DeathLlama, Ana the First Horse, and I went to our first show yesterday and had a blast. It was a local “schooling” show (unaffiliated with any organization–basically a show to learn about showing!), held at a stable literally walking distance from Ana’s home stable…phew, no trailering expenses! Ana was quite calm about things, happily munching the hay in the bed of our truck while we waited for our classes. She was actually angelic for being at her first show–never showed any fear, just curiosity.
Here’s what sounds impressive: we came home with two firsts and a third! …but the firsts came in classes where we were the only entrants! We were in the most elementary division, walk-trot, and there weren’t any others in the adult class. So, heck, we went ahead into the open classes, too, up against eight 17 and under kiddos who, age regardless, are intimidating as heck! They know their stuff! And they were on incredibly fancy horses, worth many, many times what I paid for my little Arab mare. Here I am on my $1500, 15-year-old former breeding mare that sweet as she can be, is still a bit rough around the edges training-wise. But I’m proud that we managed that 3rd in the open competition–good girl, Ana! I was a smiling fool for hours afterwards.
Whoo hoo, go Ana! She was rewarded with a special treat mash today, as well as a very thorough rub-down in the shade…and then the ultimate reward: she got a day off from work!
It’s really a barely notable accomplishment as far as horse shows go, but I’m so excited we went, and proud of how we did regardless of the size of the show or really the color of the ribbon. It was fun, and I’m–we’re–all for that!
uh-oh! I am not that Chestnut Mare Although I aspire to be her
I am sarapony on COTH. I am chestnutmare here b/c sarapony was taken and the real SaraPony and I are both chestnut mares
Good on ya! Glad you had fun,
I remember my first schooling show on Willow-we did a hunter eq. class in a dressage saddle.
I’d had her 3 weeks and, all things considered, was grateful not to bite the dust.
I got an email from my sister; my niece was in her first show Saturday, too, 2000 miles away. She cleaned up! She had several firsts, a second, and was named trail class champion. She went with a 4H club on a leased horse that is a real pro at these things…I’m so proud of her! And I must confess a twinge of envy. My parents were mildly supportive, but never to the level her parents are (honestly, I think sis is motivated to be involved in this because of how apathetic our parents were with me). But still, I’m overall stoked for her–what can I say, it runs in the family!
jlzania, that’s precisely what I was riding in! Ana and I have been learning dressage basics in a new, but cheap, dressage saddle. I didn’t realize it was a hunter equitation class until I got there and saw everyone doing the huntseat thing. The show just said Saturday–English, Sunday–Western, so I assumed it was open to whatever English style you ride. Silly me. Maybe I’ll borrow a huntseat saddle for the second show in this series coming in October!
Wintermute, Ana is more or less a “domestic;” read: Arabian mutt. Someone at an Arab message board looked up her pedigree and informed me her grandfather was pure Egyptian, and the rest is nearly all CMK (Crabbet/Maynessomething/Kellogg). She isn’t quite 75% CMK, though, which is what that branch of the Arab world requires to officially recognize her as a CMK mare.
Well, the next schooling show at this barn is in October (it’s actually a two-show series, with high point awards given for being in both shows. We have a whopping 5 points, don’t think we’re going to be getting anything there!). It’ll likely be our next show, as we don’t have a trailer, and trailering expenses add a lot to show costs!
There’s an Arabian-only show coming up on July 20 that I intend on attending as a spectator only; it’s local to my house, but not my horse. Figure it’s a good place to make contacts.
When I saw the thread title, I immediately thought of a “First Horse Show,” which would only feature the first horse somebody owned.
I’m reminded of my cousin who, when very young, saw a sign that said “Caution Horses May Bite” at a parade and thought it was referring to “Caution Horses.”
Wintermute, actually proud hubby videotaped everything but took no still photos at the show. Once we got back to the barn and I was in the muuuuuuucccccccccchhhhhhh cooler tank top, and Ana was dressed down to her blue halter, I put the 3rd and one of the 1sts on her halter and then hubby took a pic of me with her, holding the other 1st in my hand.
If those pictures aren’t too repulsive, I’ll scan and put them on on the webspace so I can linky link link y’all, if you want to see.
Encinitas, how horrible! How old were you? How long ago was it? (And do you still have a horse?)
We were in the most elementary division, walk-trot, and there weren’t any others in the adult class. So, heck, we went ahead into the open classes, too, up against eight 17 and under kiddos who, age regardless, are intimidating as heck! They know their stuff! And they were on incredibly fancy horses, worth many, many times what I paid for my little Arab mare. Here I am on my $1500, 15-year-old former breeding mare that sweet as she can be, is still a bit rough around the edges training-wise. But I’m proud that we managed that 3rd in the open competition–good girl, Ana! I was a smiling fool for hours afterwards.
