Tango and Me
>> Sunday, May 10, 2009
See Tango and me last year at show? He looks beautiful and clean. In fact, my boy looks so clean it almost makes me tired.
Why? Because Saturday is my first show of the year. Granted, it's just a schooling show, but it's a show nonetheless. Since I believe in horses being horses, Tango is turned out every single day. I love the barn where I board Tango because they share my philosophy. That's the good news.
The bad news is that Tango has a winter's worth of dirt on him. His white is so yellow he looks like faded sunshine. His black could be black but it could be brown or maybe it's gray. Your guess would be as good as mine. Tango is filthy. Filthy and happy.
At any rate, Tango's going to have to have at least three baths before I get to the real McCoy...the one that makes him presentable to show. That's my first priority this week...bath one. It makes me cold just to think about it because I'll get almost as wet as Tango.
Since I'm not as young as I used to be, I've decided my second priority will be the preparation. My goal is to have the trailer packed and ready to go by Wednesday. Then on Friday, all I'll have to do is spit shine and go. That's my plan.
On second thought, luck might work better and more efficiently than my plan! So, wish me luck.
I'll let you know how lucky I am as the week progresses.
P.S.
Someone please remind me not to look down while I'm riding!!!
9 comments:
Jan, I too have a paint. He's chestnut and white, though at times he just looks dirty brown. You're right about needing 3 baths for a show!
Kudos to you for training Tango to Intro level! Best of luck on Saturday.
Ah, the problem with white and horses! Good luck getting him sparkling clean and keeping him that way. : )
Jan,
I love helping dedicated horse owners like yourself. If you have any questions, just ask, and I'll do my best to answer them for you.
If you can get someone to video your ride Saturday, I'd love to see it on your blog!
Regards,
Sian Min
Don't look down when you ride! I've always loved this picture of the two of you, even though you're looking down. You look so serious, so business like.
Good luck on the bath, good luck for the show, and good luck for the plan. Sometimes plans go out the window, but we keep trying.
Sandy
Good luck with the bath and the upcoming show.
Ern
I had to smile when I read this post. It reminds me of a relative's pony who was very dusty and dirty. While my parents spent the afternoon working up the soil for a veggie garden I spent three hours grooming this pony. I had her coat so shiny that I could see my reflection in it. I was so proud of my work that I put a lead on her to take her down to the garden to show her off. Everyone looked up to see her. Then the pony laid down in the dirt and rolled and rolled in the dust. Then she stood up and shook herself as if to say, "There! That's so much better."
Jan, you can email me at info@cardinalpointsfarm.com
Sian Min
It took me forever to figure out that looking where you're going, rather than looking down, actually tells the horse where to go! It's pretty amazing at first, but if you think on it, even the shifting of focus will subbtly change your body position.
For a critter so sensitive as a horse, one that can pinpoint exactly where that fly is on his back and shake it off with a focussed skin twitch, those subtle changes in your position matter! Even if you're using a heavy western saddle, which I can see you do not.
By the way, I've come to the conclusion that horses get dirty just so they can be groomed again and again. I quit buying anything remotely looking like grooming tools long ago, and stated using fingers only. You'd be surprised how much you learn about your horse when you curry your horse using only bare hands.
Trust me :D
Oh, have fun Jan!
PS
Don't look down!! :)
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