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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Disaster Avoided

3/28/2012

 
Yesterday morning I chucked my show clothes and dressage boots into my car with the intention of stowing them in the trailer on Tuesday afternoon.  You might remember that a a few months ago I went to an event and left all of my riding attire in my car instead of loading it into the truck and trailer.  I also wanted to add my muck bucket, rolling saddle cart, shampoo bucket, and a few other odds and ends.  I wish I could just remember everything that I need at one time, but alas, that's not how it works.
Picture
Show clothes and helmets stay here. Jacket, shirts, and boots get added right before the show.
I reached into my car's cubby compartment for my always present trailer keys.  I reached a bit further, and then further still.  Crap.  No trailer keys.  And equally bad, no truck keys either.  I am the world's best non-panicker. If you're in a crisis, you really want to be with me.  I don't panic, and I don't get hysterical.  Instead, I get eerily calm.  It's a little creepy actually.  Someone's arm could be dangling by a thread and I'd be all, that can't be good.  Is there a doctor nearby?  And I would say it in a totally Stepford Wife kind of way.  After the crisis is over, I usually sob and bawl and fall totally apart.  During?  I am your gal.

So rather than freaking out, (have I mentioned that I have a a big show this weekend and need to hit the road on Friday after work which means there's not a lot of time for screw ups?), I stood in the middle of the driveway and slowly circled around.  My brain was working in overdrive - where were my keys?

Slowly, very slowly, I started to picture my keys in the bottom of a horse bucket.  It was a blue bucket.  A blue horse bucket in the locked tack room of my horse trailer.  Bingo!  As though I was Superman himself, my laser vision pierced the tack room door and clearly saw those keys inside the tack room in the bottom of the bucket.  Well now, isn't that special?

My brain quickly did a rundown of all trailer entrances: tack room door, pad-locked; horse compartment door; pad-locked, camper door, locked; pass through door from the camper, locked; truck, locked.  Hmm ... this kind of sucked.  Still not panicking, I reasoned that my spare keys were at home, and I'd just have to load everything the next day.  But no.  That wasn't good enough.  What if I didn't have another padlock key at home?  And frankly, I couldn't even remember where the spare padlock key was, or if there even was one.

I grabbed RM's bathroom key which would get me into the house where my spare truck keys hang.  Maybe the padlock key was on that ring.  Half-way to her door, I stopped and realized that there was a padlock key on my car's key ring which was in my hand.  I looked down.  Was it the right padlock key?  I had no idea.  I walked over to the trailer and slid the key into the lock.  Doh!  What an idiot ...

Whew, that was a close one.  
Kelly RGF link
3/28/2012 05:59:25 am

Arg! I got that sinking feeling just reading about the keys not being there. I'm a big fan of not panicking too, but it sounds like you are the master.

I'm so in love with your amazing trailer, btw :).

Karen
3/28/2012 12:12:45 pm

The trailer is nice, but it's also a lot of work, and it uses up some of my money. SInce I am not endurance racing anymore, it's a bit much. It is comfortable, and it's saving me money this month. Hotels in Santa Barbara can be quite expensive!

And I do hate losing keys or locking them in the vehicle! :0)

psp accessories link
5/14/2012 05:39:07 pm

Yes your content information's are good thank you for sharing.

Lori Bertolucci
3/28/2012 10:32:37 pm

Karen, why don't you make up a list for things to take that all you have to do is print off before each ride and do a check off? I have one each for rides, clothing and food to take. I even include things I "know" are already in the trailer, truck or whatever, just to be sure I do not forget them...

Karen
3/28/2012 10:58:57 pm

I used to have a list, Lori, but now most of what I need is already in the trailer. The real problem is that I haven't done an over-night trip in almost two years so I am a bit rusty! Plus, my trailer needed some extra work to get it camp ready which threw me off my rhythm. When I was doing rides regularly, I could have my trailer packed and loaded in less than half an hour.

For this trip, I had to have the water pump replaced, and I had to exchange the propane tank. I also gave it a thorough interior cleaning, including all of the bedding. Simply hauling everything out and dusting it off caused me to reevaluate what was in it. I did lots of replacing and reorganizing.

Tonight I'll add my shavings and batteries just so that I don't feel rushed tomorrow afternoon. My clothes and people food will get added right before I leave.

I know it doesn't sound very organized, but after all of my repairs and replacements, everything is back the way I like it which always makes things much faster!

Lori Bertolucci
3/28/2012 10:34:14 pm

Also, I use combination locks on most of my points of entry into the trailer that require padlocks. No need to worry about lost or forgotten keys. All locks have the same combination...

Karen
3/28/2012 11:01:33 pm

I am TERRIBLE about combination locks which is why I switched to key locks. All my trailer locks use the same key, except the gooseneck lock which is a "special" anti-theft lock (long story) . This is the first time I've misplaced the key in over twelve years! MANY years ago I added the spare key to my car's ring, but since I've never had to use it, I forgot it was there!


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
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    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List