Dancing with the Stars

So this weekend Carmen and I did our dance number with our partners Karen and Kalimo. Right before I had these fears that I was going to be in a viral video featuring me in a fluffy dress going ass over teakettle in the show. Spoiler alert: that didn't happen.....

Carmen: Oh for heaven's sake, could you make it more boring? Move over, I'll write this one.
Me: wait, what?
Carmen: *waggles hoof* go along now, those stalls are not going to clean themselves. 
Me: um, but I----*Mare glare* sigh* okay

Sorry about that gentle readers. But honestly, since I was the 'star' of the show, it seems appropriate that I type it.

me early in the morning 

To be honest, I thought my show season was done. But nooo, my servant signed us for another show but she promised that this one would be fun and, more importantly, just one day. Karen and Kalimo arrived at our place on friday for this thing called a 'dress rehearsal'. They rode and then put us in the barn. I knew something was up when they left our saddles on. I heard a lot of rustling and giggling in the tack room but it didn't sound like a carrot bag. Then they came out looking like a ruffle factory exploded.

 Kalimo looked worried but I just rolled my eyes. Seriously, some days I'm sure she thinks she's 12. When we walked out of the barn Irish's head shot up and he dropped the hay he was eating to stare at us open mouthed. 

Irish: Oh my god. WHAT IS GOING ON?

Carmen: Oh, you know, she's lost her mind again. 

Apparently the dress rehearsal was a huge success. Of course it was. 

see what I mean? So.many.ruffles 

We arrived at the show grounds on Saturday. I remembered this place- it has so many places for trolls to lurk. Karen and Teresa rode in the ring and ran through the dance a couple times. I was not in the mood to play because 

A. I had to show her all the danger spots, and she paid to no attention. 

B. KALIMO KEPT BREATHING THE SAME AIR AS ME. 

I know everyone things he's so handsome and sweet but  I am not interested. At least not right now. 

Our big number was near the end of the day, which is fitting. There were a few riders (young and old) in costumes. I have to say that this was the loudest show I'd ever attended. There was so much cheering, laughing, whistling and hooting in my life. 

In our warm up I was, frankly, an angel. Don't tell my servant but I enjoyed the rustling of the fabric and the roses in my mane. So much prettier than the black and white of dressage. I like dressage but don't you think it's time to glam it up a bit? 

more interesting this way, don't you think?

We went in and after a few technical difficulties the music started. I knew that I was on display and drank up the attention. I even forgot to be afraid at the spooky corners. But not to get after Kalimo for continuing to steal my air. 

Teresa: this photo makes me giggle so hard.
(PC Hazel Caldwell)

I am sorry to say that my servant did not share my thoughts about how this was serious business.  Would you believe that she giggled through the whole thing????? It was so embarrassing. Although I will admit that she rides better when she's happy. But still, giggling is so unsophisticated. 

At the end I didn't want to stop. Couldn't Kalimo tell that the exit was right there? But no, he had to stop and look noble. I did enjoy the cheering though. Clearly they recognized greatness when they saw it.  

My servant was so happy. I guess it's not a bad idea to let her fun every once in a while. 

tone it down there missy

I might admit to enjoying myself. Maybe

I know that you are dying to see the video so here it is:

****

Teresa: also, the show was a huge fundraiser. Everyone's efforts raised $12,223 for Breast Cancer. Not bad for one little show! 

Come Dance With Me

You may recall that I have signed Carmen and I up for a charity show in September.  I also talked my friend, Karen into showing as well. In a text exchange she was wondering whether to do one test or two.  I dropped the suggestion that it would be fun for us to do a Pas de Deux in honour of our friend Janet who is battling cancer. After a brief text silence I received two back to back:
Head explodes
*pause*
It could be fun. 

Now doing a test to music has been high on my wish list for a long time. This fun show seemed like the perfect time and doing with Karen and her stallion would make it even more fun.  The tricky part was finding time to get together to practice. I have a full size ring so it made sense for it to be here.

Karen found the music and we played with some choreography via google docs and I tried riding to it to figure out the timing. Yesterday evening she arrived so that we could spend Sunday morning pulling together the choreography.

Because that should be enough time, right?

Irish was so excited to see Kalimo. He's so in love it's pathetic. Carmen could have cared less.

full on bromance! 

So we started with the first part and that fell together quite easily. The canter work was much much harder. Carmen got a little tense with the whole thing and was ready to quit. At one point we passed Kalimo cantering in opposite directions and he let out a big fart. It scared Carmen and she bolted. Karen looked around to see us at the opposite side of the ring. It was hilarious, even though I almost came off. 

We rode and discussed and I began to wonder if we'd figure it out. Finally we had a plan and we rode it through the music and it worked! I then asked Ed to come up and video it so we could review it. AT the end he said 'I expected that I would be trying to conceal my laughter but that looked good'. 

Oh ye of little faith.  Just because we said that we weren't sure what we were doing......

After we were all exhausted. 

Kalimo: time for a nap

Carmen: can you just calm down?

 After, Carmen and Kalimo went out to the field to have a rest while Karen and I reviewed the video and ate the delicious lunch that Ed made.

doesn't he look great in my field? 

Then it was time to go home. 

It was so much to play with this. We will practice it on our own and, hopefully, have one more chance at a rehearsal. But like Karen said, this is more for fun and love then anything else.

So if you are at the show in September you will see us debut our dance number. And just to get you interested, here's a small preview:

I am so excited. Janet, I hope that you can come and see it.

Hopefully, Carmen won't add any extra drama....