Another successful Sunday!

After waiting all day on Friday for Bree's new saddle to arrive (see post below) - it must be the 'right' one because Bree had a great show on Sunday!

Infact, it was awesome! Tess and Bree had the fastest time on the day (youth, jr's, sr's, and in the open) - they cracked one out like we've never seen before.

Just as a reference: Last show, Bree's best time on poles was 24.43. Her first run on poles in this show was a 22.72 - nearly 1.8 seconds better which is unique that you cut off that much time - It was a beautiful sight to watch - trust me!




The next fastest time was 22.84 (by an adult) - She was on cloud nine realizing that they can do it, they did it and that all the training and practice is paying off. There's nothing like success to drive motivation on wanting more!

Her 2nd run wasn't quite as good but still better than last show at a 24.00.

Then the weather set in and we loaded the horses into the trainer and waited out the rain. We thought we were in the clear and got in one barrel run before the skies let loose and after getting everything picked up, loaded up, we were soaked down to our skin. Talk about feeling like a drowned rat!

Her barrel run was 'ok' - she was talking about how she always thought poles was her 'weakest' event, but it is actually turning out to be the barrels. They have some things to work on - we are picking up on what's slowing them down. She had a respectable run at 21.86 and placed 4th.






So, eventhough she only ran in 3 classes - she had 2 firsts and a 4th - still making it a successful day! She made more than her entry fees and pocketed the difference - She likes that too!

Now, we kind of go back to the drawing board and start focusing on those few things to fix on her barrels. Tess and Bree are really clicking together so hopefully there will be more good results in the future!

Bree's Successful Sunday!

As if our weekend wasn't busy enough, Bree ran in a speed horse show on Sunday - and run she did!

This was her first show of the year and first since July 3rd of last year! Bree and her horse, Tess, have been working very hard to polish their skills!

She ran in 6 classes:

Trot poles: (kind of a warm-up class) her time was 39.51 (seconds - LOL) and she placed first



Then she ran in the "Novice Rider" poles and finished first in that class with a 25.52.

That class led into the Youth (13 and under) poles which she also won with a 24.43.


She also ran in the open which is all age kids, adults, professionals, trainers, etc.. She held her own placing 7th with a 25.02

We all ate lunch then after lunch, barrels started:

She seemed kind of sluggish in the Novice barrels and placed 3rd with a 20.94, but came back in the youth barrels running 2.2 seconds faster with at 18.74 and placed first - This is my most favorite picture, both Bree and Tess are so focused!


She also ran in the 3-D race - this is an intersting race - and runs much like a NBHA (National Barrel Horse Assoc class works). Everyone (all kids, adults, pro's and trainers) run and the times are recorded. The fastest time is called the 1-D time and wins 'first' in that class and the next 4 fastest times place 2nd-5th. The fastest time was 17.34.

Next, they add one second to that time so now it is 18.34 and the person with the closest time (over that number) places first in the 2-D. And the next 3 fastest times take 2nd thru 4th in the 2D

Finally they add two seconds to the fastest time making it 19.34 and the person with the closest time (over that number) places first in the 3-D. The next 2 fastest times take 2nd and 3rd in the 3-D.

Bree ran a 18.93 and missed 4th place in the 2-D by 2 tenths of a second! All in all it was a great day, they learned alot, know what they have to continue to work on and are chomping at the bit to attend the next show (mid-September).

2008 4H Fair... Last week of July

Thankfully this year the 4H Fair wasn't as hot as years past! The Grundy County 4H Fair is held separate from the regular county fair as the fairgrounds are just not big enough to house both at the same time.

Bree shows horses. That is her only project (despite prompting from me) -

This year the plan was for Bree to ride Jessie (my filly) in the 'slow' events (pleasure classes, etc..) and to show Tess in the gaming.

Well, you know the saying about 'plans' - Jessie came up lame in her left rear that even after getting injectable bute (in the vein) 2x a day for 3 days leading up to the fair. So, like any good 4H'er, must improvise. Bree used Jess for the Halter and Showmanship classes (Sr Halter Mares - as "sr" in our 4H world means 2 and over) - and placed 7th out of 21 - not bad... considering the filly is SO lazy and just wasn't going to trot to the judge even with the ring steward throwing sand at her from behind. (It IS nice however, to know, hauling her somewhere for the first time that she is as laid back and non-caring about her surroundings elsewhere as she is at the farm).

The riding classes were all about Tess - can you say "zoom, zoom, zoom"? ha! Bree did trail with her and WON - LOL. She took her in English Pleasure and English Eq (as Tess can do an extended trot not like any other - from all her games trotting) and won Eng Eq! Reserve in Eng Pleasure.

Bree didn't ride in the WP classes as that would have been too funny - also she wanted to "save" her for the gaming classes - no problem - she could have ridden all day long and that mare wouldn't have run out of gas.

She placed reserve in the reining as Tess just won't flatspin for Bree - (Bree's leg are long for a 10 yo but not quite long enough to convince Tess that she MUST flatspin)

Then, the gaming - Bree's forte' - She won all 5 classes - (barrels, poles, fig 8, plug and keyhole) - There was some pretty riding going on - the fastest I've seen them go and controlled with some beautiful turns (not all - but flashes of awesome). She won some neat class prizes and also the gaming highpoint award which she'll get at the awards dinner in November.

Skeeter (B/O) got creative and spray painted the gamers.. ha - like the flames shooting out? The pictures look black and white - but they're not - its just that games were at night and getting dark - so I had to do what I could to lighten them up - also that's why there is not alot of them!

I love the focus on Bree's face here - Tess ran a perfect and I mean perfect figure 8 pattern - it was just beautiful!

During the Poles, Tess has developed a "bad" habit of wanting to dart in between poles 5 and 6 instead of turning the end pole (I think she's so smart that she figures she'll get a better time - hahaha) - anyway, Bree has to direct her forward and a scoish OUT so Tess gets the picture that Bree is the driver - but, this is one of my favorite "butt" pictures - look at how Tess is using her hind end - which may not seem like a big thing - but, (no pun intended) the fact that for 3 years she was working off her front end almost exclusively and now transitioning to use her big bum, this is what we're looking to see.

I like to see Tess hunting the turns -

As usual, Tess, sleeps between classes and walks in and out quietly of the arena - which I like most of all - no hyperness, no antsy-dantsy, rearing, geared up behavior -

Bree has her room decorated with her purple ribbons and even though didn't get to show much in the performance classes had a good show!

Holiday Horse Show...

Ah, Fourth of July, BBQ's, Fireworks, Picnics, and Horse Show? Not necessarily what you think of - but, Bree rode in one on the 5th... It was the Grundy County Fair -

The GCF Grounds are small so they do not combine the county fair with the 4H fair (not enough room) and we usually do not get to go to this fair/show because in the past we have always been in Oklahoma City at the Appaloosa Youth World Show. This year since Bree has been working diligently on transitioning Tess to "running" we didn't want to confuse the mare by making her trot at the Worlds.

So, we instead went to the County Fair and she got the chance to "debut" Tess running. Bree likes to run - she has that need for speed. Tess LOVES to run. I am amazed how much this mare who you would NOT think has gas - has the gas! The thing I like best is that she is NOT one of those horses that when it goes in the gate gets all "antsy-dancey" or hyper or uncontrollable - calmly walks in, calmly walks out and when out and Bree stops her, promptly goes to sleep and stands nice and still.

The entry fees for the classes were steep ($20 per) and payouts were 1st place 50 and then decrease by $5 out to 8th place. They only had ONE Youth class (18 and under) and that was barrels. I didn't have high hopes being that on this first show 'venture' running against adults, that placing was going to occur.

What can I say. I was wrong. Bree participated in 3 "team" events (Pony Express 2x - 2 different partners) and the Toilet Paper race (not the typical tp race - a timed event doing a lap around a barrel as fast as you can without breaking the tp)

Drumroll please.... The results:

Not the most perfect of form on barrel no 2 but a cool picture!

I love the look and focus and concentration on her face in this picture coming home and giving Tess the "gas" signal!

She placed 4th in Barrels in the 18 and under!

The next event is the Pony Express which is a team ride - the first rider holds the 'baton' - in this case a rolled up towel with tape around it and runs a lap around the arena as fast as they can and then they have to hand off (within a designated stretch) the 'baton' to the next rider who does the same thing. Bree rode in this class twice - Once with Skeeter (barn owner) and the other with Madison another gal from the barn. Bree and Skeeter placed FIRST and Bree and Madison placed third - ALMOST 2nd. Their time was 29.65 - second place was 29.6


4 Again against all riders!

There was also the typical "Bribe Your Horse" class - which we knew Bree had better run as fast she could as her mare is a chow hound... No issues with her chasing food! The "sad" part was that they had just for this show put 5 loads of SAND in the arena and it was over your ankle deep - the kids could hardly get thru it - but it was funny to watch... The Chow Hound and the kid took 2nd....

Can you all read Tess' mind? It goes something like this, "Give me the food, food I say, I'll run you over to get the food, give me the "dang" food!!!" hahaha

Ok - Now I just LOVE this picture... It's like one of those where you have to play - "find the 'x' in the picture" - In this one, it is "find the KID" in the picture..



Poles we had a touch of an issue - Tess has decided that when going down the lane toward the end pole on the opening stretch that to save time she is going to try to dart between the LAST 2 end poles instead of turning around the actual end pole - silly mare - but she's trying to get a better time - so who can fault her? Yea, right. Anyway - so they took 8th with Bree having to correct her on that - but, still in the money..

The other team event was the speed toilet paper race - in the past this was more like a pleasure class whereby 2 people hold opposite ends of a strip of tp and walk, jog, pleasure horse lope, etc.. until some break their strip and the one team left wins - but this time you had to race down and around the barrel and back with your team member without breaking the strip of tp! Bree and Skeeter competed in this race together and took 3rd.

Somehow I missed getting a photo of Bree in the Keyhole event - and she took 5th. It was good to see that even running Tess can put the breaks on to make a turn like that!

It was a great first outing for the two of them.. They brought home a $232 paycheck and after entry fees - Bree netted $125 - That was REALLY cool! I think they are going to make a great running team with some fine tuning and time!

The week NOT according to Hoyle...

My Mom always used that phrase.... I guess Hoyle is a guy who wrote rules and instructions for card games..

I didn't post much last week because of this Hoyle guy not coming thru for me...

Started with Monday, finding Tessa with her knee the size of a grapefruit, Tuesday had to take Snooper (our old beagle boy - 13 or 14 years old) in for surgery to have a tumor hanging off his neck removed - it was REALLY, REALLY nasty... All the while going out to the barn 2x each day to "doctor" Tessa...

Wednesday - I can't even remember what went on..

Thursday - It's pouring rain and Bill decides to leave for work late to let the traffic clear out - well, I'm sure you can see where this is going - he gets 3 miles from home and is sitting in a left turn lane waiting to turn and a 16 year old girl driving WAY too fast for conditions with a DOG (yes, DOG) on her LAP which she obviously was messing with smashes into his nice Acura going (according to the police report) 25 mph WHEN she hit him, pushing him into the intersection into another car. He declines ambulance service but agrees (to me) to take him to the ER to be checked out.. So, dealing with all that AND "doctoring" Tessa AND getting ready for the 4H Fair AND trying to clean my house as my Mom was coming on Friday to visit and see Bree compete in the 4H Fair...

So, last week was a mess. 4H Fair is over. Mom, Bree and I had a great couple of days this week and Mom and Bree left today for Tennessee - (Back home for Mom) - Well, they were half way there (south of Effingham on 57) and Mom just doesn't get a flat tire she BLOWS a tire.. To the point that a trucker, a state trooper and IDOT worker had to take a hammer and jack handle to wedge the pieces of rubber and steel belt from the tire OUT of the underbody of her Yukon (SUV) so that her wheel would turn - Needless to say, they were a little shaken (not hurt - just the nerve adrenaline hitting) -

They called just a bit ago and said they made the rest of the journey without incident.

So, HOYLE, if you're listening - CUT IT OUT! ENOUGH (you realize that FUN spelled backwards is NUF) - just another one of my dear Mom's sayings....

Popcorn, Peanuts, and 4H Fair Info...

Well, it has been a LONG, LONG, week / weekend.. Filled with 6am to 10pm days!!!

Here are the results first, then the details -

Bree and Tessa did AWESOME!! She had 3 classes on Saturday -
Halter - Blue Ribbon,
Showmanship - Blue Ribbon and Grand Champion and she won this very neat "Director's Chair" embroidered on the back rest with the class name and all!
Trail Class - Red Ribbon

On Sunday, she rode in 9 classes -
Western Pleasure - Blue Ribbon
Western Horsemanship - Blue Ribbon
Western Riding - Blue Ribbon and Reserve Grand Champion
Working Pattern - Blue Ribbon.

Then to the games...
Barrels - Blue Ribbon and Reserve Grand Champion
Pole Bending - Blue Ribbon and Reserve Grand Champion
Keyhole (her favorite event) - Blue Ribbon and Grand Champion and she won this neat embroidered duffel bag
Plug Race - Blue Ribbon and Grand Champion and she won this neat embroidered Tote Bag
Flag Race - Blue Ribbon and Grand Champion and she won this neat Grooming Tote filled with a bunch of great horse supplies!

Then at the close of 4H they do the "overall" awards and Bree won HIGHPOINT Games horse in her age division - which at the 4H Achievement Awards night this fall she will receive another Belt Buckle.... She was thrilled..

Mom and I took pictures on Mom's camera which she didn't bring her memory card reader - so no pictures until next week...

The week leading into the fair was crazy as Tessa decided to bang up her knee to the point of being quite swollen which ended up both swelling "up" above her knee to her forearm and also "down" her leg - so, we were doctoring her 2x daily from Monday to Thursday HOPING it would be well for the fair - (obviously, we did ok - LOL) - So, Bree didn't get to practice riding until Friday (day before fair started). Considering this, it was amazing how well she did!

The weather was a ton better and nicer than the past 2 years. (2 years ago temps were around 100 and last year around 95) making it a great deal more healthy for both humans and animals!

Mom was tickled as she has never seen Bree "compete" for real - and even though she sees pictures and gets the play by play after the fact from Bree, seeing it in person lends an entirely different perspective.

We're r&r'ing it today and trying to put some organization back to all the supplies, clothes, etc.. that we used for the fair as the stuff is just everywhere!

Bree has set up her Director's Chair in the Familyroom, it's like she has her own "movie" chair watching tv - ha! Now, that I'll have to get pics of!