Wow!! What an amazing day I've had!!
I got up early and had breakfast with Catherine, we found English baked beans yesterday so we had beans on toast!!
Then I set of for my day at Spruce Meadows!! I had to get the train to a place called Somerset and catch a shuttle bus from there. The only thing was the bus didn't start until 5pm and it was 9.30!!!! Luckily another guy was waiting for the bus too so we decided to share a taxi. He said it would cost about $20 dollars so I thought that's ok! We got there and it was only 10 so the guy paid!! Cheers mate!
In I walked to Spruce Meadows, yes I just walked it didn't cost a thing to get it!!!! Wow!!
I wondered around for a bit and got my bearings and picked up a map! There were about 4 different jumping rings! I found a few shops to look in but everything was so expensive!! I found a barn with some of the horses in and just walked in! I asked one of the riders if we were allowed to just look around and she said yes!! Wow this was awesome! I got to stroke the horses take pictures talked to some of the riders and grooms! I was taking to an American rider Reed Kesslers mum for ages! Reed was at olympia for the first time last year and we were talking about it and they stayed in the savoy for xmas!!!!!
I found a ring that had just started so I sat and watched. I was so close to the horses jumping! I didn't really know any of the riders as they were mainly American and Canadian! Some were just walking sound but I had no idea who they were! If I was at home I probably would have been getting their autographs!!
Once the class finished I walked round some more found some more shops!! There was a stall with these really cool bucket covers that you could have personalised and I asked how much and they said $15 so I thought I'm treating Hopey! They had certain logos which were $10 or you could have your own for $20 I was deciding what to do and I'd been talking to the stall holders and they said as your ponies name is Hope we will do it for $10 so I though perfect! The bucket cover looked cool and then I went to pay and the guy said $72!!!!!!!!!!! I was like what!!! I obviously misheard and they must have said $50 not $15!!!!!! I was gutted but had to pay as they had personalised it!! Gggrrrr BUT since being back at the hostel I looked and I got given some straps with it but I couldn't work out what they were for but you can attach the bucket to railings so food/water doesn't fall out so it is probably pretty good but still expensive!!!!
I went and watched a class in the international ring and there were 71 horses in it!!! It took 35 horses to go before there was a clear inside the time!! Only 7 ended up going clear! There was an Irish rider Connor swail and he same 3rd! No English riders though!
I was sat on the benches watching to begin with them it was getting cold as I was in the shade so I went and sat on the grass and was sooo close to the jumps it was awesome!
Once the class finished they had 3 mares with foals come in as they run a name the foal competition! They were so cute!!
It was 7pm so I thought I'd better head back the shuttle was running now so I got that back to the train station and the train back to the hostel! I was so tired when I got back I had dinner and planned an early night.... It's 11.30!!! I ended up talking to some girls in my room and some ladies downstairs in the lobby area!
Oh and it was really warm today I got to wear my new baseball cap as you can see in my pic and I might have got a little sun burnt!! I need to buy sun cream tomorrow!!
Oh and I saw my first wildlife today! A HUGE hare!!! And another little animal like a squirrel but I'm not sure what it was!!
Right I need sleep!! Night night xxx