Cob Jockey

I honestly can't even remember how long "JenJ in Indiana!" has been on my calendar.  Probably a solid year or more.  Really, I was inordinately excited - nobody ever has a reason to visit Indiana!  The calendar entry was on there so long, it felt like it would never get here - until it did!

Trying to get a good Paddy "selfie" outtakes

I'll let JenJ explain the event they came up for, I don't think I can do it justice. (Although I'm not sure how soon she'll be able to do that, her schedule is crazy for a while!)  Basically, it's not a renfair and it's not a jousting tournament.  It's a reenactment, but more than that.  This meant it's slightly less spectator friendly than your average joust, and that E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E was wearing medieval clothing, because they're basically living it for an entire week straight.  We had to dress up too!

Attendees at the Opening Ceremony and their period-dressed child at their feet.  Some of the costumes were insanely elaborate.

To say I was intimidated rolling up was an understatement, and EquiNovice was with me and probably felt the same way.  My instructions were basically "Wear black riding tights and boots, bring a belt and a tanktop, sneak in the side way and if anyone asks you why you're wearing street clothes, tell them you're meeting one of the equestrians for the joust.  We'll get you into tunics when you get here."

My outfit, and Sean on Paddy getting ready for the opening ceremonies.  Photo by EquiNovice!

We made it, changed, and about that time Sean and Paddy were getting ready for the opening ceremonies, when they'd be doing three "passes" down the jousting lane.  First they warmed up outside with not quite all of the armor on:

I was the paparazzi.

Paddy came out and this horse was like "WHAT THE F*** IS THAT?!"

I think Paddy's found his calling, you guys.

I have seen photos and videos of Sean jousting, and I have done the quintain myself on Brego, but I'd never seen Sean joust for real.  It was really neat, with the thundering of hooves and the shattering of the balsa wood tips on the lances.  Unfortunately I knew the pictures I took during it wouldn't be any good with the sun being behind the covered arena, but if you go to EquiNovice's Instagram, she got a really good video of it.

World's cutest jousting Haffie

I did get a decent picture of JenJ shoving a cookie in Paddy's mouth when he got done with a pass.

After we got done, Paddy got a bath and did his very best Dover model impression:


And then I took this picture to prove that JenJ and I's "twin" ponies have the same tail:


And Paddy proved he's Connor's twin further by screaming for his friends while walking back to the barn.

Dat body.  What a hunk.

With that, we put the ponies away and rested in the shade for a bit before their next activity.  Stay tuned for part 2!