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| Stand by - show results coming. I am posting the results from 12/16/06, though technically in 2006, it was a winter series show. We have a lot of green horses who have never shown to get out this year also - check back!. |
| Durango Winter Series - Hunter Show 12/16/06 - Apparently Insane & Corinne - GRAND CHAMPION of his first hunter show ever Click here for more |
| Pictures coming - Triple M Hunter Show - Saxonburg March 10-11, 2007: Congratulations to Emily & Jake (Emily had never even SEEN a horse show, let alone competed!). Emily and Jake showed in crossrails and won 6th of 11 over fences, 6th of 14 equitation - WAY TO GO, EMILY! Her video will be posted shortly - check back. Brenda and Cocoa Puff (Puff's very first show) also won a 6th of 11 over fences and a 5th of 14 equitation even though Puff was a little nervous and wanted to canter sideways! Jake and Corinne didn't get to show this weekend, Jake's classes were on Sunday and after the rain Saturday afternoon, the parking area was too muddy so we decided to pass. We'll catch the next one. |
| New Jersey AQHA Show 4/26 - -See pics here! Jake had a great day (Neko didn't make this trip) More Points! |
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| Tri-State AQHA Ford City 5/13/07 - We didn't stay long (Mother's Day) but had a good time and brought home points. Jake and Brenda were 3rd of 16 in Nov Am Showmanship. Corinne and Jake were 5th of 18 in Amateur. Corinne and Neko had a good pattern up until her set up - she is so sensitive to body position that when Corinne went to present, Neko started her pivot and Corinne had to reset her. It was a learning experience though - this was the first time we got ready at home since it was close and just threw them on the truck and went. Unfortunately, they did not get to eat hay which Jake dealt with OK but Neko was just on edge a little (hence the mistake in showmanship this week and winning last week). I think this is the first time in Neko's whole showmanship career that she didn't place in showmanship so we are still thankful. And you can bet next week, she'll get to eat her hay before the class! Jake and Corinne also placed in Nov HUS and eq, we didn't stay for anything else and Brenda didn't ride. Had another good day, saw a lot of friends. It is really nice when the show is so close to home!! Next week: another tri-state. It is so neat to Jake though - he has turned into the old trusty get-it-done horse we knew he would be. He walked in, did his job, no fussing, no warm up and brings home points. The only thing that keeps him from pointing in every single HUS class is his size - some judges prefer TB looking horses and have come over and told Corinne she'd do great on a 'tall' horse. But his open points prove some judges don't care about size and Jake's value is in that he can point in so many different events, just like the horse he was named after. Not many pictures, we need to get a groom/cameraman to travel with us - its too hard to take pictures if we are in the same classes or the classes happen fast! |
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| 6/2 - 6/3 Foothills Show The weather was really nice (even if it was kinda HOT). There was no AQHA show this weekend and we had friends going to their first show and some green horses. Had a GREAT time in the trailer and camping with buddies and we instituted the First Annual After Show Badminton Tournament and Picnic - lots of fun!!! Jen and Carrie are a hoot and of course did a great job as always. It is nice to have some friends who understand the work you have to put in to get where you are. Carrie also breaks and trains her own horses and Bandit is already a big winner at 3 at paint shows. I can remember her dragging him around when he wasn't even a year old just to get him used to going out. Corinne & I had a good show also and brought home some money and many blue ribbons nothing less than a fourth. On Sunday, Jake won his senior western pleasure class! It is just so amazing to think how he was even a year ago. Now he is old Mr. Trusty, he goes in and does his job with a smile, bringing home blue ribbons in so many different events. We always told ourselves if we waited out his mood swings from his younger days he'd be a great horse and it is just amazing to see it happen this year. It all started really last fall when the kids in the barn fought to ride him (who would ever thought!). It is a lot of fun for us to see others ride him and do so well. We are really lucky because even with Neko being 3, its not a matter of IF you are bringing home blue ribbons for each of them, but how many and in what classes. Jake and Brenda's showmanship record for this year slightly passed Corinne & Neko with another win. We put in a lot of hard work to be able to almost always go 1 and 2. Corinne and Neko have done such a good job. Jake is a really good showmanship horse, anyone can win with him. But Neko, even at 3, is so sensitive if you even make eye contact as you turn towards her she will whip around in the fastest pivot you have ever seen, and with her size and flash, if Jake and I make a small mistake, they take the blue ribbon from us and have beat us many times even when we didn't make a mistake. Corinne still smiles when I beat her though - she trained both horses so she gets twice the joy when we go first and second no matter which of us is first. Jake and I won today and the judge's comment to Corinne was that Neko was so fast pivoting that Corinne nearly had to run to keep up! At 3, she can out compete most aged horses. She has a much better work ethic than Jake at that age. If you do something once or twice with her and take your time so she understands, you really don't have to review again, she is ready to move on. And Congrats to LadyBug, Sarah & Don in their showmanship efforts as well! What a huge difference from even a month ago! Tory and Jazz had a little mistake in showmanship that cost her but the things that they worked on really stood out - what a difference. Curly's first show yield a third and fourth in walk/trot horse. She was a little worried about the metal bleachers which kids were throwing rocks under (one lady got bucked off) but the absolute most she did was pick up her head a little. She is going to make a GREAT pleasure & youth horse. Can't wait until her next show. She outdid a lot of 'trained' horses! They didn't have a horsemanship pattern for Tory's class which is her best event or I am sure I'd have a million pictures of how well they did but we'll get it next time. Kayla & Precious and Izzy and Angel had the biggest smiles of anyone at the show and you have to hand it to Kayla (age 8) who never rode at a show - hopped on and went. You never saw such a proud girl and when her name was announced I was in the barn but asked her later if she could hear me screaming for her and she said she didn't hear anything because she was so excited. Congrats to Emily & Akeem - Emily just started riding not that long ago but will ride ANYTHING. Akeem had never been to a show before and was a little nervous - I know a lot of people who have had horses for many years and even call themselves "trainers" who wouldn't have shown that horse english his first time out with all of his extra nervous energy, but Emily did a great job and brought home ribbons for her efforts. She also decided - two days before the show- she'd like to take him in halter except Akeem never did it before and didn't even know how to trot - but he did it at the show because she really worked the last two days on it. I know a lot of people think there are shortcuts or something but really it is like the only saying, how you practice is how you show. If you are lazy and hit or miss practicing, don't expect to win. We are really excited for Regionals this year in Virginia late July and Congress. Jake took his first steps towards showing games - he exhibitioned in poles and he LOVED it. He loves reining because he gets to go faster and he was just tickled to be able to run on the pattern. We'll work patterns with him towards his goal of a point at AQHA in games and add towards all around. . We have decided to concentrate on larger shows this year (fewer because of the much greater expense) and are really blessed because when we expanded our goals to larger competitions, I expected we'd be doing a lot of not placing or some struggling but instead we are staying consistent no matter the size of show. Had lots of fun seeing old friends in the entry booth and camping out (eating is always fun at a show). Had to call it a day early on Sunday - our prayers are with Nick & Carrie as Nick's dad was lifeflighted after a farming accident on Sunday morning - she had to leave her horse to get to Pittsburgh. Hopefully we'll have great news to report about that in a couple of days. Phillipi next week if the weather is good. More pics to come!!!! Check back |
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| 5/31 - Our group went trail riding at Benezette this weekend - had a really good time and are planning to get back out before end of June. |
| Jake and Corinne - 2006 Year End Champions - AQHA NOV AM HUNTER HACK - NWV AQHA |
| Jake --Winner - Adult Western Pleasure of 8 including two trainers |
| 6/16-17/07 - TriState AQHA - Ford City Sorry - no pictures - too hard when we are both showing! (If only we had a groom!!). We kept the record intact though - we have pointed at every AQHA show we have been to this year!! We had good placings in HUS, western pleasure, equitation and trail. We bombed at showmanshp though - the competition was super tough (as it always is at TriState double judged shows). We decided to switch horses and because we haven't worked with the other horse much that little bit of hesitation cost us. We are going to try that again but we are going to practice with the other horse a little this week first. Oh well, just a show - but check back because we'll practice and you'll see results at the next show. Its just the nuances of a different horse and we probably shouldn't have tried that without practicing at a big show but oh well. It was a nice couple of days, not too hot. Good to see Don!! Jake is such fun anymore - he is so pleasant and gets right to work. We are so lucky to have him. Corinne calls him the Old Trusty. Anyone can get on and go and you know you are going to place, the only thing the rider has to do is determine how high. And Neko, there are some people around here who go on about how 'light' their horses are but they'll never let you get on to see for yourself (I don't even think they really know what it is -its not something you learn from watching a video). Anyway, anyone can get on ours anytime, anywhere. We don't need all of the excuses and 'explanations' some around here need. We call them the Losers & Users club. Neko is so responsive you don't dare pick up your reins quick, she'll sit right down on her behind. Ours steer with legs, you don't even need to turn your hand on the reins. In fact, we rarely even ride in spurs anymore, I haven't shown with spurs since early last year. In showmanship, Neko is so responsive you have to be careful and plan your moves because she is so tuned in that if you turn your shoulder a little accidentally she takes the cue and will pivot on her own. I just haven't worked with her enough to tone things down, I set up and turned a little quickly and she was already ready to pivot! Meanwhile, I know Jake so well now it is like he reads my mind. Next week: Harlansburg! Its going to be fun - Corinne can't wait to jump (they don't have jumps at tristate) and I get to show Neko western in trail and horsemanship! Carrie and Jen are coming to Harlansburg too - we are going to have a good time. Tried to talk Cheryl Shaul into coming but she is leasing and isn't able to make this one yet. I think next we are at team penning and we have another open show for the greenies and then finally the Regional Event in Virginia. Gotta work in some reining and cow horse somewhere along the way too. |
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