Fun, fun, fun show...

As always I'm posting before the pics are in. I promise to put them up just as soon as I get them. We had a great time at the Stormriders 4-H Fun Show yesterday. We took 7 horses and a bunch of riders down with us. We had several first time show riders, and first time show horses. Cecil even got in on the fun. Katie Drummond decided to practice her catch riding by showing up to ride Miss April. Every one did well in their regular classes. I rode Riley in the command class which is an advanced version of simon says. You're asked for counter canters, pivots, sidepasses and the like. The only hiccup was I jumped on in Nicole's saddle. I was adjusting them as I entered the ring, and one pulled right off the saddle. Needless to say with an equipment issue I was forced to pull both of them and ride stirrupless for the entire class. Riley was phenomenal and helped bring home the blue for me. Cecil and Katie also rode out of the command class in the ribbons. Which when you think Katie had never ridden Miss April before yesterday morning, and was able to get the advanced maneuvers from her I was very impressed.

Leighton was one of our first time horse showers. She had a very rocky start to the day. When Cecil, KJ, and I unloaded the trailer Alexis (who Leighton was supposed to ride) had gotten banged up and was going to need the day off. Leighton hung in like a trooper and agreed albeit nervoulsy to ride Riley instead. It took her a few classes to get her nerves under control, and some kind words from a wonderful judge, but Leighton pulled it together. She completed her horsemanship pattern (something we don't do at home)to win her first ribbon. In great style for a little girl she came out with the pink one (5th place). To complicate Leighton's first show she had to compete against her mom in almost every event. Catherine made her show debut on Dixie, who was an absolute saint throughout the day. Our final rookie shower for the day was Sydney on Danny. Sydney had a rough start to the day as she grappled with understanding it would be a while before she was able to show over fences. She's jumping single crossrails and lines at home, but is a way off of showing over courses. Her spirits picked up at the end of the day with the races. She placed in almost every race class that we had.

Nicole got back in the swing of showing on Riley throughout the day. As you may remember she came off and cracked her knee at the last Clemson show in August. Dorothy came and made her show debut on her OWN horse...India. I tried to repeat my scurry race win from the spring show on India, but apparently India has decided she likes her new mommy better. I ended up winning the scurry race on Topaz.

Then came the part I live for...the races. Cecil, Katie, and I got quite competitive with each other competing in the races. We had a really good run of 1, 2, 3 throughout. All in all our crew had a fantastic day of fun and comraderie. We ended with a birthday celebration for KJ our ever faithful bouncer, body guard, horseguard, trailer hauler, groom, secretary, and much much more. Happy 30th!!!

Pics coming soon.....