Sushine State CDE

The weather back here in Texas has been so nice since we've been back from Florida that I haven't found anyone willing to go inside and type up my blog for me.  Sorry for the late news but here's my account of the Sunshine State show.

Feb 22  Monday
Our stay at home was a short one.  We're already back in Florida at John Porter's spa retreat.  I just love playing in that water!  Our grooms got here in the afternoon though, and put a stop to our fun.  I supervised all the other team members getting their baths, getting close enough to enjoy the overspray.  I went last - they always save the best for last.  I loved getting bathed and clean and shiny but then we had to have sheets on and stay stalled.  What's up with that?

Tuesday
We're loaded up and on our way to Sunshine State CDE.  It's a short trip and a gorgeous day.  The dressage team goes for a drive and I'm left behind.  I usually don't mind but with such a nice day, I was hoping to get out.  All I get is an in-hand walk around with Mike.  Maybe tomorrow.........

Wednesday
I get a last minute touch-up with the clippers.  I'm not wanting to stand still.  There's so much I haven't seen yet!  I get another in-hand walk around.  The rest of the team goes out for a dressage lesson with Peter.  We're cleaned up, braided up, and ready for vet check. It starts to rain but not hard enough to mess up my look.   I stand up nicely for the judges, but when I start to trot off, I notice a rake and broom propped up against the fence.  I turn sideways and look at them very closely, showing everyone that a proper vet inspection should include only tasteful decor such as flowers or potted plants.  In any event, the team passes inspection and is ready for dressage tomorrow.

Thursday
The rest of the team does dressage today.  I just get hand-walked a few times.  The test apparently is pretty rough and everyone's grouchy when they get back to the stalls.

Friday
Today we get to practice cones.  I'm full of energy after so much time off.  Tuff and I do an awesome job but Mike's a little slow.  I wish he'd learn to keep up with me!

Saturday
Marathon!  The day begins cold and rainy.  I'll do marathon in any weather but more of my fans show up on sunny days so I hope it clears by our start time this afternoon.  The rain has mostly cleared by the time we're harnessing up.  We walk a bit to warm up and then head over for the start of section A.  This section turns out to be fairly short so apparently Ruff doesn't think it's time to walk yet.  He's tense, so our walk time is a little bit slow.  We don't even have Anton to blame.  It's somewhat embarassing.
The hazards go pretty well.  The team is working together and trying very hard to wait for Mike.  We're patient until the fifth hazard when we give up and just pick our own route.  Mike doesn't think that's the best idea and makes us circle around and take the route he's chosen.  Our miscommunication costs precious seconds.  We'll get him trained yet!  The remaining two hazards go well.  We drive the last one well but unfortunately have a knockdown.  The combination of walk penalties and knockdown penalties costs us but we still end up in 4th place.

Sunday
It's a gorgeous day for cones.  Lots of fans are sure to come today.  Mike's been practicing a lot and hopes to do better than the last show.  After watching several competitors go, it becomes apparent that the time is tight and we'll have to really book it!  By our turn, no one has made the time yet.  We try our best and Mike remembers the course.  We're the fastest team so far, missing time by about 2 seconds.  Unfortunately, we have 3 balls down. 
After all the teams have gone, we end the competition in 5th place overall.  We get a ribbon and an awards ceremony!  I wave to all my fans and don't even mind the pink ribbon.  After all, only real men wear pink!

Monday
The shows over but apparently our work has only begun.  We're dragged out of our stalls right during our mid-morning nap, harnessed and driven back to the cones field.  Now, Mike has had all morning to learn the course but he only gets as far as cone #2 before he loses his way.  We try our best to help but I'm still learning to read numbers.  Despite Mike's memory lapse, we only have one ball down and are well within time.  Michael and Peter want Mike to drive better lines so it can be more under control.  We try again.  Mike still doesn't remember the entire route.   The team is tired and losing patience with Mike.  A little better memory on his part would save us lots of work!  We're tired but it takes 4 times before we go clear.  I guess Mike is even more tired than we are.  He is only human, after all.

We get a brief rest for lunch and a nap.  It's on to marathon practice.  We redo the walk section and then Michael gives Mike some coaching tips.  Then , on to hazard #1 which has been re-gated since Saturday.  The team is awesome.  Mike is tired.  He keeps saying he's too old for this.  We just keep saying "Cowboy up!"  We do three more hazards and it's kind of rough.  I don't mind too much  because lots of fans have turned out to watch.  We're all tired but Mike has learned a lot and will be better next time.  He knows I'm fabulous and the rest of the team isn't too shabby either.  Each competition gets Mike closer and closer to being fast enough to drive us!