Region 12 Championships
Wow. What a week. One never knows what to expect when attending a show. For the last 6 years I’ve been stabled in the same barn. Usually barn managers try to keep things the same for ease of organization but sometimes things have to be changed up a bit. Imagine my surprise when I arrive at the showgrounds with horses in tow and discover that two of my stalls are in a completely different barn! Whoops! Luckily with the generosity of RBC Show Horses, we were able to acquire another stall right next door so all the horses could be stabled together. This change however left us one storage stall short. We made due but were really missing Jeannie Beannie’s organizational skills…yes this has an inside meaning!!
Thanks to Timmy and Tina Lundquist’s expert hauling the horses arrived safely and in fabulous time.
Karen Hollwedel and her beautiful bay mare Hayleigh Bey had a fabulous show. Achieving their first regional award, Karen confidently handled Hayleigh in the Sport Horse Mares in Hand ATH. Hayleigh, being a sensitive and very intelligent mare, had a lot to contend with during the week. Karen and I both agreed that the week undersaddle would be all about continuing the trust that had been built at home. Karen keeps her mare at home and only lessons once a week. She is a dedicated student and works very hard. She does her homework and is really enjoying her new sport horse adventure. There was no pressure on me (yeah right) when handling Halyleigh…first show a regionals, thanks Karen! I figured the only way to improve Hayleigh’s great amateur score for the In Hand class was to just go for it. When I asked Halyleigh for the trot lengthening I guess I just ran too fast…Hayleigh began with an exceptional trot then just picked up the canter. I think she just wanted to show an already interested judge all three of her gaits! Fortunately in the In Hand classes, the judge can ask you to repeat portions of the triangle pattern so…Redo…I got to trot again. This time Hayleigh didn’t canter…most likely because I just couldn’t sprint again!! Anyway, the goal was met and Hayleigh moved into a higher point range and earned the Reserve Championship for the Open Arabian Mares In Hand. Yippee!!!
Hayleigh and Karen had a wonderful go in the undersaddle class. Karen had her nerves under expert control and went into the class with a quiet confidence. The goal was relaxed and calm and she pulled it off. Karen made the cut and had to go back in again for the final. Again, the two were relaxed and looked like they were having fun. It was so nice to see Hayleigh navigating the class with a serene expression. Well done you two!!
Patrick and I continued our quest for a confident ride. His schooling sessions were forward and he was really trying to be brave. When he went in to the dressage court, he really tried to get the job done. His canters were forward and other than choosing a sort of Training Level freestyle, he completed the test. I secretly think he was wishing that he was jumping instead as he has decided he is better suited as a hunter. I am really proud of this handsome gentleman as it has been a long road. His new partner, Elizabeth Nelson, is so excited to be leasing him. Thank you Nan Harley for allowing me the time and patience to find Patrick a great home. Patrick has really taught me to allow the horse to choose his job. They are much happier when they like what they do.
DA Cheap Thrills, aka Trixie, has proven once again that versitility is what it’s all about. Earning a Top Five in Sidesaddle (first on one card!!!) and a Top Five in Sport Horse Show Hack, Trixie demonstrated that great horses can truly cross over between ‘arenas’.
I’d like to thank Jessie Chase, Dale Brown and Caralyn Shroter for helping me with my horses. One of my favorite things about horse shows is working with other trainers and learning new things. Jessie, I’m still trying to keep my aids straight…and to keep riding!! Dale, Olive Oil is in the tack room now…Caralyn, I will ride Louie down centerline one day!! That horse has dressage champion written all over him!!!
Thank you also goes to Dr. Jim Meyer…this is one talented vet!!! What is it about mares and SI joint misalignment??? Jim also discovered a new acupunture point…insert 4 needles across Patrick’s rump and voila…instant bucking!!!
I’d also like to extend a big thank you to my friend, Gretchen Johnson, for driving up and helping out with the gang. Gretchen has been blessed with healing hands. Her ability to locate and alleviate discomfort in horses is amazing. I truly believe that my horses physical abilities are enhanced by her bodywork. By the way, this is NOT a paid advertisement!!!
Looking forward to another show…gotta keep learning!!!