Home from the last two big Thunderbird shows of the season, and boy am I wiped out! The shows were absolutely phenomenal, and every horse finished the show better than they started. Can’t ask for more success than that!
FF Evita
Evita was a rockstar at this show! Double clear in all of her open 1.10m classes (which is pretty darn impressive considering she started the show season and her entire showing career 4 months ago in her first ever 0.75m rounds) and a terrific go in the Maplebrook Young Jumper 5yo Finals class – also clean and 7th out of a large field. The class reinforced my feelings about this mare’s scope and brain, and I will say again that she is a legitimate international prospect. All heart with a body to match!
FF Clintaro
Clinton wanted in on some of the glory as well. He continued with his consistency, picking up top 3 ribbons and a bunch of red (1st place) ribbons in his Low Hunter red/blue ribbon rounds. And it’s a good thing he did, because we had one of those funny weeks where all of the horses seemed destined to wind up second almost regardless of the class size and difficulty. All in all not a bad place to be, but the only one to pick up any 1st place ribbons was Clinton!
He also picked up a new catch rider at this show. 11 year old Bryn was his pilot on the non-Baby-Green days. She hacked him for me, schooled him for me, and showed him in the Short Stirrup hunters, picking up a blue ribbon in one of the short stirrup rounds one day!
Cassiana SR
Cassie was as good as her younger counterparts, with several clear and double clear rounds in the 1.30m Jr/Am classes. Hard to believe that she’s technically still a young horse – she was my absolute rock during the week! <3
William L
Billy was terrific throughout the two weeks. We stuck to the High Jr/AO Jumpers during the first week and the first couple of days of the second week, finishing with several top finishes in big classes. We stepped up to the FEI classes for the weekend, and it was a bit of a tough go with our draw of 66th in the Friday class. He struggles with footing, and it felt like we were jumping out of holes. He had a few rails, but jumped around confidently like he always does. This horse absolutely awes me with his heart and willingness to jump even when things aren’t perfect. Last year we did the FEI classes on a broken coffin bone (discovered after the fact), so I have to say that there’s a certain confidence that comes with knowing your horse will jump no matter what!
Foxy Socks
Finally, Sadie and Socks got their chance to show and to shine! They had to step up to the 0.80m jumpers since the show didn’t offer their usual 0.75m jumpers, and boy was that not a problem at all! Sadie had several brilliant rounds, winding up 2nd in two of the classes (out of 17+ horses and many adults and trainers). This put her in the Champion position for the week, and it absolutely made her week! Week two went just as well, with another 2nd place finish and in-the-ribbon-rides every single day. It makes me so happy to watch the best mare and my favorite kid (who me, biased? lol!) have so much fun together!
