Seeing 4* cross-country live just reinforced the fact that there is a point in eventing that I will reach and say "You know what, not going any farther." I mean, look at this sucker:
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| Photo by one of my teammates |
Noooooope. Couldn't pay me to jump that! My BO was standing next to me here and said, "You think Connor would jump that? He could jump on top and scurry across it, then jump off. Or maybe he'd need a ramp..." My BO, always a problem solver!
I completely failed at taking pictures on Saturday so you'll just have to believe me, but I chatted with Kristen of Stampy and the Brain and Hillary of Equestrian at Hart and Karen from Contact on Saturday, making four bloggers I've met in the month of April! How cool is that? I love that this little side project has turned into this social thing by which I meet cool people pretty much anywhere I go. You guys are the best!
That of course leads me to shopping! On Saturday I wandered the trade fair by myself for two hours, felt financially guilty anytime I picked anything up (I needed an enabler!) and then quickly put it all back. I ended up buying:
...the yarn needles I had to buy before this weekend's event anyway, and two checkout line items: a comb and a rub rag. Totally exciting, I know.
So imagine my surprise/relief/excitement when I rolled over to check my phone on Sunday and saw that I won Hillary's contest! While she tried her hardest (okay not THAT hard) to see me end up with an Ogilvy, I couldn't swing the cost not covered by the contest, and there are a couple of "needs" on my list right now: hind boots, and reins to replace my broken ones that I still use anyway because...YOLO...or something. Anyway:
These have been on my list for over a year, so I am psyched beyond words to get to try them, and to no longer be freaking out on the inside when a clinician randomly asks Connor to walk over a 18" log with no hind leg protection, or when we move up to BN. Thank you so much, Hillary!
After a fun morning walking around the trade fair with Hillary and Kristen and having an awesome chat over lunch (seriously, everyone I've met this month I feel like I could talk to for days right off the bat - that's a great feeling), it was show jumping time!
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| Sent this one to my mom, who loves Churchill Downs. |
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| Our view of the ring. It was a gorgeous weekend! |
I left before awards to beat the crowd out of the parking lot, but ended up getting distracted by the staging area for the awards ceremony. I was seriously close enough to reach out and touch the horses:
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| Even 4* horses reach out to say hi to their neighbors. |
So all in all, it was an awesome experience. I am looking forward to being there all three days next year and hosting an epic equestrian blogger Rolex 2015 party. Who's with me?!
Yay yarn needles!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah I went to buy the belt and I was like "...I literally have everything in this except needles." $3 for needles vs. $17 for a belt. Done.
DeleteAlso your fault that I need them at all! Thanks again for showing me those braids!
DeleteDarn! I wish I had been able to meet up with you guys! So glad you enjoyed your first Rolex and congrats on the hind end boots. I have a pair of the Magyk boots and really like them.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I are talking about getting a camping spot for next year. I would love to have a Blogger Rolex 15 party!
Omg I want to camp with you all!!
DeleteOh my gosh. Tarra and I are SO in! We are planning a trip out next year. I can't believe it's with in two hours of your house!
ReplyDeleteYes! I was thinking of you guys and hoping you could make it. Fly into Indy and stay with me and come play with Connor too!
DeleteYes, yes, yes! We are headed over next year and will definitely have to all meet up! SO excited already! P.S. if you could have reached on over and snatched up Trading Aces or Smoke on the Water for me that would have been great ;)
ReplyDeleteUh yeah I wanted to! Haha. Smoke on the Water's jump round was so smooth. Want want want. Can't wait to see you in 2015!
DeleteI'm jealous you got to go... I'm totally in for a blogger party next year!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, let's do it!
DeleteI'm in for Rolex 2015!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great time!!
Yes! West Coasters come to the Midwest! It was pretty awesome, I'm so glad I went.
DeleteWe are going next year, too! Isn't it amazing? I have been three times and still am in awe each time. Go eventing!
ReplyDeleteGo eventing indeed! It's just amazing that a horse can get over a solid object that big. Also OMG those brush jumps!
DeleteIf I'm still in KY next year I will so be there. I want to convince L to come too! I think that if I go fri-sat again I would probably stay in Lexington atleast fri and bring my pups. The driving back and forth 3 days in a row wasn't a ton of fun. Minus still getting to ride my own horse :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're happy with the boots!
And it was soooooo awesome to meet you. I really hope I can make the Keuring work. That would be a blast. :) esp if I wouldn't be alone!
Yeah, we stayed and it was nice. How far is the drive for you? I'd like to bring my dog too so I'll probably do my own thing separate from the barn next year. I AM jealous of you getting to ride, the weather was gorgeous all weekend and is horrible today!
DeleteKeuring is on. I'll let you know when I get details from Connor's breeder.
It took about 1 and 15 Friday and closer to 1.5- 1 and 45 on sat and Sunday with the stupid parking traffic. I worry my guys would have been kinda hot this weekend but staying on Friday night would make things much easier I think.
DeleteWouldn't want them there Sunday since I loved having a seat this year to watch!
Count me in! Can't believe we missed you on Saturday! Course, we would have missed Karen, Hillary, & Kristen if they wouldn't have called out my name :) So glad you had an amazing time and congrats on winning the contest!
ReplyDeleteI was such a space cadet the whole weekend I would probably have just walked right by you. Something about that environment just shut my brain down. Wish I would have seen you!!
DeleteIt was great meeting you Jen! Weather is nasty here in Michigan today too (and the rest of the week, ick) and I'm sad I will be riding both of my boys inside this afternoon! Thankful that I got to ride Houston in the awesome Kentucky weather over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt was great to meet you too! Michigan, you live way too far north, you need to move down here! I'm so glad you got to come. Start making plans for 2015, or maybe earlier??
DeleteHillary was fulfilling everyone's dreams this weekend :D only a year later I now will have a saddle cover again because Hillary cajoled Antares to give her one for me for free :P
ReplyDeleteSanta Hillary! Haha. She told me she got the cover, I didn't put two and two together and realize it was for you. Awesome! You HAVE TO come next year. Have to have to have to.
DeleteGlad you had a great time and congrats on the contest win!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Get up here for the blogger party next year!
DeleteIt was really nice to meet you!! Great pictures! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was awesome to meet you too, and thank you! I hope you like your bridle! We have to meet again more thoroughly sometime.
DeleteReally awesome meeting you! Hope I can meet Conner this year as well. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, same for you! You've always been one of my favorite bloggers. Sounds like you'll get to meet Connor and I'll get to meet Hampton on May 10, right?
DeleteAw, so jealous of all the fun.
ReplyDeleteYou and C-rage just need to move to the great Midwest!
DeleteCongrats on winning Hillary's contest and it looks like you had a blast!
ReplyDeleteThanks and yes! You should try to come next year!
DeleteSad I didn't get to see you....didn't see anyone! I'm down for party next year - we should get a tailgate spot!
ReplyDeletealso, would love to hear how you like those boots!
DeleteAgreed! A boot review is forthcoming, I rode in them last night and really liked them.
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