April 2022

 What an incredible month! We had a couple of really fun adventures including a family trip and some time with Anne's brother's and sister's family.

Let's start with some of the more "ordinary" stuff. Sophia competed in a schooling dressage show with Brisk. She wanted to use this show to get back into showing with Brisk seeing they haven't done a dressage show together since November. It was a good show. She scored really and was happy. Her friend has also been doing some dressage which makes going to shows even more fun.

The parents organized another trail ride to earn funds for transporting horses down to Pony Club Champs in July. It was a spring trail ride but we ended up wearing coats the whole day! The weather did not get the memo!

Now onto some of the more exciting stuff. On Easter weekend we saw George, Tracey, Danielle and Angela. Unfortunately Gianna was in Colorado. It was so nice spending time with them at Angie's game and then having Sophia and Steve join us for dinner.

On Sunday Sophia and I went to DC to have brunch with Linda, Stephanie, Hollie and their boyfriends. So great to see everyone.

The barn also hosted an awards banquet. This is the first once since 2020. It was so nice to be all together and celebrate the riders achievements. Sophia and her friend, G, were awarded the Leadership Award. G awarded for 2020 and Sophia for 2021. As a mother, I am so proud of all she does. I see how hard she works and how she carries herself. But as a mother I may be a wee bit biased. However, when other's notice I realize that it has nothing to do with me being biased, Sophia is an incredible person.

Nicki, the horse Sophia rode the last years had her foal in April. Welcome to the world Theodosia. Some day you are going to blow us all away! Teddie is the cutest little foal. She is tiny but healthy and Nicki is doing great as a mom.

The most exciting part of the month was our trip to NYC. We went to see Lion King. The play was AMAZING. We had a blast exploring the city. Sophia has always wanted to go and pushed us to make it happen. I am so glad we did. It was a perfect two day getaway. The first family vacation we have had in quite some time.  We walked a ton. We explored Chinatown, Little Italy, Central Park and Times Square. We ate soup dumplings which Sophia has been wanting to make forever. We went to Ellen's Stardust dinner and on a horse drawn carriage ride in Central Park.

Our animals are all doing well. 

March 2022

 Another month has come and gone far too quickly. Hard to even remember what we did. Looking back on pictures I would say we spent a lot of time around horses and our pets. 

Sophia has been enjoying riding Brisk. He is teaching her. a lot. It is so awesome to be able to ride a schoolmaster who has performed at his level. Sophia has been working and spending money on new tack, a new saddle, new brow band and of course matching saddle pads and boots. Some of these pictures are blurry but you will see what I mean.

We got a LITTLE snow on March 12th. I just wanted one big storm this winter. Guess that won't be happening. So disappointing.

Sophia qualified for the IEA Regionals. She did an amazing job riding. It is probably the best riding she has done in this IEA competition thus far. She earned second in each class. She needed a first place score to move on to Nationals but she is really proud of her rides. She is riding in the open class, the highest class they offer. Competition is tough. So she won't be riding in Nationals but the barn is taking six horses. Gretchen and Sophia will go to help Robin take care of the horses and warm them up for the riders. They will have a blast.

Sophia was recognized at the Regional competition and won the sportsmanship award. She was nominated by several people for her willingness to help out the coaches, show organizers and team members. So proud of her.

Our pets are all doing great. Loki is fun to have around. He is cuddly and loves being around us and the other pets. 

Feb 2022

 Another month, another horse show. Sophia competed in the IEA dressage show. This was an away show so we traveled down on Friday. The team when out to dinner on Friday night. It is nice to get together like this. The show went really well. Sophia rode well. She came in second place in both classes. She qualified for regionals in her test. She will get two chances to ride in regionals, both test and DSE classes. Only the top riders will make it to finals. Competition is tough at her level. Either way she will go to finals. She is going with her coach to help take care of the six horses they are bringing.... but it would be really cool for her to ride in the finals.

Loki thinks the table makes a good bed. I think he likes laying on it because he can see out the window when he is laying on it. He usually jumps down as soon as he hears me coming down from my office. Although lately he has been bolder and just lays and looks at me like "What? This isn't allowed?"

Steve went away and took Loki camping with him. Boba was a bit lost without Loki. He has never been an only dog so I guess it is a bit odd for him to be alone.

Short month, short update. Not much to report.

January 2022

 Can't believe it is 2022 already. Almost two years since Covid changed our world. We are still dealing with very contagious variants (Omnicon) but this variant doesn't seem to be as deadly.

Steve celebrated his 58th birthday this month. He asked for chocolate chip cookies like his grandma used to make. Suzy gave me the recipe and they turned out great. 

Nick came down to celebrate Christmas with us. He only stayed the day but it was great to see him. Sophia loves hanging out with her brothers.

Riding continues... doesn't matter the temperature. This month we had an IEA Dressage competition at her barn. It was snowy and COLD. I was there helping out, Sophia riding and helping. Very long, very cold days. The first day was hard. Sophia and I stayed in a hotel the night before because they were predicting snow and I wanted to be west of the storm. The bed wasn't comfortable, I snored, she didn't sleep well at all. She pulled the horse that we lease for her test. She didn't think she would be able to ride him given the IEA rules but because she doesn't own him it was allowed. Her horse spooks a lot in the part of the ring where the judge sits on normal days, never mind when there is a table and two people sitting at it. He spooked a lot and it was frustrating for her. The test did not go well. That defeated feeling carried into the second DSE class. The horse for this class spooked too. It wasn't a great day. 

The second day she pulled the same exact horses. A 20% chance that she would... and she did. This could have gone one of two ways. Sophia faced the challenge and knew that it was a new day, a new ride... and did amazing. Brisk spooked again in the test but the judge, who knows how difficult Brisk is to ride, said she did an incredible job riding him and that while the scores didn't reflect it she should know it was a good ride. Then she came in first for DSE. Her first place score meant she qualified for regionals in March for DSE. She was thrilled. I am glad she didn't let the first day rides defeat her

Sophia was asked to be the emcee for the state 4-H Awards gala. It was virtual so she got her script and recorded it. She did an amazing job. 

We got a LITTLE snow during January. The winters here are so disappointing. I wish we had snow that we could play in. This stuff is just a nuisance. 

I have been knitting a lot. Sophia asked me to make a hat for the cats. Mr. Twinkletoes actually wore it a while before squirming out of it. Otto wanted no part of it.