Another 5AM morning. After the late classes last night this place is like zombie-land this morning. I am the first one to my aisle and it takes a minute to remember where the lights are. Today it is raining - for real. Rori and I suit up to go to the wash rack. I really need to get some serious rain pants before I come back up here. Maybe I should run to Canadian Tire. First thing in the morning the water is still COLD, perfect for depoulticing legs.
It is light by the time I go to pick up Jenn and Tami but raining with even more vigor. There are some legitimate squalls throughout the morning. Aurora makes it through her class with only leg mud, but by the time Duvalin is finished with her victory gallop she is coated up to her belly. I got to use the Centurion Magnetic Blanket today - we made a trade, Capone used Duvalin's ice machine and she got to borrow his magnetic blanket (although, does community property apply to common law marriages? because they already have one child together…) Hanging out with La Pinta while she got magnetized was a superlatively chill experience.
The Centurion did its work. Duvalin nearly passes out and then she gave Aubrey a pair of double clears for her 18th birthday. (Not to mention, Aub rode pretty well) The rest of the birthday was celebrated by watching the Grand Prix on TV followed by a carnivorous dinner and an ice-cream cake. Aubrey and Duvalin go in the fourth heat of the Double Slalom tomorrow. CBC airs it on June 25th at 12PM Pacific Time. We'll have to have a viewing party.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, Friday, Friday (sing it like Rebecca Black people!)
Jennifer is here! So the whole which seat will I take dilemma is actually relevant. The day pretty much rocked because so far there are no bad days at Spruce Meadows. I'm writing this retroactively so i'll just share what I remember. I returned to the barn to find a towheaded, barefoot child with a touch of an Alabama accent. She's quite excited to see Duvalin. The young Miss. King has arrived. She tells me all about Duvalin and Capone's baby. The great debate is finally settled on the authority of a seven year old. It is a filly and she looks like Capone not Duvalin. (Kallie's words, not mine).
Friday, June 10, 2011
No one is exempt from Spruce Meadows Security
Seen this evening: Yet another member of the United Statesian Beijing Olympic team (three out of four are here - Laura Kraut hasn't shown up yet). This one was climbing over the fence and through the hedge behind the Pub because he had left his pass in the barn. He got his whites a little wet. Apparently putting out in the form of a masterful double clean to win the 1.45M in the International Ring isn't enough to get you an exemption when the guard asks for your ID.
I guess it works for some people...
I overheard this exchange in the wash rack this morning:
Guy Groom (to horse): Time for a bubble bath.
Girl Groom (from the other side of the mats): That sounds good.
Guy Groom to Girl Groom (suggestively): You want to take a bath?
Girl Groom: Yes.
Guy Groom: Later.
All this time we've joked, but it actually works for some people.
Guy Groom (to horse): Time for a bubble bath.
Girl Groom (from the other side of the mats): That sounds good.
Guy Groom to Girl Groom (suggestively): You want to take a bath?
Girl Groom: Yes.
Guy Groom: Later.
All this time we've joked, but it actually works for some people.
Thursday
Day 4: Up early again, but not quite as early as yesterday. Aurora goes first in the 1.30M at 10:45, so timing is easier but the pressure vibe is different. While T walks the course I send Aub into the schooling area to snag a jump and set a low oxen. If we're going first at least we get to pick a good middle jump. I tell her to set it just a couple holes below the middle screws - she is shorter and has a different idea of where the middle screw is, so she can't figure out why Tami wants to start over a short stirrup jump. I'm laughing to hard to make myself heard across the arena and when I gesture "up" with my thumb she thinks I'm approving.
She gets chased out by the tractor as they want to drag. At first I'm confused as to why at this show they drag the schooling area just as people want to start schooling (punctuality is the rule here) Then I see, because people at spruce don't just school around the tractor, they incorporate it into their warm-up. Aubrey and I are transfixed by a certain member of the US Bejing Olympic team who insists on following directly behind the drag - it is unclear weather he is the ultimate footing Nazi or just using it's speed to teach his very cherry ride to rate. It's slightly less funny when he follows the tractor directly behind the row of schooling fences causing a slew of people to pull up or circle.
Tami has a great round but gets four faults in the speed. She's still at the top after Aurora has trotted and had her studs pulled. I take Aurora back to the barn after I promise T I won't do anything silly like get Aurora wet. Thus commences the limbo portion of the day as Rori remains half put away while we wait and run back to check on the ring. The Terriers love it as they get about five walks in two hours. Alas, the latter portion of the class fares better than the early half and Rori ends up just out of the placings.
We go to lunch and then it's Aub's turn she rides well and I remember to video it. Again there is a case of the fast four faultages in the speed portion so the waiting happens a second time with similar result. After the horses are put to bed T and I wander up to watch the 1.50M and 1.60M classes. We have a pretty excellent dinner of Spruce Meadows potato chips and hot dogs. The jump-off for the 1.50M is pretty awesome. Kent Farrington is the only United Statesian and he goes in first and blazes it. None of the Canadian's can catch him. Jill Henselwood and co all perform respectably but it's still the US flag they hoist up the pole at the end.
I can't stay to watch the presentations because I realize I forgot to spray Aurora's wraps with McNasty and I really don't want her to take them off herself. It gets tiresome when you have to collect bits and pieces of flannel and quilt buried beneath the shavings. I forget the heinousness of McNasty and not only spray it in the aisle but get my face nice and close to her wraps as I spray. I stumble down the aisle choking and half blind. everyone else on our aisle is getting a 1.60M horse ready so Rori and I walk it off and stay out of their way while they clear out. Capone goes first and the other horse is called Creme Brule and she goes second.
I make it back to the International Ring in time to watch Capone. He has managed to pull his attention away from his Duvalin lust just long enough to lay out a very fast four fault round. Apparently this four fault thing is a contagious disease far more virulent than EHV-1. All this time we've been washing our hands and taking temperatures. The girl at the far end of our aisle goes next and she is clear, so luckily the contagion hasn't spread that far yet. We watch a while longer but leave when we know Capone will be in for a pretty good ribbon. It is time to do night check and pick up Jenn from the airport. Hooray!
She gets chased out by the tractor as they want to drag. At first I'm confused as to why at this show they drag the schooling area just as people want to start schooling (punctuality is the rule here) Then I see, because people at spruce don't just school around the tractor, they incorporate it into their warm-up. Aubrey and I are transfixed by a certain member of the US Bejing Olympic team who insists on following directly behind the drag - it is unclear weather he is the ultimate footing Nazi or just using it's speed to teach his very cherry ride to rate. It's slightly less funny when he follows the tractor directly behind the row of schooling fences causing a slew of people to pull up or circle.
Tami has a great round but gets four faults in the speed. She's still at the top after Aurora has trotted and had her studs pulled. I take Aurora back to the barn after I promise T I won't do anything silly like get Aurora wet. Thus commences the limbo portion of the day as Rori remains half put away while we wait and run back to check on the ring. The Terriers love it as they get about five walks in two hours. Alas, the latter portion of the class fares better than the early half and Rori ends up just out of the placings.
We go to lunch and then it's Aub's turn she rides well and I remember to video it. Again there is a case of the fast four faultages in the speed portion so the waiting happens a second time with similar result. After the horses are put to bed T and I wander up to watch the 1.50M and 1.60M classes. We have a pretty excellent dinner of Spruce Meadows potato chips and hot dogs. The jump-off for the 1.50M is pretty awesome. Kent Farrington is the only United Statesian and he goes in first and blazes it. None of the Canadian's can catch him. Jill Henselwood and co all perform respectably but it's still the US flag they hoist up the pole at the end.
I can't stay to watch the presentations because I realize I forgot to spray Aurora's wraps with McNasty and I really don't want her to take them off herself. It gets tiresome when you have to collect bits and pieces of flannel and quilt buried beneath the shavings. I forget the heinousness of McNasty and not only spray it in the aisle but get my face nice and close to her wraps as I spray. I stumble down the aisle choking and half blind. everyone else on our aisle is getting a 1.60M horse ready so Rori and I walk it off and stay out of their way while they clear out. Capone goes first and the other horse is called Creme Brule and she goes second.
I make it back to the International Ring in time to watch Capone. He has managed to pull his attention away from his Duvalin lust just long enough to lay out a very fast four fault round. Apparently this four fault thing is a contagious disease far more virulent than EHV-1. All this time we've been washing our hands and taking temperatures. The girl at the far end of our aisle goes next and she is clear, so luckily the contagion hasn't spread that far yet. We watch a while longer but leave when we know Capone will be in for a pretty good ribbon. It is time to do night check and pick up Jenn from the airport. Hooray!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
How to get the best footing
Observed: A rather famous someone following the drag as it went around the schooling area. Those elves are crafty.
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