Rain, of course, all morning. We managed to not get too wet but did have to wait in the trailer 5 minutes before loading the horses to go to the Kentucky Horse Park. We drove to the overnight, fed the horses and went to a Waffle House. We had never been to a Waffle House before, been trying to live dangerously this year, so trying new things 
It was good. Tried some of Joanne’s grits, they were pretty good.
Went to the horse park, bedded the stalls, found out they hadn’t given us a tack stall, went back and got a stall across from ours to use, and went to get the horses from their hotel. Of course it started raining harder when it was time to load up but we waited 5 minutes or so and the rain slowed so we quickly got them in the trailer and headed out. It was lightly raining when we unloaded them and by the time we got done unloading the trailer it was done raining. We got everything unloaded and sorted in 2 1/2 hourss. We still have to put up our sign and pics but the rest is all done. The weather got better and better as the afternoon went on. When we looked at the radar on our phones it was pretty much rain over Lexington all morning.
Fed the horses their supper and went to McD for a “snack” and Tractor Supply to get a chain for Sara’s stall door to make sure she didn’t escape from her stall, her latch was not Sara proof. Rick also looked at some fun, funky sunglasses but chickened out on buying them so I did. He’s going to squint and I’m going to look really “in” with the cool people.
Saddled up the horses to get them out to stretch and see the warm up rings. WOW, the Kentucky Horse Park is much improved since we were here 2 years ago. At that time they were working on getting ready for the World Games last year, now it’s done. We get to ride all tests in front of the Rolex grandstand. All 3 rings are in front of the grandstand. It’s HUGE! It’s a long way from the barns, it takes 10 minutes to ride from our barn to the warm up rings.
Sara was like an old pro. It’s the 6th show she’s ever been to and she’s only 6 yrs old. You sure can tell she was started at Smart Start. We wondered if she wasn’t feeling well she was so good and at home with everything. Safarr, on the other hand, was good walking to the warm up ring until we got to the area he hadn’t seen before, the Rolex Stadium. The life-size statue of the horse coming off a jump was something that really caught his eye! He was really good but he was trying so hard to be a Looky Lucy instead of Mr Focus. You can fix a horse but every now and then you see glimpses of their old problems. All manageable but you can see it. He spooked at a big stump by the side of the road but when I asked him to step up onto it he made believe it was something on the other side of the stump he was looking at. He knew right away I was asking him to step up on the stump, which he did, both front feet, because we did this many years ago on a trail ride up in Cushing. That day in Cushing, it was a big stump, so big he could have put all four feet on it if I wanted him to (but it had a rotten spot in the middle I was afraid he could step into and get caught). I ground worked him and got him to step up, both front feet on it. He never forgot what he learned that day and what it was about.
Kari got on Kaluah and headed out and I got on Kizzes. Kizzes actually got more relaxed up by the Rolex Stadium. Kaluah was more like Safarr was when Kizzes and I arrived but by the time she and Kari got done she was in the groove pretty good for first night stretching. Kizzes feels better than she has in a long time. She hasn’t shown this year so it’ll be interesting to see how she does doing the new tests at nationals and her only show this year! She and Kaluah walked back to the barn on a long rein. Actually, Cindy led Kaluah most of the way back as Kari had to get Ra up to the warm up ring before dark and needed to get back quickly. I, of course, rode
Ra had no worries. Being a three time national top ten in trail class gives a few perks to new stuff. She just needed some stretching and loosening up.
Sounds like the weather for the week has only 20% chance of rain. Not that we don’t plan on getting wet, BUT, shouldn’t, hopefully, fingers crossed, be a total wash out.
Tomorrow, no classes! Plan to ride in the morning, hopefully it’s not too busy in the warm up. We may take them out again later just for some stretching, loosening stuff, but want to get the focus work done in the morning. We start bright and early on Wednesday…
