1. Ding Dang Dong – an Italian Experience
USA Reining Competition, Maneribo, Italy
Sept 2008
By Courtney Barnett
Ding Dang Dong goes the bells. Not only is that a line for the movie “Under the Tuscan
Sun” but also a reality here in Italy. It seems every town has a church that still rings their
bells throughout the day. The first time I heard them was in early evening signifying the
end of the day. When I get busy with the details that need to be done these bells remind
me that I am experiencing a wonderful opportunity in a foreign land. It allows me to
cherish the moment before I continue on with my current project.
A similar topic was brought up today at the barn. Do horses know that they are in a
different country or do they just think they went on a long road trip? Not only are the
sights and smells new and different but so are the common sounds. There is a difference
in the speech patterns and the tempo of the American speech versus the Italian speech.
Do horses realize this? They must notice the difference but do they understand the
difference? This was a topic that Lauren and I got on today while taking care of he team
horses. If they do realize it then they adjust better then humans do. They appear not to
be affected by jet lag, whereas, I am still trying to get on the right schedule. I will
probably have it figured out by the time I get on the plane to fly home. Who needs sleep
anyway? At least that is what I am telling myself.
Italy has presented a fair share of new experiences. Tonight was no different. We went
to dinner at a restaurant that we had enjoyed earlier, but this time we didn’t have a
translator helping us with the menu. We were on our own. I was armed with my pocket
dictionary and a few key phrases but it was still mass confusion. To an outside spectator
we probably resembled a Three Stooges comedy. We did get some outside help from
other patrons who felt sorry enough for us to translate a few words. After the order was
set, which took probably 10 minutes for two pizzas, a steak, salad and spaghetti; we felt
quite accomplished. We had ordered food. That feeling left after I took my first bite.
Apparently I mistranslated a word and instead of getting tomatoes on my pizza I got a
very pungent tuna or some other fish. I am not a fish person, especially if it tastes fishy
which this did. But I couldn’t help myself, I started laughing at the mistake. It was too
funny. I did end up eating the pizza but tried to avoid the fish. Ryan also got a different
pizza then he thought he ordered, but John and Lauren got food that resembled what they
thought they would get. So we for two and two; it can only go uphill.
After our dinner we thought dessert would be good, but since there was no Tiramisu
available we moved on. In the town of Leno, Lauren had seen a Gelatoira, which we
promptly headed to. There were too many flavors and colors that it was hard to decide on
one flavor. So it was a nice surprise when we found out that you get three flavors with an
order. Now which three to pick?. I was temped by the baby blue colored gelato called
Pucco, but decided I had been adventurous enough for the day. So I got chocolate,
Rocher, and a vanilla flavored gelato. Boy, were they delicious! Everything that

2. everybody has said about Gelato is true. Maybe on my next trip to the Gelatoira I will
get the baby blue gelato… or maybe not.
Tomorrow we start setting up our stalls in Manerbio, the horses move in on Monday
morning and the riders start arriving Monday. The pace is going to pick up and I can’t
wait until the whole team is here in Italy!
Till tomorrow.