Do You Show? How'd It Go?
With the show season winding down in most parts of the country, I thought I'd check in with those of you who enjoy that sort of competition, just to see how your year in the show pen's gone.
Did you reach some goals? Suffer setbacks? Partner with a new horse? Brush up with your old one and kick some butt? Branch out into a new class or division? Endure a few crying-towel episodes?
I sat this year out, with a too-busy schedule, a horse with a torn-suspensory problem, and emerging other interests (like a new grandson, for one). But it's not my first year of having to get my show fix through the efforts of other people, and probably won't be the last. Life needs have bucked me off before when it comes to showing, and I eventually find a way to dust off and get back on.
So in the meantime, how about it--got some results to share?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 10:19 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I too have been "bucked" off, not for this year but for the past 7 years!
I showed every year for 12 years straight. Even qualified for the olympic try outs one year and then my horse kicked me (thankful) right below the knee. I suffered severe legiment problems that healed without any side effects, however, I was newly divorced, sidelined, and out of work, without insurance for 6 months burned up whatever I had in savings plus racked up a lot of credit card debt just to survive. You can't get any assistance medicaid or food stamps if you own a horse and trailer. I had my dream horse so to sell him was out of the questions, I'd never be able to replace him, so I ran up the credit cards instead.
As a result I have not recovered financially, and I now live paycheck to paycheck. I'm lucky to still have my horse, but I miss competing, all the preparations etc, my show friends and their horses. I go to watch when I'm not working, but I get depressed because I'm not out there and feel cheated out of my passion and something I was good at.
With my work schedule I'm lucky to get a ride in once a week where I used to be in the saddle at least two hours per day. It may sound like I am whining but I'm just broken hearted and I guess needed to tell someone that would understand, most don't, and would suggest to have sold the horse instead.
Last September I purchased my first horse, a 4 year old OTTB mare, and started showing her walk/trot this spring. The season was bitter sweet. We got our first blue ribbon on Mother's Day which was followed by a disqualification at our very next show. Some days she's golden and some days she reverts back to immature, barely broke behavior. That's all part of being green so I try to remain patient and keep her training schedule consistent. To break up the routine, I recently started her on cavalletti. She's really taken to it so I'm hoping to try some low hunter classes with her by the end of next show season.
My year has been wonderful. My Half Arabian mare (first year in the ring) won a number of WP classes, a championship in the amateur division & a res. ch. in the open division. She topped it off with a Top Five at Region 5 in WP AAOTR. My 3 yr. old stallion N.Y.N. Hisani was just named Canadian National Champion Halter Futurity Colt in August. Now on to US Nationals. Betty Radtke
Last February I purchased my !st horse. I'm 11 years old and decided to join 4-H, and enter my horse Tempest in the County Fair. She is 19 years old. She is a bay mare Arabian who had extensive training in Western Pleasure when she was around 7 yrs old. She did very well and I was proud of her. She took 1st place in Walk Trot, and 3rd place in Walk Trot showmanship. She is very gentle for an Arabian. I have not been thrown by her. I really believe that she is a perfect match for me.
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