I was quite pleased with myself to have been chosen one of the top 15 horses in the country to qualify for the USEF Developing Horse Championships held at Lamplight Equestrian Center near Chicago, IL. on August 21 - 23, 2009.  Betsy was extremely proud of me, especially since I qualified with only two scores.  We haven't done that level (Prix St. George) until this season, so I am still very green.  That's my excuse and that is why we are glad they called it "developing" horse championships - but more on that later. 

The trip out to Chicago was a blast!  My partner in crime and causing havoc, Blingh, was my traveling companion.  We tossed hay back and forth at each other and let out tails flow in the breeze down Interstate 80!  We tore down the hay bales and tried standing on them - we were highly entertained! 
You should have seen the look on Betsy and Anna's faces every time they came back to look at us!!  Betsy drove the trailer and my special peep (assigned exclusively to moi), Anna, whom I love, came with us.  The drive was interesting - lots of stops with them checking in on us - I can't imagine why!  Fifteen hours later, we arrived - in the DARK!! No problem for me, I was having a grand time.  

                              
  
It seemed to do nothing other than pour down rain for the first three days we were there, and the temperature dropped, making me extra fresh and naughty.  Combine that with sloppy footing, large crowds, flags, the Jumbotron right in the arena, obscene amounts of beautiful yet scary flowers, lots and lots of people, and four, five and six year olds (just as fresh as me), schooling and bucking as I passed them on the way to my warm up ring.  All of this made me most precautious, not to mention, TERRIFIED!

Anna went home on Wednesday, and Jessie - my touchstone "soother" person arrived.  I felt more relaxed because I always look for her when I'm doing a Dressage test.  It was good to know she had arrived in time.  We had to do what they kept calling a "jog" on Thursday afternoon.  All the peeps got dressed up, Jess braided my mane (I love to play with her when she braids, she loves that), and we had to trot next to our person, one by one.  Lots of people were staring at us.  So, of course, this was a perfect opportunity to show off my gorgeous, sleek and glorious self!  So when I trotted next to Betsy, I tried to lift up my front legs as high as my nose - yup - they were impressed! 

The air felt electric on the first day of competition!  But I kept my head, and held it all together in the schooling ring.  I like to have everyone watch when I show off and act sassy, that part is really fun.  Then we had to go into the show ring.  Can you believe it, they added even more flowers - oh no - how was I even going to get into the ring?  They are blowing the whistle, I am NOT ready.  I kept looking for Jessie, but I couldn't find her in the crowd.  Bets was sitting secure and guiding me - oh no - not the flowers - I held my breath and cantered by them and into the ring.  I never felt my feet touch the ground as we came in.  Everyone was staring at me!!  Bets said to move on, so I did.  We are a TEAM, and I trust her.  Off we went, across the first diagonal extended trot, my feet were not touching the ground, I was sailing - woo hoo!!  NOOOO - YIKES, what the heck is that???  Water, lots of water and it's moving, right in front of me, hang on Bets!!  I am putting on the brakes, not only am I putting on the brakes, I am going to back away from it so we don't drown!!!  NO, NO, NO, I AM NOT GOING IN THAT WATER, NO!!  Okay, Betsy was convincing, and I decided that my only option was to go through the water.  I'll try, and she will see that I am only trying to save us.  Oh, okay, we are still good, but man, this end of the ring really scares the heck outta me!!  Finally, we finish the test.  I just want to get out of this ring.  Everyone was looking kind of sad, usually they are really happy when I finish.  Oh well, at least we didn't drown.

                    

Sunday morning, whoa, it is really early and I haven't even had breakfast, and she's going to ride me?  At least Jess is walking next to me.  Oh, okay, we're here to see the scary flowers again.  Yup, they look just as scary.  What is wrong with these people?  Twenty minutes later and I am feeling better about this.  But seriously, can I go back and have some breakfast please?  You know how I hate missing a meal!!  Finally, breakfast is served,  What?  Riding again?  Whooaaa - there are a lot more people now and a lot more stuff around than yesterday.  I'm okay, I can do this.  Bets keeps telling me I can and I think I can - no, I will!  I'm with you Bets, here we go!  
NO - the flowers are still there; didn't you ask them to move them for me?  I have to admit, the judge, Hilda Gurney, was very nice and game me extra time to look at them, but still, there they were!  I'm in the arena now, okay, this is better, no diagonal.  Oh, I like this, a little half pass, go along the short side, oh man...you are going to ask me to do that diagonal again with the swimming pool at the end, I am not liking it.  I know that Betsy is saying GO.  I hear you, I hear you.  I can't....oh oh, now I'm in trouble.  Okay, I think I'll go, still scary, but I believe that Bets will take care of me!  Whew! I'm done, now I just have to get out of the ring with all of those darn flowers.  Oh good - Jess is there.  I'm okay now.  She will walk next to me and I can go back to the stall and have some lunch.

You have no idea the trauma of the weekend!  On one hand, I was spectacular, causing people to talk about me.  On the other hand, I was what I like to call "expressing my own opinion", which also caused people to talk about me.  Any way you look at it, people are talking about me.  At the end of the day, Betsy put her arms around me like she always does and said she loves me.  Isn't that the most important thing?

Hearty whinnies to you!

Titaan.......Findlay's Titaan