Equestrian Blog

I am absolutely exhausted.  It has been the busiest week I can remember in a long time. 

On top of the regular school stuff, the Judson College Equestrian Team is off getting ready for what seems like too many things at once. I guess it is really only two “things” but the preparation for one is more then enough to go around at a time. 

The first event that we are getting ready for is, of course, our up coming show season.  Our first show of the season is the second weekend in October and I think I may actually be ready for this one.  We have had six classes so far that we have ridden in and I feel like I am making much better progress then I was making this time last year.  Granted I still have a lot of work to do too. I think it is going to be a good year.  Now, the getting ready does make life a little hectic.  This week for example we had a full dress day. Now that in itself may  not have been that bad, but since it was in the middle of the week, in the middle of the day, between two classes, it made getting my horse ready, groomed and tacked, and myself ready, dressed, hair and makeup done, rather rushed. Plus I had to watch the video of me ride and write a review on it. So, it is safe to say that I was a little late. That’s ok though, because it is a really good opportunity to see areas that I need to work on.  Plus, I had talked to the professor of my next class ahead of time so she knew that I would probably be late. 

The second thing that the Equestrian Team has been working on getting ready for is the Equine Preview Day. This is an event similar to Judson Preview days and Scholarship days, but the emphasis is on the equine department and the new major in that field as well as the new equine facility.  As a part of this day the Judson College Equestrian Team will be performing riding routines as an example of the types of things we do during our classes.  That means that we have to choreograph routines. This seems to be slightly complicated for my class because our routine is actually going to incorporate riders from the other Western Team class. This would not be a problem other then the fact that there is not a time that we can work together, so we are having to work out a routine in each class and then combine them together, without ever actually getting to practice together. I think it is going to work out ok, but there is some skepticism among team members.  

The Equine Preview Day is on Saturday, September 25, and I encourage everyone to come.  I personally believe that all of the routines are going to work perfectly fine, plus in addition to the Western Team routine I am performing the opening flag routine along with Andrea Luckie. We will be using the same routine that we used during the Marion Rodeo this summer.  It is going to be a great day to learn about Judson, especially the Equine department, and I really hope to see all of you there!

Just because it was a short week at Judson does not mean we did any less... Instead, I think we did more. Why is that, you ask? Well, I will tell you...

 It is because it is that time of year that professors have been eagerly awaiting and students have been fearfully dreading. It is time for …….. The First Test of the Class. 

Picture this with me: 

-----The weather is beginning to show signs of getting cooler (even if that only means 90 degrees instead of 100), and the promise of fall seems only weeks away. Students have been back at Judson for about a month now, classes are well underway and everyone is feeling pretty comfortable with them. Everyone is happy to have just had a long weekend ---- when they are reminded that they have a TEST only a few days away.

With this realization students react in one of two ways. They either: 

a) Go into that crazy study mode where they are freaking out because they don't know what the tests for their new classes are going to be like. They are studying extra hard in fear that they have been studying the wrong things or the right things in the wrong way and are just sure they are going to fail the test.

                                                              or 

b)They  don't study at all because they are sure that this is finally that class that is different from all the others they have ever taken and will require no studying whatsoever to pass. 

Now, there are some students that are already ahead in the game because their professors have already given the first, maybe even second test. 

For the most part, these students  know what to expect from their tests and are studying calmly and confidently.

There are others though that have one of "those" teachers and their worst fear did come true. Their first test was less than reassuring and they still don't know how and/ or  what they should be studying. 

See what I mean, all of this added studying really does make a week much busier , especially when it was a short week to begin with.----

Ok, so it really isn't that bad. I am pretty sure that professors DON'T await giving tests like it is some kind of torture they get pleasure from and taking the test really isn't that bad either.  Most of us really did know, if only subconsciously, that there was a test coming up.  As far as being prepared for the tests, it does take a lot of studying sometimes and  that  can seem like it is consuming our lives. However, the professors here at Judson are really great and it is important to them that we do well. They do their best to make sure we are ready when those test days do get here. 

Things have also been busy around the barn. The last of the construction on our new facility is being finished and the Judson College Equestrian Team is getting ready for our "full dress" day in class next week in preparation for our first show, which is only a month away. 

Check back in a few days for more details about our new barn and what the equestrian team members are up to from your favorite Equestrian blogger…me :) !!!!

Oh, and one last thing. A note of thanks to one of my dear Judson Sisters, Megan Kingsmore, for her assistance in helping me brainstorm ideas for my blogs. One day all of you may get to read that blog she thinks I should write about her but, for today, she is satisfied with simply being mentioned. 

 Thursday September 2

   So, now that summer is over let me fill you in on what all I did. 

   I was not here at Judson for short term, but that doesn't mean I didn't get to see my JC sisters. 

   Not a month into the summer, I was on the road with Andrea on the way to Sarah's Wedding in Monroeville, Ala. Sarah was a fellow Equestrian Team member and a dear friend.  It was a beautiful occasion and we were all happy for her. Like everything else at Judson,  a Judson Girls wedding involves traditions. During the wedding reception all of the bride's Judson sisters who are in attendance, circle around  her and the groom and sing to them.  Sarah's wedding was my first Judson wedding and although I had heard about them, I didn't realize how special of a tradition it is until I was a part of it. 

   After the wedding, we had to head to Judson, because the Choir was singing at a church in Tuscaloosa the next day and it was easier and a shorter drive to go crash with a friend on campus for the night then to go home.We learned a couple of things on that  interesting trip to Judson. One, we learned that you can not always trust Map Quest directions because sometimes they can take you in the complete opposite direction of where you need to go and, two, that it is a good thing gas stations have maps, because no one knows where you are going when you ask for directions to Marion! 

   I was back at judson again only a few weeks later for the Marion Rodeo, again with Andrea. We were asked by the Marion Rodeo Committee to perform the opening flag presentation Friday and Saturday night. Andrea and I had choreographed the routine for our riding final spring semester. 

   My final visit to Judson over the summer was for graduation and again I traveled with Andrea. This time, however, we met up with Mrs. Jennifer Hoggle Friday night at the rodeo in Alex City where Andrea lives. We rode to Marion for graduation with her and then back to the Alex City Rodeo Saturday afternoon.

   After that my summer was pretty uneventful.