CW Event Team Blog

It was a great exhibitor party Saturday night. There was a band that played terrific rock and roll and country rendition. There were ribs, corn, and mashed potatoes. The band and bar were set up in the pavilion, a very nice open sided wooden structure. Picnic tables were full. Our whole crowd went. Amanda, her parents, brother, cousin, her grandmother Nolli, her husband Gene; Teresa and her parents Steve and Margaret. And of course Lucas and Jess.

Lucas rode his bike around while Jess and I danced.

Sunday morning started early with our jog at 8 o’clock. I decided to do the western look since I was pretty far west. I wore my cowboy hat, jeans, silver belt, white shirt and a big green scarf around my neck.

The vet, Eric Smiley took my picture and said he would facebook it.

Simba felt good and jogged well.

At the same time I was jogging Simba, Amanda was warming up Teddy for show jumping. He had given himself a heel grab the day before on cross-country, (yes he did have bell boots on—the good kind). We were hoping we could get him through the show jumping. But after warming up, he was not himself, and Amanda decided to withdraw him.

At about 9:30, Simba warmed up well for his show jumping. Preliminary 3-day show jumping was held in the main arena. It was the most spectacular and ingenuitive course I have ever jumped! There were spruce tree designed standards, mountains, carved salmon, trains, railway crossing, sailboats,….wow! I think Simba thought they were cross-country solids, and knew he would be in trouble if he put any scuffmarks on the rails. He only knocked one rail.

That kept us in solid second. Hannah Burnett went clear and remained in first.

There were three rings for show jumping running concurrently. This event is so amazingly organized. They have a small cargo trailer at each arena with the ribbons and prizes.

The Broussard’s have wonderful volunteers—over 250. This includes all family and friends—many from their hometown in Louisiana—giving the event a southern “feel” to it.

There was one gal, Ann from Texas that would drive around in her golf cart handing out fudge and snacks.

Ready and Slewboy jumped late morning. They had some rails; I think they were a bit tired and ready to go home. Ready had competed also on Wednesday with confirmation, dressage, and a bit of cross-country for the Young event Horse.

Sunday afternoon, we spent “packing our tent”. We packed up our bags in the living, and I pulled the trailer up to the barn. The girls and I got everything packed in and on top of the trailer.

Jess and Lucas went for one last swim in beautiful Foys Lake.

Jerome and Becky invited us to the Brick House for a delicious Sunday night supper with the officials, friends, family, and the other east coast riders.

After that, Sara’s tradition is to go to the Blue Moon Saloon to sing Karaoke. So off we went! A long trail of cars following each other. Like my Dad says, “you can sleep when you get old!”

Lucas went to Sara and Drews house and stayed with their sitter.

We had a grand time. We had about twenty people there. I kicked off the singing with Montgomery Gentry’s song “Hell Yeah!” –Sara was a fantastic singer– We had a lot of fun. Jess added her childhood song, “King of the Road”—changing it to “Queen of the Road”—after a 35 hour drive. Definitely a good finish for a wonderful two weeks.

5 am came a little early on Monday morning—and we loaded the horses and are headed home!

All in all it was a fantastic trip!