As I was dithering last week about whether to send off entries to the local schooling show at 1st Level, I scrolled back through the bagillion Facebook albums I have to find my last show with Ruby. It was the fall of 2016, and we were showing (and scoring respectably) at Training Level. Doing a side by side comparison of these photos with more recent photos was actually one of the things that finally tipped me over the edge and made me think "what's the worst that can happen, it's a schooling show?!?!" and mail off my entries (and then of course it rained every day I was home last week so I couldn't ride, sob). It's so funny looking back, because at the time I was so convinced Ruby was filled out and looked like a grown up horse (HAHAHAHA)..... and now look where she is, I can barely believe it! Like yes, it didn't need to take 5 years, but between some personal riding burnout, bringing her home and losing access to an indoor, changing jobs, building a house, covid, struggling to access/afford consistent instruction, etc. etc. etc.... I'm not mad at all about where we are right now :) these shots aren't taken from identical angles or at the exact same moments, but they're all representative of what good looked like for us then, and what good looks like now.
I have to giggle because most of the shots in the show album from 2016 are her tracking left.... my problems to the right go back a real long time, okay? LOL. I think we're ready to step outside my comfort zone a little!
Also because it's come to my attention that some newer blog readers may not have ever experienced "fugly baby Ruby" in all her glory.....
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| Ruby, the day after she stepped off the trailer at 13 months. |
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| At a lesson last month, age 10. We should all be lucky to have a glow up like this lol. |
Those before and after photos show some real development there. Wow. you should be so proud.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Most of it has just been time and good genetics, but I am enjoying seeing the positive changes from good/regular dressage work! :)
DeleteYou and Ruby are looking incredible! Love that you can appreciate the journey, even if it feels like a roundabout way of getting to the end goal (I know all about that). Casually obsessed with baby Ruby, she is too cute! Nothing better than an awkward baby glow-up!
ReplyDeleteThank you! She was THE AWKWARDEST baby 🤣🤣
DeleteI am a HUGE fan of transformation photos and these ones are amazing. What a major glow up!
ReplyDeleteI almost couldn't believe it myself until I put the photos side by side. Like wow 🥺
DeleteIt's like a whole new horse! She was beautiful then too, but wow, she looks amazing these days! Great work on your part!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I can't take credit for most of it, but I am looking forward to seeing how she continues to develop in regular work!
DeleteYay, I'm so glad you decided to enter the show! I am going to a clinic one day that weekend, but will try to come hang out/watch the show if possible!
ReplyDeleteI'll try to remember to post the ride times once I have them, would love to see you! 😁
DeleteSuch a lovely mare and you've done such an amazing job with her. I would not have been able to see her potential in that super awkward baby photo :D !!
ReplyDeleteThank you! She was a truly lovely weanling, and that's when I bought her, so I knew she'd probably turn out okay 🤣
DeleteNow she's a real Spanish princess! Absolutely beautiful!
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