The 2012 Season

I am not sure whether our 2012 season is finished, but I am guessing that for Speedy, the RAAC was his final show outing for the year.  I had originally planned on riding him in Tehachapi on the 23rd in an effort to maybe get a qualifying score for the 2013 RAAC, but as of today, I am not feeling too terribly motivated.  I had also planned to ride him at Hansen Dam in a schooling championship show.  I know they'd really like to see us come, but again, I am just not that motivated.

If I do any more showing at all this season, it will be with Sydney. Yesterday, I sent in my entry for the Tehachapi show; I just want to see how he copes with the show atmosphere.  I have no expectations of a high score, but I also don't want to walk away with a score in the low 50% either. I just want to get him in a dressage court for an Introductory class just to see where we are for next year.  Is it worth the $100 show entry and a half tank of gas?  I don't know at this moment, but my entry is already in the mail so it's a bit too late to worry about. 

I've had several people mention that ending the season would probably be good for Speedy - let him rest and all that.  To tell you the truth, that boy can go and go.  To look at him, you'd have no idea that in the last ten months he's traveled to 12 horse shows, most of which were more than two hours away.  He also participated in two clinics, a ride-a-test, and a night-time trail ride at the park to see Christmas lights.  He also had a lesson almost every single week for the last 13 months.

Here's a recap of Speedy's show season:

• Nine shows were done in a single day.  
• Three of the shows were two-day shows.  
• Five of the shows were CDS/USDF/USEF rated.
• Four of the shows were only CDS-rated.
• Three of the shows were un-rated.  
• Speedy trotted up center-line 30 times.
• We scored above 60% 16 times, and we scored above 65% 4 times.  We even earned a 72.5% at a USDF show.
• Our lowest score was 55.60% at an un-rated show.
• We showed Intro B once and Intro C six times.
• We showed at Training Level 1 ten times.
• We showed at Training Level 2 nine times.
• We showed at training Level 3 four times.
• I spent $1,899 on show entries.

I don't think Speedy cares if we take a showing break or not.  His body and brain are in fine health and ready for our next adventure.  He's not sore, his back doesn't hurt, and there's no sourness about loading up and heading out.  Frankly, I know that he enjoys the stimulation that comes with traveling.  I wish I had kept count of the number of people who came up to us the RAAC.  So many people were attracted to Speedy's goofy and friendly demeanor.  He's (nearly) always relaxed which seems to invite people to approach him.

If anything, I am a bit tired of being gone so many weekends and coming home with a lot less money in my pocket.  Speedy, on the other hand, looks as though he's ready to keep on trucking.  I just love that boy!

Sorry for the embarrassing photo, Speedy, but those post-braid curls are just so darn funny!