Jess and I made a Starbuck's run (thank God it is across the street from the hotel) before we headed to the barn to feed, walk and graze Coda. He had a super night...ate all his hay, drank another bucket and a half of his water, played with his lickit, and laid down again (we could tell because of all the shavings attached to his blanket-it got cold last night!). Jess walked Coda with our friend and fellow Atlanta barn mate, Alyssa Eidbo and her horse, Johnny Cash. Afterwards, Jess and McKenzie Jenkins piled in my car and Alyssa and her mom, Melody Moore-Jackson, followed us to Bevel Saddlery. What a super tack store! We had fun browsing and buying...but not too much! Then, Jess, McKenzie and I headed to the grocery store to stock up on apples, carrots and bananas, Coda's new favorite fruit!
We headed back to the barn to unload and meet up with McKenzie's parents, Stacey and Jimmy. We toured the main barn with the Jenkin's family...took photos with the Show Secretary, Patsy Albers, and then headed to lunch at the Gladstone Tavern. YUM! This was our favorite restaurant when Jess and Sion's Shadow competed here in 2007. It didn't let us down!
When we got back to the barn, we hung out chatting with fellow riders and their moms until Karen arrived. (Karen Lipp is Jessie's trainer.) About 2:00 Michelle Gibson pulled in followed closely by Karen! Jess had Coda in the cross ties tacked up and ready to ride, but we weren't sure if she was going to have to lunge him first. Often at Shows, Coda gets pretty wild and crazy. If he is "hot", we need to find him an outlet for some of that energy. It is like having a three year old child that needs to go the park, or swim, or do something physical so he or she can be in control again. But, Coda was terrific and Jessie had a super ride and a great lesson. I think Coda feels comfortable and doesn't have a lot of pent up energy and anxiety because Jess has been hand walking him three times a day, all around the grounds.
Karen, Michelle, Devon Kane and I hung out talking while Coda was being iced. Jess caught up with her "people". This is what I love about Shows...you get to connect with people. No one is in a hurry, running to a meeting, needing to do this, that or the other thing. Folks are on "barn time" and happy to sit and chat.
At 5 we departed for the hotel to get cleaned up for dinner. It was just Karen, Jessie and I, but we had a great time and had a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant, T Bones. Afterwards, Jess and I did night check for Coda and Johnny Cash. We filled their water buckets, gave them hay, put on their blankets (it is only going to be in the mid 50's tonight!) and gave them a treat. Sleep tight, boys!
Tomorrow we get to sleep a little later because Alyssa and Melody are doing breakfast!
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