Thermal 2008

I went and visited the show the weekend of Week 3 (February 8 - 10, 2008), mostly to see Eddie Macken ride Tedechine Sept.

There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding this particular show, because of concerns over the footing and the committment of management to the facility. I asked everyone I could find "How is the footing? Is the show fun? Any problems?" The universal answer was that the footing was world-class, the show was a blast, that the lack of entries (due to many many cancellations largely because of footing concerns) was a huge plus (shorter days, shorter lines in the office, less hassle all around). I am not a cheerleader for HITS; I continue to wish there were competative alternatives to Thermal that would push the management to lower prices and provide more services. But there is no question that they have spent money where it counted; that they have provided a quality facility. I am looking forward to going down for the second half, and hoping that the weather stays good.

	Got there Friday night. I must admit, driving from the airport my heart started pounding as I neared the facility. The Grand Prix warmup field is used for the indoor as well, even though it's a little bit of a walk down a dark road.
	The indoor is really cool. Reportedly built in a day, it's an awesome venue. There's nothing like 5 foot jumps three strides off the corner. Check out the video screen at the far end, the horse jumping the vertical in the lower right, and the decent, happy crowd. Did I mention that the footing is great?
	A typical barn setup in a typical tent. Well, a little nicer than usual. We don't have the awnings, fencing, trees, sign... but then we're all jumpers.
	The high rent permanent barns. Bigger stalls, horses can hang their heads out, more expensive.
	Perhaps my one complaint. All the palm trees from last year that were going to grow 2' a year and be beautiful in a few years --- died. They put in all new trees, maybe a foot or two smaller than last year. Will they still be alive in 6 months? Inquiring minds want to know...
	My trainer's daughter Lauren Crooks on a pony, with her mom Cathy in the golf cart. Super riders and super people.
	Patrick Snijders on the right, part-time Rich Fellers hauler, groom, farrier, and VW hot rod afficianado JR in the middle, and one of Patrick's client's father on the left. We were jawing about how great the footing was this year.
	Dragging and watering.
	Vender row.
	Trendy.
	The food building. A side note - I talked to Shelly Campf about the windstorm and she got so excited! Apparently she loves storms and thought it was spectacularly fun. Look for the dents in the western roof of the food area near the door, where the outside deck awning and a picnic table slammed into the structure.
	Cathy Langston on a young horse, with snow-capped mountains in the background.
	Lauren Crooks warming up for a the A/O lows on Endeavor. Looking sharp in the shades.
	Laura Grant rides with Eddie Macken.
	The weather was beautiful.
	Low A/O's.
	Kathi Ballentine beats up Dagwood.
	Eddie Macken sneaks a smoke.
	Lauren Crooks on Endeavor.
	Lauren again.
	"Added too many strides to that one..."
	My barn's moving into this tent for 4, 5, and 6. We bought the trees from Parkside, they're nice and leaving us the bark and the grass. I hope it looks this good when I get back next week.
	Jeff Campf studying his rider.
	Carly Anthony.
	Cara Anthony.
	Getting some tips from mom. What a super rider she is, and how old?
	Jackie Herod rides with Eddie Macken, doing the Low A/O classic.
	Getting the timing right on these pictures is hard.
	Occasionally riders become separated from their mounts before their round is completed. It's nice when they end up looking this good.
	I love it when trainers help with a bit of grooming.
	One of the light poles around the grand prix field has little airplane warning lights on top because of the proximity of the Thermal airport.
	The Grand Prix field.
	Audra Fleck Snijders. Note that she uses the new click in stirrups. I noticed Richard Spooner using them as well.
	The VIP tent between the Grand Prix field and Hunter 1. Supposedly the food is incredibly good this year. I lucked into a VIP wrist band Friday night (by standing next to Stevie Macken - ahh to have that affect on women), but somehow lost it by Saturday morning.
	Cool.
	From the VIP tent looking up past the 7 hunter rings.
	Eddie Macken hacking Tedechine Sept.
	The Grand Prix field has a cool new video screen. Apparently they had a "drive in movie" night one evening.
	The grass around the Grand Prix field is so green. Oh, it's fake. And slippery. But actually it looks great and makes sense.
	That "Showjumping Unplugged" lady interviewing Jill Humphrey after a clear round in the Grand Prix.
	Eddie Macken on Tedechine Sept warming up. That's Stevie Macken on the right. Thin as he is, Kathi Ballentine's hiding behind him.
	Eddie entering the triple.
	Eddie coming out of the triple.
	Eddie and Mary (Tedechine Sept) exiting the ring. She jumped great but had two rails - not up to Eddie's standard's. Believe me, he's not happy at this moment.
	Admire your friendly show photographer who can actually time these shots so they work.
	Almost there.
	Dang, just missed it.