The original plan was to get up early, take them out for a walk, let them eat a little grass, then saddle up and go in the ring and get them used to it.......its pretty dark in there and we have never been in before. It goes pretty well and we figure we should get dressed and be ready. We only have one good show halter between us so we need a tack change as our classes are back to back but it should only take a minute to switch halters especially since we are going to have some help. Well in theory it was a great plan. The holes are new to make the halter fit better and they are stiff.......no help arrives and they are calling me in......so the halter is sitting sideways on his head as I'm going in the door........wooooo hooooo now we are going....I'm running like a lunatic when the Judge says........WHERE ARE YOU GOING?? ......Its a Halter class.......You see I had waited at the end of the ring and thought she might give me a sign or something to start.......well when I didnt get a nod or anything I thought I was wasting more time so Jogged up to her.....I guess she thought I planned on running her over or something........anyway, we slow to a walk, and then jog past her into line...........grand entrance....hahaha........at least Buck looks like a million bucks(pardon the pun)......anyway he is having so much fun.....his penis is out and swinging, he's licking my hands and trying for my face..he's taken my hat off twice and I'm moving from side to side like a MARIONETTE being moved by a schitophrenic demon to pretend I know what the hell I'm doing. Much to my surprise, our name is called and we get a 6th place ribbon........I have no idea how many is in the class,,,,,,,,,and so it ends.......its now 11 ish and we have hours and hours to wait before barrels start after supper............we are tired sore and cranky and need to chill in between taking the horses out of their cells for a break........our guys are not stalled at home, and they are not very comfortable being shut in like this.......quite evident by the gnawing of the walls, and the kicking and screaming.......Carol has conviced herself she does not want to take Bella in any classes on Sunday, so now all we are waiting around for is for the games....... I had entered Buck in trail and beginners walk trot for sunday but those were all only to get them used to being around other horses in the ring.
Ed comes up for a little moral support, but the show is running pretty late and we dont even know when its going to stop for supper........so after a little, he decides to go back home...........just as we are going to take Bella and Buck for another stroll we hear folks saying that they have changed their minds and we are now not stopping for supper and going straight into the games............GREAT..... ok, we get Buck saddled up and Bella is none too pleased we are going without her..I get up and into the warm up ring, everybody is running and loping, and spinning and doing what they do to get their ponies ready, Buck is joining in on the fun, tossing his head, bucking, trying to stand up, screaming to Bella, going in circles, I was laughing and having a good time for approximately 6, 7 minutes then he started to get serious about giving me a hard time........I dont think a warm up ring with other folks in it is the appropriate place for schooling especially since I dont feel equiped enough to do it without causing someone else harm. so we scratch......and I enlist the aid of some of the girls for after the runs to help me in the arena. I didnt want to quit without even having tried........so the girls get on and check him out........his saddle keeps slipping back so we need a breastcollar....ok, good, and they figure he is really fast......oh boy......but not nasty, just needs to be schooled.......ok, I get on him and for the first time I get to lope him and we do some pretend barrels and running for home and I am thrilled........I had felt so terrible about not going in, all the little kids that I normally cheer on were so looking forward to me riding and wanted to cheer for me that I felt I let them down as well as myself...........but I'm over it now........we spent a much better night in the company of our friend Verna and her wonderful trailer......I had my clothes off and under the covers before she even finished saying we were welcome to stay..........you should have seen the look on their faces............and I'm not really completely sure, I could have been in a stupor by this time, but I think a tall silver haired guy who is quite funny and loves life came in the trailer and layed on top of me like he was marking his territory or something.........I dont know, could just have been a delusion........we got up sunday morning, saddled and rode in the ring to see if we were going to stay and do the other classes........Bella was still giving carol and hard time, so we decided just to pack up and go...............
Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:15 am
