Don't Expect Sentences In Satuday's So8ths 3DE Update Of Blogger-Exploding Epicness

Moar prize oogling!  Thanks, of course, to all these people & more:

Mary Ellen at Logorific did a fantastic job on the long banners!!

A better picture of Beka's surprise that made me sniffle:

It's been my nametag decoration...

Meghann went overboard & sent beautiful certificates & a sample for display:

The lovely banners will frame tonight's Derby party & dinner display in the little indoor out back:

And the reason I do it, the reason you all need to do it...

N3DE XC: Jodie Stowell & Island Fever lock on to the stone wall

If Becky's picked her #1... (N3DE rider Alcy Christie & Abraxis in the Phase C Assist box)

N3DE:  Sabine Desper & Adamek pause for their super crew!

Solo's Minon Erica looks like she got the temp check job in the 10-minute box! (who else stands at the horse's butt?)

Amanda Miller-Atkins & Barley clear N3DE gorgeous XC Fence 1

N3DE Julia Burke jogs Davignio for the Ground Jury before proceeding to Phase D:  XC!

N3DE Ann Bower & Prosecco (also "Best Turned Out" for their division jogs!) clear the XC Frame

...is because this.  Donkey Hode (who won Best Conditioned over all divisions!), currently in 2nd place in the N3DE explains it all, walking back to the barn with an equine smile.

Because it's just zen, man...

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Anyone Got A Cyborg I Can Borrow?

Programmed & labeled; 4 months of work!

It would come in super-handy while I try to be in three places at once!

But we have arrived (alas, not financially, but beggars can't be choosers) at the Taj Mahal of Eventing that is Southern Eighths Farm.  My fellow word-nerds have now noticed the use of the pronoun "we."  Yes, I successfully coerced invited Solo's Minion to dive into the experienced that I really can never fully capture in words, the madness & magic of being part of a long format event.

I'll apologize (although perhaps "you're welcome" might be more appropriate) for the brevity, but after a long day with the real job on the river on Wednesday & at least nine hours of driving back & forth across the state for two days, I'm afraid my actual brain signed out sometime around noon today.

Add to that the whirlwind of excitement, quickly escalating to sensory overload, of seeing so many great friends, who embody the spirit of eventing, who I only get to see once or twice at year...oh, & discovering that my beautiful program got a bit butchered at some point in the printing process *sob*...at present, I'm having a hard time remembering which letters go in which words as I type, heh.  

Instead, just a few quick photos from my prize inventory this afternoon (so many goodies to win, we give prizes through 8th place, yet another level of 3DE epic-ness); a few of fantastic prizes sponsored by members of our own online community!

Libby of Higher Standards Leather Care donated gift-wrapped packages of their heinously addicitive leather soap & conditioner -- warning, once you try it, you can't stop...

Would they notice I opened it just to sniff??

Check out  Meghann's snappy program ad for Topline Leather; lucky winner of each 3DE division (BN/N/T) will be able design & order their own gorgeous custom browband.  You can finally begin to approach TFS attempted awesomeness!

And I gave you a sneak peek at my surprise hidden in the package of swag sent by the wonderful Beka, of The Owls Approve & Straight Shot Metal Smashing, but there is WAY more (is it bad for the sponsorship coordinator to want to keep the prizes??).

Eventer jewelry!  Red on right...courage in the middle

Fab keychains & bridle charms: "I survived" - I love it!!!

I'm afraid I had some phone reception trouble (surely not in Nowhere Chesterfield County, SC!) tonight, but stay tuned to our media feed for updates on the go as dressage day begins tomorrow!!

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Does Your Horse Trial Have Flying Volunteers?

Yeah, I didn't think so!

Click to read the full story

That's right, paratroopers.  The US Army's Golden Knights skydiving team, no less -- at Southern Eighths next weekend!  I told you there is nothing like Heart of the Carolinas 3DE & HT!

Even wore his helmet; pic thx to best-of-web.com

Thank you in advance to the team & to the All Veteran Group, whom they jump for (check out the photos!), for not just making an incredible entrance but volunteering as jump judges on endurance day!  I can't end any of these sentences without an exclamation point!

Anyone who spends any time in eventing knows not a single one of our competitions could happen without an insane amount of planning & uncountable volunteers.  I believe this now negates all excuses for not volunteering at least one day a year!!  ;)

Huge thanks as well to all of the sponsors who have chipped in (and ok, I can't resist, check out a particularly epically dorky awesome media partner),  large and small; we couldn't do it without you!  The event's official sponsor page is here, but I'd like to put in print our gratitude to:

National Classic Series & Prize Sponsors:

The US Eventing Association

SmartPak

Fleeceworks

Point Two Air Jackets

Stackhouse Saddles

Heart of the Carolinas Sponsors (you might recognize some names!):

Brant Gamma Photography

The Jockey Club TB Incentive Program

Topline Leather

Higher Standards Leather Care

Cowboy Magic

Dover Saddlery

Foxden Equine

So Southern

NickerBait

Straight Shot Metal Smashing

Jim Wofford & Fox Covert

BlackWatch Stables
Grand Meadows

...and more to come!

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Stagger-By Update Ramble -- At Least It Has Photos!

Even the jump panels are perfect...

Horses offer many gifts; chief among them -- you will NEVER be bored.  In fact, you may come to beg for boredom...

As some of you know, I have a serious problem with overcommittment been working for the past year as the Sponsorship Coordinator for the 2015 Southern Eighths Farm Heart of the Carolinas (HOTC) 3DE.  Oh, and I'm making an amazing program.  And updating promotional materials (view epic new brochure here).  Because, you know, just showing up & doing 10 volunteer jobs over the event weekend was too easy.  Heh.

Combine the fact that OMG THE EVENT IS TWO WEEKS AWAY with the mad rush of Teh Inconvenient Real Job to prepare for field season, which starts in one week...and there you have my posting lapse.  I am open to applicants for Personal Assistants.  Position includes free entertainment, watching me run around like a blind, rabid squirrel, unable to complete sentences!

CD Tremaine Cooper offers steeplechase tips

The event itself is shaping up to be another spectacular experience.  Carla Lake, a fantastic new acquaintance & correspondent for adult ammy central, aka Horse Junkies United, was brave enough to chat with me.  And talented enough to turn my ramblings into a great article introducing HOTC to the interwebz!

Even more special:  our suite of awesome sponsors & supporters this year includes some of our very own from HorseBlog world!  I thought, what better partners for an event by & for the adult amateur than some of the incredibly talented entrepreneurs who are part of the same community??  More brags on them to come, I bet you'll recognize some names, but you can see the current list here.

I suppose not EVERYone in pinned to their seats for my desperate attempts, after very long worksdays, to share the beauty of "So8ths" and the unique & vital long format events I have dedicated myself to.  However, I will give you a sneak peak at my draft "clearinghouse" page:  your go-to lauchpad for event information, updates, & coverage.  It shall continue to grow!

The Orange Monsters

Yeah, that lack of boredom?  Well, Solo is in great need of revamped shoeing, his front feet have changed & he's developed a sore shoulder...except when throwing pasture galloping fits.

Encore, despite my immediate initiation of Operation Hydroxyzine as the spring tree sperm explosion commenced, alongside the return of the myriad of Carolina Bitey Things, has proceeded to rub the skin off his throatlatch.  No sooner did I calm that with the Majykal Butacort Creme, did he come in this morning having rubbed the hair off two large swollen bites on the side of his neck, surrounded by hives.

That could be a start; orderable from premierequine.co.uk

He was obviously depressed, as allergic reactions are no fun.  I was a bit concerned, as his face was quite sad & he stood for some time in a corner after breakfast (at least he did eat). 

Majykal Creme seemed to do the trick though.  The cortisone relieved the burning itch & his hives & swelling went down.  He took a big drink about an hour ago & resumed grazing.

So in a moment, I'll be shopping for some form of insect body armour that is cool, yet somehow indestructible in the face of Solo teeth, along with ground flax seed to add to his already-six-ingredient dinners.  Oh, he has fly boots & a fly sheet already.  But the latter is held together by two jury-rigged broken snaps & is too heavy for our humidity. 

Did I mention he's getting shoe additions too?  Outside hind trailers to help with his stifle rehab.  I'm trying to see if I can buy everything on my farrier's truck at once.

The Farm

Because buying food is tedious, and really, who wants to spend money to do...fun things, I need to make sure there are no hints of positive financial balances anywhere near me!

Worth. It. And it matches runin!

Due to expiration of temporary hayshed (it was only meant to stand in for a year, two winters was a valiant term of duty), emergency order of permanent hayshed was finally completed (roofs are sort of non-optional).  Happy, because we all know hay is THE most valuable equine asset & must be guarded at all costs.  Sad, because I lied, I really would like to go somewhere fun someday, sigh.

And because the universe has impeccable timing, My Precious pony puller was due for its tranny fluid service (not cheap, but waaaay cheaper than a new tranny & the stress toll of ending up on the side of the highway!).  I adore my diesel guy & certainly want him to stay in business.  But was it really neccessary for the water pump to die at the same time?  Yes, it's a wear part, no big deal, but I appear to be missing the door that leads to NOT ALL THE THINGZ IN LIFE AT ONCE.

7.3L Precious gets everything she needs!

Tip learned from several previous vehicles (which thankfully saved my engine; had I not known immediately what the problem was, Very Bad Things would have resulted):  when your heater stops blowing heat, it means you have no coolant.  Bad.

Most often means radiator failure (I bought two of those, learning the expensive lesson that an appropriate pony puller is about WAY more than tow ratings), such as crack through which coolant escapes.  A rattle in a belt pulley led me to my water pump & the observation that it was covered in coolant residue.  That's not supposed to be on the outside...

Conclusion

I think I'll just start eating the horses' grain in milk.  In smells good, can't be that different from granola, right?  Hmmm, do you think I'd have any luck with a tip jar taped to the mailbox?

Gonna need more pennies than that!

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The Final Finale Of The Heart Of The Carolinas 3DE -- Finally!

Life is so inconvenient when it comes to blogging, isn't it?  And it all moves so quickly, sometimes I just feel the urge to lie down until it passes.

But only a, er, couple weeks late, the rest of (well, ok, a fair chunk of) the photo-documentation of the once-more incredible (and even more so next year when I get my hands on some materials!) experience that can only be expressed through the focus on the horse's face and his rider's tearful grin of achievement.

The Novice Show Jumping Course Walk with designer (& fashion maven), Marc Donovan

"Just ignore that dorky chick over there who keeps following me around and taking pictures."

Someone's found his perfect distance.

Rider glancing back:  "Damn!  How DOES he find shoes in the EXACT same shade of navy blue as his polo shirt??!"

Another Boni chainsaw masterpiece:  a pack of coyotes sets of Marc's brilliant stadium course

Art is an understatement

These palmetto standards were a lovely SC touch...through which to view escape attempts from questioning mobs!

She practices her casual Donovan lean in hopes of mastering the uber-cool.

Gorgeous sculpture frames this wide oxer, the last jump on course, which, it seems all parties agree looks rather large.  However, it rode extremely well!

A new Boni masterpiece in its infancy, destined to be mustangs guarded by a flock of eagles

 The final jog, with Head Vet, Dr. Debbie, & Ground Jury Members Amanda Miller-Atkins & Pam Weidmann

A beautifully presented competitor at the Sunday morning jog.

I rooted for this charming little Appendix all weekend!!

Bonus points if you look great AND make Dr. Debbie laugh.  Even if you are riding Jaws.

"Geez, more horse butts, sigh..."

The irresistible Sterling Silver and his owner, Justin Hull, await their turn.  A truly fantastic pony!

This loud leopard appy caught lots of eyes...and I think his owners nearly mowed me down in my golf cart twice!  Unless there was another dually coated with App stickers...

Dr. Debbie struggles to see both sides of Haffie butt at once.

These two, Paddington Bear and his little girl , were a special pair indeed.

Stadium Jumping

Some still had plenty of leaping energy left!

Half-halts are good, but educational note:  please do not put your hackamores on your horse's soft tissue, where he cannot breathe very well.

Andrew McConnon & CMA Special Messenger were all elegance and style

This lovely bay makes it look easy!

An excellent use of eye upon landing.

Brant Gamma's partner, Pete, captures a fancy leap over the corner oxer

Appendix pony is tired but game!

This mare's face haunted me -- it was like looking straight at Solo!!!!

TD Gammon:  "You never let me use the fancy measuring stick!!"

CD Marc: "The stick must be earned, padi-wan."

The folks who keep it together (mostly; L-R):  announcer David Frump, dressage judge/ground jury member Amanda Miller-Atkins, president of the ground jury/dressage judge Pam Weidmann, course designer Marc Donovan, event secretary Rick Dunkerton; in front of trailer, facility owner Brad Turley trades recipes with organizer Cindy Deporter.

Obligatory Haffie perky jump in the BN3DE

Then if you are really lucky, you not only get to take home your blue completion ribbon, medal, and goody bag, BUT also the big blue first place ribbon, like our N3DE winner and her elegant and big-hearted bay (although she says the tradeoff lies in his enormous bucks!).

However, as the endurance folks say (and as eventers should say more often):  To finish is to win.  And the partnership built with your horse in the process is like none you will ever experience anywhere else!  And maybe, just maybe, I still have some time left to get my own dang horse there.  In a thank you note from a rider:  "As a 67 yr "old fart" who has never gotten to do more than BN Horse Trials and one unsanctioned N HT this was an opportunity I did not want to miss. All the planning and training over the winter and the long haul to SC was worth it. I know now that my little mare can do it and what we need to work on to make next year even more successful." 

Perhaps it was summed up best of all by another competitor:  "Being an eventer means that at times, you take your lumps, learn, grow, and come back stronger the next time."

Mission Accomplished:  Marc Donovan, organizer Cindy Deporter, and the infamous Russell the Love Muscle.  I even got Marc to wear my Carolina International volunteer hat complete with smurf pin.  "Why?!" he asked.  Silly Marc, because it entertains me, do we need another reason?

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