That Girl with the Blue Saddle

Jimmy Wofford. Eventing tip No. 21 (of 101). No-Bling Zone. "When you puchase your equipment, remember that it is about the horse - it is not about you. ... do not buy your tack based on the latest fad. ...Make sure your horse is a "no-bling" zone."

Crap.

He goes on...

Eventing Tip No. 73. Cross-Country Attire. "Cross-country attire should be distinctive without being distracting. Choose colors that are similar to the colors you have chosen for your stable colors, keeping in mind that hot pink is probably not the best of all possible choices. ... Resist the temptation to have matching everything from your reins down to your bell boots."

Shit.

Do the man's words mean nothing to me??

The first time I met Jimmy, which I am certain he does not remember, I was 17 years old and had arrived in Georgia for the 1994 CCN* Jr/Young Riders Championships. I was schooling my horse with my coach, Mike Huber. This was a special event, even the schooling part of it. I dressed up. I had some frightening combination of lime green and hot pink everything - polo wraps, saddle pad, polo shirt... I come over to the railing where Mike is speaking with the GOD Jimmy, who says to Mike, "She always this color coordinated?" I don't think Mike answered. Geeze. I even embarassed my coach.

It's 15 years later. I just bought a blue saddle. I run a serious risk of being featured on "Tacky Tack of the Day". And I LOVE it! And I'm scared to death to let Jimmy see it! I am going to be "That Girl with the Blue Saddle".

At the USEA Gala a couple of weeks ago, Jimmy was looking dashing in his bow tie and tuxedo. He liked my little black dress. I had a few glasses of wine. I thought - before the next lesson, when I'm nervous and care - I think Jimmy wants to know about the Blue Saddle tonight. He didn't. He walked away. I tried to use Sharon White's orange saddle, and Phillip Dutton's blue saddle as a defense - he said he gives them hell for it too. Oh dear. He did tell me that I would probably ride better in that blue saddle if I was wearing the short dress! Hum... Now there's an idea!

So, I thought I would introduce the blue saddle now - with a promise that much news is to come with it's formal introduction to Jimmy, it's first competition appearance, and what do you think Lucinda Green will think of it at the Win Green clinic in April?!?!

For those who are wondering, it's a Barnsby. And it's not all blue. It's tactfully blue. Pictures below. Is it fabulous, or what?!?!

Need a little winter motivation?

If winter training is already getting you down, take a look at this short video - nothing like a little inspiration to keep you going until the spring season starts -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yGAZJYnk_g

Winter Wonderland

I've ridden horses for almost 30 years, off and on, and I don't think I've ever ridden in the snow!I grew up just outside Dallas, Texas. We never really had snow - we had some ice, and then it would melt. I lived in Syracuse, New York for 2 years - and we had snow, but I didn't have a horse. And then it snowed and snowed and snowed in DC last weekend - and what luck - my great friend and student, Adrianne, came to the barn post-massive-snow-storm with her own personal photographer/husband! Adrianne and I have good luck with snow - last year, we were out for a late spring, light gallop at Rosaryville Park when it (totally unexpectedly) started to snow on us! I laughed so hard! Our horses thought we were nuts! And this time, not only did I get to ride in real snow for the first time of my life, but I got pictures too! When does life ever work out that perfect?! Katchi wasn't too sure about the whole thing at first , but he watched Adrianne's horse, Tori, intensely - Tori has rooting through snow all figured out! She roots through it, with snow all the way up to her eyes - do you think she can breathe with her nose burried in snow?!

A New Year - A New Blog!

As we enter a new decade, I thought - what better time to start a blog?! I had so much fun doing my blog during Phillip Dutton's camp last summer, I've been looking for an excuse to blog again!

So, how do I introduce this blog? I have a horse - that just about sums up my life. His name is Katchi and he makes me smile every day. He's not perfect - in fact, he can be a real jerk! But, then again, I can be as well! Denny Emerson recently asked the about COTH Forum about "The Gap" - does it exist? I'm a gap. I rode loads until I was about 18 - then there was the gap - then 3 years ago, at age 29, Katchi picked me. What better topic for a blog than about coming back to Eventing after so many years away?! It's not as easy as I remember; it's got to be WAY more expensive than when my parents were paying the bills (right?!); and as I'm a one man show now, I don't even get to sleep on the drive home from a show; oh, and that full time office job takes up so much time! Okay, so, we're not The Eventing Percheron (how cool!); and we're probably not as funny as the Tacky Tack of the Day (seriously, check out the blue fur cookie monster saddle if you haven't seen it!), but Katchi has some tales to tell about life with me - and I might have a few things to add!