Finally Went to Another Show

Yesterday, we took both horses to a show at the same time, for the first time, thanks to the new truck!! We had a little trouble loading including giving up on Dude, but then giving it one more try with the rope trick which succeeeded. Dude reared up and acted like a total ass, but I just looked at him and said, "I'm not scared of you so quit it." And he did! He got in like a little lamb, the bluffer!! The reason I gave it one more try was that Dude didn't run away, but rather, kept hanging around the trailer as if to say, "I want to get in, but I don't know how." We had the divider in for the first time, so both horses were confused by it. It turns out the divider will be no good, as Dude broke it on the way home. )*&%^!!

The trip up was good. I felt pretty secure driving the new rig, but couldn't get about 50 mph (it wasn't the interstate, anyway). It was a beautiful afternoon and E and I both felt happy and free. On the road with our boys; what could be better? The show was at a "new" arena, one our club is having to use because of hurricane damage to the regular arena. It had a nice sand warm-up area which everyone enjoyed. There were cows pastured nearby which cuaght Dude's attention. I swear he's a cow horse of some kind. Dude was exceedingly difficult to saddle. He kept almost mashing me up against the trailer, but he would stop just short of actually smushing me. He dumped off the saddle about 15 times before I could get the girth done. Once I got the girth tight enough for the saddle to stay on, he acutally bucked and kicked! Luckily, I was out of range of the kick (around the back side of the trailer!). As I said to E, I can't beleive I actually got on him and rode after all of that, but with Matt right there, I felt like Dude would behave. He went with Matt to the warm-up area and behaved pretty well. Once, he tried to kick Matt, though when Matt was right behind him. I don't think the magnesium supplement is helping since he's never acted this way with Matt. But, I've never taken him to a show with Matt before, either.

We were late, so, I signed up for only 2 exhibitions, poles and barrels. Riding exhibition was the best choice I have made! I was pretty relaxed and didn't put much pressure on him. I must have been kind of nervous, though because I was halfway through winding between the poles at a trot when I remembered to use my legs to steer! He only paused once and not very badly, he mostly trotted a nice jog that I could sit. He and I both like that, I think.

When we did barrels, it had started to get dark and the lights were on, but he didn't startle at his shadow. He trotted smoothly around all three barrels and when we were heading home, he actually loped the nicest little lope! It was so much fun! Then, I unsaddled him and rubbed him down with the microfiber towel I got (its great). It was too chilly for hosing. He happily stayed tied, munching hay until E and Matt were finished.

Matt was so cute in the arena race. On the way back to the gate, I saw him kick it into a higher gear. It was the cutest thing. E said she felt it and couldn't believe he was running that fast. She wasn't really going fast at all, by the standards of the others, but she is still gettign her confidence.

One chick in Junioers (age 14 to ?) fell and smacked her head on the ground in poles, so I reinterated my insistance on E wearing her helmet. Even in the sand arena, you could see that the girl was almost knocked out. She stood up, put her hand to her head and sat down dizzily. Later, she walked out, but may have gotten a concussion.

Loading to come home, Matt was good and Dude was bad. I had to use the rope on Dude, but it was dark as pitch inside the trailer even with the inside light on. Once he got in, he was fine. Mr. Ken came along as I was getting the rope trick ready and said something funny, like "There seems t be some kind of situation here." He helped me by jumping in to free the rope when it caught on the door latch. He's really quick for an old guy.

I was really tired driving home, so we stopped at Mickey D's for supper (9:30 p.m.). The horses slept, although Dude had broken the divider and was hogging most of the trailer. Came home, unloaded, put them in their pen and crashed.

It was a great night and I'm glad we went. I need to keep up riding more frequently before the Amite show and I need to start out earlier since loading is back to being a challenge.

I talked to Ms. Dee about training for Dude. She does training and said she would not only "get after" Dude, but would get after me as well. Hee hee -- we'll see after I have saved up $500.00 for amonth of training. I'd rather she do it than Jeff, since I know she won't be overly harsh with Dude. I don't know Jeff that well, so I'm not saying he would be rough, I guess its just that he's male.