Weg Day 8

Today is Cross Country day. One of the most popular of horse sports, cross country day pulls not only those who event, but all horse owners and many non-riders as well.

The WEG course has been talked about as being VERY challenging. Eventers like to use the term, that the course "Asks the question". I always wondered exactly what that question is. (And do you have the answer?)

Maybe the question is: Are you ready to rumble? To which your eventing horse, and the rider on top, had better say: YES. (Note to self: If my horse says MAYBE, I will send him to Mr. Ed school)

But YES, if you are ready, and your horse is ready-- physically, mentally--then you get to face the largest and most challenging jumping situations in the world. Those of us on the sidelines, hardly understand what is going on while watching these 1000-lb animals throw themselves up in the air at a solid 5-foot wall of a jump. (It's physics again. You know, energy = mass X speed or something like that)

Makes you wonder where in your life you are "asked the question"?
Are you ready to throw yourself in the air, with the faith that you'll land safely on the other side??

Oh man, just too serious here. Asking about life and all... Let's just get back to WEG and all the little things that make you want to say HMMMM.

I ran into two men (at separate times and places) on the Horse Park from Southeast KY. One from Harlan County and one from Pikeville. Just goes to show you that there IS some interest down there in COAL COUNTRY for this event... although I know many of the Eastern Kentuckians think those of us in Lexington are just tree huggers... or snobby -- or both. [I threw that in specifically for a friend of mine down there.... Hi Rick!] Now I'm gonna just go over here to a tree and give it a good hug. And turn off my lights.

OOPS, better watch it, coal talk is SERIOUS around here!

THe cross country was over around 2pm and there were crowds pouring out of the park at that time --but still a lot of visitors left. I don't have any numbers but it surely was the largest crowd so far. Late in the day (around 5pm), the wind picked up and word was spread around the booths that there was a big storm that should hit in about 30 minutes. You never saw us move so fast to pull everything under the tent, and button it up.

Even Wayne Hipsley (board member and volunteer for the day) was moving fast. Big Wayne, you might call him if you saw him. Uh-oh, I think I'm not supposed to call my board members names. But he's got a sense of humor I HOPE.

The temperature dropped. Brr. I actually had to buy another KHC vest. They are warm and cozy. (Shameless plug: Do you have your KHC vest for the winter? Great Christmas present. Go to kentuckyhorse.org and click on STORE.)

And THEN the expected nightmare hit. The parking lot exodus. Hundreds of cars all winding their way through the lot, er- I mean hay field, down ONE FREAKIN DUSTY ONE LANE ROAD OUT OF THE LOT. And at the end of that long line was Ironworks Pike, which was CONVENIENTLY turned into a one lane road going right, and has always been a one lane road going left. Can you spell ROAD RAGE? Took me 50 minutes to get out of that lot.

Well, the good news is I got my Blackberry out and answered some emails. And the radio had some oldies but goodies on. If it weren't for the fact that friends were waiting at the BAR for me, I could have been pretty content. The gin-and-tonic was calling me. I was glad to answer the call.