For those who are counting, I'm almost 33 weeks pregnant now. So I'm not riding, although I do pay visits to the barn a few times a week. I am not riding, but Patrick is keeping a full schedule.
He has been doing great with his half leaser. Recently he went cross country schooling with his leaser in Virginia and it looked like they both had a great time!
He has been doing great with his half leaser. Recently he went cross country schooling with his leaser in Virginia and it looked like they both had a great time!
It's wonderful to see Patrick enjoying riding out and going cross country. He did not come to me with any cross country experience and he was rather uncertain of jumping down banks and drops in particular at the beginning. Now he is starting to become much more confident about them and it's great for his training in general. I owe a lot of his progress as a versatile horse to Julie Devine, who had to skillfully talk him into the cross country questions the first couple of times. Patrick and Julie have the funniest relationship.
Julie with Patrick. Photo Credit: 4LeggedFotos
I hand Patrick over to Julie for disciplinary action as needed, so no one is harder on him than her, yet he just loves her! If he sees her at the barn or on foot in the riding arena, he walks up to her and touches her with his nose in a special greeting. He is disgustingly lovey dovey with her. Go figure. My theory is that, while she'll dole out the discipline, Patrick is smart enough to know that she treats him fairly and I also think he trusts her as a good leader and therefore wants to follow her and respect her. That's what good training can do!
Julie took Patrick on his second cross country outing in two weeks, a lesson with one of our favorite professionals Mogie Bearden-Muller at Fair Hill this week, and they had a fun and successful time.
Julie took Patrick on his second cross country outing in two weeks, a lesson with one of our favorite professionals Mogie Bearden-Muller at Fair Hill this week, and they had a fun and successful time.
Patrick competing with Diane. Photo Credit: Photos by Dan (on SmugMug)
In addition to the cross country outings, Patrick has been competing lightly with my friend, Diane. Diane is an amateur adult rider who grew up riding hunters and equitation similar to me, but for the past few years she has been focused on eventing her draft cross, Lincoln, through training level. Recently, she also purchased an off the track thoroughbred prospect who she has started bringing along. I got to help her pick him, and I must say, I think we picked well.
Diane had been offering to catch ride Patrick in some hunter shows while I was pregnant even before I actually got pregnant, so naturally, when the time was right we executed the plan!
We chose to compete in the Black Eyed Susan Horse Show Series, a nice show series held at the Prince George Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro Maryland (same venue that hosts The Capital Challenge). The class we chose to focus on was The Dover Saddlery Adult Hunter Classic. This is a class that allows horses to qualify for a final, so we though it would be a nice "mini goal" to try and qualify. We only competed Patrick in 3 of the shows, which was only about 1/3 of the shows offered, so there was no guarantee we would qualify him. To qualify, horses had to either win the class or be in the next top 4 high point horses. In the first two shows, Patrick and Diane got third place in the class, but they performed better together each time. For them, the third try was a charm. They won both parts of the class (the first part had 20+ horses competing) for an overall high score, securing a place in the final.
Diane had been offering to catch ride Patrick in some hunter shows while I was pregnant even before I actually got pregnant, so naturally, when the time was right we executed the plan!
We chose to compete in the Black Eyed Susan Horse Show Series, a nice show series held at the Prince George Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro Maryland (same venue that hosts The Capital Challenge). The class we chose to focus on was The Dover Saddlery Adult Hunter Classic. This is a class that allows horses to qualify for a final, so we though it would be a nice "mini goal" to try and qualify. We only competed Patrick in 3 of the shows, which was only about 1/3 of the shows offered, so there was no guarantee we would qualify him. To qualify, horses had to either win the class or be in the next top 4 high point horses. In the first two shows, Patrick and Diane got third place in the class, but they performed better together each time. For them, the third try was a charm. They won both parts of the class (the first part had 20+ horses competing) for an overall high score, securing a place in the final.
Victory!
"Was I good?"
The Hunter Classic Finale is tomorrow and we are looking forward to attending. There is no telling what the outcome of the class will be, as the qualifier classes drew a very good quality group of horses. In any case, Patrick has had a good summer of outings. We met our goal of qualifying for the Final. I think Diane has enjoyed masquerading as a Hunter Princess and Patrick probably prefers going a few places to make things interesting over staying home all the the time.
He will get a couple of low-key weeks after the final and then we'll play it by ear!
He will get a couple of low-key weeks after the final and then we'll play it by ear!
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