Dressage Friends

I have made many wonderful friends since I started riding and showing dressage. I've also met some really cool people by blogging; that's how I met Sarah. She writes Eventing in Color, a blog about being an AA Eventer.
Whenever I am in the Ventura area, Sarah does her best to come see me ride or ferry me to dinner somewhere.

This time, we got to actually show in the same classes. And as you'd expect from friends, there was no sense of "competition," only a genuine desire to see the other ride well. 

When we were at the Christian Schacht Clinic in February, I walked alongside Hemie as a steadying hand on the ground (not that he really needed it) while Sarah waited for her ride to begin. She and Hemie repaid the favor at this show when Sydney needed a calming presence as we waited for our ride time. 

Sarah shared these photos from the White Birch Show with me. I don't know the photographer's name, but she certainly captured a genuine air of friendship and camaraderie. I especially love this first shot.

Left to Right: Me on Sydney and Sarah on her own OTTB, Hemie

Sydney is a pretty good sized boy, but Hemie makes him look TINY!