

"Well, why don't you go for a gallop then and come back and tell me the rest,"  she said, after the guy asked her not to try and touch the hyper horse that kept backing away from her, making it difficult to carry on a conversation.  Just who did she think she was??? First trying to comfort a wild chestnut with a pat on the shoulder and when prevented, telling the rider/official what action might be useful? ha! Sometimes her instincts could really run away with her.

*

Jill was tired of trying so hard, and alienating folks with her suggestions and pro-active approach to both paid and volunteer duties.  Her perpetual accidental leadership was not always valued! For the second time running she was consciously waiting til instructed to accomplish tasks, and then delivering only what was requested instead of making any efforts to go above and beyond.  It was turning out to be an easier way to be unpopular at least.

*

She texted her pony club media friends not to come.  The authorities had made it very clear she was mistaken about her value in being in there and it was obvious she was about to be sent away. Her friend didn't seem to mind, and took it all in stride, calling for details and mutual cheer up chatter.  Jill thought, obviously, she doesn't just sell steel, she's made of it!

She amused Jill describing a recent work-related trip to the slaughterhouse. What a saga! Disgusting that they could actually laugh about how on one rack a cow was being gutted, while on another one was being ripped in half by two men, and how when she turned her head away, it was only to see another get it's head chopped off at the same time.  Her friend could really work magic in story telling and this scenery was all in a day's work for her, as she examined the chain that needed re-ordering and did her best to avoid looking at exactly what was hanging off the chain... UG.

Jill was mostly vegetarian, and hearing all that made her feel even worse for the two mornings in a row where she'd enjoyed two breakfast meats. 

Her old pal suggested heading to her place with the few unpaid days off her normal work Jill had left.  "Just when was the last time you stood on a porch and whistled for a horse anyway?"  Jill would certainly be glad for any stolen moments on horseback no matter which way they came...

Truth and Lies

"Well, if you could get yourself there, you could make use of my colleague's hotel room for a week…"  Jill wondered if she was dreaming to hear such a statement about such a big, huge horse show.

But then again, it was not the first time Jill had landed an invitation to head south just by showing up somewhere. "Remember the first clinic I went to go audit?" Thanks to an OHTA blast where it was clear there was no charge, she went out once to a David O'Connor clinic to spectate. "I was desperate for some kind of equestrian development!" Jill was telling her students after their class about losing yet another horse - this time her mount had been sold out from under her to cover the owner's medical bills. Said owner also being her teacher meant she was really, suddenly, fully out of the game (albeit selfish to see it that way). 


Jill said she'd never done anything like that before, attended a clinic for such serious competitors, but she was so glad she had!  It was an amazing facility and it was surprisingly easy to be there, and, so totally worth the drive! She stuck it out all day in the cold and damp and moved in closer and closer, eventually sitting on a cross fence beside the clinician and making conversation with the riders as they all watched each fellow participant and waited their turn for various exercises. 


Eventually Jill had even taken over as jump crew, as other helper/auditors left, but still she had been to shy to chat with the team coach at all.

In the barn, the chief maintenance guy had obviously taken a shine to her. He must have liked she walked through the stable making conversation with each animal through its stall door, because before she left they asked her to join them in Florida for the season. She hadn't really had much of a conversation with any of the people, but yet she agreed.   On the condition that she go down AFTER the Royal Winter Fair. 
*
And then, she was almost made famous for the fact that she made them wait an extra few days after that, so she could spend some time in the Kentucky Horse park. Afterwards, she learned it was her worker-buddy-to-be that convinced everyone else, saying "there's just something about her." How could it be her fault that he fell in love when she didn't?
*

Another No-Show?

In her younger days, Jill's parents had come to every single horse show.  From the very beginning until the very end.  She'd always thought it added to her stress of the day rather than reducing it, and wished they wouldn't try so hard.

Now, she wanted to spend time with them on weekends and was constantly inviting them to come to shows with her, but they weren't interested.  Too bad!  She was only spectating it was true, but she still thought it would be a good way to spend quality time together, in the fresh air, for free, while having fun and cheering on her friends or students etc. etc. etc.

She had her friend's Caledon Horse Park appearance on her agenda for weeks ahead of time, and now that the time was drawing near, she'd have to cancel.  She couldn't get there in the morning and back in time to celebrate an early Thanksgiving. Dang Dang Dang.

It was nice to be offerred the chance to trade vehicles for her journey of course and she was incredibly grateful for all the effort and expense they had put in to supporting her travels to the Kentucky Horse Park, but dang it, she kept trying to find a way to have her cake and eat it too.

*
the mature young woman in the music shop asked her "Are you still doing pony club?" and Jill said "not enough. Never enough. But, I have a date on Monday morning to hack a young appoloosa around its property while its owner rides Sugar alongside."  Saddle time was her absolute FAVE kind of horse time!

A Small Herd

who are your favourite ponies? I heard about a circus pony on the riding show circuit. A shetland who would
1) escape from his trailer
2) go to the concession stands, PICK OUT THE ORANGE CRUSH from the crates, get the cap off somehow, and drink it.

"he was notorious! you would hear it on the loud speaker that he was at it again... and could his owner please go get him from the snack bar"
*
sounds alot like the bar dog zazu don't it?
*

To get to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the President of the Carriage Association of America and his family drove 18 hours from MASS and his son's little welsh carriage pony wouldn't eat until the boy got there. Jill had never heard of that before! When the young man gave her a tour and she got to pat the little bay gelding, who had lost 70 pounds in the ordeal she asked, patting "are you a puppy or a pony?" and he tried to bite her.

Watching the hackney’s really upset Jill. There was one with his tail dragging on the ground behind the cart, close enough to catch in the wheels. And she hated their stand and their tail carriage and their action, because she had seen how those phenomenoms are achieved. Not to mention she hated the vibe of the big bully men that are so roughly bossy to the tiny ponies...