As long as I’m asking for advice…
I need a curse breaker.
Last spring, I decided Ro and I were ready to enter a show. I promptly broke my foot. After a day or two of thinking about it, I contacted the organizers and they agreed to let me ride without stirrups and show HC. Ro’s sinus infection then flared up and I gave up on entering that show.
Later in spring, we were scheduled for a clinic. Ro’s sinus infection flared up right before the clinic; we treated it, but there was a chance she would still be clearing up at the time of the clinic. The clinic organizer worked with me and we moved my ride to this fall’s clinic, but it was still frustrating at the time.
In early summer, I eyed a second show, only to have circumstances intervene again before I could get entries in.
No problem. I thought for sure we’d be good to go this fall, especially after the last surgery we did on Ro, which looks to have finally gotten the root cause of the recurring sinus infections.
Initially, I planned on one show. The organizer cancelled it. I tried another show, but we got a freak storm and I scratched due to the driving conditions. By some miracle, we did indeed make the clinic last weekend, and I optimistically signed Ro up for a show this weekend. Unfortunately, I got my entries in very close to the deadline and the show ended up filling. As I was one of the last (possibly the last) entries, they were not able to schedule me in. This is my own fault, no question about it.
Still.
Still, still, still.
Six times I’ve tried to get Ro to a show, and it hasn’t happened once.
There are still a few schooling shows in November, but I’m losing the drive to try. So far, I’ve only lost entries fees on one show (the one I scratched), but I’m worn out by the constant ramping up for a show only to have it not happen.
My barn owner says it’s because Ro wants to be a barrel horse, so Ro’s secretly sabotaging my show efforts. I kind of believe it at this point.
The barn is having a party tomorrow, complete with a barrel race. Maybe we’ll enter that. If we win something, then we’ll know Ro is meant to chase cans. Or cows. I’ll sell my dressage saddle and go buy a western saddle that’s bigger than she is (as they all seem to be).
Because I don’t know what else to do.
(For the record, I was kind of hoping a little pity party would buck up my spirits, as it does sometimes, but it’s not working in this case. I remain convinced that sending in entries for a November show would be a waste of the entry money. Something would happen. It. Always. Does. Ugh. Maybe I’m pairing the wrong cheese with my whine. Perhaps Cheetos would be better.)
Tina says 29 October 2011
The thought of Ro as a barrel horse gives me nightmares! Send in your entries. I will too!