Horse Show Prep List.

The first horse show of my adult life is next weekend and I am pretty nervous. I'm not really nervous about our performance because I have low expectations given how green I am to the show ring and how green Armani is to pretty much everything.

First jump school on grass, second ever outside!

I will post some video eventually. Maybe.

What worries me is logistics. All the planning that I've never done. When I showed as a kid, I just basically showed up. Not in a diva sense (I hope) but I just don't have any memory of the preparation other than practicing with my horse. I am heading into this show knowing we haven't practiced enough (only 2 jump schools outside in his whole life and the first two for me in about a year), so this show is really just more practice. But I still need to have everything else sorted out, so I'm trying to anticipate my needs; therefore, I'm starting my lists!

To Buy:
- Quick braid product
- Tuff Stuff
- 1 new med/soft brush
- Grooming tote
- Bathing mitt
- water bucket
- Show sheen

Just when you think you have everything you need! I didn't know about quick braid products before - I was taught using human hairspray but knowing how drying that can be, I think I will try a braiding product. Tuff stuff for some natural polish (I don't have any because Mani's feet are awesome and I haven't used anything on them to date, except for some regular Fiebing's before clinics. Tuff Stuff dries better and my trimmer says it isn't as drying as other shine products.

One thing my off-property school made clear was that I needed something better for grooming supplies on show day. The plastic caddies just aren't portable. I want a bathing mitt because they make bathing more effective than just a sponge and show sheen for some extra shine (he doesn't really need it but I feel like I have to). The water bucket is because the only one I have has been used for cleaning (abscess soaking, bathing etc.) so I don't want to use it for drinking.

To Do:
- see shopping list
- Wash half-pad
- Shave Mani's legs (I started this but it's a post on it's own)
- Clean: horse boots, saddle, bridle, martingale, my boots, helmet, show gloves.
- Plan food (very important considerations to me!)

Show Day
To Bring:
-Saddle
- Sheepskin half-pad
- Bridle
- Standing martingale
- Jump boots
- Helmet
- Gloves
- Tall boots
- Sun Hat
- Water bucket

Grooming tote:
- Soft and medium brushes
- hoof pick
- mane/tail comb
- mane/tail spray
- fly spray
- leather cleaner & conditioner
- 3 damp cloths: 1 boots/tack, 1 Armani (nose, eyes etc), 1 extra)
- 1dry microfibre cloth
- scissors
- extra yarn, quick braid
- treats

Am I missing anything? I still need to do my food/refreshment list - arguably the most important one!  Eeeek, it sucks being a newbie!!

I just haven't been that into it.

Blogging, that is.

In case you haven't noticed. Not that there are many of you to notice but I still appreciate the few who do stop by!

I'm not sure whether to throw in the towel or really put some effort into making this something that makes me more encouraged to update.  I haven't built the readership to have real discourse, which make posting seem more pointless, which fails to build readership...

Oh, if only I actually wrote the posts that I thought about posting. If wishes were horses, eh?  ;-)

Well, I feel like maybe I might be ready to dust things off and keep going. We'll see.

Previews:

First off-property school, coach V riding.

Sadly, I didn't have any paparazzi that day, 

so no pictures of me riding.

 Hellebores! I planted 2 of these in spring 2010. 

I knew they were known for taking a long time to establish 

but I have been worried about the lack of flowers 

and the limited foliage expansion. Suddenly, this year they woke up!

 Our first year harvesting asparagus!  

Completely different from even the freshest store or market-bought.