Tis the season of weddings, many horse shows and white pasty bodies turning into pink and then terrible tan lines. It seems like everyone is getting hitched but I fear that the truth of the matter is I am now of the age, the old age where most of my friends are getting married.
This creates a few minor issues firstly the decision of missing an event that you have been to for as long as you can remember, that you would never miss and even worse the reality after the event when you didn't really miss it at all. Secondly spending hours out riding with your sleeves rolled up, looking a little foolish trying desperately to meld the farmers tan away then resolving in a tan from a bottle which turns you a colour you would never naturally glow. Thirdly the stress of finding something to wear after deciphering the dress code realising they never expected girls to wear tails only to run into the groom the day before the wedding trying to pretend you didn't leave it till the last minute.
We all know what the horse rider would look like
On the upside we have been very lucky to see some great friends through some beautiful weddings where the conversation is only 2/3rds about horses, the speeches bring back fond memories and even the sneaky tear or two.
Then there are the shows, it would seem that every weekend there is a show of some sort to go to, especially when you decide to try and fit a showjumping schedule into your already busy eventing one which is what I have been attempting ever since my showjumper half Dave came along and gosh can't you fill some weekends.
Spring found me going from Sydney to Forbes Ag show then to the Illustrious polo show run by the Winning family and Sydney Polo Club, a short stroll to Equestriad followed by a trip to Weerribe and a trip back from Werribee the following day which definitely racked up my trucker cred! Then a much nicer plane ride to Melbourne and a drive back after Melbourne Royal (where I have to admit Dave did most of the driving and I found out UHF radios can cause more trouble than their worth).
At Goulburn riding Fiona Hughes horse Like A Fariytale who finished 5th in her first 1*
After Melbourne … hmmm oh that's right we went to a wedding and following that it was back to Goulburn where everyone was relived to see no white petals falling from the sky. Then another wedding, a dressage day yesterday, a trip into town for Equitana next weekend and then a short hike across the Hay plain to Adelaide.
Copabella Verdi's loot after winning the State Championship CIC1*,
including her own ‘Norman’ mascot for the WEG 2014
All in all it has been an action packed spring and apart from the grass getting a little crunchy and the fear of the dam drying up I am looking forward to some equally as busy summer months!
Wish me luck!
Tallara