We have just finished Session 2 and are entering our summer break. Next up is our fundraiser - the Ride and Tie Benefit for One Heart then Special Olympics.
If you have followed along, I spent two weeks in Russia - which was a dream trip! After that I "commuted" to KC to be with my Dad as his health deteriorated. Dad died peacefully on June 3rd. I would like to thank you all for your sympathy and kind thoughts and words. I especially thank Dani and Jennifer for bearing the burden of all our activities and filling in for me.
I know there are several now who follow the blog...since you now politely mention that there hasn't been a post for awhile. There is so much to catch up on that I will just take it in little bits.
I'll start with referring you to a blog post on Nov. 11, 2009. To remind you, it was about a new mini program Jen started. What I am reporting today is the results of that wonderful program.
We actually started out early Saturday, June 12 with Day 2 of Session 2 at Stagecoach-our "home" arena. It was storming, complete with thunder and lightning - and rain as we caught the horses to bring them from the pasture to the arena. We were soaked.
Meeting us in M-town was Tesia and her family as well as members of the Iowa Miniature Horse Club, the hosts of the event. The show was designed as an introduction for newcomers and a show for horses new to the showring. It was the spring warm-up, a chance to get a good practice in prior to show season. We practiced and practiced and learned and had fun. After the Saturday intros were winding down we started bathing our moutly three.
In short - we started out the day wet and ended up the day drenched! I need to remind you or inform you at this point that our three minis are a combination of all white or red roan and white. Our little pasture tribe needed to be presentable.
They were comfortably stabled for the night at the fairgrounds.
Bright and early the next morning during a monsoon-style torrent, our three clean, bright, shining minis tiptoed through the mirey, mucky fairground to the showring. Once under roof, we were able to set up shop at one end of the arena with the other exhibitors.
The motto of the day was WET - right down to the tacky, sticky damp, spray painted costume that Jennifer was putting together over lunch for the last class of the day.
We focused on getting Tesia into the arena. She looked super in her shiny blue cowboy shirt - the blue matching the beads on Peanut' halter, her boots, gloves, and helmet. Her first trip into the arena was with Dandy in showmanship. Dandy took great care of her, setting up and helping her through the process. She had many opportunities to show Dandy and Miracle through the day in games and class of all sort.
We got the showring jitters all taken care of in time for the BIG ONE.Since early September, 2009 Tesia and Jen had worked with Peanut on an obstacle course. This was not the typical show horse prep, however. This training regime was once a week for six weeks and whenever Jen got a minute. They picked it up again for once a week for six weeks in the spring. Our Peanut was cooperative, game, and smart. Tesia was patient, firm, and consistent. Jennifer was creative, organized and a teacher. A great combination and we got to see the results at this show!
We were all so proud of Peanut and Tesia in their obstacle class. They cruised the bridge, tarp crossing, and ground poles. They had two brand new obstacles - unpracticed - and had to use what they had learned. These were the three cones to surpentine - backwards, and the ground pole to straddle and sidepass. Yikes! Tesia took her time and used her skills to get Peanut through the surpentine. It took some time - mostly for conferences; when Peanut was most confused Tesia would set the brim of her helmet to his forehead and reassure him, "You can do this Peanut!". They did it! Next came the sidepass down the ground pole (the longest pole we had ever seen). They started out and went a few hesitant, difficult steps when Tesia wisely decided that Peanut had done his best and they should end winners. And indeed, they did! 
Jennifer, Dani and I had our fun too. Every chance we got, a One Heart mini got to strut their stuff. We all participated in different combinations of halter classes, barrel racing, games, and even jumping. I think One Heart showed our friends with Iowa Minis that we could really have FUN. Dandy, shown by Dani, was even reserve champion gelding - complete with belly shag and whiskers.
The last class of the day was the costume class. With an all white pony, our Camper, Jennifer, could only envision one thing......a s'more. So, indeed, packaged between foam boards painted or covered, fashioned into graham cracker and chocolate, Peanut strutted into the arena as a S'more. Jen donned her "happy camper" shirt and hat, Tesia distributed mini Hershey bars while Peanut wore an extra long branch complete with "marshmallows" on the tip. 
We had a great time. Stay tuned for more highlights from Session 1 and 2. For Vol, Carla - she like quotes - "What we dream alone remains a dream, but what we dream with others can become a reality" (Edward Schillenbeekx). Thanks for making a dream a reality, Carla and all volunteers. Until later, Kris
1 comment:
Peanut as a Smore... I LOVE IT!
Congratulations!! ;p
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