Dr. Pam
Well-Known Member
OK, so we didn't actually die. Just wanted to a few times. I won't vent here--the people both old friends and new are wonderful, the horses are stunning (drives home the point 98% of my barn is no longer National quality), the judges overall were very good (exception IMO was Showmanship--again
).
We showed until 2am both days, and started right back up at 8:30 am. The classes, especially in the 13-17 were HUGE--Patty was in the ring for 4 hours Sat am for Halter Obstacle--under alone. Show management, eventhough entries for youth are "set in stone"--they had the numbers 6 weeks ago--was totally unprepared. 44 entries in Versatility Under.
They decided at midnight that there were too many entries in the class to run it as one class and they needed to split it. No duh.
Patty started off winning Youth Halter Sr. Geldings--Under (29 or 30 in the class) with Erica's gimmie Another Glance. We were both in tears. I said if we went home right now, we'd be happy. Prophetic words. Jurgen's Cinnamon Swirl had to be scratched from all her driving classes because her back was out, Nostalgia's Indisputably Orion refuses to show after midnight (sorry, but a show horse needs to suck it up a little when it's crunch time--that's what makes a show horse different from a pet. Lee needs to be a pet). Patty had a perfect run in Showmanship Over--one of three girls to have all three pivots clean but didn't place. Kids who turned their horses in circles placed. Same thing happened to Jamie, and Randee.
Patty took an 8th in Showmanship--Under with Lance, which is right about where she should be. She got a 6th in Driving Obstacle --Over with Lee, and an 8th in Jumping-Under with Spice behind Jamie and Heather (Forum members). That was an amazing class!! I think that is also where Spice torqued her back (had the Chiropracter on the grounds treat her--she's doing fine now. 6 months of driving practice is tough to throw away, but taking her in would have been wrong)
Lance was a little horse in the Big City--Nationals was only his third performance show. He kept his eye on the center ring for driving classes. OK, he had his head turned at right angles most of the time. He was the one on full alert for the entire Showmanship class--no "at ease" when it wasn't that half of the arena's turn. Basically the whole deer in the headlights look the whole show.
Waiting for Hunter class
"Hey Mom, did you see that???"
Check out the center ring decorations!
Patty and Spice after their run in Jumper
some shots of the hunter/jumper course this year (MUCH improved from last year!!)
you know, they'll let just about anyone in at Nationals
can you name the Forum members?
We showed until 2am both days, and started right back up at 8:30 am. The classes, especially in the 13-17 were HUGE--Patty was in the ring for 4 hours Sat am for Halter Obstacle--under alone. Show management, eventhough entries for youth are "set in stone"--they had the numbers 6 weeks ago--was totally unprepared. 44 entries in Versatility Under.
Patty started off winning Youth Halter Sr. Geldings--Under (29 or 30 in the class) with Erica's gimmie Another Glance. We were both in tears. I said if we went home right now, we'd be happy. Prophetic words. Jurgen's Cinnamon Swirl had to be scratched from all her driving classes because her back was out, Nostalgia's Indisputably Orion refuses to show after midnight (sorry, but a show horse needs to suck it up a little when it's crunch time--that's what makes a show horse different from a pet. Lee needs to be a pet). Patty had a perfect run in Showmanship Over--one of three girls to have all three pivots clean but didn't place. Kids who turned their horses in circles placed. Same thing happened to Jamie, and Randee.
Patty took an 8th in Showmanship--Under with Lance, which is right about where she should be. She got a 6th in Driving Obstacle --Over with Lee, and an 8th in Jumping-Under with Spice behind Jamie and Heather (Forum members). That was an amazing class!! I think that is also where Spice torqued her back (had the Chiropracter on the grounds treat her--she's doing fine now. 6 months of driving practice is tough to throw away, but taking her in would have been wrong)
Lance was a little horse in the Big City--Nationals was only his third performance show. He kept his eye on the center ring for driving classes. OK, he had his head turned at right angles most of the time. He was the one on full alert for the entire Showmanship class--no "at ease" when it wasn't that half of the arena's turn. Basically the whole deer in the headlights look the whole show.
Waiting for Hunter class
"Hey Mom, did you see that???"
Check out the center ring decorations!
Patty and Spice after their run in Jumper
some shots of the hunter/jumper course this year (MUCH improved from last year!!)
you know, they'll let just about anyone in at Nationals
can you name the Forum members?
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