Horse Shows Weekend

Oh, and Father's Day too.  Whew - the girls managed to create cute cards even though we were in Shawnee Thurs-Sat for the 2012 State 4-H Horse Show and working a shift at the GCC/ODS Green Country Classic on Sunday afternoon.  I think we had lots of fun but I am too tired to be sure.  And, I am off to Kansas tomorrow so will miss riding with my YaYa Sisters. 

We had company on Sunday evening as well - Way Fun.  Brandon and Liz stayed over on their way across country to Denver before they start their summer Hike from Denver to Durango and we gave Liz her very first horseback ride on the fabulous Sunny - still feeling fine after his hard work at state.  Brandon road Splash bareback (rather than in my Isabelle) while Alaina dusted off the Dezzie-Doo and Ivy jumped Pico (both bareback).  They could have been showing off.  Liz has also tried her hand with firearms at the shooting range (another first during her OK trip) in Sapulpa and I think her future is in Cowboy Mounted Shooting.

Steve followed us to Shawnee on Thursday to help unload and do the heavy lifting.  After moving in horses, fans, hay, water, and shavings as well as a few snacks, Steve headed back to Claremore to care for the rest of the stock.  It was warm but dry and we watched a bit of speed before having an early dinner and then washing/banding the beasts.  Ivy and Alaina take care of the washing and I band with their help.  Show-prep is no longer the exhausting work of the lone ranger.  Yippeeeeeee.  Back to LaQuinta for a quick swim with friends before hitting the sack.  4:00am and the hotel windows rattled while the Thunder Rolled (weather not basketball).  Big storms dumped a ton of needed rain on Shawnee and points east.  Cloud cover kept temps moderate if a bit muggy for most of Friday (way cooler than last year's 114 degrees).  Friday was English day and Sunny was a really good English pony for Alaina - they made call-backs for both HUS and HSE then placed 7th in jumping!  Ivy and Pico placed 10th in HSE and 4th in Jumping.  The Rogers County Horse Club jumping team all placed - Abby/3, Ivy/4, Alaina/7 and Teresa/9.

First thing Saturday morning (Western day) and Trail started promptly at 8:30am.  The final obstacle was a tree and "water" hazard combo that stymied many horses including Sunny and Pico.  But both horses did the rest of the course fairly well and placed 8th and 10 respectively (of 32 entries).  Then, Alaina and Sunny made the call-backs for Western Pleasure and placed 8th out of a huge class.

Steve and Kale came early to watch a little of the show and help load up before heading back to Claremore in the late afternoon.

State 2012 is in the books!

Horse Show Hangover.....

But it hurts good.

At long last, the 4-H State Horse Show - 2011 - was Thursday though Saturday and the Green Country Classic dressage show was Saturday-Sunday.  So, after returning from Shawnee Saturday night we volunteered at the Classic Sunday afternoon; Ivy and Alaina as runners and me on Paddock and "bit check:" duty.  So - horse - horse - horse - fun - fun - fun.

Although I didn't see Patty ride Dante, I did catch one of her rides on Jurgen and it was the best I have seen.  But the big news is that Patty earned her Bronze Metal with Dante this past weekend recieving a 62.368% from Dr. Paramjeet Chopra and a 60.526%Thomas Poulin - 2 qualifying scores when she only needed one! Congratulations to Patty and Dante! Yippeeeee.
Rita's Friesians did very well too. Silka's baby Teske Van G scored 68% and 68% in T3 and Jurgen Fan Bluffview received 64.828% and 61.724% in F1.


And.... the "girls" - Brady and Double Entrondre, Patty and Jurgen, Stephanie and Teske, and Sara and Rumba - placed second in the adult team competition.

 

At ride night Tuesday night, Krystal trimmed Pico, Sunny, and Sister and we got to see the Budwiser Clydesdales who were stalling at Expo on the way to TX.  So cool to see those dainty little feet.  Those feet got 5 bags of shavings per stall - no expense was spared.

Thursday morning, we met Mallory in Catoosa and headed west to Shawnee; I got the girls (Ivy, Alaina, Roxy, and Mattie) in the Truck with Me.  Mallory was lonely all the way.  The Rogers County 4-H horse club T-shirts were emblazoned with "Drop it Like its HOT" - but Alaina "Drops it like a Sock" - haha, she lost a sock out of the window between Chandler and Shawnee and I do not turn the trailer around for a sock.

 

We arrived in Shawnee before noon and checked in, unloaded, settled horses, decorated stalls, socialized a bit, made plans, watched a little speed, rode the horses, bathed horses and then.... around 6:30, went en mass to Red Lobster for a real dinner (my first in all the years of doing state horse show stuff - I think I like it).  We missed the 2-year old project but our club's Britton Carpenter placed 5th with his horse Perpetually EZ.
 
 

First thing Friday morning, Ivy and Sister showed Halter mares 6 and over - they qualified as 4th place mares at District but didn't place at State.  Then, Sunny and Alaina showed in Geldings 6 and over and showmanship 12-14 - no ribbon but Alaina and Sunny had a lovely showmanship pattern.  Competition is stiff in their age division.
 

Later, Ivy and Pico had their 2 riding classes - English Equitation and Hunter Hack.  Ivy was 2nd to go in Eq and watched the girl in front of her totally blow the pattern.  Did the pattern to perfection until almost the end, when doubt caught up with her and she skipped the last trot circle.  Ivy and Freako-Pico managed to place 7 in Hunter Hack - just a little hesitation in approaching the second jump.
 

Saturday morning it was time for Trail.  Sunny and Alaina placed 2nd out of 30 entries - and won an embroidered bridle bag.  Very exciting.  Sunny was very good, was steady and willing and accurate.  Just over-rotated a bit in the tiny box and looked a little uneven in the complicated back through.  Did not eat corn plants or pull down the gate (which has been done twice before).

Western Pleasure was good (canters a bit fast) and Western

Horsemanship very nice (just a head pop at the very end of the pattern) - neither good enough for call back.  But nice rides none the less.
 
So, now we can relax until the July shows (4-H and ODS/GCC).  and work in some YaYa rides too.
 

State Summary

Later, that same week…. After the exciting weekend of the State 4-H Horse Show in Shawnee and making the last day of the ODS/GCC Green Country Classic Dressage Show, I went to Kansas for a couple of days of work. Home to late Thursday night to join my YaYa Sista’s for a social but back early enough to sample some garden goodies including almost to early corn and a tomato/cuc salad. Note to self – balsamic vinegar makes cucumber slices look muddy but tastes great.. hehe

The girls had a great time at the horse show and brought home some ribbons. Alaina and Sunny - 7th Showmanship, 10th in Hunt Seat Equitation, 9th Western Horsemanship and 3rd in Trail (ribbons in 4 of her 6 classes); Ivy and Pico - 4th Hunt Seat Equitation and 7th in Hunter Hack (ribbons in 2 of her 4 classes). Both girls have really improved their riding skills the last few months but competition in the 9-11 age group is fierce. 

Alaina and Sunny really had a wonderful trail pattern and did fairly well in Showmanship and her English classes; western wasn't so smooth but she placed in the horsemanship even though Sunny was excited and broke gait to canter a couple of times. 

Ivy was looking wonderful in her canter departs and pattern practice in warm-up but had a little lead trouble in her classes - I think she is nervous and counter bends which leads to wrong lead.  She did compete in jumping although she was nervous about it so I am proud of her for riding through.

We really enjoyed our volunteer shifts at the dressage show on Sunday and Ivy wants a Hanavarian for her 2-year old project....haha.  After all his time off in re-hab, Splash will have to wait a little longer since a baby shower is prempting my weekly lesson.  So, cross fingers for some riding soon and for Splash to be fully recovered.  YaYa!