Fairly Exhausted

The annual State Fair Horse Show weekend has come and gone, Thank God.  It is Carter’s big weekend and one that Russ and I barely endure.  Yes, we love watching our daughter do the thing she loves so much, but no we hate the standing around waiting, the late nights, the judging and the packing up when it is over.

Carter had a fairly successful weekend.  Her best class was Hunter Seat Equitation where she was being judged on how she was as a rider and not how her horse was.  She came in third in a class of fourteen in Equitation.  On the under saddle classes we were happy when she ribboned since she does not own a horse and is at the mercy of a horse she is lucky enough to get to ride.

Ridding is a money sport, the more money you pay the better you will do and we are not a money family, especially when it comes to horses.  So good for you Carter, for doing well without your parents buying it for you.  There is a lot of character building that goes on at horse shows.

I consider this my state fair diet weekend.  I ate nothing there.  I waited until I was home each day for any meals.  Yesterday that was not a big deal because the showing ended early, but tonight we were not home until 8:30.  Besides not consuming any frozen cheesecake covered in chocolate or a fried candy bar I got plenty of exercise.  I counted my trips between the barn and the arena at 37, just today.  That had to be at least six miles of walking.  Add to that the trips to the car in loading today and that was worth two more miles of walking, with the extra exercise of carrying stuff.

So no more state fair diet for at least another year.  I am happy to stay home and walk my dog and carry stuff around my own house.  At least it does not smell like horse poop and my teeth don’t feel gritty from dust flying around.