Brandon - Day 3
The one great thing about this kind of work is that you get to shmooze with wealthy people who buy dinner for everyone at the table. Lindsay's only had to pay for my (and her) dinner once so far, because the two times before that our tab was covered by another rider's parents.
Only Quipa went yesterday, which was great because the class didn't start until 7:00pm, which would have made for a very long night! The Brandon Winter Fair is a big deal out here. The ring is a hockey arena, and the stands were packed! Quipa was still a little gobsmacked by the whole thing - she had never been to an indoor show before Spruce Meadows - but she performed very well. They were clear until the very last jump. Lindsay made the classic mistake of figuring to sail over the last fence, but she gave too much on the approach and Quipa just couldn't get her legs up in time. I blamed the official that was standing next to me on the steps - as she approached the last fence he said "ah, looks like another clear!" *smash!* I turned a horrified look at him. "You jinxed her!"
There are days when 4 faults will still get you something, and days where it takes you off the board. I watched the scores carefully, but once Lindsay was bumped from 8th place I took Quipa back to the barn. I had just unbridled her when I heard the placings over the loudspeaker. They made mention all the way to 10th. Suspicious, but too lazy to make the trip back to the ring twice, I re-bridled Keeps and went back to the hitching ring (literally, because all the heavy horse wagons are in there!) and talked to the steward, who informed me that they were doing ribbons all the way to 10th, which was where Lindsay ended up. Dammit! So I had the steward hold Quipa (who's fortunately very quiet) and ran out to the stands to inform Lindsay that she'd be riding in the presentations. She was about as thrilled as I was, lol!
Back to the hotel by 11:00pm. Go to bed. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Only Quipa went yesterday, which was great because the class didn't start until 7:00pm, which would have made for a very long night! The Brandon Winter Fair is a big deal out here. The ring is a hockey arena, and the stands were packed! Quipa was still a little gobsmacked by the whole thing - she had never been to an indoor show before Spruce Meadows - but she performed very well. They were clear until the very last jump. Lindsay made the classic mistake of figuring to sail over the last fence, but she gave too much on the approach and Quipa just couldn't get her legs up in time. I blamed the official that was standing next to me on the steps - as she approached the last fence he said "ah, looks like another clear!" *smash!* I turned a horrified look at him. "You jinxed her!"
There are days when 4 faults will still get you something, and days where it takes you off the board. I watched the scores carefully, but once Lindsay was bumped from 8th place I took Quipa back to the barn. I had just unbridled her when I heard the placings over the loudspeaker. They made mention all the way to 10th. Suspicious, but too lazy to make the trip back to the ring twice, I re-bridled Keeps and went back to the hitching ring (literally, because all the heavy horse wagons are in there!) and talked to the steward, who informed me that they were doing ribbons all the way to 10th, which was where Lindsay ended up. Dammit! So I had the steward hold Quipa (who's fortunately very quiet) and ran out to the stands to inform Lindsay that she'd be riding in the presentations. She was about as thrilled as I was, lol!
Back to the hotel by 11:00pm. Go to bed. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.