I will spare you all the thrilling details of Camp Barisone, Days 3 and 4 – great rides, 3-mile run, oil change, Walmart. Midge continues to feel fantastic, which is making me a little anxious. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Until it does, I’m carrying on my merry way. I was thrilled to meet up with my wonderful friends at R.J. Classics, with whom I ate lunch and discussed style trends in the dressage ring and the Kardashians in equal proportions. They delivered a new shadbelly to me, which is GORGEOUS like whoa, and has cool changeable points. Dare I wear the light blue instead of the traditional yellow? Word!
The other exciting thing we talked about is a gray tailcoat with a really subtle lavender pinstripe to wear when Fender becomes an FEI horse. Nothing like planning ahead? Or wishful thinking? Word!
Friday was Michael’s birthday, which we celebrated by collectively eating way too much and then listening to Michael rant and rave about all the world’s problems, a favorite hobby of his. It was OK; we had hot dogs to help us pull through.
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Through it all, Midge has felt quick but not nutty, sensible but not slow, supple but not earthbound. Today I got on, and he just felt a little tired, so we walk-trot-cantered around with his head down and then hacked around the farm. He’s not going to get any more trained in the next week and a half. My job between now and the Championships is to keep Midge fresh of mind and body.
My other job between now and the Championships is to not get fat or go completely insane. So P90X tomorrow to balance out the hot dogs and then a mani/pedi party with the Paralympic team. Yes, really. Word!
