This past weekend was definitely exciting to say the least! Poplar was packed with 450++ horses competing,  so when we arrived on Thursday it was difficult to find a parking spot for my Trailer. But Poplar did a wonderful job of handling everyone as usual.

Friday was Dressage day.  It was a little chilly in the am but nonetheless a beautiful and warm day, and I was excited to ride William, as we have been working really hard and progressing in our work. We had a fabulous warm up, and then we were up. As soon as I entered the ring Will was anticipating our halt (which since we were doing Prelim--I hated to break it to him, but it wasn't there!). He cracked me up the whole test, he felt so confused as were were doing minimal movements, and he really wanted to do his 2star test! I kept feeling him go "wait..we are supposed to be doing shoulder in...haunches in.., aaaah we are trotting into the canter---this is baaad!" He even threw in a beautiful flying change, even though that isn't until Advanced. Silly horse...It was good for him though, and we scored a 35.

Dad rode Ultimate Victory aka Cody in the OP as well, and had an awesome test scoring a 27.5. This was also the first time in a while that I got to comepete against my Dad. And yeah, he beat me. Sooo..

Abbey was next with Michelin Man aka Dunkin in JN, and he proved to be a trooper in the super deep footing scoring a 39.5

Heather and Charlie's Halo in OT, had a tense but very accurate test.

Leighton and Traveling Light aka Freddie, put in a nice test even though Leighton had a error. They were still in 3rd!

Saturday was cloudy and weird. There were really dark clouds that would pass around the front and back of the property and at times it was sunny and hot. Although it seemed we were saved by the weather drama, as the  tornadoes and hail circled and passed us, there were other drama's that were later to unfold.

Heather was first up to run XC in the OT and had a very easy confident round, which is exactly what she wanted for Charlie to experience. Next was Leighton and Freddie and they rocked the XC moving them into 2nd.

There were still "dark clouds" over the XC course, as I was able to watch Advanced division, I witnessed 3 falls in a row, as horses were misreading the water question (had to jump up the water fall bank), thinking they had more time for landing but in fact would end up belly flopping. Buck Davidson lost a tooth, and boy is he tough as he continued to ride his other horses. But the ground jury took out the misleading question then things got a little better. Until tragedy struck and Michael Pollard riding Dekorum had an unfortunate leg injury (not related to the course)and had to be euthanized, condolences to the Pollards and the owner.

We still had to run stadium (that is how they squeezed everyone in).  Dad went first and had good round with one unfortunate rail. I was up soon after and William was being a little squirley and drifting left on me in the warm up. We entered the ring and he was being a "mr. sassy pants", jumped the first half great, although a little strong and we were eating up the lines. Then we came to the triple and his hind end just felt like it dropped and he drifted left thus taking 3 uncharacteristic rails. Very frustrating--he never has rails.  So I decided he might be due for some "hock juice" when I get home.

Last up for the day was Abbey with Dunkin and they had a very nice stadium round, jumping clean in their JN division and  moving up to 6th.

Sunday was just plain cloudy and threating to rain in the am, very sticky and humid. Dad was first up with Cody in the OP and I was able to see a little from my warm-up. They were great and zipped around the course with 8 time faults and finished 6th. 

I was up next and Will was READY and chomping at the bit. He felt a little drifty at the first two, then settled in, and jumped fantastic, I took all of the tight turns and he pinged the corner--no problem.  I felt his confidence really boost and it was nice to feel my horse enjoy XC again. We ended up with 6 time faults and finished 17th. Yeah, yeah Dad beat me. Anyhow......

Abbey and Dunkin were up next in Novice, this being their 1st reconigzed course. Although Abbey made the decision to retire on course, she just couldn't get confortable with Dunkin's stride, I commend her for riding smart. After all that is what we need to do 1st!!

Leighton and Freddie did their stadium and had a super nice--a little lucky round and finished 2nd. The only pair in their division to finish on their dressage score.

Last but not least Heather and Charlie had a confident round with several "light bulb" moments and only one rail.

Overall it was a successful event and sometimes it's not always about the blue ribbon but what you where able to learn and take from it.  So I am excited to be back home and at the drawing board planning for events.  Can't wait for what is in store!