October Classic 2016

Milo and I as "the 12th pony"

My final show with Milo and What's up Doc for the season; this show was a sweet ending to my show season with the ponies and a fun show. I took Milo in the medium rated ponies and the pony equitation, and I took What's up Doc in the small ponies. Both ponies were very good to school, especially Doc, as we figured out his lead changes. Since they worked quite a bit this show, both ponies were very lazy, and I had to use spurs on both of them when they usually are content without spurs. Milo and I had a lot of fun the costume contest and placed second with our "12th Pony" costume, second only to fellow barn mate Hana Hemingway.

Equitation day rolled around, Milo and I had some excellent moments, and some not so good moments but ended up Reserve Champion in the Pony Equitation! Saturday, the ponies were phenomenal in the hunters, and Doc ended up on top in the under saddle and in an over fences class. Milo was incredibly rideable, and I could never have asked more of him. Since we had qualified for the equitation final on Sunday, Milo and I packed around the class, and he was responsive as could be. We waited for results, and Milo and I had won the equitation final, what a way to end my career in the ponies! Doc ended his last show with a Reserve Champion in the pony hunters and a very happy pony. Overall, the ponies were phenomenal for this show, and I am fortunate to ride these beautiful geldings for the season. I want to thank my trainers Tara Devlin and Ruel Johnson, for all their help. As well as Jimi Norton for the fantastic opportunity of showing her talented pony, What's up Doc.

October Classic, 2015

Milo knows a camera when he sees one

This particular show is probably one of my favorites of all the shows I've done because of how I got there. I was lessoning one day, and my trainer, Tara, beckoned me to talk to her. I went over, and she asked if I would come to this show with our barns flashy pony, Milo, for his first show with a junior rider. Of course, I wanted to go, so I asked my parents, and they talked about it with my trainer, and I ended up being able to go. I showed Milo in the short stirrup, and we had much success in the equitation, winning every class. I had only ridden this pony consistently for the two weeks before the show when my trainer offered the awesome opportunity. I admit, In the hunters, I did not ride my best as we had some missed lead changes and rider errors. Overall, I was happy with how we did as we were short stirrup equitation champion, and we had some solid rounds in the short stirrup hunters. This show was a learning opportunity and a great one with that.

This show was rather fun as there was a costume contest and a pumpkin carving contest to top off all the horse fun. Hana Hemingway, from our barn, won the costume contest when she dressed up her big gelding, Pharlee, as a dinosaur, it was amusing to watch! There was some concern at the beginning of the show as we came on Friday morning. Milo had somehow cut the skin right next to his eye, and we were fortunate he didn't cut his actual eye. We weren't sure how he would go with it, so we hacked him in the morning, and he was perfect. His eye didn't affect him at all, and we showed in the equitation that afternoon. Congratulations, Jada, on winning her equitation on the flat! I want to thank my trainer, Tara Devlin, for letting me have such an excellent opportunity on such a beautiful pony who is full of potential.