Horse Show Results

 This week finds us in the midst of the kids' very first county fair.  Friday night and Saturday the girls rode in several horse events.

When we arrived at the fairgrounds, everyone had their fancy horses all clipped and pretty with Show Sheen and hoof paint.  We unloaded Old Jake and we were definitely feeling like the underdogs in the midst of some gorgeous horses. Our horse leader said that we should trim his whiskers and fetlocks, but Jake wasn't having any of it! He wasn't keen on whisker trimming so we just went ahead and let him keep them.

For goodness sake, he's an old ranch horse and he's earned EVERY ONE of his whiskers!!!

My daughter walked into the show ring with Jake, and showed him like he was worth a hundred grand! LOL!This event is all about how well you handle and show your horse to the judge, and NOT about how pretty your horse is. So in an arena full of well bred horses, she managed to walk out of there with a second place ribbon!

She had competed in several events, and has come so far in her riding this year. She also managed to pick up a 5th place ribbon in western horsemanship with lots of stiff competition.

She was just tickled to walk away with anything her first year.

Our littlest cowgirl did her events at night, so I wasn't able to get very many good pictures.

She doesn't quite fit into her stirrups yet, so we have some cheater stirrups that go over the horn. She hates them, and prefers to just ride with no stirrups at all.  She went into her Western Pleasure class without any stirrups, and rode beautifully. Jake was such a gentleman in the arena, and obeyed every cue she gave him...mostly with kissing noises and gentle taps of her heels.

She walked out of the arena with a first place ribbon! Woo Hoo!

Here she's talking with one of her favorite buddies, and fellow competitors before the evening began.

Tomorrow our son competes in the ranch horse events, and they all compete in the timed events...barrels, poles, and goat tying.  

Then we show our hogs on Thursday, sell them Friday, and show our yard birds chickens.  My daughter will enter her sewing projects in the fair, and we look forward to seeing all of the exhibits this week. There are rodeos, rides, and a demolition derby to attend. Oh the fun we'll have!

And don't forget about the fried food and kettle corn! There is so much to be experienced! We can't wait!

I'll be sure to eat a funnel cake for all of you!

Nell