Shows and shows!

I realized today it's been a whole week since our barn horse show and I hadn't posted about it yet! It was a really fun day.  I helped out in the morning (after I fed/watered all the horses) by manning the registration table, then showed, then watched Junior get used as one of the Medal class horses, which was somewhat nerve-wracking for me to toss a kid on him and send them into a WTC/Test class without much prep, but he was really good and the kid came in 4th out of I think eight.  She even liked him. :)

We showed in 4 classes, winning one and getting second in three, but all of those 2nds were DFLs, so the ribbons looked better than they were!  That's happened to us before.  I was a rebel and showed all my classes in western tack, which was kinda fun and felt more laid back since I didn't have to wear the dreaded breeches.  The only breeches I am confortable in are my Ovation Bootcut breeches and they're not appropriate for even a schooling show.

We did fine in the Showmanship, losing to a kid (figures) who shows the BO's big fancy QH who's been doing showmanship since he was a yearling.

The WTC Equitation Pattern was the same but I didn't have any time to ride after my SMS class so all I was able to do was jog around a bit and try to remember the pattern which I got a whole 5 minutes to look at.  Luckily the same kid from SMS wasn't paying attention and she wasn't even tacked up by the time I got the the ring, so I had a little time at least.  I started the pattern and got about 5 jog strides in before I remembered I was supposed to be loping so I totally called a Mulligan and went back to the start.  DFL, of course.

The Adult Walk/Trot Equitation Rail was really good. There were four of us.  I lucked out because I was under western tack so when the judge asked for sitting trot I just kept doing my thing.  I ended up winning the class which was cool because Junior was actually really awesome.  He just jogged around light and forward with a nice relaxed frame and made it easy for me to hold my horsemanship position.  The judge was highly complimentary on my riding and said she really liked Junior.  Who doesn't?

Don't look at the dirty legs.  Fly spray + Dusty Arena....
and also I didn't wash them...

Trail was my last class and of course there was a walk-over of a raised pole that he simply kicked over with the first foot.  Then the rope gate gave us some issues and I ended up with my leg over the rope at one point.  Kinda wish it was on video. The kid who won the class is really sweet and it was a big step for her horse to do so well with obstacles so I was happy with the outcome.

Now, this coming Saturday is our next (possibly last) show of the summer. Junior's OP are showing him too so it'll be extra fun. I'll probably blow all my classes because I'll be thinking more about how he's going to do for them in THEIR classes!

I've spend the past two rides working ONLY on transitions.  First in English tack with my neck-stretcher bungie, then today in western tack.  We had a fight.  I won.  Spoiled pony didn't want to keep his posture when I asked for a stop so we had a 'conversation' about it.  And then he nailed a stop (I felt his back feet stop under him) and he got tons of goodboys and neck smacks.  I have a horsemanship/showmanship lesson scheduled for Thursday.

I'm knee deep in finishing my new showmanship jacket.  I'll post pictures when it's done.  It's a black base with bronze, gold and silver glitter appliques, bone Ultrasuede (matches my hat perfectly), and lots of Swarovski crystals in several different colors and finishes.  I had the fabric cut back in April when I was hoping to finish it for the May show, but I left it in a pile until recently.  The plan I had for it went awry when this mesh/sequin overlay did NOT look as I had hoped so it took me a week or so to make a plan B.  I love designing these, but I sure wish I had a crew like I do at work!  Here, YOU sit here and heat each crystal for 20 seconds, I'm gonna go find a martini.  Sorry, no, there are no martinis at work, but if I was the Queen of my own private shop there would be martinis.  Not for the crew, just for me.  Bwahahaha!!!!  The end.

I probably won't post until after the show, so, see you in a week!