Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Ready for Tomorrow!

I'm sitting here in that strange in between of exhaustion and excitement after a long day of preparing the boys for their spring debut tomorrow.  They're tucked in for the night, bathed and braided for tomorrow's competition.  I'm studying my dressage tests and remembering the cross country courses for tomorrow's event at Sport Days Farm before falling asleep myself!  

For the next installment in The Lineup, meet Peter Panther!

PETER PANTHER
  • Name: His Jockey Club (racing name) is Peter Panther, but his barn name (nickname) is Pete.
  • Date of Birth: 2001
  • Markings: All solid bay with some leg decorations (scars) from the track.
  • Height: 16.2 hands
  • Previous career: Pete was a race horse until he was 5.  Now he learning to be both a hunt horse and an event horse.
  • Bit: Pete loves his Happy Mouth snaffle bit.  He is very sensitive and responsive, especially considering his previous career.
  • Personal habits: Pete loves to lick.  He will lick your hands or your face, and he licks the air when he sticks his head out of his stall.  He loves to rub his whole head on his riders, sometimes practically knocking them down after a ride!  Pete is the barn mess; he trashes his stall into a disgusting mess daily. 
  • First meeting: Audra Spouse brought Pete to me for a lesson in May 2007 in Virginia. Most of the lesson was spent running sideways, backwards, or stuck in park. Pete and Audra have both come a long way since then!
  • Biggest victory to date (until tomorrow!): Pete HATED getting on the trailer when his owner Audra got him off the track.  For two years, it was a serious battle to take him anywhere, often taking an hour to convince him to get on.  Pete has learned to like the trailer, and he is getting better and better at getting on any trailer to go anywhere with anyone. 
  • Favorites: Pete likes treats and attention.  He likes sunbathing in his field, often scaring us when he sleeps so deeply in the middle of the day! Pete loves to drink water from the hose while getting baths, probably an old habit from the track.
  • Best friend: Pete and Bumbleberry are best friends, though Pete finds it easier to leave his buddies for work. 
That's all for now.  Be sure to check back with competition results from Sporting Days!

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