Here Comes The Rain…

EC Blog by: Allyson Hicks

Rain has been falling here in drought stricken California, in spates as well as in torrents, and I think it has been a metaphor for what has been going on out of the show pen for me. There’s been a flurry of bad news around here and certainly not enough sunshine lately.

After writing my last blog post, “Isn’t That Lame,” ironically, my horse was struck down with a sore ankle, and the vet has recommended 45 days of rest. He came up lame at the last show, and I had to scratch all of my classes. It was a pretty awful experience and certainly not my finest hour.

The weather was sunny leading up to the show, and then we had a deluge of rain. Most of my tack ended up pretty wet and muddy. Honestly, I still haven’t cleaned a thing, with the exception of my horse.

For the most part, I would say I’m pretty mild mannered. But, at that show, I was feeling pretty low and even had somewhat of a spat with a barn mate. You know, it was one of those conversations that really didn’t need to take place. When driving home from the show, one of my tires blew on the freeway in a rather bad part of town. The list of mishaps goes on and on.

Showing horses is a hobby for me, an expensive hobby, one that I hope brings as much fun as it has been costing. Boy, have I been wrong on that calculation lately. The fun factor at the last show was zero, and, with my horse taking some time off, the showing factor will continue to be a big zero for the next 45 days. I have spent this week thinking about why I don’t just throw the towel in, take the money and run, give up the ghost…

I suppose it’s because I want to ride off into the sunset. The truth is that I love to show, and one bad show and a horse laid up for 45 days isn’t enough to deter me. So, I’d better get my tack cleaned, because I know there is sunshine ahead.

I’ll be missing all of you at the horse shows,

Allyson Hicks & No Fun Being Good