Merry, Beezer and "Hammie" do the Rancho Riding Club show

[Merry]

Well, I took the Hambone/Hamster/Hambola Virus/Hambolarama to the Rancho Riding Club horse show on Saturday. (His “real name” is Fame and Fortune). Mind you, this was going to be his first show where I expected him, ahem, to actually put together rounds where I didn’t have to pull him up on course, got all my changes and actually was competitive. The fact that I chose one of the biggest, most competitive San Diego County shows for this undertaking is mind boggling, but hey, I like the facility. If it’s nice enough for Hap Hansen and Gunter Seidel, I figure it’s nice enough for me!

Anyway, Beezer is better at relating the humorous play-by-play, but I can say that Hammie was really, really good! In every class he got better and better, although each round was marred by some sort of 4 yr. old moment that kept him out of the top ribbons. But I never had to pull him up, he was quiet in the lines and I got all my changes. I pinned in every class, even the amateur adult rounds!

I think I only used an “expletive” once, as in, “You WILL give me this @#!$* lead change!” But I don’t think anyone heard me.

Beezer was a great ground person. I believe she finds my dealings with Hammie humorous. And a fellow BB’er, trainer Nancy Reed, was nice enough to give me some pointers. So, a fun and constructive day! Whoopee!

[Cactuskate]

Ah, Rancho Riding Club. Yes, good enough for Hap and Gunther. I was there for the Dick and Jane Invitational Dressage Show pre-Olympics.

Did they still have the little flower vases and mirrors in the port-a-potties? I about died. How TO TO.

“The older I get, the better I used to be.”

[Merry]

I know, poor Spotty had to always be the poster girl for all the spooking/shying/misbehaving horse shots. Truth be told, they were always set-up somehow. But I guess she looked the part.

On sort of the same topic, Horsecity.com just got the American Horse Publication award for best Equestrian Internet site! I’m so pleased to be a big part of that site, and to have been asked to contribute from the ground floor, so to speak. (And they pay really well, too!)

Oops… don’t want the moderators to harrass me for changing thread topics!

[Bumpkin]

AA I can see it now horse trailer toppling a row of porta potties like a row of dominos!!! hahaha

Elliot was awesome may I add in my lesson tonight! Last week was kick the walls and do flying changes rama, this week was light loose rein perfect to the fences and doing changes, I am in heaven tonight for certain!!

Thanks to our wonderful trainer.

[Merry]

Well, I took the Hambone/Hamster/Hambola Virus/Hambolarama to the Rancho Riding Club horse show on Saturday. (His “real name” is Fame and Fortune). Mind you, this was going to be his first show where I expected him, ahem, to actually put together rounds where I didn’t have to pull him up on course, got all my changes and actually was competitive. The fact that I chose one of the biggest, most competitive San Diego County shows for this undertaking is mind boggling, but hey, I like the facility. If it’s nice enough for Hap Hansen and Gunter Seidel, I figure it’s nice enough for me!

Anyway, Beezer is better at relating the humorous play-by-play, but I can say that Hammie was really, really good! In every class he got better and better, although each round was marred by some sort of 4 yr. old moment that kept him out of the top ribbons. But I never had to pull him up, he was quiet in the lines and I got all my changes. I pinned in every class, even the amateur adult rounds!

I think I only used an “expletive” once, as in, “You WILL give me this @#!$* lead change!” But I don’t think anyone heard me.

Beezer was a great ground person. I believe she finds my dealings with Hammie humorous. And a fellow BB’er, trainer Nancy Reed, was nice enough to give me some pointers. So, a fun and constructive day! Whoopee!

[LaurieB]

Merry, congratulations on a great day!

Beezer, loved the editorial comment.

Seriously, it sounds like you both had a lot of fun. Like Pam, I’m insanely jealous that your 4 year old (love the name Hambola Virus) is doing 3’. I’m taking my five year old this weekend (over 2’3" or 2’6") and just hoping to get most of the changes and not break any land-speed records in the process.

[rusty]

It sounds like the show was a great sucess. Beezer thanks for the play by play.

[Beezer]

Merry lied … er, said:

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Let’s see how long it is before Beezer dings it up… As I recall, the smooshed fender on the last Circle J trailer happened when Beezer contorted the vehicle into a space at a show where I had to extricate it. My choices? Crunch a BMW or ram the fender against the show arena rail. I wisely chose the arena rail…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Merry left out a few little choice facts! As in, SHE was the one who told Beezer to go down that road. SHE was the one who said to Beezer, “Oh, you have PLENTY of room to make it.” SHE was the one who, despite Beezer’s protestations that there was NO WAY the trailer was gonna make it, INSISTED that that was the way we needed to go.

Also, as a point of fact, Beezer was the one who, yes, rammed the trailer into the ring because she did not want to take out the BMW. She then also was the one who had to go track down owner of said BMW so it could be moved out of the roadway so the trailer could pass. Beezer also was the one who got the crowbar from the show office and pulled the fender away from the tire so we could drive home. Mainly because Merry was laughing hysterically.

Beezer is not bitter. Much.

[Cactuskate]

See Bumpkin, it comes back to us in little tiny baby steps. Probably would be too overwhelming if “they” got it all at once. We “olders” would probably wet our pants with glee… Ahem…as I was saying.

My moment of triumph this morning was that I was a)able to sit the trot for one entire figure eight and b)would not have read on my dressage “test”, horse above the bit, at any point in my two circles

But I do think I heard my trainer(who lives 80 miles away) screaming from her porch, “more energy from behind, give him a tap with the whip, good Kath…”

But hey it was a baby step.

“The older I get, the better I used to be.”

[Everythingbutwings]

Sounds like quite an accomplishment. Where is Beezer? I want the play by play

[Duffy]

Go Merry and Hammie!!! Loved the story and major congrats!!!

[Merry]

Oh, the porto potties! QHSM tells me, “I think they’re ‘doubles’,” meaning she figured that there were two ‘seats’ inside. No, they were just HUGE! I mean, you could actually stand up, turn around and pull up your breeches without falling into the toilet. But alas, no vases of flowers. We are just mere hunter folks, you know.

But, what with the lovely porto potties, I did not, for the record, have to “relieve” myself in our brand new horse trailer!

[LaurieB]

Beezer, I, too, saw the pictures in Horse Illustrated. Not having read your earlier mention of the photo shoot, I didn’t know whether to bring it up (you and Merry being somewhat incognito around here )

Anyway, what impressed me the most–especially with regard to BB discussion points–were your lovely rust breeches.

[Bumpkin]

Oh but we relive those baby steps good or bad, over and over in our minds, don’t we?
I am still jumping that figure eight.

[Chef_Jade]

YEAH! Congrats - sounds like you had a great show and lots of fun, too!

[Chanda]

Wow, sounds like fun! Congradulations!!

I can hardly get my 8 year old over a single fence much less a whole course at a show.

[Bumpkin]

Tell us all about the new trailer!!!

And Merry aren’t you one of the snazzy lady riders, again now, on the magnificent Hambola?

[Chef_Jade]

Oh Merry - If I had known you needed a picture of a horse spooking/shying/darting away in fear…well I would have invited you to come photogragh Jade - on on of her GOOD days!

[Merry]

Hey, I am the QUEEN of baby steps!

If you only knew… today I spent an entire schooling session explaining to the Hanoverian Cow Beast how she must indeed take both the left AND the right lead if she ever wants to attend a horse show.

[Portia]

Congratulations! Sounds like a lovely time was had by all – and getting a 4 year old around without having to pull up is a great accomplishment in my book.

And I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who has 10 demeaning nicknames for my officially elegantly named ponies!