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.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday
Day 3: Even at 5 AM it isn't quite light in Calgary. As is typical of Canada nothing is open and thus no coffee available. It is raining and the world is mostly quiet. I love the sleepiness of early mornings at Spruce. No one is in a hurry, horses are usually getting walked instead lunged. The pace is an amble contrasted to the usual dead run of most shows. Aurora and Duvalin are happy to be the first fed in their aisle. I get to do the morning before going back to the Super 8 to pick up Tami and The Terriers.
T and Aurora go 28th in the 1.25M that start at 8 in the North American Ring. 7:30 rolls around and T has walked, Aurora has walked, she is groomed, tack is set out, studs have been selected and the backpack is packed. T and The Terriers take a nap. I go get coffee and toast. Yet another reason I love this place, they assume that people might like to eat like normal people. I share my breakfast with Addie and Luna while I force myself to be patient. Getting the horse ready early does not make the other rider's rounds go faster. If it did we could have a great side business in time-fault avoidance.
The schooling area is its usual self. lots of people, lots of horses, most of them famous or acting like they are. The people watching is pretty good but perhaps not as good as at the North American. As Hollywood has shown us for decades, nobody can fascinate the world like a Californian. I forget Aurora hasn't been here before because she takes it all like a pro. flags don't bother her. Getting studded at the ring seems to be old hat. She doesn't get wild until after her victory gallop in the 1.30M. We'll see how relaxed she is tomorrow now that she knows victory gallops are part of this scene.
The wanna-be lover boys are back at it. Cashew is tied beside a cushy looking dog bed but he'll have none of it unless he can lure his little blue-eyed miss in to join him. The naughty minx keeps lurking her way down the aisle toward him; her intentions don't seem entirely pure. Capone has quieted down but he still notices every move La Pinta makes. Michelle (Capone's groom) is worried, she's been told it takes 30 minutes to walk to the international ring AND Capone seems too quiet. I can't help her on the timing issue but after Aubrey rides she abandons discretion and walks Duvalin in and out the west end of the barn, right past Capone. That perks him up. Cashew remains inconsolable, apparently he also misses his cat.
T and Aurora go 28th in the 1.25M that start at 8 in the North American Ring. 7:30 rolls around and T has walked, Aurora has walked, she is groomed, tack is set out, studs have been selected and the backpack is packed. T and The Terriers take a nap. I go get coffee and toast. Yet another reason I love this place, they assume that people might like to eat like normal people. I share my breakfast with Addie and Luna while I force myself to be patient. Getting the horse ready early does not make the other rider's rounds go faster. If it did we could have a great side business in time-fault avoidance.
The schooling area is its usual self. lots of people, lots of horses, most of them famous or acting like they are. The people watching is pretty good but perhaps not as good as at the North American. As Hollywood has shown us for decades, nobody can fascinate the world like a Californian. I forget Aurora hasn't been here before because she takes it all like a pro. flags don't bother her. Getting studded at the ring seems to be old hat. She doesn't get wild until after her victory gallop in the 1.30M. We'll see how relaxed she is tomorrow now that she knows victory gallops are part of this scene.
The wanna-be lover boys are back at it. Cashew is tied beside a cushy looking dog bed but he'll have none of it unless he can lure his little blue-eyed miss in to join him. The naughty minx keeps lurking her way down the aisle toward him; her intentions don't seem entirely pure. Capone has quieted down but he still notices every move La Pinta makes. Michelle (Capone's groom) is worried, she's been told it takes 30 minutes to walk to the international ring AND Capone seems too quiet. I can't help her on the timing issue but after Aubrey rides she abandons discretion and walks Duvalin in and out the west end of the barn, right past Capone. That perks him up. Cashew remains inconsolable, apparently he also misses his cat.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday
Day 2: I have to talk my way into the show grounds because I don't have my pass yet. It would be easier to con my way onto a transatlantic flight. Lucky for me it is Tuesday before 7 am, so the guard is lenient, in his spruce meadows fashion, ID, license plate, DNA swab... Oh, you're a groom are you? Well I guess I'll let you in to feed.
It's the best time of day, quiet. They eat while I clean stalls and set out tack, the narrow margins of space make it feel a bit like grooming on a boat. Nothing can be out of place, this is a tricky exercise we'll see how I feel about it on Sunday.
Lunging Aurora is a bit like flying a kite, transitions occur at cruising altitude which is about three feet above the top rail of the lunging paddock. Spinal flexibility indeed.
Each time anyone touches Duvalin's door, the rumble begins across the aisle. He doesn't just remember her - he REMEMBERS her. Capone makes it clear that he has spent the past three years doing nothing but dream of the little painted hussy. She's far to smart to believe a word he says and she ignores him coyly. We go to the wash rack and are heralded by Capone's calling and banging when we leave and when we return.
At the wash rack I spy a new grooming hero. There is a man there wearing waterproof overalls (very deadliest catch, like I said- I'm on a boat...) he is standing on top of a purple ladder scrubbing a horse's poll. I say ladder, I don't mean like Alana's step ladder, I mean a full on five feet tall paint a room kind of ladder, and did I mention it is purple? That's right this is a man who knows where the top of the horse is, I'm a little awestruck.
As is standard, all dogs flock to our area. The tallest on our aisle is a miniature Australian something shaggy with a blue eye. (so yeah, we're topping out at about 10 inches max) She also happens to be in heat. This means that every noise Capone makes is chorused by Cashew, the shaggy chestnut dachshund who must now be tied outside his stall. The longing is palpable from those two, obviously the reason animals are so successful at population is because they are not discrete. They want it, and they're going to talk about it, a lot.
While T and A hack I take a break from the testosterone and go get my pass. "m-i-c-h-e-a-l-a?" the red blazered girl asks (yes Nick, they're all still French-Canadian). Nope, I spell it for her. "Yes, tami wasn't sure."
"That's cause I'm new."
My picture is simply a picture. My eyes are open and it is therefore declared a success. Now I feel legitimate.
It is 11, we're done for the morning... now what?
It's the best time of day, quiet. They eat while I clean stalls and set out tack, the narrow margins of space make it feel a bit like grooming on a boat. Nothing can be out of place, this is a tricky exercise we'll see how I feel about it on Sunday.
Lunging Aurora is a bit like flying a kite, transitions occur at cruising altitude which is about three feet above the top rail of the lunging paddock. Spinal flexibility indeed.
Each time anyone touches Duvalin's door, the rumble begins across the aisle. He doesn't just remember her - he REMEMBERS her. Capone makes it clear that he has spent the past three years doing nothing but dream of the little painted hussy. She's far to smart to believe a word he says and she ignores him coyly. We go to the wash rack and are heralded by Capone's calling and banging when we leave and when we return.
At the wash rack I spy a new grooming hero. There is a man there wearing waterproof overalls (very deadliest catch, like I said- I'm on a boat...) he is standing on top of a purple ladder scrubbing a horse's poll. I say ladder, I don't mean like Alana's step ladder, I mean a full on five feet tall paint a room kind of ladder, and did I mention it is purple? That's right this is a man who knows where the top of the horse is, I'm a little awestruck.
As is standard, all dogs flock to our area. The tallest on our aisle is a miniature Australian something shaggy with a blue eye. (so yeah, we're topping out at about 10 inches max) She also happens to be in heat. This means that every noise Capone makes is chorused by Cashew, the shaggy chestnut dachshund who must now be tied outside his stall. The longing is palpable from those two, obviously the reason animals are so successful at population is because they are not discrete. They want it, and they're going to talk about it, a lot.
While T and A hack I take a break from the testosterone and go get my pass. "m-i-c-h-e-a-l-a?" the red blazered girl asks (yes Nick, they're all still French-Canadian). Nope, I spell it for her. "Yes, tami wasn't sure."
"That's cause I'm new."
My picture is simply a picture. My eyes are open and it is therefore declared a success. Now I feel legitimate.
It is 11, we're done for the morning... now what?
Monday
Day 1: You'd think the story starts at 3.30 am, you'd be wrong. It really starts at 11 the prior night. I can sleep anywhere - but packed and ready at 10 I can't sleep. This might make for a long tomorrow.
3.50 am: this is when you expected it to start and start it does as I splash magic cushion on my new sweatshirt - thus ensuring I will have the pitchy scent to keep me company for the next 14 hours. This stuff doesn't wash out. "fucking hoof packing!" I exclaim. "I don't think it can fuck." jenn replies. My, someone is with it at this hour, but it's not me.
We load, we leave, I forget the bike. Not that I remember this until later. The remainder of the drive is fun, smooth, fast, uneventful and beautiful.the dogs are mad they haven't had a good walk yet today, but otherwise the world is chill. Sloane Crosley entertains us and Tami works on kicking her cold.
Our arrival is entertaining. We can't find our stalls anywhere. We wander the aisles of the bubbles weeding through the great and the good, looking for two stalls amongst the multitudes. Separately we find the stabling chart at the same time, still nothing- then I see 'masters'. That can't be right Tami says, that's right here, behind the pub, barn c. Ahhhh the upside of only two horses. The horses are settled. We go to the Super 8 and settle ourselves. It is beside Wal-Mart, I can hear Christine R shuddering three states away. In Calgary, with all the daylight outside, I can sleep.
Also of note, the 7-11 on the way to the hotel - exact replica of the one by my mom's house, the same asian couple even appears to run the place. I'm a little creeped out, but at least I know where to find the candy.
3.50 am: this is when you expected it to start and start it does as I splash magic cushion on my new sweatshirt - thus ensuring I will have the pitchy scent to keep me company for the next 14 hours. This stuff doesn't wash out. "fucking hoof packing!" I exclaim. "I don't think it can fuck." jenn replies. My, someone is with it at this hour, but it's not me.
We load, we leave, I forget the bike. Not that I remember this until later. The remainder of the drive is fun, smooth, fast, uneventful and beautiful.the dogs are mad they haven't had a good walk yet today, but otherwise the world is chill. Sloane Crosley entertains us and Tami works on kicking her cold.
Our arrival is entertaining. We can't find our stalls anywhere. We wander the aisles of the bubbles weeding through the great and the good, looking for two stalls amongst the multitudes. Separately we find the stabling chart at the same time, still nothing- then I see 'masters'. That can't be right Tami says, that's right here, behind the pub, barn c. Ahhhh the upside of only two horses. The horses are settled. We go to the Super 8 and settle ourselves. It is beside Wal-Mart, I can hear Christine R shuddering three states away. In Calgary, with all the daylight outside, I can sleep.
Also of note, the 7-11 on the way to the hotel - exact replica of the one by my mom's house, the same asian couple even appears to run the place. I'm a little creeped out, but at least I know where to find the candy.
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