October Blog

October was an exciting month. The month started with a 500 mile drive down to North Carolina for a competition. Sophia and Nicki qualified for a regional championship at the CBLM competition doing their training level musical freestyle to Grease. Sophia's friend, Gretchen, joined us on this trip. It was a long drive but totally worth it. This was Nicki's final debut as she is now five months pregnant. She will be retiring and hopefully bred one more time before just living the good life as a pasture horse. She has certainly deserved it. Nicki is an incredible horse. She is rock steady. The owner decided to bred her because they would love to keep Nicki's bloodline alive. Nicki was Sophia's coach, Robin's, Pony Club horse years ago. She then was sold to someone who said they would keep her at Robin's family barn. However, one night they moved her. Nicki went on to compete in cross country with this new owner. However the owner ended up pushing her a bit too hard and they both had a devastating fall and injury going over a job. That current owner decided to sell her. One of Robin's friends saw the ad and told Robin. Robin bought her back, broken and more expensive than she sold her for. But she loved Nicki and Nicki was well worth it. Nicki is now 21 years old. She has taken Sophia as far as Nicki can go in dressage. Nicki does not like to jump after that horrible accident on a cross country course. Having a "baby" Nicki or two around would be amazing. 

Now back to the competition. It was a beautiful, warm weekend. The first day Sophia did a training level test and tried something called Dressage Seat Equitation. While we were waiting for the DSE class to start Ann, the owner of the barn Sophia rides at and Robin's mother, started talking to someone whose student was competing in the class. That women is a coach for an IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association) Dressage team. Sophia has been wanting to find an IEA for years. She competed in a similar ISHS for hunters but never dressage. Luckily enough Ann is always looking for opportunities for her riders and the barn will be forming a team to compete in this winter. Sophia is thrilled.

The second day Nicki started off stiff. Sophia decided to scratch from her first class so Nicki would be sound for the musical championship class. Sophia and Nicki looked great doing the musical. They took 3rd place. This was a wonderful way to end a two year partnership with Nicki. 

Sophia won a fan for being the highest scoring rider riding a quarter horse cross this weekend. 

After CBLMs Sophia began riding Brisk, her coaches Prix St. George horse. Brisk is quite fancy but a handful. He spooks a lot and can be a bit dramatic. He will teach her a lot. She is lucky she gets to ride a horse who has competed at such a high level.

Sophia went to her first homecoming dance this year. Last year was cancelled due to Covid. This year it was held outside on the football field at the end of October. It was cold. Sophia searched for a long sleeved dress. We went to the mall with no luck. She found a couple online. It has hard to decide which one she liked better. 

Sophia went with a group of friends. She was the organizer. She delegated the picking of the picture location to one friend. After meeting up for pictures they all went to Facci's for dinner on their patio and then to the dance. Sophia lasted about an hour at the dance. She just wanted to go and hang out with friends more than go to the dance itself. She had a blast. 

Sophia and a friend who she has known since before Kindergarten.

Steve and I have been playing Rummikub ever since I got back from Florida where I played with George and Linda. I have been beating him which is so much fun!

And my typical end with the pets photos. Otto seem to evade photos in October.