Chika Goes To A Party
By Brit Chick Runs. Filed in Uncategorized |Tags: Chika
YES! My secret Sunday happening today was a dressage competition with mah beautiful homegirl Chika!!
We haven’t competed in three years, so I didn’t have incredibly high hopes for today – but Chika exceeded my expectations, and did. not. put. a. foot. wrong.
I think she knew I badly needed her to put on her Angel Cap – I’ve been feeling prreeetttty crap the past few weeks, and after Friday night, when I was incredibly upset (a certain family member said something extremely hurtful in an unprovoked, childish attack; said person has now hurt my sister and I one time too many.), a good day out with the three most important people in my life (Mothership, Sister, Mareface) was badly needed!
Hannah was official photogger for the day, and photogg she did! I’ll let the pictures do the talkin’ 
Getting ready at home (I LOVE this first pic!!):
Warm up:
First test: the camera settings were a bit on the iff in the first test, so some of the pictures blurred, which is a shame…
…but the final halt was gorgeous!
Apples for Chika!
Second test warm up:
And actually doin’ our thaaang:
She was just..perfect. I wanted to cry a little bit – she did every single thing I asked of her, and couldn’t have tried any harder.
She was super tired at the end though! It’s been a loooong time since she’s worked that much, and although I’ve worked at her fitness, she was still a quiet little lamb travelling home. She brightened up back in the field with her boyfriend though!
Overall, it was a faaabulous day! We got two second places, and although the judge was a biiiit of a bee eye tee see H with her marking, Chika was perfect- and that’s the main thing.
It’s weird – there really is no relationship quite like one with a horse. I’ve owned horses, dogs, cats, hamsters, rats, fish, goats and guinea pigs, and I have never, ever experienced the same kind of bond as the one I have with Chika. You know, on Friday night after ‘the incident’ with the family member, i was in a bit of a teary state, so I went to the field. Chika just marched straight over and let me hug her for ages, and when Tig came over, doing his usual ‘oi, Woman, come groom with me’, she walked off from him and came straight back to me. She just … knows. Chika is a part of ME.
Sigh!
Anyway – back to normal tomorrow! Hope y’all had an awesome weekend
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 7:13 pm |
Even blurry, you both look phenomenal. I love seeing you both in action, and you looking so happy and beautiful. You’re almost making me teary eyed at the bond the two of you have! It is definitely something special
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 8:19 pm |
Oh Jesss!! Now YOU’re making ME teary eyed!
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 8:01 pm |
So lovely to see you and Chika in a competitive context. You look totally at ease together and it’s clear that the bond between you is extremely strong.
I could be way off with this, but you don’t seem to have the level of anxiety over dressage that you do with running? I’m only speaking from my perspective but often a lot of your running posts are either total hyper-elation or feeling pain and frustration at being injured (believe me, I empathise), where as here you’re competing while having fun. There are so many running/tri bloggers out there but I’ve never seen anyone as gifted at dressage as you are: I love your posts with Chika because they’re different, original, and you write with such infectious enthusiasm.
I’m sorry about the family trouble
Just wanted to say that you’re a really special and unique Blogger, runner or otherwise. And if I was as brilliant at another sport as you are at dressage, then I wouldn’t invest so much of my identity in my running…sadly I’m useless at everything else (and at running too now.)
xxx
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 8:18 pm |
Awh I’m glad the bond comes through!
OOhhhhhhh no, riding and I still have a LOT of stress!! I used to cry, shake, feel sick with nerves at competitions, and I would get stressed in training because I put a LOT of pressure on myself to be perfect. Part of the reason why I stopped competing was because it was too stressful; I’d spent 3 years competing constantly, and we needed a break. I was actually very very nervous today – I felt so sick before! But it was a low-key event. I guess the equivalent of if you were someone who’d run national competitive marathons regularly, and then did a local 5k around the park..if that makes sense!?
and I’m glad that came across! It’s a shame I didn’t blog when I was competing at a higher level affiliated…tears (lots of), superhypercrazyhappy, anger…sport brings out the extremes in me :p
I was super elated after today’s tests – til I saw the mark from the stingey judge…but at the moment, it was just a fun, relaxed day out
And thank you for the rest of your comment too – that’s so sweet, and means a lot. *hug*
I’m really sorry you’re injured – but you know, anyone who can run as much as you do in one week (even if you can’t now) is NOT useless. xxx
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 9:07 pm |
Aww – such a lovely write up, you two look fab!
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 9:12 pm |
I am very pleasantly surprised by my photography skillz! But you forgot to include the shexy pic of Tig taken this morning… I’m ashamed of you
disowned.com
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 9:47 pm |
L O L!
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 10:21 pm |
You two look fantastic together. Congratulations girl
I’ve never owned my own horse, so I can’t imagine the exact bond you have with Chika, but I’m extremely close with my puppy, and I definitely know the healing power that animals have. That’s the sweetest thing that she came over to cheer you up when you were feeling down, and I hope that you’re feeling better now, because you deserve nothing but happiness. Hope you’re having a beautiful Sunday <3
Sunday, August 14th 2011 at 10:58 pm |
Wow! That looks like so much fun
. You and Chika are a darling pair, I think that the bitchy judge was just jealous of your team beauty!
But in all honesty, I love how you say that Chika just knows. I spend two years really sick with a heart condition, and whenever I was really sick or feeling down, my doggy would come over to where I was lying near dead o the couch and put his head on my chest. It’s not like it was some huge gesture, but it always ade me feel so much better
. Animals are amazing.
Monday, August 15th 2011 at 6:14 am |
Oh wow what a lovely surprise
You guys look amazing. Well done on where you were placed. I know exactly what you mean about the powers of pony perception-for such strong animals they can be real softies when their mommy is upset. Sorry to hear about the nasties but you’ve out shined them with your talents so great big :p to them x
Monday, August 15th 2011 at 8:39 am |
Oh this is so sweet and beautiful! I think you girls are a great team, both glowing from effort and happiness.
Monday, August 15th 2011 at 9:16 am |
You two look amazing together…what a beautiful post! And congrats on your rosettes!
And I love how you describe the bond between you and her. I’ve never owned a horse myself, but the ones I have been around all had very special traits and I really felt connected to them (some more than others 
). I had the super deep special bond with my first dog George- I swear he could read my mind and my moods better than myself!
Sorry…hope your mum doesn’t mind being called one of the ‘girls’ 
I love one of the last photos, where you hug Chika- you look like such a proud momma
You look so happy and ‘complete’ with Chika (if that makes sense)!
So sorry that someone hurt you…but I am sure that you girls are quite the force to be reckoned with and will support each other through this and overcome the pain
Monday, August 15th 2011 at 10:22 pm |
ahhh well done on the ribbons!! Your trot looks fantastic and always nice to see a lovely square halt too. Im not dressage expert but i agree with you about the judge being stingy you should have got red!.
Animals will always be a huge part of my life, i think the connection with them is much deeper as their are no words involved. In a weird sense they always know how youre feeling. You and chika has such an amazing bond! It must be great knowing she is so close by.
Monday, August 15th 2011 at 11:05 pm |
I just started reading your blog, and what an inspiration you are! I can’t wait to read more
And what a beautiful horse Chika is! Congrats on a great time 
Monday, August 15th 2011 at 11:13 pm |
Sorry about the family problems, but it looks like you had an awesome day with the people that matter the most!
Thursday, August 18th 2011 at 7:38 pm |
Aww congrats, that’s wonderful! Especially after not competing for three years. Your first halt was perfect – how do you do that? Snoozy always wiggled and/or spooked at the judges while I tried to salute.