TBT – 3/20/14

March 20, 2014

This is a throw back to when I competed at the Devon Horse Show in 1994 or 1995. My teammate, Mark, hosted teams from Canada, England and another country, whom I forget. We all stayed at Mark’s house. Rob brought down a big blue Lorry for transporting ponies to and from the show grounds. And we rode several sessions over 2 or 3 days.

My memory is even more foggy than usual in regards to this competition. I had mono and felt like I was moving through muddy water the while time. I was also puffy and swollen from meds and slept through pretty much everything but the riding. I do remember before going to the competition the doctor asking me what my chances of falling off would be and me just laughing.

This was back when I had my lovely Arab mare, Berry. She was a games master and took good care of me. She was fast, had wicked killer turns and could stop. She was also an easy vault.

look at these lovely pre digital photos!
The first one is of (left to right) Colleen (M) Rutledge, myself (Krista) and Mark Washburn.

The second photo is of myself and the third shows my teammate Mollie S in the background with her pony Allie.

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by riderofchaos on March 20, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Throw Backs

Tagged equestrian, horse, mounted games, pony, tbt, throw back thursday

Posted by riderofchaos on March 20, 2014

https://blueridgepony.com/2014/03/20/tbt-32014/

Team USA Socks! – 2014

March 17, 2014

In USA mounted games, socks are a key team garment. They usually come up to the bottom of the riders knees and can be as wild as the team chooses. Some riders miss match their socks, wearing different prints on each leg. Some teams like a conservative solid color.

The MGAA team that will be traveling to Ireland next month needed some socks to complete their team outfit. Those socks arrived in the mail today!

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by riderofchaos on March 17, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in International Trips

Tagged equestrian, horse, mounted games, pony, usa

Posted by riderofchaos on March 17, 2014

https://blueridgepony.com/2014/03/17/team-usa-socks/

Conditioning Ride #1 – 3/10/14

March 14, 2014

Now that we are under daylight savings time, it’s light out late enough to get in a good conditioning ride after work. There is a rather boring, but still pretty, ride about a 15 minute trailer haul away. It’s a fire road that rides from the bottom of the mountain, up to the top, and ends at Skyline drive in Shenandoah National Park.

It a really good conditioning ride, and Poe needs his butt busted into shape (mine does too). My plan is to take him once or twice a week over the next month or two before the mounted games season kicks off.

Monday, a new friend from work, Beth, said she would enjoy going with me, which meant Simon could also go. This was good for a few reasons. Beth is an extrovert and great at conversation. I really enjoyed having the company. And Simon loved the ride and although he is in semi decent shape already, he can use the extra conditioning as well. Also, this meant that Poe did not have to go on his own which makes both Poe, and myself, much more relaxed.

Beth and I tacked up, trailered over, and rode out. We had an great time chatting and sharing stories. The weather was amazingly in the 60s, with fantastic views, and we got our sweat on.

Poe continued to express his distaste at being a trail pony. He did try a few minor stop, turn and run back to the trailer stunts, which were quickly averted. It was certainly easier with Simon and Beth along.

I forgot to set the trail tracker when we started out, but I remembered when we turned around for the ride back down the mountain. Below is an image of our ride back down. We managed about 7 miles in about 1 1/2 hours (the ride up we were mostly trotting, and we did a lot more walking on the way back down). Poe was mentally and physically worn out at the end. And although he never tried to break down to a walk from a trot, his trot incriminates began to slow as we went along. He worked up a nice sweat.

So far, so good! This plan should whip us all into condition. And I think Beth is interested in going on more rides in the future too! Yea!

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by riderofchaos on March 14, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Trail Riding

Tagged blue ridge, equestrian, horse, pony, skyline drive, trail ride

Posted by riderofchaos on March 14, 2014

https://blueridgepony.com/2014/03/14/conditioning-underway/

TBT – 3/13/14

March 13, 2014

This week we are throwing back to 1996, and the IMGA World Team Championship that was held in Sweden.

I was 17 years old and had just graduated high school. Ah the memories.

My team traveled to England, met up with some of the GB team riders, picked up ponies and then we all headed to Sweden via ferry.

It was a really exciting trip but not so great on the riding front. We ended up with pony trouble of and eventually were eliminated from the competition. Not a fantastic out come at all.

I do remember that although it was summer, it was cold. There was a small beach we could walk to from the grounds and the ocean was full of amazing jelly fish. We had one pony named Boris, who quite fit the name and reminded me of a triceratops dressed as a pony.

In the team photo the MGAGB team (who I the giant Toblerone bars and trophies went to) are in the back, and in the front the US team, from left to right: Joe B, myself (Krista), Colleen M (now R), Chris R, and Mark W. Our trainer was Robert T.