Spruce Meadows Journal June 10, 2013 – Entry #1
Dusty and I leave for Spruce
Meadows two weeks from today.
Chelsea asked me to blog about the experience, and I think she may have
meant to write something brief after it’s all over. As you can imagine, being brief is hard, and there is
already too much to say…
There will be twelve of us
representing Norcal, competing against amateur teams from around the U.S. and
the world. Teams compete at the
1.00, 1.10 (my division), 1.20, and 1.30 meter heights. Meredith Herman is the Chef D’Equipe
for the 1.10s, so I already know her and several of the other competitors. That makes it seem less foreign.
Dusty has made arrangements
for Cielo to ship to Calgary for our designated week. “Canada One” is the third of five solid weeks of horse shows
at this premier international venue (www.sprucemeadows.com
). I had to turn in my entries a
couple months ago, so that’s all set.
I did web searches to figure out where to stay, and I’ve got the flights
and rental car reserved. Cielo
will be stabled with Morada Farms (associates of Dusty’s from Mexico) so rather
than being with folks we already
know we will get a more international experience.
Now it’s down to the
packing. We have to be ready for
jumping on grass (meaning caulks), and jumping in rain (meaning a rain sheet
for her and rain hats, coats, and even jumper-style rain pants for me). I asked Chelsea about the black plastic
cover to protect my helmet but she was horrified, so I guess that would be a
“no”. We have to wear white
breeches, white shirt, and a hunt coat every day, so my wardrobe is going to be
very challenged. Allan already
asked how I am going to get things washed (he didn’t even consider that I might
be able to stay clean), and I have no idea. I am taking Cielo’s two passports (International and F.E.I.)
but Dusty said never send them with the horse, just hang onto them (for what
reason, I don’t know, perhaps if she is stolen?). I have to send along a typed inventory of everything in my
trunk for customs (for what reason, I don’t know, perhaps in case of drug
smuggling?). I am sending the
padlock to lock the trunk, but not locking it, and texting my combination to
Morada Farms. They will unload her
when she gets there, make her comfortable, and hack her the next day. She ships well, but it’s nerve-wracking
to send her so far.
I bought a new pair of white
breeches on Saturday at EQ.
Spending all that money for something so special should be fun,
right? If you recall, it was 100
degrees Saturday and I was sweaty and hot after riding and it was like
wrestling a rubbery octopus to get those things on, then I had a hot flash and
I’m not sure but I may have passed out. I later found myself in the car
clutching a VISA receipt and new white pants that are not returnable. So there you go—the glamour of horse
showing!
I just looked up the extended
forecast but it only goes until next week. The authorities in Alberta do not like to scare people. I gather some of their income derives
from tourism. Here is the
forecast: Tomorrow--“Not
available” (How can this be?).
Wednesday--Sunny (excellent).
Thursday--Showers (hmm).
Friday--Rain (not good). Saturday--Showery (a subtle distinction with a
breath of hope). Sunday--Rain and showers (?). The high will be around 16° with a low of 9°. I do not know what this means. I asked Allan, who is an actuary. He
said something like multiply by 13 and divide it by 11/9ths and subtract 32. The mind boggles. I have to go try on those white
pants.
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