Saturday’s weather was beautiful!! Everything is a little nicer when it is warm, especially after a cold winter and the snow we just had! I taught some lessons at LG Equestrian Center in Port Deposit in the morning and it was so nice with the warm sun coming in the indoor. It was still a little wet to ride outside, but all of the big doors in the indoor were open so we could feel the sun’s warm breeze. It really gets me excited for spring and show season! Once the warm weather hits, it has a way of bringing in waves of excitement for things to come, the world starts to come alive again after being still for the winter.

Speaking of show season, I am really excited for it to begin. We are going to have a fun group this year (not that we haven’t in the past, but we are adding a few to the show crew that are going to be good additions!). Everyone in our group already knows that I strive to have everyone have a good time and work together for a positive experience at shows. Most of all, it has to be fun, or why else do we do it? We take it very seriously and work hard, but we also keep our perspective close at hand. It is important to both the people and the horses that the time spent at shows be a positive one, I believe this is one of the keys to success! So if you see myself or one of the team at a show, please do not hesitate to say hello, we would love to meet you!

After my lessons at LG, I drove to Scott’s to ride Devon. Scott had mentioned that they were going to take some of the horses over to the new facility (still in the process of being built) to ride on the Dressage Track which was mostly complete. I got there a little late and missed their trip over, but I took Devon there to ride on the track. I actually passed Scott and Eliza as they were on their way back…. Devon and I continued over to the new facility, which is an amazing ride all on its own! Devon and I were enjoying the warm breeze and the open space, he is quite the trail blazer, walking as if he is on a mission at all times! He was so eager on the way that he kept trying to trot, but I told him we had to wait until we got there. He was quite good going past some of the construction equipment, he will make you think he is not scared of anything, but he really can be a chicken at times! When we got there, we took a moment to just look around and take it all in. The new barn and indoor were right there and the only word that can even come close to describing it is, MAGNIFICENT…. and even that word sometimes seems small and not worthy. The majesty of it all is really like nothing I have ever seen, but I don’t mean the size of it, it is the beauty and attention to detail and the obvious love that has gone into the entire project, from the outline of the barn and how it relates to the trees and nature surrounding it to the way windows will frame the beauty of each horses head as they look out upon their kingdom. I think the most wonderful thing of all is that there is a certain feeling that goes along with Scott and Susanne, and with whatever they are involved with. I had felt it for many years when I would go to Hilltop for lessons, symposiums and other events. There is really no other way to describe it as something sort of magical. They give you a feeling of family and friendship and comfort without even saying a word, and you get a feeling that you are part of something bigger, even if it’s just for a day.

Devon and I worked on the track a little bit. Let’s just say, I had a lot of horse! I think he thought it was his time at the track (I could hear him saying, “finally, you have figured out what I was meant to do”!). He was energetic but very good! He stayed with me and let me ride him and help him when he had trouble. Sometimes when he is a little unsure of his surroundings, he is with me more b/c he is not so sure of himself. We had a blast! I cannot wait to go again!

Scott is coming to Crawford’s Chance tomorrow in the afternoon to teach. So I will head to his place in the morning to ride Devon and then I get to have another lesson in the afternoon on Windsor. Does life get any better?!