First Show

Here's a few pictures from the first show of the season, click on them for better detail. Both girls did well on their new horses. Both came home with a ribbon a piece.

This is N on her final ride with Classy. She rode S's horse Dixie and ended up almost on her face. Dixie stopped half-way through the pole pattern. She hadn't tried her horse Catfish in poles before, so I told her she could use Classy as a back up. She's (Classy) is a bit sore today, so today is her official first day of retirement from racing. She truly will become my trail horse.



This is a shot of N on Catfish. She had a nice run and came in 4th out of ? - let's just say alot. She moved up a class this year and is competing with the 14-16 year olds. It was a large class and while not a perfect run she did very well for herself and The Fish. Last fall shortly after we bought him she was having difficulties getting him around the first barrel. Her first barrel still needs work, but she's getting closer. She, as a typical teenager, likes to figure things out on her own. She likes to determine what her problems are and try to fix them with out a lot of "mom" advice.

In the shot her helmet is half off. Not safe at all. One of the worst things I heard yesterday was a mom ask her daughter (who is 11) if she was going to wear her helmet in the next class. It was a casual question.

I also saw a girl racing her horse full blast around the adjoining fields. I finally told her she was being very dangerous. She didn't listen to me and kept it up. There were fox holes in the grass where we were warming up, and here this kid is racing through the tall grass! Unbelievable. It's one of those times where you almost wish she would trip, but I certainly wouldn't have wanted anything bad to happen to either her or her horse.

Here's a shot of S on Dixie. She took 5th in poles after her sister didn't place on Dixie, so I'm sure upping N made her feel better. She (S) was very nervous. I taught her square breathing and tried to calm her as much as possible. I swear, I thought she was going to get sick at one point. Dixie can be a little bugger and likes to hop and kick out. She tries it once and then S gets after her and she settles down. This horse is really making S a better rider. I know it probably sounds unsafe, but she really is okay. The horse isn't mean or vicious, she just tries to get S to give up so she can loll around in the pasture, or stand by her buddies at the trailer. She also gets upset when S gets heavy in her hands (yanks on her face). S is getting much softer, which is one of the BIGGEST things I wanted her to learn this year. In the last week she has come a long ways towards figuring this horse out. She is a patient learner who is willing to try things even her "mom" tells her to try. Going from a horse who neck reined to one who direct reins is a big step.



Finally here is one more shot of S on Dixie coming around the second barrel. We (meaning mom) spent a lot of time braiding on Saturday afternoon. I take pride in having the horses look nice for the shows. Braiding is something we don't always have time for, but I enjoy it and look how pretty it makes Dixie look.




It was a nice day. I am very proud of both of my girls. They have learned SO much from their horses.