The Show
I didn’t pre-register for the show since I was waiting until the last minute to see what level we could get to and if it would be worth even entering. On the way over to the clinic I had pretty much decided we weren’t going to show. We had the basics down pretty well but were far from a finished show team.
Brandy had done everything I asked of her. Her ability to learn things is amazing. Truth be told, she probably has 60 days riding on her. And only about a month of serious, consistent riding. She’s that good. Anything we lack in the show pen is my fault.
Heidi gave me the encouragement to show. She said just use it as a training class. Go ahead and ride her in the snaffle two handed and get her some arena experience. So she got us signed up in the rookie class.
Illinois isn’t exactly reining country. Least not around here. Barrel racers and pleasure horses is most of what you see. And those people that wear black outfits and ride saddles that look like saddle pads with stirrups. So I’m figuring be me and the other 4 folks from clinic and maybe one or two more in the class.
Well we ride out of the indoor arena and see trailers and horses….lots of trailers horses. 26 entries in rookie class alone. We draw number 16 so we got some time to look around, warm up and see some runs.
I’m not much for the warm up pen. Always got some trainer or parent barking out orders like a marine drill sargent to a some young rider. Reminders and some encouragement to overcome show day jitters is one thing but training day was yesterday. And do they think I’m gonna go over and give em a few bucks because they holler loud enough for me to hear their “expert” advice? If you ain’t settin a horse get the hell outta the warm up pen. Thank you I feel better now.
Ever heard about the power of positive thinking? Great concept and works real good. Goes right out the window when they call our number. Will she balk at the gate? Spook at the banners flapping on the fence? Figure all these folks are here to see a rodeo? Decide this nice big arena be a good place show me she ought to be entered in the Kentucky Derby?
She walks in like she’s done it all her life. She feels confident and ready. She’s come here to play. When we stop in the center she feels relaxed. 4 left and 4 right. A little sloppy but we stop dead center both ways. Large, small, large right, Large, small, large left. We run the large circles fast…she’s got good balance at speed and felt like she was relaxed enough to stretch out so I turned her loose. Felt good. She slowed a little bit for the small circles but we’ll need to work on getting a little slower so it looks better. We hadn’t worked on it too much so I was happy.
Heidi told me in the clinic to go ahead and drop her to a trot for a few steps if I thought she’d need it to change leads. But Brandy’s always been a good natural changer. One of the things I noticed when I bought her. And she didn’t really need to be trained to change…she wanted to to be in the correct lead. Just had to show her the cues I’d give her when we we’re gonna change directions. So we went for it and she popped em off like an old pro. I knew we had it when I straightened her just before the change…I could feel her get ready for the outside leg to tell her when.
I blew the rollbacks. I hesitated too long between the stop and the turnback. I don’t know why. She’s a good rollback horse. I still don’t know why I did it and I feel like I let her down. And I did it on both of them. Why did I do that?
The stop and back was good. Probably woulda been a plus move if she was in sliders. Slacked the reins for the stop and just a light shake for the back up. Tucked her head nice and came back straight. I liked it.
Our score…59. We won. No we didn’t win the class. But we knew what we did and how long it took us to do it. We trotted out of the arena, both of us feeling good. That’s what it’s all about. The numbers will take care of themselves with more time. Ain’t no ribbons or trophies for what we done. But there’s horse treats and iced tea back at the truck.
Jeez Al. I was on the edge of my seat reading that. I’m so damn impressed right now. I felt all nervous reading it, like I was right there with you. (By the way, I know you must know that you’re great with horses, but you’re also pretty dang fantastic with words too.)
You make that run sound so easy. I can just see you out there doing your slack-reined back up. She did the turn-arounds no problem?
Looooved the rant about the trainers. Thats so funny. I’ve only been to see a few reining shows, but they WERE there barking at people!
15 Aug 2008 at 9:32 am
Turnarounds should look like a graceful ballet pirouette. Ours look like a ghetto break dance. But it was nothing I wasn’t expecting. Brandy did her thing as best she could. The pattern started with the spins so I was still a little wound up and didn’t help her out any. To the right was nice and we got some speed going, maybe not a plus maneuver but not a minus either. To the left it was in my mind that it was her tough side and I over compensated and let her leak out, minus for the rider. She stopped dead when I slacked the reins and took the leg off so that was a nice feeling. We’ll get there.
Actually I was impressed with the trainers at this show. Only saw one marine drill sargent. Like usual looked liked somebody that couldn’t get her hocks slung over a cantle herself but sure knew what her kid ought be doing. Poor kid had the “why couldn’t I have been adopted” look on her face. Is it against NRHA rules to smack those people?
The “pleasure” shows are where they really come out and strut their stuff. Seems the smaller the show the more the world class trainers come out. I can usually find a little out of the way space to warm up then just go in the arena for a few minutes to check out the ground and layout and such.
I don’t say much. Not really my business I suppose. But what really makes me mad and sad at the same time is when I see somebody lungeing a wild eyed bronc for 45 minutes then settiing their young kids up on them. Go get us a ribbon honey. And remember to pull back real hard before the third barrel so he doesn’t jump over the fence again.
Oh, I’m sorry, did that hurt? I really need to get a bigger bit for him. Maybe then I can get him stopped before he runs into you like that. And yes I know you paid the 3 dollar entry fee so you have the right to stand out here in the middle of the arena and grace us with your knowledge. And I’m sure your kid is laughing at something else.
15 Aug 2008 at 1:42 pm
Al, two words: you’re awesome
19 Aug 2008 at 5:08 am
yes, a conjunction counts as one word cause I say so.
19 Aug 2008 at 5:08 am
Is a conjunction where two roads meet?
20 Aug 2008 at 5:33 am
exactly! Hey, I read this other meaning for the Cowboys Turtle Association. Something about how you have to stick your neck out to get ahead. I’m going to find the quote for you tomorrow. It’s in a magazine in my car and I’m too tired to go outside in the dark to get it. Anyways, theres a bear in the neighborhood theses days and I’m a mere mortal with no natural defenses.
Hey! Guess what! i got invited to this party with all the pro ropers and event sponsors! I guess I’m a sponsor because I do the web site for them. So! it’s dinner, drinks, and music at the ranch with dudes like Speed Williams and Trevor Brazile! Fun! I really want a picture with Clay O’Brian Cooper because he was the littlest cowboy in The Cowboys with John Wayne! How great is that! Also, apparently there is a roper named “Turtle Powell.” I have to meet him just because he has such an awesome name.
24 Aug 2008 at 6:48 am
I never knew that he was the little guy in the Cowboys movie. Damn that’s probably my favorite movie. I remember them kids pullin them books out from under the chalkboard so he could ride with them.
That’s darned cool you get to hang out with those fellas. That ought be a heck of a party. Just remember if you don’t duck real quick at the last second one of them cowboys might get their loop around ya.
A bear in the neighborhood???? You live next door to Grizzly Adams or sumthin?
24 Aug 2008 at 1:45 pm
Well, I live on a mountain sort of…an Alp really. They’re only black bears, but still. You can’t never be too careful. I should be more worried about the cougars.
I didn’t know it either until my friend just told me. I’m most excited about meeting him. I’m sure he gets asked all the time, but I’d love to hear what he remembers about The Duke. The man the myth.
I tried more turn-arounds. You know, I am such a patient rider. Really. I don’t get short very often, but maaaaaaaan the turn-arounds really really really make me frustrated. Really. I think we’ll get there though. Hey, did I tell you I got a half circle to the right backwards the other day? It was beeeauuuuutiful. He was all soft and flexie. I only stopped cause he was doing so well, I didn’t want to push for the whole circle and risk ending on a bad note. We’re getting there Al! One of these days, we’ll be in a show just like you and Amanda.
25 Aug 2008 at 5:36 am