Sunday Show Time

Zoe's first ride time of the day is at 8:30-- so up early to groom, braid and pack the car. This first show of the season is sponsored by CVDA (Central Vermont Dressage Ass'n). Our original plan was to bring OYY Salvadore for his first foray out into the world and Zoe has been schooling him for the last 2 months. I guess it took awhile for the show secretary to actually look closely at the entry paperwork-- because Zoe got the call a few days before the show-- CVDA does not allow studs at the show. Who to take now ? OYY Elektra still had her fairly current coggins paperwork from last fall.. so Zoe chose her. Not much time to ready her though.. other than 2 thorough baths and some quick ring time.

Off we go-- as ready as we can be. This show is held on the GMHA showgrounds, in Woodstock Vermont. This is typically beautiful Vermont pastoral scenery.. rolling green hills and wonderful farms and barns.

A busy place-- they are still dragging some of the rings. There are several show rings-- so always someone in action being judged.

GMHA is a large showgrounds and they host a variety of shows and competitive rides and driving all through the year. They have an awesome cross-country course which winds up and through the hills and woods.

Enough looking around.. time to get ready.

Off to the designated exercise/schooling area, where Zoe and Elektra have to cross a brook.

some last minute instructions on where to enter and when.

Elektra earned a respectable 65.5% that day.. considering that she acted up a bit on the 20 meter circle in the first test and didn't even complete the entire circle (what a poophead) -she did well on everything else. Zoe and Elektra came home with a third place ribbon.. not bad for a mare we essentially just pulled out of the pasture a few days ago.

We have already reserved transportation and show times for several shows.. and hope to do as many as time allows. Our two therapeutic riding volunteers- Sara and Jennie also hope to ride and show this summer, So it will be another busy season with lots of fun.

Yesterday... I spent the day checking fence line up on my little mountain in the woods.. Zoe rode the ATV up, I took the tractor-- lots of tools between us and we're almost done. With the unusually high water levels and heavy snows and WIND-- we had more than the usual downed trees.. many of them on the fence. One more day though -- and we'll be good to go.

Off to work.. enjoy your day ~