OR and I had been talking about this for a while.  We wanted to go to a low-key schooling show and get our feet wet.  Plans, y'all.  A shit load of plans and hopes and aspirations and other things we don't discuss because to put to paper somehow jinxes and taints.

The way the show was set up meant that Tadpole had a w/t/c dressage test and 2' fences.  Amoeba was a w/t test and 12" - 18" fences.  After vacillating, considering the distance, the inexperience, the whole novelty of the situation, we both opted for Amoeba.  Gotta start somewhere and the primary goal was to have a good experience.

I thought we had timed it pretty well.  The distance between her new barn and my barn was about 40 minutes.  Both horses needed to eat breakfast.  Then it was about two hours to the secluded estate-style facility.  I woke up at 4:30 and was in my car by 4:55.  I had Archie in the aisle eating breakfast while I wrapped his legs by 5:15.  The instruction given to me by my old trainer in Augusta ate at me and I ended up wrapping and re-wrapping his left hind about a dozen times.  Fuck you, polo wraps.

Before I knew it, OR was pulling up with her trailer.  Archie was still munching a little bit, so we loaded everything on her trailer.  Then it was time to load him.  I had told OR that Archie loaded like a fucking champ and as he was walking on, she let out a little squeal of glee and he responded with a HAHAHA, FUCK YOU!  And promptly climbed back off.  A little clucking and he was loaded, tied, and we were off.

OR's horse loaded just as quickly and we were on our way.  Making great time.  Except I have an old-lady bladder that was exacerbated by anticipation and anxiety and my pursuit of a physical toilet ate up the gains we'd made in time.  I don't know why that one decrepit gas station wouldn't let me pee in the bathroom they were renovating.  I mean, people in India pee in holes all the time, right?

Fortunately, once we made it down to the warm-up area, we found out that they were running behind schedule due to adds.  And, woo, I wouldn't be going first for our division!  So we spent some time warming up.

See his grin!

Okay, so the chick in pink?  She was the add to our class who ended up taking her dressage test first.  I was trying to be nice to her and told her, before she went in, that her helmet was crooked.  She just sort of looked at me in response.  But remember:  pink chick.

I love this pony.

Meh.  A little short of X, but that's a damn good halt for my Kid!

I loves him.

Medium walk.

Turning into our free walk.

Considering everything, I'm proud of him for stretching this much.

He's just such a good boy!

And then I butchered the second halt.

And here's my score card:

Favorite part?  "Very well matched pair."