Online Dating at Equestrian Match Maker

So coming off the natural high of the last couple shows where blue seems to be the color of the mood ... I had 3 different judges who thought the world of me and Moose. I come into last Sunday's show feeling fairly confident that Moose is on the right track. (Not to be confused with Moose-tracks the ice cream flavor though.) ha ha ha!!! We get to the show and it's running slower than molasses in the middle of the winter. So I get Moose out, get the stuff organized and tie him up and sit and sit and sit. Did a bit of socializing of course. Like anyone who knows me - I can't sit still and be quiet for too long. So about 6 classes before our first one in the ring, I decide it's time to get Moose warmed up and ready. I dress and ride him in the warm-up pen - sure enough - he's doing great. Get him in the arena for our first class? Wow, flashbacks to last year's show season. He's all pumped up - looking outside the arena at all the spectators and keeping his attention focused everywhere BUT on me and what I'm asking of him. Yeah we got the gate on that class. Justifiedly so. We gave nothing for the judge to look at - except the potential for a bomb waiting to explode (or implode - whichever was easier). We had a class directly after our first. Moose seemed to calm down a little and believe me I mean, a teensy weensy bit. We did place in that class - 2nd and then had 2 class break before our next one. Which was Western Horsemanship. I can honestly say without hesitation, that had to be the absolute most pathetically exhibited/peformed pattern Moose and I have ever attempted to demonstrate. And the kicker is?? The pattern was so basic and simple, total no-brainer. We had a break before we had our next set of classes. So I took him into the arena and just worked him - transitioned the heck outta him like I should have done initially when I had gotten there. Go figure, low and behold it worked! He came back into the next 3 classes, more like the horse I had been on this entire season. He was not 100% calm, but definitely was paying more attention to me than the kids hanging over the make-shift arena walls. I did place in my last 3 classes as well. However, it was a very humbling experience. Moose taught me the lesson I will never forget. He is one complex horse - he's intense to ride - and I slacked off. He gave me exactly what I asked for - not only that, but took the moment and ran like there was no tomorrow. Never again, will this girl rest on her laurels or the accomplishments of shows before. Each show will be treated as though it is the first of the season and I cannot give that lil' pig an inch. Two more shows for the season until our Championship Show ... the season is coming to a close. However, we are due for our "mental break" and are both eagerly awaiting the TN road trip!!! Safe riding everyone!!

Show Season

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Moose and I have been to 3 more shows since my last blog. Each show he has been giving me consistent, great rides, with NO attitude. (O.k. what aliens came down and stole my horse and put this imposter in his place?) Our show at Berea was good - however I knew the judge - she's a wanna-be model from the Ohio area who tends to travel to Florida ALOT and various other locales - but yet, just remember, she's a simple home-town, farm country kinda girl. Yeah o.k.!! Whatever Heather! ha ha ha!! (She and I had multiple discussions about her future barrel racing career). Now while I like Heather as a person, as a judge, not so much. She's another tunnel-vision QH loving judge. Again - my association is an ALL BREED group. So while we do have breed-specific classes, most of the classes, you have a variety of breeds in each that as a judge you should be able to decipher between a properly traveling QH and say a Saddlebred with an improper headset right? Well Heather never took off her blinders that day - and once she has picked her favorites from her halter classes, those horses unless it's BLATANTLY obvious of the screw-up - meaning if a lot of other people saw Heather watch a mistake, she will still place her favorites regardless of the performance. Even in our ADULT western equitation class - we, exhibitors, had to correct her on her degree of turns in the patterns she posted because it was impossible to correctly maneuver the turns and have our horses execute the next gait. So rather than just admit her mistake - she decides to NOT have us do our patterns and instead, we drop our stirrups the 2nd way of the arena. O.k. are we 4-H'ers here?? No offense to any 4-H competitors mind you. After that, then she decides to pull out 2 horses out of the line up - has them perform a 360 to the right. Then she pulls out 2 other horses from the line up - has them perform a 360 to the left. Out of those 4 horses, she ends up placing 2 of them. Yeah - o.k. so are you getting the concept here that I think Heather has spent WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much time in the Florida sun?? She placed me decently and knowing Heather's background - I truly didn't care. Moose gave me great rides and I was happy with him. The next show was back to Medina with a group that I swear if they had submitted one more change to their showbill, I was gonna strangle them. Again, Moose gave me great rides and it even rained. Which if anyone who owns an Arabian knows - they don't like rain. I placed well again throughout the day and Moose was consistent with his attitude/performance. I had a few of my fellow competitors even come up and give me a high five on the change they've seen in him from last season. (Again - where is the alien mother ship that has my REAL horse??). Which brings us to the show last weekend. This is the Bath Fire Dept. horse show. It's a very nice show, they award silver plates with all first place finishes. I've shown that show for the past 4 years and have brought back a silver plate home each year with the exception of one ... um yeah, you guessed, it LAST year. So I went there with just the hopes of another possible silver plate win. Moose did even better than that. He was giving me good, consistent rides again throughout the day. We started out in costume and we were competing against some National Show horses who have a lot more forward impulsion and movement compared to my western moving horse. We placed 4th out of 7. I wasn't complaining though. That's a fair placing. We had 6 more classes to go. Each class, Moose just gave me really nice rides, barely even checked his head. Our next class was the $100 Open Western Pleasure horse - 11 entries. (This show tends to draw a lot of exhibitors). I was happy with Moose's ride - but you can imagine my surprise when we got called for 2nd place! Each class - Moose performed like it was nothing short of a warm-up. We ended up with a HAT TRICK! For those of you non-hockey aficionados ... a hat trick occurs in hockey when a player scores 3 goals in a single game. Moose did just that - not only did I win my one silver plate this year - I brought home 3 - along with 3 2nd places and our respective 4th, along with a rotating trophy for winning the Western Hack class and $100. To say that I was over the moon happy was an understatement. When the last class was announced - it not only made me happy that me and Moose did really well that day - but to hear the cheer from my Dad yelling "Hat trick!" and seeing the huge smile on my sister's and Mom's face - just made it that much better. It was also really nice to hear fellow competitors tell me that me and Moose were way over due for a day like that. I have to admit, it's gonna be pretty dang hard to top this day for the season.

Show Season

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about me Current mood: cheerful Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes I'm artistic,creative,intelligent, stubborn, emotional, but not bubbly or"cute", yet impulsive,versatile,open, honest.I'm adventurous, love to travel- road trips to long distance plane rides. Enjoy hiking, horsebackriding,camping under the redwoods. I like to play cards, board games,pool,trivia, but not games with people's minds or hearts.I love horses, dogs, cats, chickens. I've loved horses since I was five. I learned to ride by reading books. I read every horse story in my hometown library. I'm open, honest,warm, friendly, have a good sense of humor- though sometimes the sarcasm can get sharp. I tire quickly of the Three Stooges but love the Marx brothers.I have a wide variety of interests as you can tell from the snippets above including horsebackriding, swimming, bowling, art museums, car races, coin shows, the beach, especially on the back of a horse. Always interested in a new adventure. I like all kinds of music except hard rap and heavy metal. I love sitting on the grass listening to Jazz. I'm most comfortable in casual to business wear, haven't had much experience in formal situations, I only wear low heels, as on my hiking or cowboy boots. A midwestern suburban, country girl from the liberal seventies. I'm not versed on many world affairs or politics and most of what I do know, I wish I didn't. I want someone who can be my best friend, because they share your same interests, takes the time to laugh with you. watch your back and stands beside you. They will run to your rescue, cry with you, and kiss it to make it better even if its just to cheer you up. They conspire with you, share, and appreciate you just for who you are. They consider your opinion important and take time to ask for it and listen to you. I think this is a much deeper relationship and more enduring. Tell me what you think. I came from a Midwestern background, born and raised camping, fishing, gardening, respecting nature. I currently live in an 1896 farmhouse, and struggle between keeping its character that speaks to me and trying to tame its repairs single-handedly, I been involved in the plumbing, painting, tile, drywall, plaster repair, and electricity which has been a great challenge. I hope to clean up my extra acre and a half to have horses soon.

More about me

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I was watching an old sitcom and a couple on there discovered that they had grown apart and then realized that they really needed to change things because being together was very important to each of them and their lives were empty without the other. I was very jealous of that make-believe couple because they embodied something I wanted in my own life- a real, life-companion and love. I want someone who wants to be with me all the time and believes their life would be far too empty without me. Someone who enjoys my company and wants to do things together. Someone who wants me for myself, not for something I could be or can be with changes, but the real me, the way I like to be, just me. I wanted to be totally accepted, even my faults.I want to be treated as one human being to another.I don't want to feel that other people who may be almost complete strangers, treat me better and with more respect. I want someone who wants to make my dreams come true, who thinks my ideas are great and wants to help make them a reality. I want someone who wants to take care of me because they want to keep me in their life always. I want someone who makes me feel pretty and valued no matter what and supports me in everything I do. I want someone who wants to be there for me and sometimes is there for me even before I know I needed them. I don't want to have to beg, bargain, whine or throw an angry fit for someone to care about how I'm feeling. I want someone who rids our life of obstacles that might keep us apart because being with me is more important, more important than a location, money, hobbies, fears, or anyone else in their life. I know I'm asking for a lot, but this is what I give in a relationship. I want someone who I can be comfortable with, I don't have to do things a certain way or avoid certain subjects, someone who I can work side by side with, and they want me right there besie them to share living, life, lusts, sorrows, sadness, and all the joy we can find. commitment i more than just a promise, it shouldn't be an obligation, a have to, it should be a want, a need, natural. I want someone who is wise with money, but still generous and doesn't make me feel like a criminal.We should be a mutual admiration society. We shouls find life aaas a bowl of possibilities not a series of narrowing pathways. We are always looking for another right answer.And talking, communicating sharing, discussing, discovering, keeping each other close, until one can barely tell where one ends and the other begins.

companionship

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1. People who don't take care of their own horses will be the first ones to tell you how to care for yours. 2. You should never buy a cheap girth! 3. A handsome horse who's badly behaved will become a lot less attractive in about 15 minutes. 4. People who think they have nothing more to learn about riding, hit the ground the hardest. 5. Children and ponies are natural allies and often have identical dispositions. 6. The richest horse people most often look the poorest. 7. The closeness of a horse is one of the sweetest smells in the world. 8. A solitary ride through the woods is more beneficial than six months with the best psychiatrist. 9. The worse a person rides the more likely they are going to blame it on the horse. 10. The best thing about going to the barn first thing in the morning is that horses don't care how you look. 11. If a dealer insists a horse is worth twice what he's asking, he's usually worth half that much. 12. The best way to appreciate how another person rides is to get on their horse, but it can be a quick way to get hurt. 13. I can recognize another horse person no matter what town, city, state, county or country I visit. 14. You can never have too many hoof picks. 15. It is not wise to argue with something that outweighs you by 1,000 pounds. 16. I'd rather have a horse with a perfect mind than a perfect head. 17. If you think you have left the water on in the barn, you have. If you think you have closed the pasture gate, you haven't. 18. When someone asks you if you like their horse, always say "yes." 19. The happiest people I know own horses, dogs, cats and at least one deranged goat. 20. If you're looking for the perfect horse you will never own one. 21. Owning a horse can either make a marriage or break it. 22. I'd rather lose my lipstick than my curb chain. 23. You shouldn't talk about your first place ribbon to someone that came second. 24. If someone says that horse has a little buck, it has a BIG buck. 25. If we need rain, schedule a show. 26. I've never warmed up to someone that didn't want a walk down to the stables. 27. A clean stable and a sparkling horse are among life's great pleasures. 28. Even free horses can be too expensive. Especially, free horses. 29. No matter how badly behaved you are, your horse always gives you a second chance. 30. A more expensive horse doesn't make a better one. 31. I will never ever have an empty stable and I have accepted that fact. 32. Losing a horse can break your heart, but it will have been worth it. If you can't imagine life without a horse ... DON'T!

Horse Stuff

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Two shows have since come and gone since our first show at Ashland. Both shows employed the usual Quarter Horse/stock horse favored type judge. Whenever that happens - like it did at Medina with Don - who I lovingly refer to as "Tattoo" - I just figure that show will be a great day to school my horse in the arena. It's not like I change my horse's breed to please these narrow-minded judges. Tattoo earned his nick-name 2 years ago when he gave me and Moose the gate EVERY single class we were in (he's also a small man height wise who wears very LARGE crepe sole boots that seem to be too large because the toes curl up reminding me of the shoes the elves wear Keebler commercials - Elfin magic! ha ha!) It always made me wonder if the man was wearing extra big cowboy boots to compensate for something else he may be lacking?? Hmmmmmm. I digress. I've had to learn in the show ring that while my horse may not place in every class, the person who decides that ultimate fate, is merely one person with one opinion. He/she is not the end all/be all of my existence. I have to just accept whether Moose gives me a good ride to the best of his ability and be happy with that. Once I decided I would not allow the dark cloud that Tattoo's boots created on my show day to affect me or my performance ... I set out to bring Moose in the first class. Moose did really well, not great, well. I'm honest, my horse is not always perfect (anyone who saw us last season will attest to that statement). Big surprise - we get the gate. However, the next class and 4 others that followed, the dark cloud was lifted! Tattoo actually placed me! Each time I heard my number and Moose's registered name - I was just as flabbergasted as it was the first time. I was almost tempted to run up and ask him what drugs he was on. The Ring Master for the day was a friend of mine. He told me at one point that Tattoo told him he thought my horse was too skinny. Michel, bless his heart, made sure to point out to narrow-minded Tattoo, "You do realize, that is NOT a pure-bred foundation Quarter Horse right? So he's not going to be built like a foundation Quarter Horse." I love my peeps! Of course, that comment did not deter Tattoo's thumb print on the bible of ribbon placings for the day. The next day was a different judge - luckily a more Saddleseat type judge - which also tends to work against Moose and I. For you see, the QH stock horse judges like the half of Moose that is the QH and do not like the Arabian part as much. The Saddleseat type judges will like the Arabian part but the QH aspect of Moose?? Yeah, not so much. Again, I just have to be happy with the ride/performance Moose gives me. For a 2 day show and 9 classes. Moose placed in 7. He had a few bobbles here and there, but completely minor compared to his season last year. It looks promising. I will take him to the show next week in Newbury. However, Memorial Day Moose was out in the pasture and obviously was the target for some really pissed off carpenter bees. He had welts all over his neck - both sides and his shoulders back to his girth area. I tried cold water and nothing. He looked awful. They weren't bothering him per se, and he wasn't running a fever, wasn't off his feed or water. So I figured I'd just have to wait it out and see if he was going to look o.k. by the time Sunday rolled around. I ended up giving him an IV injection of Dexamethasone Saturday night. Woohoo! Sunday the welts were gone and my horse looked back to normal. We arrive at Blue Lakes Farm and I misjudged the timing of the show - oh well gonna miss the Hunter class. Total bummer, breaks my heart - NOT! I like to do that class with Moose just to get him in the arena as a warm up and also to just do something a little different with him. We had our costume class and then the rest of the day was Western. I hear the judge is a QH judge. Again - oh well - looks like it could be a school day then. Our first class was costume and Moose did well. He didn't even decide to crow-hop because he was so happy hand-galloping. Next class is the Open Jackpot Western Pleasure Horse class - needless to say Open Jackpot classes bring out the big QH's. The judge placed us 4th in a class of 9! I was so happy! Moose's ride in the class and everyone following - was smooth, no bobbles on the reverse, calm attitude, even when one lady rode up too close behind Moose. We placed in each class with 1 1st, 3 2nds, 1 3rd and 1 4th for the day. I was floating on cloud nine! Not because of the ribbons but because it actually seems like my "old" show ring partner is back. I even had a few friends come up to me and comment that whatever I did in the off-season to keep it up because we look great and that it was good to hear our names over the loud-speaker regularly again - the team is back. I sure hope so. Last season to say the least was beyond humbling. It's so easy to be happy and on cloud nine when you're always in the ribbons. But try to keep that smile on your face and the motivation to even haul your horse to a show when you don't place regularly because he's acting like a complete buckethead. I'm not totally convinced my horse is "back," yet ... however, he HAS given me that slight glimmer of hope.

Show Season

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From time to time, people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a horse" or "that's a lot of money for just a horse." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a horse." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a horse," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a horse," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a horse" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think "it's just a horse," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a horse" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a horse" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a horse," I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly into the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a horse" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a horse" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a horse" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being just a man/woman. So the next time you hear the phrase "just a horse" just smile, because they "just" don't understand. ~Joanne Rummel~

Inspirational

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So the day starts out looking like it's going to be a downpour day. Not happy about that. Santa gave me a brand new Black Bailey and I don't want it seeing rain it's first time out. Bummer! We get to the fairgrounds and I'm excited - decent turnout. I go to sign up and one of my favorite show secretaries is there - Alan. We shoot the breeze about what we did during our show season hibernation and thoughts for the shows he's the secretary for me in August and other horsey-show gossip. He asked me how Moose was and I hesitantly said, "We'll see once our class is called" with a smile on my face but slight tremor in my chest. I go back to the trailer, sis has him unloaded and ready to be saddled up. There is a lunch break going on so I get him into the arena. He's definitely pumped up as he always is in this arena. I swear he sees ghosts or something. But while he was a bit full of himself, he was listening to everything I asked him to do without attitude and without hesitation. So I'm thinking "Well his hiatus might have done him some good mentally." I go back to the trailer and change and look at up the sky - it's looking like more rain but sunshine at this point, so far so good! Open the hat can, finishing touch, the new Bailey looks primo, let's hit it. We head over to the arena - we have one more class to finish before our is called. Here we go, our class is called, Moose jogs into the arena, head is up, shoulders back, no barrel racer legs - yep I'm good to go and Moose is fine. It's a smaller class - we're asked to lope, good no issues - he's holding his head set well. We walk, still no bobbles, NICE! Gotta admit that I'm worrying about the "reverse," but I just take a deep breathe in and let it go. Here it comes - reverse, we do and Moose was great. Slight hesitation walking but he kept on. I glance over to the judge and a do a slight adjustment on his head set. We're asked to lope - although Moose's rear end went in slightly - he still did well. Nice transition. Back down to the walk and we're closer to the announcer stand now. I feel his back tense up - this is not good - we're asked to jog and here it comes. He hesitates, I cue him, he tenses up a bit more and dances around a bit, swishing the tail, clear display of his show ring attitude for everyone to see - including the judge. Bummer! Yep he saw it all. Finally what seemed like forever, was only 2-3 seconds, Moose transitions into his jog and he stays in it well. Shocker we placed 2nd in that class. I don't believe we earned it. I was not a happy camper. There was a 3 hour dinner break before my next class. I'm bound and determined to stay on his back that entire time and school the heck out of him. First stop, back to the trailer - get his other bridle and my spurs. I worked him in the arena, doing lots of transitions and reverses - just constantly changing things up on him. Amazingly - no issues at all. O.k. so can someone please call the judge and have him judge me right this very second? Please! Anyone? Anyone? So I decide to just leave him be, but stayed on his back while I socialized with some friends. He has to learn to relax in this arena and I think he finally did. Our next class - I'm hopeful again. We got drenched before heading into the dinner break workout, the sun was back out but the wind had picked up. It wasn't bad passing the open doors on either end of the arena, but halfway down the rail is when you felt the rush of wind right in your face. It chilled me a bit, so I can only imagine how it felt for Moose. My little guy did me so proud that class. Not one bobble, barely had to check him on his head, he stayed collected and rounded ... it was, to me, a PERFECT ride. I wouldn't have changed a thing (except how the judge placed the class maybe). We ended up with a 3rd. I didn't care, I was so happy you would've think I had won the World. That's the kind of ride Moose gave me repeatedly year before last. This was the horse that was considered competition. I left the arena elated and ready to get ready for what I call our no-brainer, fun class - Mounted Native Costume. We had alot of down time before that class and Moose was definitely relaxed and chilled out. He even enjoyed a sip of beer from a spectator. Have I mentioned how much Moose loves beer?? He has no preference, just give it to him. As relaxed as Moose was getting I was thinking I was really going to have to encourage him to move out in this class. The judge clearly liked higher head-sets, so I had to adjust that a bit as well. All the girls were coming near the warm-up pen - all the different varieties of costumes. So pretty. I've always liked this class. Our class is called, I'm the first one in - we come in at the canter - Moose came alive as he always does, I'm smiling. I dig being able to compete in this class. The crowd was into the class - they ask for the hand gallop - no problem! Moose picks up the pace even more and oh great, he crow-hops a bit. O.k. we can't be THAT happy Moose! We must've circled that arena at least 8-9 times between the canter and hand-gallop. Down to the walk. Nice and quiet. Time to reverse, no issues. Whew!! Time to canter again - we get passed one open door - the crowd "Whoops" and Moose in time, crow-hops again. I blow my stirrup. I'm trying to find it and it's just not happening. Oh well, just hug him so the stirrup iron doesn't swing to catch the judge's eye, time to hand gallop. No problemo, except that stirrup iron is banging right against my ankle bone - that doesn't exactly feel all that pleasant but you wouldn't know it by the smile on my face. Time to walk and line up. The judge walks by Moose and says my costume is "Stunning." That made me feel really good, my sister and Mom hand-made my costume, so I'm very proud of their handy work and appreciate any compliments. We were placed 2nd. I was very happy, but tired. By this time it was 8:45 p.m. and we had been there since noon. I was cold and ready to go home, and I'm sure Moose was too. Not a bad start to the show season, however, still not convinced he wants to do this. The barrel saddle is still waiting patiently.

Show Season

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I ride. That seems like such a simple statement. However, as many horse women who ride know, it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride. The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. My ex-boyfriends call it "the sickness." It's a sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my model horses and dreaming of the day I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand the meaning of the "sickness." It is not a sport, it's not a hobby, it's what we do, and in some ways, who we are as women and human beings. I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle, whistle for my dog, and I ride. I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees, and savor the movement of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my ball cap down and let the real world fade into tracks my horse leaves in the dust. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth. I consider the simple pleasures and I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade into a freezing lake, race a friend through the manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment. Still I ride, no matter how tired or how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse related injuries hurt, I ride. And I feel better for doing so. The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold beside rivers full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams. The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on the wing and bobcats on the prowl add t the empowerment and joy in my heart. I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie amongst the bunch. We haul 40 ft. rigs, we back them into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We understand and love our companions, the horse. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are not out there riding, you also shovel, fill, wait and doctor. Your hands are a little rough, and you travel without makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford the "sickness" and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one. Now you're there ... RIDE.

Horse Stuff

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This Friday night will be spent making sure the saddle is cleaned, oiled, and all silver is polished. Not that I mind doing the cleaning, that's actually relaxing to me. But when I get to his bridle - have you ever tried to polish silver on rommel reins? It's like making a 45 year old quarter shine brand new while it spins on a string - never staying still, and gosh forbid Moose even think about sweating because any ferrules that come in contact with his neck or any type of body fluid - back to polishing I go for the next show. They attract dust as bad as a freshly washed black truck. I also have to make sure to ask my sister to trim Moose's ears. He has literally stood upright when I've attempted to do it. I have no idea what my sister's secret is to getting his ears trimmed. So until I master that art, it's her job. I finally trimmed his legs a couple weeks ago - so any mistakes have grown out by now and will be invisible to the discerning eye of the judge in the ring. I am anxious about the show considering Moose's antics in the show ring. He tends to be a very smart horse, "Just let me in there to do my walk, jog, lope, reverse, walk, jog, lope, line me up ... and I'm outta there." type attitude. Well his wonderful attitude has cost us many a blue ribbon and points. I look forward most to seeing all my horse-show buddies. It's like after our Championship Show in October we all go into hibernation not seeing each other and going about our "other" lives and actually allow family members and non-horsey friends to see us. While I am anticipating Moose's behavior to be less than stellar, I will have fun regardless. Let's hope if he does act up - the judge will be looking at someone else when it happens.

Show Season

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