Last year when we went to the District show, we left early on the morning we showed. Bad mistake! We were scheduled to leave at 5:30 am to make an 8:30 pre-show meeting. Mapquest gave us an 1 hr & 45 min route - no problem right? WRONG! One of the horses took 30 minutes to load and mapquest lied! The route we were told to take took 2 hrs and 45 min and we hauled butt the whole time. So needless to say, we made it to the show 10 minutes before the first class. Thankfully we had done all grooming the night before - so a quick wipe down and we were showing. The whole day seemed to go that way - hurry, hurry - rush, rush. It showed in our results. The horses and the girls were keyed up all day - the only classes we qualified for state in were by default ( less than 11 in the class) except for Cash - he placed 4th in Gelding Halter. This year, it would be different. We reserved stalls and went down the day before. The girls watched the speed events, did final grooming touch-ups and went to the hotel and swam. The horses were walked around the grounds and relaxed in their stalls. I was the lucky one that got to sleep in the extra stall! Wahoo! Actually I preferred it - I don't think I could have taken a night of pre-teen drama. I'll take the steady munch of hay and swishing of shavings any day. We did much better in the arena as well - maybe not in placing, but each girl performed better than last year. For example - Rendi & Cash competed in 4 classes last year ( 4th - Halter, 11th - Showmanship, DQ - Western Pleasure & DQ - Trail) this year they competed in the same 4 classes ( 3rd - Halter, 11th - Showmanship (they both hate it), 10th - Western Pleasure and DQ - Trail) Not great results, but considering last years performance Cash was a champ. Last year, his fear of other horses caused him to freak in Western Pleasure and is fear of well everything caused him to freak in Trail. This year Western Pleasure went well, except for his barrel horse run-down the arena, and Trail was fairly respectable as well. He is still learning to cue with neck reins and this was his first time to be exclusively neck reined. My daughter learned a valuable lesson on preparation and practice. Everyone had a good time and almost everyone was pleased with their performances. We know that we aren't at the level to win and we just want the experience. Now on to State! Rendi qualified in 3 events, but chose to only show in Halter. It was the only event she felt she had earned a right to compete in. But, UHOH, she breaks her leg the week before. Luckily, she is put in a walking cast and is cleared to show in halter. Cash took such care of her in the ring, even seemingly to block the judge away from Rendi when he came too close - not a big help in placing. They did not place under either judge, not a big surprise. None of the girls placed at State - way out of our league, but they did seem to get a fire under them. I have long told them that to really compete, they must practice, practice, practice. They were just content to participate. Now they saw that it would not take a whole lot to step it up and be show ready. They want me to find them some shows to go to and especially some shows in the NE District, the toughest district. Rendi now finally understands that Cash can't be a playday horse and be a tough competitor in the show ring. She also now understands that she really hates showmanship and dislikes the way Western Pleasure horses must travel (trope) to be really competitive. She is now going to focus on the Trail, Western Horsemanship and Western Riding classes. She knows that she is still going to have to slow Cash down, but not alter his natural gaits. She still refuses to show english - too bad. She has also decided to show in the speed events. She asked a friend if she could train his horse to run barrels & poles. He was happy to oblige. He gets his "extra" horse trained to do something and Rendi gets to bolster her horsemanship skills and experience. Win-Win. Needless to say - all of Rendi's plans with her horses are on hold for at least another month. Darn broken leg!
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