Region 5 Championships.......Getting Ready......

Part 1

Shortly after I watched the Enzo colt being schooled, Jesse Saldana called to say he would be down to school Rhet in a few minutes. So I got the colt ready with about the same kind of reactions as the days before. As much as Rhet was ready to take on that chestnut colt, he hadn't quite figured out what wearing that schooling halter had to do with it.

Standing up to show was a whole different matter. While Rhet still wanted to duck out to his right when he felt pressured, the colt wasn't feeling that kind of pressure nearly as often. I guess he was beginning to feel comfortable with what Jesse was asking. The colt was definitely standing up solid and using great expression.

The session was short. Then we discussed plans for that evening session. Jesse didn't want Rhet bathed until about 6 pm so his dark coat would stay nice and clean.

Jesse also wanted more of a traditional halter clip on the colt but I I had to tell him that wasn't going to happen. The clip he would get would be the same he'd been clipped for Region 4. There was no way this colt was going to tolerate anything more. The blending of a traditional halter clip required a horse that would stand still. I was afraid with Rhet's problems with the clippers it would look like a major wreck.

As Jesse walked away, I wondered how I was going to get this all done. The time my help was to arrive had been pushed and pushed. I wanted to get his feet done before he was bathed because I was afraid his hooves wouldn't be dry enough to polish otherwise. That meant getting them sanded much earlier in the day and for that I needed help..........help that wasn't coming.

I tried taking Rhet over to the permanent barns and tying him to a stall to sand his feet. But the colt danced around too much. It was just plain dangerous trying to work on his feet. It seemed like every time he'd start to settle someone would come walking by and the dancing would start again. I had to settle for a half *ssed job of sanding.........and there was no way I would apply hoof polish to horse moving around that much. It would have to wait until I had help.

Obviously there were lots of people at the horse show. You might think there should have been somewhere there who could help me with Rhet. Only I worried that Rhet was just too much horse for most people. I didn't want someone hurt trying to help me and because Rhet didn't trust new people often, the odds were he wouldn't be good if a stranger helped. I was better off waiting for help from home to arrive.

In the meantime I went to the arena and watched classes. Once of my friends was riding in the purebred Arabian open show hack championship. I'd seen her flashy "new" chestnut horse going to and from the arena in Salem but had never had a chance to see them show. This was a good time to get that chance although my friend felt like she didn't have much chance because it was the open division.

If you've been reading my blog for long, you know I don't necessarily agree with this. I believe that amateurs can beat the trainers in the open division if their horses are doing the job better than the trainers. I think there's always a chance an amateur can get that prize and I certainly support their right to try. ( I might add here that some trainers feel that amateurs don't belong in the open division. But by definition, that's what the division is......open to ALL, not just trainers.)

Now this friend had already won the amateur owner show hack championship earlier in the week. So it seemed to me she should have a chance riding in the open. It was my intention to be there to support my friend for her class.

I was sitting in the stands when the pair of them came blazing through the in gate. My jaw nearly hit the ground. The normal trot on this horse was absolutely magnificent. I didn't think there was another horse in the class that could hold a candle to Market Jitters. If he did the rest of his gaits like this one, it was my guess she'd win the darn thing.

One of the things that impressed me the most about this horse was he made it all look absolutely effortless. He had this great spring in his step at the trot that looked like he was floating on air. Each gait seemed just as smooth......just as effortless. I think it was the best ride in show hack I have ever seen.

As the horses were dismissed from the arena, my friend's husband raced by with his groom bucket in tow. I caught his attention and told him to tell Claudia she'd had a great ride. He smiled and nodded his head saying he'd tell her.

Next time I saw her she was riding Market Jitters back through the gate for the top five presentations. Her husband was also coming back down in front of me. He looked up at me grinning, "Well, I guess you were right." but I don't think he realized how great her ride really was.

After the top fives were awarded, the reserve championship was announced. When they didn't call out Market Jitters, I was sure that Claudia had won the class. The flashy chestnut gelding ridden by Claudia Mitchell was indeed champion of the class........but not only champion.........unanimous champion. Yet another testament to the fact that amateurs can take on the trainers and be successful.

To be continued...............

A Little Architecture



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