Forget the Royal Wedding......... There's a Horse Show......

The Royal Wedding may be taking over the world's attention but I could care less. My focus this weekend is on the Daffodil All Arabian Spring Horse Show at the fairgrounds in Puyallup. Temperatures still at least 10° below normal don't seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of the Arab set. Entries seem to be consistent with other years despite the fact we all still feel like it's winter.

My horse has not shed out yet and is nowhere near fit because the weather had not be conducive to outside schooling but that's not stopping us. This horse show has been a tradition for me from the time I first began showing. I have not missed participating in a single Daffodil Spring show either as a volunteer or showing. In actuality the only years I did not show my horse was when I was the show's manager.

First thing when I arrived at the showgrounds, I ran into Paint Girl making her way to the beef barn arena to lunge a horse. We spoke briefly about how many horses her barn had brought and my plans for the show. Hopefully our paths will cross again before the end of this thing. It was nice to see a friendly face.

As you can imagine there are some not so friendly faces at the show. As luck would have it we are stalled in the same barn but not on the same aisle. I'm going to get lots of practice in keeping my emotions under check, I can tell you that.

I bitted Legs up and lunged him in the beef barn arena before riding him there in the snaffle. The wind was quite strong and Legs wasn't sure what to think of flapping banners and the large tent just outside the arena but by the time I got on him, he was handling things quite well.

Schooling in the snaffle he was very soft and I was quite pleased. Then we changed to the curb bit and went up to the show arena to school there. That session was not nearly as good with Legs bracing a little at the poll and elevated a little more than usual. I never did quite get him where I wanted. I suspect the new to me bridle I am using isn't hanging that bit just right so I'll be doing some experimenting with it in the morning before the session starts. Although I must admit to a considerable amount of tension in my body that certainly could be affecting him.

Legs was a sport tolerating a very cold water bath pretty late in the day. Although I must admit, I feel guilty bathing him when it's this cold outside. Clipping tonight, his patience was wearing a bit thin especially about clipping his not yet dry legs. Touch ups will definitely be in order when the clippers are recharged.

I'll be up early and out of here to get that schooling session in and cleaning up my streaky clip job. I still have to do some work on Legs' hooves and hopefully he'll be looking something like a show horse instead of a pretty pasture ornament.

Wish us luck.......... I think we're gonna need it!


This picture is another one of Rhythm. He was not very old in this picture but as you can see pretty athletic.

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