Sept 22
Todd Holbrook, our asst team vet, arrived this evening. He may be one
of the funniest people I have ever met and he has a fantastic eye for
horses. It is now beginning to really feel like a championship event
is around the corner (in other words…it is getting busy!). More
practicing of dismounting and untacking today, for a few hours
actually. We showed everyone the quick release snaps for the breast
collars (thanks Val!!) and all the riders have the same set up now.
They were timing how long the various teams took to untack; for us it
was 2.5 seconds. It’s a little like a car coming into a pit crew. I
reviewed the trails again and this afternoon I bathed Harmon and
clipped him, so he is looking ready for a race. Jim Masterson worked
on Harmon and Rev and he was very pleased with both of them. We
trotted both out for Jim, Todd and Becky. Everyone is on pins and
needles over all the little foibles and trials that occur at these
kinds of events. Dave and Jeremy have been joking with each other
about “slapping the bull”---apparently this all started when the group
watched the movie “Road Hogs” with John Travolta (before I got here, I
have never seen it). I think we are safe because I am fairly sure the
resident Shaker Village “bull” is in actuality a steer, but hopefully
we will head to the Lexington Horse Park before someone actually gets
hurt;-) Thanks as always to everyone for the lovely encouraging emails
and messages. I feel incredibly fortunate to be in your thoughts!=