Bobby's #BestNine2017

I tried the autofill calculator of insta-likes for my Best Nine this year, but it was pretty lame. A couple pictures of Opie, the post from the day I had to put Bobby down, and a few random ones that I have no idea why they were so popular. Things I didn't care all that much about, things I didn't want to remember, and things that have become a separate part of my journey through this year.

The most notable absence was of Bobby's face plant into water lilies, and that picture is what inspired me to create my own Best Nine--a tribute and a farewell to one Bobby Magee.

In June we went to our only completed show of the year. Bobby won one of the hacks, but it was his two over fences rounds in the Thoroughbred division that had me grinning like a fool. After his navicular diagnosis at the end of last year, I wasn't sure he was ever going to compete over jumps again. We'd got him back in fighting shape with corrective shoeing, but he still hadn't jumped more than a handful of times in the six months leading up to this show. More than that, a week before this he was handed his diagnosis of sarcoidosis and we were preparing ourselves to put him down. Instead he rallied and packed me around like a complete professional.

Who needs a dressage saddle for dressage? When sound, Bobby felt incredible in the strength department this year. He finally got his head in the game, and by the end of the summer I was feeling like Third was strongly in our grasp. This was a glimpse of the badassery that was to come.

I really struggled with keeping Bobby comfortable in his feet, and footing was something I always had to keep an eagle eye on. He never turned down a romp in the front field though.

We jumped 3'6" two times the whole year, just to prove we still could.

The crowning jewel of 2017. Hubby came along with us to Mendon for a photoshoot, and we couldn't pass up a chance for a dip before we left. Bobby's favorite speed was wading with a side of snacking on lily pads.

One of our last rides. Money was tight, but BM hauled us down for free with a couple other barn mates to go cross country schooling, and Bobby was in heaven.

The water beast in its natural habitat.

We attempted a second show, but the dressage was a shit storm due to footing, the cross country got cancelled due to flooding, and I opted not to haul back down for stadium on equally shitty footing. He still looked like a beast.

The end of an era.