SLADS August Classic: Friday

Ugh sorry this post is so late - I really did have good intentions of writing things up right away after the show (especially since I had FAB pro photos so quickly!) but ya know how that goes. DH is still extremely limited in what he can do post-back surgery (aka, zero of the outside chores and also minimal inside things) so I am burning the candle at both ends between home and work, and it's also my SUUUUUPER busy time at work, because of course it is. My scheduled day off Monday to combat the horse show hangover got cancelled last minute when I had to go have a working luncheon with the Lt. Gov - nbd O.o. 

So you've probably seen a lot of these photos from my quick post-show recaps but you get them again -- sorry not sorry! Friday the show management was very clear we weren't allowed to arrive before noon -- Ruby had a 3 p.m. photoshoot and I knew I'd need time to unload everything, so I ended up bathing her at home in the morning, letting her dry while I finished packing my own stuff, getting on the road shortly before 11 (leaving myself time to stop and fill up with gas closer to the venue where it was WAY cheaper), and rolling into the parking lot right at noon on the dot -- success! (Also TrainerB rolled in right behind me lol). I got Ruby settled, unloaded my stuff and got it reasonably organized, and then hung out cleaning Ruby's bridle for the photoshoot/helping my barnmates get their stuff set up. 

Freshly bathed at home (pre-photoshoot!) and ready to go!

Hanging out in her stall before the photoshoot. 

I also watched this very cute dog while her owner schooled in the competition arena -- she was SURE she'd been abandoned forever. It's funny, her owner and I have been FB friends for... actual years, but hadn't met in person, so I introduced myself and she was like "oh I assumed you were older" - no idea what that means, but it did make me laugh. 

Waiting for the photographer to get all the props - Ruby was less than impressed with a few of them (mostly because I do so much weird shit in my own home photoshoots lol). Not to worry - Bethany is THE BEST, so we just rotated through until she found things Ruby would engage with. 

People walking by was actually a huge motivator, she's nosy like her mom and wanted to watch what was going on haha. 

Even the mirror didn't do much for her, since she sees mirrors at several of the indoors we haul to. 

But the feather duster BLEW HER BRAIN haha. I can't wait to see the fine art portraits from this session! The photographer and I had a Zoom earlier this week to go over the ones I want her to focus on editing, so hopefully I have the final images soon. SO EXCITED!

Then we tacked up to ride with TrainerB - she had four horses to school so we doubled up :) Ruby hacked over with a GOOOOORGEOUS PSG (I think?) bay mare. We were both showing in both rings, so we checked out warmup 1, Ring 1, warmup 2, and Ring 2. It was approximately 8 billion degrees, so we didn't do much, just made sure all the buttons existed and that she wasn't (hopefully) going to be too spooky about anything in either of the indoors. 

Ruby had some concerns about the (loud) fans in Ring 2, but after I let her give them a long look and dance down the long side snorting at them once, then she didn't mind being put to work and basically ignored them the rest of the weekend -- good girl! 

Corgo pupper was SO CUTE. Made me miss my Penny pie!

After I got Ruby settled for the night and everyone else had wrapped up, I stopped by Walmart for some essentials (more seltzers and snacks lol), grabbed a quick bite to eat, and then headed to my super sketchy motel to crash for the evening... which is a funny story. I was packing the night before and complaining about not wanting to drive back and forth but also not wanting to pay $$$$ for a hotel room, so my (very drugged still lol) DH decided to take matters into his own hands and book me a hotel room, and I found him later passed out in his chair with his phone and credit card in his hand on priceline haha. I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and finished up for him ;) the room was cheap but close to the venue, and despite being a bit on the dated/poorly renovated side, it was reasonably clean (the sheets were my biggest concern) and the A/C and hot water worked, which were really my only requirements, lol. I ended up tossing and turning for half the night, probably because I was so accustomed to getting so little sleep the weeks leading up to the show with DH's back, sigh. Didn't exactly leave me refreshed and ready for Saturday, but it was what it was!