Duncan: Palermo Winter Festival Finals, 04/26/09

This show series comes with some interesting stories. We had a great show in February, followed by an abysmal show in March. I lost a relative the day before to mesothelioma a day after his 52nd birthday, and my head just wasn't in the game. I thought the show would take my mind off of things, but it wasn't the case. Duncan was a sweetheart and tried his best for me regardless of my distraction.

Much to my surprise, when I returned from my cruise, I'd found out that I made the finals in the Itty Bitty and Level 0 jumper divisions. I was thrilled to give it another go.

Then, I remembered that's the weekend I promised to attend a wedding with my friend out in Hershey, Pennsylvania--about two hours and forty-five minutes from home. I'd promised this to her months prior, so I wasn't going to back out. We arrived home from the wedding around 2:30am, and then I was back in the car with Jen at 4:30am to head to the barn to get Duncan ready. That's right, ladies and gents--no sleep.

The temperatures climbed into the 80's, and I'd not had an opportunity to really school Duncan over fences since before the cruise. Regardless, I figured I'd go out and have fun, and that's exactly what I did. For our first itty bitty jumper class, we didn't even get to warm up--they called us in the ring while I was still in my first lap of posting trot in the warm-up ring! Needless to say, our first round in itty bitties was a comedy of errors, and one refusal--but given he's not shown outside at Palermo and had to see an entirely new setup, that wasn't bad.

The second class for each division was the same course, just run as a power and speed. My video starts with the second itty bitty class, where we were starting to find a rhythm. We ended up 7th in the division, which put us in the top half of the total competitors in the division.

Level 0's went far better for us--we were more thoroughly warmed up. We had two clear rounds, and our second round went pretty much as I'd planned. Someone was obscuring my mom's view for the one in-and-out, so forgive the whirling camera as she jockeyed for filming position on the rail. :) We earned 7th place in the division, again putting us roughly in the top half of the total competitors for the division.

Next came the Gambler's Choice. I'm used to how it runs at this one local show I favor out in Central PA. This class ran according to true USEF rules, which dramatically changed my course strategy (the local show lets you jump a jump as much as you want, whereas you could only jump each jump twice according to USEF rules). In the local show, the 3'6 fence can be jumped as part of your course, and there is no "joker" fence; in this course, the 3'6 was a "joker" fence that would add 200pts for a successful completion--or subtract 200 if you took it down.

Duncan had a good two hour lull before our Gambler's class, and I'm pretty sure he thought he was done. He let me know he was a little frustrated by refusing the first jump (Mom didn't get the camera on in time for it), but refusals don't count so it just wasted a little time. I brought him right back to it and over we went. He really eyeballed an orange triple on the rail and started kicking out right before it, so I had to alter my strategy and hit the green swoopy fence instead. We wouldn't be able to make the striding, and I didn't want to waste more time with another refusal. (Of course, I came back to the orange triple later to ensure he didn't learn a new evasion strategy.) I basically had to scrap my original course plan and ad lib, but I was pleased with how we did. The jumps ranged from 2' or 2'6 to 3'. I think the joker was set at 3'6.

Ah yes, the joker. About four strides away, Duncan realized where we were headed. Look carefully and you can see his entire butt fly above my head about three strides out from the fence. I heard Duncan think "Dude, seriously, it's almost 90, it's been hours--you've gotta be kidding!" We came in a bit awkward on account of the buck--it put us a little too close to the base. Realizing we were off stride, I tried to help him off the ground with a tap (therefore taking the joker one-handed with double reins--most interesting)--he made a FABULOUS effort given the less-than-ideal distance, but tapped it in the front.

Overall, I was thrilled with how we did--we both tried our best. Given my lack of sleep, our lack of pre-show schooling, etc., I wasn't expecting to be the champion, but I wanted to lay down some courses I could be comfortable with; mission accomplished.

I'm not interested in critiques or the cower-behind-my-monitor-and-shoot-anonymous-venom comments. If you would be afraid to say it to my face, then I suggest you don't leave it on here. The horse world is small.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• duncan
• apha
• buckskin
• gelding
• paint
• horse
• jumper
• jumpers

[badgalexy]

I love your horse! He just looks so sure of himself when he jumps, never questioning you or what he's doing.

[dragonfly1030]

Aw, thanks. We have our moments and refusals, but if I'm doing what I'm supposed to be and I'm confident, he is usually fabulous. :)

[dedebear33]

where did u get him from he is soo cute

[dragonfly1030]

A private owner in PA; thanks!

[RumorHasItProduction]

Duncan is so cute!

You look really good on him(:

I love gamblers choice! It is soo fun!

[dragonfly1030]

Thanks!

[hannahhorsego]

Im training my horse to do that lol. Hopefully we can get that good :D I really want to win some Ribbons.

[whiskeyxogirl]

Love love love this horse! He is a wonderful jumper!

[dragonfly1030]

Nope, NJ! lol

[balein23]

But is in Italy?