The show update for this show starts with the previous show held in August. As you may recall from former blogs, I'm a little clueless when it comes to points. I attend horse shows for the camaraderie with friends and to see what the judges think of my horse. I am not in it for the year end prizes or even the weekend prizes. Most of the time I'm pretty unaware of what those prizes might be and virtually all of the time I have no idea if I'm even in the running. Such was the case for the series overall awards in the MEC circuit. I had figured out that there were grand and reserve awards for the various divisions each weekend at the first show back in March. (But I was always surprised that China and I were in the running.) However, I had no idea there was an overall award for the top ten pleasure (or judged) or if I did - I certainly didn't think I was in the running. Enter my super helpful friends who informed me at the last show that not only was I in the running, I was two points away from high point. High point winners would take home a saddle. I had never in all my life dreamed of winning a belt buckle and China had already won me two this season. And now we were in the running for saddle? It all seemed unbelievable and a little crazy to me. But it was definitely on my mind as I prepared for the weekend.
As much as I wish I could say I was able to put it out of my mind and just focus on having fun, it was most definitely on my mind. I can't say that anyone put any pressure on me either. It was all in my own head. But I did feel like my family and friends felt I could do it and I did not want to let them down. I'm not sure how many of you are followers of my Facebook and read the story of my little "accident", but about halfway through the month I did a dumb and managed to end up with a very sore lower back and tailbone area. There is some talk that I may or may not have managed to break my tailbone or possibly pelvis in that accident. There were days when the only way I made it through was with the ibuprophen on board from sun up to sun down. But I didn't let that stop me from riding and actually, working on showmanship was even harder. For some reason that was the worst. Running period, but especially running in the sand. No one told me to and in fact, a very special someone kind of told me I shouldn't (sorry Tim), but I wasn't going to let it stop me from practicing. (Most days anyway)
When the show weekend rolled around the nerves were at an all time high. I had two goals for the weekend. I had worked my butt off (literally) on showmanship for weeks. After the last show I was determined to put my fear and hatred of the class to rest once and for all. I knew the only way to do that was with hard work. I had a friend come and show me what I was doing wrong with training China (which was actually a lot) and China and I practiced. And practiced. And practiced. We even attended a couple of fun shows/play days just to practice showmanship. So one of my goals was to have a clean showmanship pattern. Saturday was a huge success for us. We placed 3rd out of 10 and had a clean, albeit not fast, pattern. I was so proud of her! The other thing I worked my tail (literally) off on was FINDING MY DIAGONAL. I will conquer diagonals. I do not need to keep looking for diagonals. I can find them at home, but get to the show and I completely lose my mind. So I practiced and practiced and nailed it every single time. Guess what? I got to the show and looked on Saturday. But still squeaked out a second place. My English horse was also popular as a western pony this weekend. On Saturday she never stopped amazing me and we also placed well in bareback. We even managed to place in egg and spoon which I always struggle with. At the end of the day on Saturday I felt pretty good going into Sunday but the nerves returned with a bang after showmanship on Sunday.
Our pattern went well again on Sunday. I was very proud of all of the components that we did. I confidently came back to the stall and Libby kindly asked me if I knew that I forgot to trot. To say I didn't handle that news well is an understatement. There were tears and poor Tim trying to dry them off and give me the pep talk. He pulled out all the coaching techniques and I still wasn't very nice. Sorry honey. I am so sick of not being able to do showmanship! Why do I have such a mental block for the stupid class? It's one class! Yes, it's a pattern, but I'm not even ON the horse? What's the worst that can happen? So yes, China and I have more work to do this winter. I am going to post a pattern book in the arena and we are going to do patterns until I remember them all.
So after the pity party was over, I went back in for English. China again did everything correctly. The judge didn't love us in pleasure, but you can't win them all over. But the pattern was my time to shine. I was GOING to get the diagonal. Guess what? I did it! But I looked down to be sure and convinced myself I didn't, so I fixed it. But that made me wrong and I couldn't figure out how I could be wrong again and by then it was time to change it so I changed it again and yeah, where there were supposed to be two diagonals I think I had four. You want to know what pep talk I had with myself as I rounded the cone at a walk and had to do diagonals again on the way back? It went something like, "Get your shit together, you're embarrassing yourself." I'm proud to say the way home went much better. But I still walked out of that class fighting back the tears. Again. Poor Tim knew better than to stop by the stall this time and gave me a few minutes of crying on China. I just felt like I was letting everyone down, including China. She was giving her all and doing everything I asked of her and I wasn't holding up my end of the bargain. With Tim's help I decided enough was enough and I couldn't keep worrying about points. I can't tell you how many times over the last month I thought to myself that I was better off not knowing about the possibility of a saddle. I had to just forget about it. Not just in theory, but actually forget about the possibility and just take each class as it came and have fun. It helped thinking that I had thrown any chances away with my dismal morning performances.
So I had already burst into tears a couple times when western rolled around. While all this drama going on with my horse and riding capabilities, both of the girls were doing spectacular. On Saturday, Joker and Libby never placed below 4th all day and took home 3 firsts. She and Peach had a super consistent day in the top 5 and of course were egg and spoon champions, out of 31 horses I might add. But Sunday was Libby's day. With Joker she continued her clean sweep of the English classes and showmanship winning those three for the second day in a row. She continued to do well in western, playing in the top 3 for the rest of the day. With Peach, they placed well overall and took home firsts in all the pattern classes and crushed the competition in egg and spoon once again. Sophie was getting a little frustrated with her sister as she felt she had worked so hard and was placing, but had yet to bring one of those big blue ribbons back to the stall area like her sister had. She wanted so badly to see Cutie get recognized for all of their hard work. She kept giving it her all and then it happened. The three of us went into bareback together and came out to wait for placings. We were all talking about something random when the placings started and Sophie heard her number announced first. The look of surprise which was quickly overtaken by tears of joy meant more to me than any placing I got all weekend. Then she did what every true and honest horse crazy kid does, gave Cutie a big old hug.
With a weekend of great memories and laughs behind us, we got packed up and waited to hear how the weekend points would shake out. None of us dreamed of anything much because, did I mention we aren't so good with paying attention to points? I never even gave the weekend placings a thought, especially after my dismal performances on Sunday. I was shocked to hear that I had won the buckle for the senior walk/trot championship. But I was even more proud and excited to hear Libby announced as the junior walk/trot champ. As they went through the age groups it was adorable to watch Libby trying to figure out who had won her age group after the reserve horse/rider combination was announced. It was a replay of earlier in the day when I watched another of my daughter's be shocked out of her boots to hear her and Peach's number announced as the Intermediate champions. Libby collected her second buckle of the weekend and the second buckle that Peach has won her. As you can see, Peach was just as excited to win this one as the first.
Then they announced the top ten overall series high point. I was so proud of Libby and Joker for sneaking into the top 10 after only making 3 out of the 4 shows. In fact they were 7th after their awesome weekend. I bet she wishes she had listened to her mom and taken him in a few classes at the first show of the season. ;) Libby and Peach also got their names announced as 5th place overall and we sure couldn't be more proud of how far Peach came this year. Next year the plan is for Sophie and Peach to be the team to beat. And then the announcer kept creeping towards high point. I was all geared up for a third or second place despite the assurances of Tim and family that I should still be in the running for high point. It wasn't until they announced third and then second that I realized I had done what I never dreamed of doing. I was announced as the MEC overall judged champion and I still can't believe it. The $900 yearling that we didn't even think we should or could keep accomplished virtually all of my horse goals in her first real year of showing as only a 3 year old. We ended the year with more ribbons than I can count, 3 series buckle championships and a saddle. A saddle! I never ever dreamed of winning a saddle. It still hasn't sunk in and doesn't seem real. There were tears again for the fourth time that day as I walked to get my saddle. I couldn't love more that I got to share that day with both of my daughters showing with me side by side. I also had the best competition and made a great new friend in the reserve champion, Heidi. She's been pushing me all season to be the best I can be, but also supporting me and helping me every step of the way.
There are too many people to thank and I'm always so afraid of missing someone. There are countless friends that answered my texts or calls of frustration and worry that I was doing this or that wrong with China. There are my good friends, Taylor and Lori, who gave up a weekend night to swing by and help calm my fears and give me some ideas to make her even better than she already was. There were the friends that talked through patterns, clothes, training, lessons, tips, pointers and so much more. I tried to remember you all on Facebook, but if I forgot to name any of you specifically, please know that I have never forgotten how you are always there. And then, I have to give special thanks and appreciation to my 3 biggest supporters.
Liberty, thank you for being my partner in the crime and crazy horse obsessed girl who gets me for all these years. Thank you for the countless tips and yes, criticism which have motivated me in so many ways. Sophia - thank you for being my biggest fan, my cheerleader and for making me laugh. I can't tell you how happy I am to have you back in the saddle with me again. And lastly, Tim. I don't have enough words to thank you for everything you have done to help me keep my horse dreams alive for the past couple of years. You and China came into my life at almost exactly the same time and you have both been the best thing that every happened to me. Thank you for wiping away the tears, stacking the hay, hauling the grain, scooping the poop and believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. You make me a better person.
Lastly, and I can't believe I'm tearing up again as I write this, thank you China. Thank you for being everything I didn't know I needed and so much more. You have checked off so many of my life long goals with our first year together that I can't even imagine what our future holds. I can always count on you to hold up your end of the bargain and one of these days I'll get out of your way and hold up mine. Scout's honor. As Tim always reminds me, "has she ever let you down?" The answer is no. You keep me honest. You remind me that good things don't come easy. And you always, always do your best to make me look good. Onwards and upwards from here big girl!
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