Waiting to jog from left to right, Kate Sykes and Kelly Damp’s ‘Zephyr’, Anne Marie Duarte and John and Judy Rumble’s ‘Foxwood High’ and hiding at the back, Tori Morgan and her own ‘Bentley’
Yesterday was yet another gallop day. The days go by relentlessly and Bromont draws every closer. Today is a ‘day 8’ which means they all get a day off. By the looks of Woody when we trotted him up this morning, he doesn’t need a day off. I spend endless hours being the official barn worry wart. I worry about them being too fat, being too thin, being unhappy, being tired….you name it, I worry about it. It’s in my job description. The morning after their gallops we wash all the poultice off and they get jogged and have their legs assessed for any heat or swelling.
Woody looking good….
Selena usually does this check but as the barn’s official worrier, I help out when the horses are here in Canada. I am happy to report I have no residual worries after this morning’s jog. Everyone was downright sprightly and full of P and V. My only concern at the moment (there always has to be one) is that they are all looking rather TOO well. I am considering starvation rations for everything that is going Prelim or above. The grass seems terribly rich this year and we are limiting access in a big way.
I love Bromont but I won’t be able to go this year as everyone else from Team OHE will be there working or competing. It is the first Canadian three day that I rode in, and it was the first Canadian three day that Selena was ever entered for. I did the one stars and the two stars on several different horses but in my day there was no three star available but we DID get to do the steeplechase which was awesome fun. I like the town and I particularly like the food. There are lots of great little restaurants in Bromont and I sincerely hope that the World Equestrian Games in two years time will bring Bromont the accolades it undoubtably deserves.
I have to say I was a bit worried (I AM the barn worrier) when I read a short time go that a number of the members of the board who are organizing the WEG at Bromont had resigned due to concerns about Bromont’s ability to be ready in time. I was at the WEG in France with all it’s attendant ‘fails’ and to be honest I don’t see how Bromont can but improve on 2014. Apart from anything else, valuable lessons were learned from the mistakes made in 2014 and I know for a fact that there were observers from the Bromont committee there in Normandy taking notes. Already traffic arrangements have been put in place that will prevent the snarl ups that happened on cross country day in France, with some people never getting there, or getting there in time to see the last horse go around! Just a row of porta-pottys will be an upgrade on the toilet facilities available in France on dressage day! I am standing firm behind Bromont, my favourite Canadian eventing venue.
