SWA
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{{{ANXIOUS SIGHS}}}
Whewboy, ok, there's a show coming up this coming Thanksgiving weekend. Lots going on, with tentative plans sort of still in the air. In that, our son is PRAYERFULLY COMING HOME from Iraq soon, although we don't know for sure "exactly when", just yet.
But, just in case he isn't home in time to be with us for Thanksgiving, we will try to just do as he asked us, and that is to "carry on as if he never left us". Lord have mercy. Hard as that has been at times, we've tried to do his bidding as he asked of us...to just "carry on" like life here on the "homefront" is all just normal daily life.
That said, we hope and pray he WILL be home with us by then. However, in the offchance the timing of his homecoming stretches beyond the TG holiday weekend, then we feel we may as well try to give a go at taking our mare, Bridgy, to a show. If we do go ahead, then THIS will be our very first time ever, without our son or a trainer showing for us. Our son used to show our horses for us way back when he was little, about 10 or 11, he's 23 now. Gosh, time sure flies. We haven't had any of our horses in a ring since then, till earlier this year when we had a trainer for the very first time ever too, showing our mare for us.
Well, this being the start of a "new season", so to speak, being that Nationals & Worlds for 2008 is past now, we hope to get a head start toward "hopefully" getting qualified toward 2009. So.... I'm hesitant almost, but excited at the same time, anxious as all get out, but excited...as this will be "my" very first time EVER in a show ring, period! (Except for "many many moons ago, back when I used to show my QH Stallion at Western Speed Shows and Trick riding, etc.) As for "mini stuff" though, I myself have NEVER been in a show ring, just always at "ring side" coaching our son, from watching others way back when, and watching our trainers earlier this year. Even though I have only ever "watched" from the sidelines, I still have pretty much NO IDEA what I'll be doing...so am pretty much going to be just winging it...if I actually do get the nerve to actually take the nose dive and go in???? Still sort of undecided, but at least leaning toward the possibility...after all these years.
I still might chicken out, I dunno... I need to keep listening to things my son used to say to me, like when he'd tell me, "Make like the Nike commercial, and JUST DO IT". LOL. I dunno... I want to, but we'll see if actually do, I guess. There again though, even going, all depends on whether or not our son will be HOME by that weekend or not. If he's home, then we definately will NOT even be there, as we'll be up in NC to visit with him. But, if he's not home yet, heaven forbid, then we'll try to just "carry on" and perhaps actually wander on into the show realm for ourselves.
If in the off chance, that it be the case that we DO end up at the show that weekend... before I jump off with both feet, I have a BUCKET LOAD of questions....
I hope ya'll don't mind...
1. Will there be a class (like I've seen at shows this past year) offered where a TOTAL NEWBIE like me could enter, for the "experience" of it? Without it counting against the horse or handler?
2. If so, in this class, would the horse be required to be "show ready", like total body shaved, etc.? or can I show her in full coat, but show just for the "experience" of it?
3. If it's required that my mare be "show ready", will there be someone at the show who could help me with getting her body shaved? I can do this myself, but NO WAY can I make her look as gorgeous as she did with the clip job that was done on her "professionally" with our trainers ealier this year. I'd be gratefull, if anyone might can help with a "professional" clip job...please advise if this is possible, or even permitted???
4. In looking at the show class premiums for that weekend, on the "AMHR" day, I see 2 classes called "PMC Mare or Gelding, 38" & Under, Any Age" & "PMC Gelding/Mares 38" & Under". What does "PMC" mean, and what is the difference between these 2 classes?
5. In the AMHR day, there are classes offered as "Model Mare 2 yrs. & Older" and "Aged Mare 3 & Older 30" & Under". What are the differences of these, and which is most beneficial to the mare to show in?
6. In looking at the show class premiums for that weekend, on the "AMHA" day, I see 3 classes called "Sr. Mare 28" & Under" & "Amateur Level I Sr. Mare 30" Under" & "Amateur Level II Sr. Mare 30" & Under". What do the different levels mean?
Lastly, if I do actually go in the ring... is it counted against me, or my mare, if I don't "run" with her in halter? I'll try to walk as fast as I can, I just never know when my hip is gonna snap out on me, so I may seem sort of "off gait" alongside her. Do the judges count that against you (or the horse) if you can't keep stride consistent along with the horse?
Whewboy, I dunno, maybe I just better not even try a halter class, and just stick to trying to find a driving mare to show???? {{{Heavy sighs}}}
Please forgive, if some might consider these as silly questions, and I'm sure I'll likely have many more in follow up.
I am really just now learning as I go. I realize I have been "in minis" for several years, and should full well know all this long by now, but it's been several years since showing with our son, so I am sort of in the process just now, of sort of "re-learning" all this all over again. I'd be grateful for any help.
If we do end up going... I sure hope I don't chicken out. Whew boy!!! This is such a HUGE step for me, even after all these years. Gosh...ESPECIALLY, after all these years.
I'm sort of excited, but feeling "jelly legged" already, and yet it's still a couple weeks away...if we do go.
Whewboy, ok, there's a show coming up this coming Thanksgiving weekend. Lots going on, with tentative plans sort of still in the air. In that, our son is PRAYERFULLY COMING HOME from Iraq soon, although we don't know for sure "exactly when", just yet.
But, just in case he isn't home in time to be with us for Thanksgiving, we will try to just do as he asked us, and that is to "carry on as if he never left us". Lord have mercy. Hard as that has been at times, we've tried to do his bidding as he asked of us...to just "carry on" like life here on the "homefront" is all just normal daily life.
That said, we hope and pray he WILL be home with us by then. However, in the offchance the timing of his homecoming stretches beyond the TG holiday weekend, then we feel we may as well try to give a go at taking our mare, Bridgy, to a show. If we do go ahead, then THIS will be our very first time ever, without our son or a trainer showing for us. Our son used to show our horses for us way back when he was little, about 10 or 11, he's 23 now. Gosh, time sure flies. We haven't had any of our horses in a ring since then, till earlier this year when we had a trainer for the very first time ever too, showing our mare for us.
Well, this being the start of a "new season", so to speak, being that Nationals & Worlds for 2008 is past now, we hope to get a head start toward "hopefully" getting qualified toward 2009. So.... I'm hesitant almost, but excited at the same time, anxious as all get out, but excited...as this will be "my" very first time EVER in a show ring, period! (Except for "many many moons ago, back when I used to show my QH Stallion at Western Speed Shows and Trick riding, etc.) As for "mini stuff" though, I myself have NEVER been in a show ring, just always at "ring side" coaching our son, from watching others way back when, and watching our trainers earlier this year. Even though I have only ever "watched" from the sidelines, I still have pretty much NO IDEA what I'll be doing...so am pretty much going to be just winging it...if I actually do get the nerve to actually take the nose dive and go in???? Still sort of undecided, but at least leaning toward the possibility...after all these years.
If in the off chance, that it be the case that we DO end up at the show that weekend... before I jump off with both feet, I have a BUCKET LOAD of questions....
1. Will there be a class (like I've seen at shows this past year) offered where a TOTAL NEWBIE like me could enter, for the "experience" of it? Without it counting against the horse or handler?
2. If so, in this class, would the horse be required to be "show ready", like total body shaved, etc.? or can I show her in full coat, but show just for the "experience" of it?
3. If it's required that my mare be "show ready", will there be someone at the show who could help me with getting her body shaved? I can do this myself, but NO WAY can I make her look as gorgeous as she did with the clip job that was done on her "professionally" with our trainers ealier this year. I'd be gratefull, if anyone might can help with a "professional" clip job...please advise if this is possible, or even permitted???
4. In looking at the show class premiums for that weekend, on the "AMHR" day, I see 2 classes called "PMC Mare or Gelding, 38" & Under, Any Age" & "PMC Gelding/Mares 38" & Under". What does "PMC" mean, and what is the difference between these 2 classes?
5. In the AMHR day, there are classes offered as "Model Mare 2 yrs. & Older" and "Aged Mare 3 & Older 30" & Under". What are the differences of these, and which is most beneficial to the mare to show in?
6. In looking at the show class premiums for that weekend, on the "AMHA" day, I see 3 classes called "Sr. Mare 28" & Under" & "Amateur Level I Sr. Mare 30" Under" & "Amateur Level II Sr. Mare 30" & Under". What do the different levels mean?
Lastly, if I do actually go in the ring... is it counted against me, or my mare, if I don't "run" with her in halter? I'll try to walk as fast as I can, I just never know when my hip is gonna snap out on me, so I may seem sort of "off gait" alongside her. Do the judges count that against you (or the horse) if you can't keep stride consistent along with the horse?
Whewboy, I dunno, maybe I just better not even try a halter class, and just stick to trying to find a driving mare to show???? {{{Heavy sighs}}}
Please forgive, if some might consider these as silly questions, and I'm sure I'll likely have many more in follow up.
If we do end up going... I sure hope I don't chicken out. Whew boy!!! This is such a HUGE step for me, even after all these years. Gosh...ESPECIALLY, after all these years.
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