Notes From Around the Arena
June 4th - 10th, 2013
How I see it.
The Skyline Show was amazing!
This was a very big deal as this was the first show for a lot of our riders.
Nikolas, who rides Zen for his lessons at the stable, came to observe the goings on. Nikolas was wearing his new cowboy boots. And carrying his stuffed horse he named Zen. He and his mom Shellie cheered for their stable mates while proudly watching Zen the horse he rides, win a blue ribbon in the lead line class. Thank you for being such great supporters for your team.
Uma rode Zen in the lead line class with Tara's help. Uma did a very nice job showing Zen at the walk in two classes, the first was a rail class and the second was a horsemanship pattern. Uma and Zen won a blue ribbon in the rail class and held the 4th place spot for their pattern. Karin and Karl aka, mom and dad, where happily snapping photos and enjoying Uma's happiness. Thank you for all of your support.
Natalie was amazing and also did the horsemanship pattern. She rode Frenchie for her debut show, riding western. With Clair as her support on course, Natalie did her pattern without being on the lead line. Natalie worked at the one hand steering as is required by the western style of riding, and proved to impress us all including the judge who named Natalie her 1st place choice for how well she reined Frenchie through the pattern. Natalie and her mom, Cathrine stayed almost the entire day showing their team support. Natalie is prepared to ride more then just one class as soon as the next show comes around. Thank you for your great sportsmanship.
Luna rode Ocho. Turned out in proper English attire Luna and Ocho where stunning. Luna rode two English classes and Placed 5th in English pleasure and 3rd in equitation. Ocho was a little bright and bouncy and spooked just a bit and came off the rail, which Luna calmly turned into a crossing of the arena to the other rail. By the time the western classes came Ocho was more settled and Luna rode two western classes and placed 5th in western pleasure and 2nd in equitation. Luna had a fan base as her mom, Danielle, Uncle Rob, Aunt Beth and little baby cousin were their to congratulate her on a job well done.
Jamila rode Sierra and I should say she was very brave. The pair was elegant and beautiful in their English turn out. However, Sierra was a little too exited. Jamila did a great job keeping Sierra together for the English pleasure class and earned a nod from the judge and was called for reserve. There is no ribbon for reserve, but the judge chose to let Jamila know that she appreciated her work with Sierra. As Sierra did a panic spin at the out gate Jamila simply responded by bringing her hands to triangle position stopping Sierra solidly. And we agreed to reeassess our plan. We took a break, tied Sierra to the trailer for a bit, then ran her in the round pen for a while. Sierra was good, just too excited. Then watered and fed her. At the lunch break i worked Sierra in the arena for a while until she released another layer of excitement. I considered a different horse for Jamila to ride for the western, but really that would not have been fair to the experience. Jamila and i were working with Sierra to bring a change in her, how would we know if we did the right thing, if I had Jamila ride a different horse. We needed to give Sierra a chance. Jamila climbed onto Sierra ready to go for the western classes. It went very well. Jamila was even able to get Sierra to jog, slow and quiet. They placed 4th in western pleasure. And 4th in equitation. Nice job sticking with her all the way. Jamila's dad, Hadi was on hand helping to set up the camp, and support Jamila. Hakima and Fatima, aka mom and sissy, were there taking in all in.
Tara and Zen showed up to try their hand at English. Pretty darn well too. Tara started riding English three weeks ago. And Tara found out on Thursday, that i was planning to have her show on Sunday. At first she said, "No way!" Then we had our lesson and she agreed to give it a try. It was great to see her go for it. And Zen was very agreeable to the whole plan. Tara even placed in the top 5. Congratulations. Way to go!
Macaroni ! !
Yep he came, he saw, Clair rode him walk/trot in two classes. He was great! He trotted around that big arena with those really big horses passing him by like he owned the place. I think it was his second lap he got a little tired. He stood politely in the line up and was just a super star.
Maddy, put on the bling. Dressed in some fancy show clothes she matched Ocho beautifully.
Maddy rode Ocho very nicely as well. Working that fine line of a slow jog with a great head set. With Ocho ever ready to halt at the lightest touch of the reins, really made Maddy work her hand sensitivity and body balance. They made the line up every time. Watching them work together made me catch my breath, thinking this could be a really amazing team if we actually put a little work into it and did some shows. Like Maybe the Gypsy Horse Circuit. Could Ocho really dominate the 2014 National Circuit?
Clair and Frenchie. Frenchie is a funny little horse. She can be so well behaved and even when she is bad, she is still pretty good. It was after lunch when Clair was able to turn her attention to Frenchie. And Frenchie was a little fired up. Clair spent the entire lunch working Frenchie, and while waiting for Frenchie to get it together Clair pointed out to her that really she is not allowed to brace into the reins, and really she needed to step up under her body more from the hind end, and go when told, like now. And not to push out through her nose in every transition. And after much work the two came to an agreement. Frenchie was able to rest a while. And then they took the rail. Wining both equitation walk/trot and walk/trot/canter. Winning every age group pleasure class. And taking 3rd in the open line up to Jen and Marcy. (both are trainers) Nice to see all the work Judy has done with Frenchie, the foundation was available for Clair to really show it off. Beautifully done Clair and Judy.
I want to say thank you to "My" behind the scene the support group.
Thank you Deryn for setting up camp, taking pictures and holding horses and alerting me to pending crisis', just in the nick of time.
Thank you Jan for driving horses back and forth, for supplying the comforts of camp, and for always being the first one to tell whoever will listen, that i do a good job.
Thank you Jody for supplying Starbucks and Jamba Juice runs. Helping set up and breakdown camp.
And to all parents who stand by their children and provide them with fantastic experience's.
Including those that take all day in the heat and the dust, are sometimes emotionally trying and sometimes blissful.
you are the ones who are there at the end of the day and the beginning of the next.
Thank You All.
The Skyline Show was amazing!
This was a very big deal as this was the first show for a lot of our riders.
Nikolas, who rides Zen for his lessons at the stable, came to observe the goings on. Nikolas was wearing his new cowboy boots. And carrying his stuffed horse he named Zen. He and his mom Shellie cheered for their stable mates while proudly watching Zen the horse he rides, win a blue ribbon in the lead line class. Thank you for being such great supporters for your team.
Uma rode Zen in the lead line class with Tara's help. Uma did a very nice job showing Zen at the walk in two classes, the first was a rail class and the second was a horsemanship pattern. Uma and Zen won a blue ribbon in the rail class and held the 4th place spot for their pattern. Karin and Karl aka, mom and dad, where happily snapping photos and enjoying Uma's happiness. Thank you for all of your support.
Natalie was amazing and also did the horsemanship pattern. She rode Frenchie for her debut show, riding western. With Clair as her support on course, Natalie did her pattern without being on the lead line. Natalie worked at the one hand steering as is required by the western style of riding, and proved to impress us all including the judge who named Natalie her 1st place choice for how well she reined Frenchie through the pattern. Natalie and her mom, Cathrine stayed almost the entire day showing their team support. Natalie is prepared to ride more then just one class as soon as the next show comes around. Thank you for your great sportsmanship.
Luna rode Ocho. Turned out in proper English attire Luna and Ocho where stunning. Luna rode two English classes and Placed 5th in English pleasure and 3rd in equitation. Ocho was a little bright and bouncy and spooked just a bit and came off the rail, which Luna calmly turned into a crossing of the arena to the other rail. By the time the western classes came Ocho was more settled and Luna rode two western classes and placed 5th in western pleasure and 2nd in equitation. Luna had a fan base as her mom, Danielle, Uncle Rob, Aunt Beth and little baby cousin were their to congratulate her on a job well done.
Jamila rode Sierra and I should say she was very brave. The pair was elegant and beautiful in their English turn out. However, Sierra was a little too exited. Jamila did a great job keeping Sierra together for the English pleasure class and earned a nod from the judge and was called for reserve. There is no ribbon for reserve, but the judge chose to let Jamila know that she appreciated her work with Sierra. As Sierra did a panic spin at the out gate Jamila simply responded by bringing her hands to triangle position stopping Sierra solidly. And we agreed to reeassess our plan. We took a break, tied Sierra to the trailer for a bit, then ran her in the round pen for a while. Sierra was good, just too excited. Then watered and fed her. At the lunch break i worked Sierra in the arena for a while until she released another layer of excitement. I considered a different horse for Jamila to ride for the western, but really that would not have been fair to the experience. Jamila and i were working with Sierra to bring a change in her, how would we know if we did the right thing, if I had Jamila ride a different horse. We needed to give Sierra a chance. Jamila climbed onto Sierra ready to go for the western classes. It went very well. Jamila was even able to get Sierra to jog, slow and quiet. They placed 4th in western pleasure. And 4th in equitation. Nice job sticking with her all the way. Jamila's dad, Hadi was on hand helping to set up the camp, and support Jamila. Hakima and Fatima, aka mom and sissy, were there taking in all in.
Tara and Zen showed up to try their hand at English. Pretty darn well too. Tara started riding English three weeks ago. And Tara found out on Thursday, that i was planning to have her show on Sunday. At first she said, "No way!" Then we had our lesson and she agreed to give it a try. It was great to see her go for it. And Zen was very agreeable to the whole plan. Tara even placed in the top 5. Congratulations. Way to go!
Macaroni ! !
Yep he came, he saw, Clair rode him walk/trot in two classes. He was great! He trotted around that big arena with those really big horses passing him by like he owned the place. I think it was his second lap he got a little tired. He stood politely in the line up and was just a super star.
Maddy, put on the bling. Dressed in some fancy show clothes she matched Ocho beautifully.
Maddy rode Ocho very nicely as well. Working that fine line of a slow jog with a great head set. With Ocho ever ready to halt at the lightest touch of the reins, really made Maddy work her hand sensitivity and body balance. They made the line up every time. Watching them work together made me catch my breath, thinking this could be a really amazing team if we actually put a little work into it and did some shows. Like Maybe the Gypsy Horse Circuit. Could Ocho really dominate the 2014 National Circuit?
Clair and Frenchie. Frenchie is a funny little horse. She can be so well behaved and even when she is bad, she is still pretty good. It was after lunch when Clair was able to turn her attention to Frenchie. And Frenchie was a little fired up. Clair spent the entire lunch working Frenchie, and while waiting for Frenchie to get it together Clair pointed out to her that really she is not allowed to brace into the reins, and really she needed to step up under her body more from the hind end, and go when told, like now. And not to push out through her nose in every transition. And after much work the two came to an agreement. Frenchie was able to rest a while. And then they took the rail. Wining both equitation walk/trot and walk/trot/canter. Winning every age group pleasure class. And taking 3rd in the open line up to Jen and Marcy. (both are trainers) Nice to see all the work Judy has done with Frenchie, the foundation was available for Clair to really show it off. Beautifully done Clair and Judy.
I want to say thank you to "My" behind the scene the support group.
Thank you Deryn for setting up camp, taking pictures and holding horses and alerting me to pending crisis', just in the nick of time.
Thank you Jan for driving horses back and forth, for supplying the comforts of camp, and for always being the first one to tell whoever will listen, that i do a good job.
Thank you Jody for supplying Starbucks and Jamba Juice runs. Helping set up and breakdown camp.
And to all parents who stand by their children and provide them with fantastic experience's.
Including those that take all day in the heat and the dust, are sometimes emotionally trying and sometimes blissful.
you are the ones who are there at the end of the day and the beginning of the next.
Thank You All.