You really think you're in control? Well, I think you're crazy

As I approach 1400 lbs, I think Spode needs a small reminder of who's really in control of this partnership. I gave her one yesterday when we went to our third dressage show of the season. But we'll get to that in a moment. First we need to back up a bit since it's been quite a long time since I've blogged (my apologies, old sports).

I've been busy!

So first an update on these damn eyes of mine. They suck. My vision went away in my left eye again 3 weeks after I regained it--a sure sign that the vet was correct in diagnosing me with insidious uveitis. My eyes are following the same pattern that they were prior to my eye surgery. Thankfully it wasn't as long or as severe as last time, so my meds are definitely helping. Hooray for aspirin and echinacea. Unfortunately Spode's anxiety is increasing because both cataracts look worse as well. You can now see my right cataract with just a flashlight, no ophthalmologist necessary.

My hooves tell a tale of bouts of sickness. Thankfully not as bad as my first uveitis. 

I admit I've started to become marginally spooky in the right as well. I try hard though, and Spode says that's what counts. She blindfolded me completely last week to assess my reaction. It was a weird experience for me, but I quickly figured out how to tell when I was coming close to the wall based on where the track was. Spode said I was smart. I told Spode I had to be to put up with her as an owner. The things I do for this girl, honestly...

I will even wear flowers for her!

Life has been much the same. My pastern is healing very, very slowly but is definitely improving. My mud fever is taking FOREVER. So annoying. Sometimes I hate my Clyde genetics. I'm tired of having my pasterns scrubbed. It had better be gone by the time Spode goes back to school, which is sadly going to happen quite soon. Only 19 days of constant Spode left, and then I'm back on "holiday". Apparently we're going to be focusing a lot on my canter for the next 2 weeks, as Spode just realized that if she really wants to accomplish her goal of competing at training level next year, I'd better actually learn to canter in a circle and not just in straight lines. My stifle is still locking occasionally so we won't be circling a lot. That being said, I've improved since getting my toes shortened so maybe I'll keep getting better. Life never seems to be simple for me!

Anyway, let's talk about the show! This show was different because I went with a buddy from my barn. He's more experienced and older than I am, so he was doing a different level of competition, which meant our show times were very far apart. I was not supposed to be showing until 3:45, but we left the barn at 8 am. It was a loooooong day! Spode and I were quite bored.

I made a friend with my reflection in the trailer window. I was that bored. 

There was also a horse being schooled in next door's ring, so that provided about an hour of entertainment. 

The fact that I went with a friend caused a few hiccups in our day. I was not too upset the first time my friend left me behind to be ridden. The second time I whinnied for him a bit more. The third time even more, and the fourth time he left, I kind of lost my mind. Yes. I lost it. I started rearing much to Spode's dismay. Spode decided to lunge me before I became unmanageable. She clipped it on to my halter and I exploded. I bucked, reared, tried to spin and run away at a gallop, and was whinnying the entire time. Spode was frantically trying to use all her muscles and weight to stop me from escaping and dragging the lunge line (and her) behind me. Spode now wishes she had a video, but imagine this but with bucking, rearing, and bolting--and marginally less skiing: https://m.facebook.com/groups/435605529849669?view=permalink&id=696104173799802

She managed to stop me and get a chain on me (much to my dismay) and that meant Spode was slightly less worried about being dragged all the way back to Carleton Place. This song suits. Once I threw my little temper tantrum, I went back to being a calm show horse in the making quietly eating my hay and resting a leg. Just needed to get it out of my system. I don't think Spode has seen me rear that high in quite some time. Although I hack out alone and ride alone almost all of the time, I got quite attached to Shiraz knowing that he was somewhere on the show grounds out of sight. Spode just sort of let me do my thing and didn't make too much of a fuss about my behaviour. I think that people looked at us as "one of those" horse and rider combos after though. The crazy ones. There were certainly admonishments heard from our neighbours at the show (as soon as the galloping started, we had an audience of course), but Spode ignored it. Sometimes a 4 year old just needs to throw a tantrum, am I right?

Nothing to see here, old sports. 

Eventually it got to be my turn to strut myself, and I made up for my earlier behaviour by being completely focused on Spode and went as well as I do at home. I was bending properly, seeking the bit the majority of the time, and only spooked twice when I saw something in the right. I had my left blindfold on which helped with the spooking.

I was an absolute saint in my first test, earning us a score of 70.9%--Spode says that was well deserved. I made her pretty happy! By the time we got to the second test my brain was starting to turn off so I wasn't quite as focused on Spode, but I still did very well. 66.7%.

I wasn't as soft the second test, but the judge still said that Spode and I were a lovely pair, which is the kind of comment that pleases Spode more than anything. The judge also commented on how well presented we were, which makes Spode a happy camper too since she fusses about how I look so much. God forbid I have a manure stain anywhere on my body. And a green spot on my stocking? Well the world might as well be ending! She's very silly.

Her obsession with matching green stuff is getting worse too. Poor Spode's mum has been doing a lot of sewing for us...

All in all, my Spode is a happy one. And I just love all the attention I get at shows because of my size and my look. I feel like Gatsby himself. New money West Egger "warmblood" amongst all the East Egg show horses. People just seem to love me, most of all Spode of course.

As much as I enjoy dressage, I'm looking forward to a little break from it. We'll be doing some free work, hacking, and canter work so I can get some more variety. My next show is in 2 weeks so we don't have long, but I don't need to get in too much practice time either. My fourth show? It's pretty much old hat at this point! Last walk trot green bean classes for me--I'm nearly a professional!

Until later old sports.

Jay.