9

"That is one big pile of..."

My very first Royal Horse Show.  They keep the pile outside the back of the building.  It's tossed down a chute, and the second you get off the streetcar, there it is, reassuring you that you are indeed very close to a LARGE number of well-fed horses.

I actually went to see the jumping competition.  But it's like a rock concert. You have to sit through all the opening acts before you get to see The Rolling Stones.

Seconds after the show started, I realized I was decidedly underdressed.  Out come all these little buggies pulled by ponies, with drivers decked out like it's 1900.  (I would not have done well back then – I am not a 'hat person.')  Then there were all the young ladies giving out the prizes.  Teetering along through several inches of dirt their long evening gowns and high heels.  I felt sorry for the littlest one who was clearly terrified of approaching 6 huge Percherons, tossing their heads and stomping the ground with legs like parking meters.  I give her credit for a decent pitching arm; the way she just threw that prize ribbon up to the carriage driver.

 

I've never outgrown my love of horses.  I've always thought they were the most beautiful creatures God ever put on this planet.  In my much younger days, I used to ride whenever I could find an opportunity.  But then, after that whole Christopher Reeve thing – appreciating horses from the ground seems a lot safer.

Certainly safer than what this guy does for a living.

Every so often he'd come out in his dirt Zamboni and whiz around with all the grace of a New York City cab driver.  Somehow always managing to miss that mound of pony poop right in the middle of the coliseum.

This guy was amazing.

 

He's part of the Cavallo Equestrian Arts display.  And yes, he's doing exactly what it looks like – standing with right and left feet on the backs of 2 different horses, while they gallop around the ring.  Eventually they run around a much smaller ring, one behind the other, while another member of the troop somersaults from the back of one horse to the other.  Major ooohhhs and aaahhhs. 

Finally we got to the jumping.

 

 

This always has me on pins and needles watching on TV, hoping they don't knock any poles down and no one gets hurt.  I especially hate this type of fence.

The one disguised as a concrete wall, but really it's just stacked hollow wooden blocks.  This one is painted to resemble the Toronto skyline. Can you make out the CN Tower?  How cute, eh?  But I hate these things because they look like they could hurt somebody.  And of course, this nightmare is pretty much right in front of my seat.  I waited for the inevitable, which came in the form of Canadian rider Vanessa Mannix, whose horse, Carolien, refused at the very last second, and crashed right into the fence, blocks flying everywhere.  I was incredibly relived to see that a strap of her tack was broken, meaning she couldn't continue and the horse would be examined by a vet immediately.

It must have been a tough course.  Out of 21 riders, there were only 2 clear rounds, none unfortunately by a Canadian.  Still, it was a thrill to see our top Canadian jumper, Ian Millar, in person.  Here he is, on Teddy.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.  I didn't even mind going home smelling like manure.  I don't know what people's problem is with that stuff.  I think it smells pretty decent. But then, I like the sound of bagpipes and I absolutely hate the taste of mustard.   So I could be considered a bit odd...

One Thing That >50 Me Has Learned Along the Way...

 
Minimum wage is not intended to be a living wage.  It is intended to be temporary and/or supplemental.  If you are not getting paid the amount that you need to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, I do understand that.  But there is a solution besides constantly whining that you can't pay the rent on your 2-bedroom apartment in a major city on minimum wage.  I'd be surprised if you could.  So find another job that pays more, confirm your start date, and then quit your current job.  If you cannot find another job no matter how hard you try, then your main problem is not a low minimum wage figure.  Maybe we're in a serious economic downturn, and we should all be grateful for the jobs we have.  But if the times are average, and there is hiring going on, then the problem is YOU (sorry!).  Once again, be grateful for the job you have.  If you want more money – and hey, who doesn't? – then earn it.