The Horse Show

I had my second and final show of the season on Sunday.

My sweet Lillypony has been out with a popped splint so I started riding Super in my lessons in preparation for the show.

Super is a 20-something AQHA gelding with points in Hunter Under Saddle.  You wouldn't know it to look at him when he's packing along the lil'uns, but that old man knows his job and remembers the good old days. He was Junior's neighbor so I know him pretty well.  His people are very nice, too. I like to call him Super-man.

Super-Man tells it like it is...

It's a hunter/jumper barn so it's all-English-all-the-time, in fact I think there's only ONE western rider left in the barn... even the BO sold her last western saddle last week.

I showed in four classes: W/T Equitation Pattern, W/T/C Equitation Pattern, Adult W/T Flat and W/T/C Flat.

We won both patterns, which was pretty cool.  Here are the patterns!

Walk/Trot Eq. Pattern

W/T/C Eq. Pattern

After the show the judge told me I "mastered the pattern" so that felt good. Not sure which one she meant so I'm going to pretend she meant both.

I was 2nd in the Adult class of 4 and DFL in the WTC, which isn't surprising since it was against almost all lesson kids.  There were 7 in the class and Junior's OP (on his new horse!) and I tied for 6th. In addition to my TERRIBLE sitting trot, I also failed to set him up correctly for a trot to canter transition and he picked up the wrong lead.  We had been schooling walk to canter transitions but not trot to canter so I messed it up..... RIGHT in front of the judge.  Oh well.

My friend SF (actually the former BM from the barn before this one) has been riding the BO's horse, Scooby, so we had to capture the first time we got to show together.... who knows if we'll have the opportunity again!

Seriously, I fail at the sitting trot which is embarrassing because I ride western.  I think the difference is that with longer western stirrups I can open my hip angle and sit deeper and in an English saddle I feel like I can't get my weight down. Something to work on, I guess!

Ohai, Scooby!

It's Quarter Horse Congress Time!!!

It's October in Columbus, Ohio!  That mean's the Congress is in town!

Since 1966 Quarter Horses have been gathering for what is now the largest single-breed horse show in the world with 20,000 entries in 2013. This year's Novice Amateur Western Pleasure has the highest entry count at 176.

I will be visiting several times this year and will be giving you all the highlights from the non-exhibitor's perspective.

Yesterday I met up with B and A (A owns a cutter named Cowboy and board's at B's place) to watch some cutting and do a little shopping.  The Trade Show doesn't officially open until the 7th, but most of the larger retailers such as Rod's, Chick's, Cashman's, Sean Ryan, etc. were up and running.  I didn't buy anything yet... but I've got a list as always.  I did find this plain little work saddle.... 'cause crystals under my thigh seem like a great idea.....

If you are willing to give out an email address, you can watch all three arenas streaming online.

iequine LIVE Streaming Here!

For more information, visit the Congress website: Quarter Horse Congress Website

I'll post more after my next visit!