Well, I just spent a lovely weekend at the millbrook horse trials as a groom for Nancy. All together, we had seven horses... 3 of which were being ridden by Nancy. Friday started at 7 AM, with Luna - Nancy's first horse - going at 9. Everyone but Miles (who was going at 4) was pretty much braided (except for forelocks), so all I really had to do was get everyone looking pretty. Luna was off with Nancy at 8:30 and I went to work on Bunny, who had dressage at 10. In between making the two mares pretty and cooling them out, I started braiding Miles. I caught a look at Bunny in the dressage warm-up when I ran over with fly spray and a towel, and she looked WONDERFUL. Nancy came back to report a personal best.. exciting!
I was then presented with the NIGHTMARE of taking out Bunny's braids. Jen had put them in and wished me luck, since she had sewn the CRAP out of them. I think that the one thing worse than braiding is definately taking braids OUT. I HATE IT. With the ladies done, we had a LONG gap before Miles went, which we filled with feeding lunch, eating lunch and just generally enjoying the event. I found Nikki at one point and she caught me up to speed on the goings-on at Stephie's. I also got to see Jessie and Elizabeth... it was a stephie's reunion!
We then got Miles and the two Preliminary horses ready for 3:30, and after they had all gone out to the ring, I picked stalls and did hay and water. Once everyone was back and cooled out, we fed dinner and went to walk the Prelim course... WOW. Millbrook really is a beautiful place... the jumps are spectacular, the scenery is gorgeous and the courses are TOUGH. Walking the prelim course, I saw a lot of the Intermediate and Advanced questions, which were enormous and technical... there would be some GOOD riding happening on Saturday! Jen and Beth - the two Prelim riders - seemed a little nervous, but also excited about the course, so things were looking good. I saw some of the lower level fences, too, and the course has definately changed a bit since I last competed there! I can't wait until I can actually have a horse competing there.
Once the course was walked, everything was done and I headed back home for a nice night in my own bed.
Once again on Saturday I was up at 5 to be up to the stables by 7 (I actually got there at 6:30, because I'm obsessive about being early). Luna and Bunny were going bright and early, with only about 45 minutes between them, so the morning was going to be a little crazy. Luna went off as the first XC ride of the day at 8 AM, and as I walked Bunny around and got her clean, I listened intently to the announcer to hear how Luna was going... all sounded good. Unfortunately, all was NOT good. Luna ended up with four stops (and, consequently, an elimination). So with her back and in trouble, I tacked up Bunny and sent Nancy off for her second ride. While Bunny went out, I cooled Luna down and took Miles for a walk, since he was headed to XC next. Bunny was a very good girl and got around with NO jump faults (she DID have speeding tickets, though!), so that got the morning going a bit better.
As the last horse of Nancy's to go, I got her off to the warm-up and then ran up to watch Miles go. It was his first training, and I guess he's not always a very good boy. The fourth fence on course was a two stride (I think?) that you came down to from a long stretch that ran parallel to the stabling... so a lot of horses were getting nappy and running left - towards stabling - at it. Miles proved no exception... even with a bit bur, a thin twist snaffle and Nancy clearly putting ALL her energy into keeping him on track. The rest of the course just got worse, and they ended up eliminated. When nancy came off course, she was not pleased (go figure) and told Miles' owner that he needed a new career. She's been working with him for a year and a half, and he isn't getting better... he clearly doesn't want to be an event horse. She felt he would be better suited for someone as a hunt horse, since he's good out in a group.
With Nancy's three done, I got to go watch some of the Intermediate and Advanced XC, which was FUN FUN FUN. I unfortunately had to leave a little early for a wedding, so I pulled out around 3. It wasn't a great day, but at least Bunny was good!!
I rolled up for one last day at 6:30 on Sunday. Nancy only had Bunny running Stadium, so it was a very easy day. Bunny was, once again, BRILLIANT, and jumped around clean. Miles went off on trial to a Hunt home. I stripped Miles' stall once he left and then went up to catch Beth and Jen's stadium rounds. Jen had a couple rails and was disappointed even though she rode well, but still ended up with a ribbon. Beth also rode well and jumped around clear, moving up to 2nd place!
Once they were done, me and one of the other ladies took about a wheelbarrow out of everyone's stalls so that it would be easy to just roll out later, and then we all trekked back up to stadium to watch the upper levels go.
All in all, it was a great weekend, and I even got a call on Friday from a retired Roper looking to try Tango! He's coming to see him on Saturday and I've got my fingers crossed that he'll love him!
