susanne
dB
Well...
It wasn't Mingus' nor my weekend...or at least not the show...
However, I've learned that most of the times our animals misbehave, it's our own fault, and this was very true in our case.
Mingus and I left for our 2 hour trip to Soanaway ona high note, thanks to the beautiful (but very heavy) ramp that Keith built for our minivan. Mingus thoroughly enjoyed the royal treatment and went up the ramp without hesitation. I generally like to have someone else along just in case we have a problem, but my friend was not able to come and Keith had work and a gig, so it was just Mingus and me.
A side note: if you want to now how idiotic some people can be, simply transport a horse on a major highway. I especially love those friendly waves using a single finger...
We found the show grounds and got Mingus settled in. I was showing Mingus in his gorgeous, natural summer coat, and only needed to clip whiskers, muzzle, ears and fetlocks, so although we had dulled the blades clipping Daryl's Suzie Q, I figured they could last through this small task...well...they would only clip on the 30 setting (Wahl StablePro clippers), which was great for the muzzle and whiskers, but not what I had in mind for his fetlocks. Oh yeah...the lighting in the barn was awful...
I managed this, fed and settled him in for the night and left to find my hotel. Now, I admit I'm frugal...some say cheap...a tightwad. I had reserved what looked online to be a decent motel a few minutes from the showgrounds...the cheapest I could find. It was clean and decent, but the clientele gave me the heebie geebies...what does $39/night for a "studio" motel room suggest to you? Ah well, I survived the night.
Morning began with measuring in, and Mingus passed easily -- YAY...
Next came bathtime. Now,does that word ring warning bells to anyone else who has read all of my Mingus stories? These bells should have been ringing loudly in my ears, the owner of the horse who hates baths and REALLY knows how to hold a grudge...
When we were done, Mingus was sleek, shiny, gorgeous and totally PI55ED. He was no longer my sweet, cuddly boy, but rather a fire breathing dragon. We made it through the rest of our show prep without any bodily harm (if you forgive those passive-aggressive stomps on my feet...) and headed off for the show ring.
So far, so good. There was Liz (Nootka), lending moral support, and we entered the ring for model gelding. Mingus must have heard that all he had to do here was stand still, because that was absolutely the LAST thing he was going to do for me! I was told that for the single millisecond that he held still, he looked great, but during that millisecond, the judge was looking the other way. When the judge did look, Mingus was doing his best to drop his head and roll...
The class ended, ribbons were given out (no ribbons for bad boys), but revenge was not complete...Mingus was bent on total humiliation. With a leap, he pulled the lead from my slippery hands and displayed his best liberty moves... fortunately coming quickly to a halt next to a very well-behaved gelding. I'm sure that had he been in liberty class, he would have stood still.
To make a long story short, I had entered him in two other halter classes and color. He acted up throughout the halter classes. By the time solid color came around, he was a bit better, but I'm sure the judge was sick of his antics by then...nothing there either.
That was yesterday...this morning we got up bright and early and walked the showgrounds. We walked...we backed...we whoaed...we visited the scary wash rack...we walked past many mares, stallions and geldings with no trash talk. All perfect behavior, head held high in the air, coat gleaming in the sun. His classes were over, so now he was the model citizen. The rest of the show was a blast...he got to eat, sleep, roll, and go for walks with mom...I got to visit and shop.
Ah...we have so much to learn...I need to desensitize him to baths, but I will skip baths the day of the show. We'll establish once and for all that whoa is not open for interpretation and that rolling needs to wait for the stall. He needs to learn patience, I need to learn how to help him with all of the above.
We have many shows in the future, lots of time to work, and many chances to get it right. My big regret is that for many, this was their first impression of Mingus, and I don't want him remembered for my mistakes. All I can say is blame me, not my boy.
But you know...just between you and me...he really was being a butt!
It wasn't Mingus' nor my weekend...or at least not the show...
However, I've learned that most of the times our animals misbehave, it's our own fault, and this was very true in our case.
Mingus and I left for our 2 hour trip to Soanaway ona high note, thanks to the beautiful (but very heavy) ramp that Keith built for our minivan. Mingus thoroughly enjoyed the royal treatment and went up the ramp without hesitation. I generally like to have someone else along just in case we have a problem, but my friend was not able to come and Keith had work and a gig, so it was just Mingus and me.
A side note: if you want to now how idiotic some people can be, simply transport a horse on a major highway. I especially love those friendly waves using a single finger...
We found the show grounds and got Mingus settled in. I was showing Mingus in his gorgeous, natural summer coat, and only needed to clip whiskers, muzzle, ears and fetlocks, so although we had dulled the blades clipping Daryl's Suzie Q, I figured they could last through this small task...well...they would only clip on the 30 setting (Wahl StablePro clippers), which was great for the muzzle and whiskers, but not what I had in mind for his fetlocks. Oh yeah...the lighting in the barn was awful...
I managed this, fed and settled him in for the night and left to find my hotel. Now, I admit I'm frugal...some say cheap...a tightwad. I had reserved what looked online to be a decent motel a few minutes from the showgrounds...the cheapest I could find. It was clean and decent, but the clientele gave me the heebie geebies...what does $39/night for a "studio" motel room suggest to you? Ah well, I survived the night.
Morning began with measuring in, and Mingus passed easily -- YAY...
Next came bathtime. Now,does that word ring warning bells to anyone else who has read all of my Mingus stories? These bells should have been ringing loudly in my ears, the owner of the horse who hates baths and REALLY knows how to hold a grudge...
When we were done, Mingus was sleek, shiny, gorgeous and totally PI55ED. He was no longer my sweet, cuddly boy, but rather a fire breathing dragon. We made it through the rest of our show prep without any bodily harm (if you forgive those passive-aggressive stomps on my feet...) and headed off for the show ring.
So far, so good. There was Liz (Nootka), lending moral support, and we entered the ring for model gelding. Mingus must have heard that all he had to do here was stand still, because that was absolutely the LAST thing he was going to do for me! I was told that for the single millisecond that he held still, he looked great, but during that millisecond, the judge was looking the other way. When the judge did look, Mingus was doing his best to drop his head and roll...
The class ended, ribbons were given out (no ribbons for bad boys), but revenge was not complete...Mingus was bent on total humiliation. With a leap, he pulled the lead from my slippery hands and displayed his best liberty moves... fortunately coming quickly to a halt next to a very well-behaved gelding. I'm sure that had he been in liberty class, he would have stood still.
To make a long story short, I had entered him in two other halter classes and color. He acted up throughout the halter classes. By the time solid color came around, he was a bit better, but I'm sure the judge was sick of his antics by then...nothing there either.
That was yesterday...this morning we got up bright and early and walked the showgrounds. We walked...we backed...we whoaed...we visited the scary wash rack...we walked past many mares, stallions and geldings with no trash talk. All perfect behavior, head held high in the air, coat gleaming in the sun. His classes were over, so now he was the model citizen. The rest of the show was a blast...he got to eat, sleep, roll, and go for walks with mom...I got to visit and shop.
Ah...we have so much to learn...I need to desensitize him to baths, but I will skip baths the day of the show. We'll establish once and for all that whoa is not open for interpretation and that rolling needs to wait for the stall. He needs to learn patience, I need to learn how to help him with all of the above.
We have many shows in the future, lots of time to work, and many chances to get it right. My big regret is that for many, this was their first impression of Mingus, and I don't want him remembered for my mistakes. All I can say is blame me, not my boy.
But you know...just between you and me...he really was being a butt!