We had a great time - weather was 60-70 degrees. We didn't expect it to be such a huge show - it was like mini-congress or worlds - everyone had a world's jacket - in the green western pleasure, Corinne rode with Steve Meadows two horses over and Ray Carmean on the other side! Lucas Cash was on the end, Pierre Brierre was on the far side - and many trainers in between! I guess because Martinganza was in the midst of a northeast snow storm a lot of people went there instead. Corinne and Jake brought home some points and several ribbons. Neko didn't get to ride, she is still coming off of her injury and while she was never off, she was acting a little sore so we didn't push it. But she had a couple of nice warm up rides in different arenas. She went in amateur showmanship (with a few names you might recognize - like Kristi Starnes and other world and congress champions.....) Neko made a mistake - she picked up her foot during her pivot on a tough course with a lot of back and forward lines - and she STILL placed! She placed OVER Lindsay Tait and Kristi Starnes!!!!! Can't wait to see how she pins in that company when she doesn't make a mistake! I think there were either 18 or 21 in that class - will have to wait for the class listing to make sure. Brenda didn't show this week - Neko was a little out of commission and it was important for Jake and Corinne to get the time together. Brenda will be showing a couple of circuits coming up and mostly gear towards hunter shows and some of the young horses at the big money open shows. We are looking for a new project horse - yes judges, something tall - and Neko needs to learn trail and start jumping once she is 100%..
Jake was 3rd and 5th in his showmanship class. Didn't have a mistake but with being the first show, he was a little sluggish. Jake was fantastic jumping and in trail and western pleasure. His western pleasure is so awesome! I can't believe the difference from last year. Kind of hard to point when Steve Meadows horses were all in the field though! He didn't get to go in the horsemanships or equitation - the show ran too long - by 7pm, we were ready to go eat and sit down a while so we passed on the classes. Besides, with all of the world and congress champions, it was worth it just to watch and listen. Got to talk to some of them and listen during their warm up. The things we practiced over the winter really showed up. Even in that company, our little $1500 horses weren't outclassed at all and we still came home with ribbons and points. Wait till you see the pictures - usually our trailer is one of the larger ones at the shows. Not this one! Across from us were THREE *yes three* of the $200K buses that belonged to Hilton Quarter Horses along with two double slide trailers and semi's. There were six other buses on the other side of us (check back for pictures). One of our neighbors in the barn was showing with her friend who had a $65,000 western pleasure horse in the novice western pleasure class - and it DIDN"T PLACE!!!!! Was a nice horse but it had a little buck/hop when it got in a crowd of horses. I can't imagine even riding a horse that cost that much. There was only one other horse on the grounds that was Jake-sized. Everyone else was much bigger. There were a couple of horses Neko-sized but even the western pleasure horses were in the 16.2 range. I remember talking to Dan Trein last year and he said he won't even take a training horse that was under 16 hands. The english horses were HUGE! We had fun in the jumping class - wait till you see the picture of Jake in between two of the hunter hack horses who were both 16.3. I didn't even bother to ask the 17+ horses for a photo with him! They were laughing and Corinne had a lady who said Jake was like a 'dachsaund among greyhounds'. The new scooter was a big help with the large grounds. I have a picture of Corinne with the 'saddled' scooter...check back. Met some nice people and made plans to meet up again at Centre Hall in July and Philippi in a couple of weeks so that will be a lot of fun. Check back for pictures in a couple of days. Here's a shout out to our new friends (The Freelands - with a great little reining stallion!) and Loretta and Dave and Steve Meadows and Ray Carmean. Looking forward to next year. |
