Conyers Adventure

What a weekend it was! Our group left in 3 vehicles for Conyers on Saturday around noon. I was riding with Cathy and Paige, James was pulling the trailer, and Denise & Peri followed him. About an hour into our trip Denise called and dropped the bomb that the truck and trailer were broken down on the side of I-75. Being that we were way ahead of them, we turned around and found them stranded. Long story short there, it turned out to be a bad alternator. A few hours or so later, we were on the road again! Our 2 1/2 hour trip ended up taking 6 hours, but none the less, we arrived safely in Conyers around 6pm Saturday evening.

Peri and Paige did a lesson Saturday night, and an exhausted crew of Rivermont Farm folks headed to dinner, hotel and a few hours of sleep before horse show day!

Peri and Never Say Never showed Sunday late morning in the Short Stirrup Division. First off, let me say, this show was huge! Not only was it a large show, the quality of horses were incredible. It was the H.J. Fox show at the International Horse Park in Conyers (where the Olympics were held in '96). Super dooper horses were everywhere! A little intimidating I must admit! However, Peri and Dewey rode near flawless rides! I was so proud! They won one of their jumping classes, and ultimately were Reserve Champion in the Short Stirrup division! She also placed 3rd I believe it was in the Equitation over fences. Yay Peri!

As the never ended day rolled on, it finally came time for Paige and Matinee to show. She ended up showing in the 3' Childrens Hunter division and the 3'6" Working Hunter Division. Honestly I was a little nervous for them when I looked out there and saw some GIANT jumps waiting for this pair! She rode the heck out of Matinee though and won some 2nd, 3rd's and 4th's!!! This was their first time even attempting such giant fences at a show! Once again, I was so proud!

I totally love watching these girls work so hard at home, and then to have their hard work pay off at a show nearly brings me to tears. I have to admit watching Matinee do a 3'6" division up against some sweet warmbloods (and beating them!) choked me up! Matinee was born right before my eyes, and after sending her to my friend Hannah Campbell for 30 days to break her, I finished this mares training. To watch her go from birth to soaring over such impressive fences and placing well....ahhhhh....it just did my heart so much good.

As we were packing up to go, Peri's mom Denise accidentally locked the keys in her car. I can't repeat exactly what was said, but lets just say I think she was a little frustrated! LOL! We called the Conyers Police Department and much to our delight a very handsome police officer came to our rescue. Actually, he didn't succeed getting into the truck, but we enjoyed watching him try. (with goofiness and giggles!) Another police officer showed up and got in the truck. The Rivermont crew was finally on the road around 9pm. We arrived safely in Lyerly at 11:30pm. I tucked the horses in, grabbed a shower and made it to bed by 1:30am. Horse showing...gotta love it! As my buddy Mitzi put it best, "This is the kind of stuff that horse show memories are made of!". Well said Mitzi. I'll remember this one forever!

(photos from top to bottom: Matinee and I, then I'm fighting with a problem in the horse trailer on the side of the interstate...nice shot huh? I fixed it though as you can see. Peri soars over a fence, then we have her showing off how well she did! Then we have Paige and Matinee. Mitzi and I fighting over a much needed bottle of Vodka, and finally Officer Hot Pants works on Denise's truck!)