Its been awhile since I have posted on this blog. Instragram has captured my attention over the past year in its ability to quickly share a moment in our lives. However, events like the one I'm about to share deserve more then a fleeting post.
In January Haylie joined a Pony Club team. In short explanation, it's basically a narrowed down channel of 4H. Or some would say its like 4H with out the astounding amount of book work that 4H requires. But don't let it fool you, pony club does not lack in educating the students. The participants only ride English. They learn dressage, cross country jumping, and stadium jumping along with building a massive knowledge base about horses. They are tested in their horse management skills along with their riding skills and rank accordingly. Haylie dreams to compete successfully in cross country jumping, therefore Pony Club is the best place to build upon that dream.
With the explanation out of the way; this past week (very long week :) ), Haylie and I went to Pony Club camp in Deary Idaho. Deary camp lived up to all the stories we were told. The first 4 days were spent at what they call the Hopeful Horse Trials. They have top notch instructors that provide multiple lessons for 3 days in all 3 disciplines and then on the 4th day they have a show. Then the last 4 days are spent in more lessons and team lead activities with other pony club groups. Three days of very intense lessons paid off for a successful day at the show. Hawkeye and Haylie danced their way through the dressage pattern, flew over the jumps and landed themselves in 2nd place over all out of 16 competitors. I'm very proud of the amazing team the two of them have become.
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| The cross country course is quite long and there was no way I would get multiple pictures on the day of the show. A lot of these pictures were taken prior to the show, they are the same jumps she did during the show. |
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| I love her concentration. |
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| The life of a pony club mom; following kids from jump to jump during lessons. |
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| She is always smiling |
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| Trust me, I will take care of your little girl. |
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| Her patient audience |
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| After 3 intense lessons, the minute you hit the pillow you're out. |
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| Her dad made her this beautiful rolling saddle rack for her birthday. |
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| Will Haylie and Hawkeye please enter the arena and present their dressage pattern. (I like to refer to dressage as dancing with the horse) |
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| Nice big smile is well deserved after cleanly executing her pattern. |
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| Even the judge liked her smile. |
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| Cheering squad patiently waiting for the next event. |
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| And they are off into Stadium jumping |
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| Way to much air under her rear end for this moms heart! Next time stick closer to the saddle Haylie Ann. |
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| It wasn't the smoothest looking jump round, but they jumped clean and had no refusals. |
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| Then on to Cross Country jumping. This was the last jump on the course. Envision her jumping all the previous jumps I took pictures of and finishing with this one. |
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"Practice like you've never won, Perform like you've never lost"
2nd Place Winners!!
(its a rootbeer float stein :) ) |
