10/09/2023
Okay. I said I would write a long, detailed, and thorough write up of competition- so here is that write up. Forgive me if I ramble, or repeat myself. Please also forgive me for taking this long to be able to sit down and write this, as I have been kind of struggling since competition: all the time, effort, emotions and then to culminate in what we did together has taken a toll that I honestly wasn't quite prepared to deal with. I have felt a little lost, and needed to regroup.
Trainers were allowed to move in Thursday, and we were told strictly not until after 12 pm. My plan was make a photo book, put together a poster for his stall, get decorations, be organized, be prepared, and have him there at 1, 2 at the latest, so we could spend a lot of time walking around, seeing the sites and settling. Best laid plans and all! As of Thursday, as I was packing my trailer I still had no idea what I was doing exactly for my freestyle. I knew what music I wanted, and it was the intro the the TV show, Magnificent Seven as a nod to his tag number, #7778.
I struggled with which pictures to print, what to include. Then as if that weren't enough, the 1 hr photo site kept crashing! This was Wednesday, and again Thursday morning. I thought to myself it wasn't a big deal, its only 9 am (forgetting somehow its a 2 hour haul to get to the Oregon Horse Center). Thursday morning became a frenzied panic, and slowly slipped away from me- as it would before a big deal horse event that I am already nervous-panicky about! So with getting us ready, loaded and down there, guess who checked in well after 5 pm? Yeah, me with Legend.
I never got his photo book done, because time. I also forgot to bring any sort of table to display it on, so all the better I guess! I ran out of motivation to decorate, and we were in the stalls farthest removed from anything, and most of the stalls near me weren't super decorated. At the time I was worried our stabling location would be a problem, but then quickly realized how much nicer it was for Legend.
So here it is, much later on Thursday than I wanted, and I am feeling sooo overwhelmed, unprepared, and defeated. Competition hasn't even started yet! When I go to put Legend away, he is understandably a bit concerned about everything. Noises, shadows, narrow walkways, and apparently, the small stall I was attempting to tuck him into. He refused to come into the stall at first, just barely sticking his nose over the threshold. C'mon buddy! You cannot just stand in the aisle way all night! What felt like an eternity was probably just a couple of minutes, and we had to both relax a little, and he eventually went in.
I luckily ran into some friends, Beth and Donna,, from the endurance world, who were down from Washington to spectate for the weekend. They kindly helped me haul water for the stang and get his stall set up. What a great site! People I know, and could be greeted with smiles and hugs! It was wonderful! Having them there all weekend was also wonderful, and I want to thank both of them!
We did eventually take a short jaunt around the 2 open arenas, and I was a bit dismayed that there not round pens for competitors to use! This is a change since I was last at this venue. Many other trainers were also bummed that both round pens had been dismantled.
On our return to Legend's stall, he once again refuses to go in. Sigh, and deal with it. While dealing with it, a horse a couple of stalls down gets out of his own stall- he came trotting towards us, luckily Legend stood his ground, and was a fabulous blockade, despite the other horse running into him at a trot. I was able to keep a hand on him, and get a finger on the other horse's halter while the other horse's trainer was able to retrieve him. Legend then walked right into his stall. Good boy Legend, on several counts! We had our mandatory trainers meeting, I got my trail and showmanship patterns for the weekend, and we were able to ask some questions. I left feeling even more overwhelmed!
I overnighted at a friend's house near the venue, so it was good to see her, and her family briefly. Jamie is also who hauled Legend home for me on pick up day- my trailer is not BLM approved for the wildlings! That first night, I slept soo poorly. I woke up several times like "S**t! I didn't put my number on Legend's stall in case of emergency!" (I never did get around to posting that, either!)
Friday morning dawned with getting there early to let the Stang stretch his legs, where he walked right back in his stall, despite getting run over by a 2nd loose horse! We then trail course walk through, trainers and the judge. I memorized my pattern well. I was so worried about the bridge since Legend doesn't like small spaces, and there was a whirligig that the horse was supposed to push with some body part. I don't actually like these obstacles because I don't want horses to think that they should push on things , so I do not train for these, and I don't mind losing points on it if I push it myself. I had friends and family here to cheer us in and be part of our success.
Legend was cool, calm, collected as we waited on deck for our go. I was anything but! When they opened the gait to go in, Legend realized there were people. He needed to do a quick circle to look at the crowds, then settled back down like the bestest boy! We did the gate, he was calm and quiet, we were able to do our side passing both ways over the poles, with a few small adjustments. Made me glad we have practiced side passing over poles, and in both directions! We went around the whirligig that he was supposed to push, but I did it for us. We then went by the blow up Halloween creatures, he was nervous, but certainly manageable. Then onto the mailbox, and he tends to get surprised about these, but did great! Then trot, walk between the poles, settle, and back. Well he looked at the course setters sitting in their chairs, then at the water obstaclenin the corner, but regrouped quickly. He did think about eating the potted shrub, but so did several other horses! Haunch turn, past the sour patch kids display, by one of the flat cows (so glad he saw them the weekend before at trainers day!), and to the bridge. I was completely prepared for him to walk up, look at it and say NO THANK YOU. It is narrow, and has hand rails. He went right up with me. I could feel him being a little nervous, for the first couple of steps. And then he was like "Look at us! We're doing it!" I felt this as though he were shouting it at me. Get across the bridge and we were supposed to trot the poles, but Legend decided a quicker walk would do. Unfortunately with my knee brace, I wasn't able to do the poles any faster, so we went with what Legend gave me
Through the pool noodles, and we are on to our freestyle. The finale of our freestyle was for him to step towards the mounting block to pick me up. We had worked on this a bit at home, both on the ground, and from the block. What I haven't explained was that Wednesday night, the DAY BEFORE WE MOVED IN, Legend put it together to step without me touching him. Just me putting my arm up, and he would take it as the invitation it was to move towards me. We did this in our freestyle with no practicing on Thursday! I did have to tap just a bit to get him where I ultimately wanted him so I could smile at the judge over his back. He did all of this in a big arena, in front of a crowd, with plenty of distractions. Legend did all of this for ME. Now here come tears, again.
Later in the day, we had our body conditioning and handling. We chatted with the vet, I nailed my general horse health knowledge question, and Legend was only mildly squirrely for his dental exam by the vet. Then over to trailer loading, and it wasn't the first loading, but it was delayed partly because I hesitated and had to think about how to approach and load with that stinking knee brace, so Legend paused, too. He stood like the best boy for me to demonstrate picking up his feet. Then it was time to release him into a small round pen forna stranger to approach and catch. He wasn't perfect, but given his stranger danger even just weeks prior, I am so proud of how he handled the situation.
We were done for the day! Thank goodness, because it was long! I did get to watch a few other competitors, in both my division and others, which was great! I met with a couple of buyers who asked about Legend, and I decided I would not sugar coat or hide where we are, or what we have done.
Saturday wasn't quite as early, and only showmanship. Man. . . If we could have done as well in our class as in warm up, that would gave been great! Neither of us were on our best, and we didn't quite hit our groove. Trotting the circle towards the crowd, and with my knee brace, wasn't our best. Legend broke during inspection, and I had to reset him. I was also fast in my quarters the first quarter, oops.
Then came meeting with more potential buyers, which sometimes felt good, other times not so much. It was also interesting to see which other horses some of these people were interested in. I am happy to say Legend did very well with all the new handlers!
I did break the rules Sunday morning, and let Legend go into one of the round pens that are naked for boarder use only. I figured if anyone wanted the round pen, we would immediately leave. Legend wasn't feeling super motivated, so it was short. He did however have some p**p spots we needed to clean up, which I was happy to know he had been comfortable rolling in his small stall. I don't know if he laid down for jibit, but imagine he was itchy. He had acted like he might roll on several of our walks throughout the weekend.
Sunday morning was a serious struggle for me, and watching buyers pulling in with empty trailers made me feel like the sharks were circling. It was a bit ominous getting ready.
Going into the award ceremony Legend and I nearly got double barreled by 2 other horses as we were heading in for awards. Poor guy was like "I don't want to be close to other horse, please!" I had to position myself closer to the out gait. He settled well prior to awards being announced, and was quiet leaving as we did not make Top 10.
Now it was auction time. Or so I thought. Turns out, Legend was going to be the very last horse! That ratcheted up my nerves, and emotions. I did get him out of his stall with about 10 horses still to go so he could hear the auctioneer, and the crowd. I also wanted to make sure he could hear me over it. As we were warming up for his time in the arena, he did a beautiful side pass towards me off inviting with my arm uo, and mirroring my sidestep. This is what I wanted him to be able to do when we started sideoassing towards me, and we did it, if only that 1 time.
I don't remember much of his auction, but I remember the auctioneer asking if Erica had rigged it with the prettiest horse at the end. I surely thought so! I was also so disappointed that his online bids were o ly at $475. I worked so hard, and he was one of the cheaper adult horses. It was a kick in the gut. When the auctioneer started his bids at $2k, I was shocked. And then bids started!
He sold for $3,200. He also went to a home that plans to use him for trails, and horse camping. A home that plans to spend time getting to know him. A home that feels good. I spent a long time getting to know his buyer, and lettingher get to know him. I sent her a week of grain, so it would hopefully ease his transition. He also got to keep his water bucket. She sent me a video of him rolling later that night when she took him for a walk. He really was itchy! And yes I am fighting tears again as I write this. I then got another update video the next day as he was settling in, and exploring the new arena, and meeting their pony through the fence.
Good bye Legend. Stay happy, stay healthy, don't do anything stupid at your new home. I love you. I hope to hear good updates on you. Thank you, my friend, for going on this adventure with me. Thank you for learning from me, and simultaneously teaching me. Thank you for all we did together. Thank you.
