last show of the year

Guess what today was? If you read the title of the post, you guessed it. . .the last show of the year. Shyloh was not about to let this show go through without a hitch. 

I got to the barn nice and early to pack up and load up. When I went to get Shy from her stall, she had pooped in her food bowl and knocked her water bucket off the wall and dumped it. Sweet. Let's start the day off feisty!

Angry eating. Shy even managed to fling the whole haynet off the trailer. 

We got to the show, got Shy all prepped, and waited for the first class. Halter mares. As we were waiting, we were standing under a tree. . .the same tree we always stand under while waiting. I reached up and picked a leaf off. Shy's eyes got all wide, like she has never seen a leaf being picked off a tree (which I know is untrue, she picks them off herself). So me, being me and thinking it is ridiculous for Shy to be acting like a moron with the tree, picked another leaf. This was just too much for Shy to handle and she backed/reared her way out of there. So unacceptable. Apparently, someone was watching me torture poor pony and taking photos. I'll add them when I see them.

Into halter class we went. We did our patterned through the wet sandy arena and parked ourselves behind the horse that went before us. After everyone did the pattern, the judge came to inspect each horse. Shy wanted no part of the judge walking behind her. We stood as they called out placings starting with fifth place. As they got to first, only Shy and Millie the mule (the awesome mule who has taken high point every show) were left. Since I have only placed once ever in halter, I knew it wasn't going to be us and was taken by shock as they announced our number for first place. Woot woot! Our first first!

Judges like big pony butts

Shy hates first place. She shook the ribbon off of her halter and stepped on it. Brat. 

We got to go into Championship Halter class against the second place mare, a Gypsy, Notch, and a haflinger gelding. The judge placed Notch and the Haflinger gelding first and second. Shy was not impressed by having to "show" again.

Go Hidden Creek Draft Horses!

Next up, showmanship. I only decided to enter that class because we were not driving so I thought it best to do it. Plus, it was not blistering hot out so we would not be baking in the sun. We did our pattern and Shy ended up with third place! We have never placed in showmanship before.

Ribbons are of no matter to this pony with a 'tude. 

In hand trail followed showmanship. I like the trail classes. This pattern was mailbox, bridge, walk over poles, trot over poles, back through a cones pattern, 360 in a box. Pretty simple. Shy had no problem at the mailbox, you know. . .the obstacle she would not go near last show. . .bridge fine, poles fine. But backing though those cones was another story. She flat out did not want to back. On one attempt, she knocked a cone down. A few attempts later, Shy was able to right the cone back up. Should have got bonus points for that. We ended up with a fifth place in trail.

Then came line driven reinsmanship. Basically, it is line driving the horse though a pattern. This was was walk to the cone, back four steps, trot to the second cone, fan left, trot in an arc back to the first cone, stop. I had plenty of time between classes to practice We did line driving all around the grounds. Shy was doing really good. The time came for the class and Shy refused to walk toward the class. She wanted to face the trailer. I would get her turned in the right direction and she would spin back to face the trailer. This went on for a good 15 minutes. We fought and fought and I was not going to let her win. Finally, as the last person in the class, we made it. And Shy spent the whole class trying to get back to the trailer. Our back up was a spin around to face the trailer. Our fans only purpose was so Shy could be facing in the direction of the trailer. So frustrating, because I know we can do this stuff and do it well, but I now have a horse that is trailer sour. 

After that class, there was no way I was letting Shy go to the trailer. She got to go stand, in her harness still, at the punishment post. Basically, a hitching post that is not near the trailer. She fought it at first, but once she was calm, I took her to the trailer and untacked her.  Oh and I forgot to mention her assault on me as we were waiting for that class to get set up. She kept hitting me in the arm with her bit. I swear it was on purpose. 

Not happy to be on the punishment hitching post. 

Like I said, Shy was not going to make this last show easy for me. But we had fun and got to see our friends and their ponies. Our show season is over and the Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit had a successful first year. Can't wait til next year, after our much deserved winter break.

Shy's I'm sorry, untie me and send me back to the trailer, my boys, and my hay face. 

monday musings by shyloh #97

I'm such a good pony! I am really good at carrying the kids around and walking next to them. Although. . .I did have to test them out real quick to see if I could drag them to grass, but Allie and Terry put me back in line, so I behaved myself. 

Waiting for my wee ones!

I did some work with Tommy and Lily practicing Showmanship. I have to be real careful with the little ones and take small steps so I don't step on their feet.

Lily leading

Tommy's Showmanship pose

Then we did some riding. I have to be careful with riding, too, and not move very fast so they stay on my back. Except a few time when I did move a little fast. . . oops, but they stayed on, so it's all good! But I do really try to be extra careful with the kids on my back. 

Tommy is still working on his balance, so he practices while I stand still. He is such a brave cowboy! I have to close my eyes to concentrate and stand super still when he is not holding on.

Riding all by himself!

Working on that balance

Lily is much better, but she is older. I even got to trot with her! At first, I was unsure of how I was supposed to trot, so I went a little bit fast. But then I kept feeling Lily lose balance, so I would have to stop and start all over. So after a few times, I did a nice steady and slow jog. That was much better and Lily was able to sit that without losing her balance. 

Little equestrian

We make a great team!

I think Tommy and Lily really have a good chance of doing well in the lead line classes with me! And even if we don't win, we will still have a lot of fun! I think I am almost as excited for show time as they are!

Even if I had fun, I still gotta roll the work off!

Lily, Tommy, and Terry got to check out my new crib after I got done working. Tommy is country to the core! 

Eating a corn from the field

Lily put a flower on Shady's head

These are Terry's favorite

Isaac thinks he is little like the kids and donkey. We will never tell him he is not little, he would be too upset!

Shady is always a favorite!

Look at that!!

~Shyloh

show success

I would most definitely call our first show as the Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit a success! We had a great turnout and everyone had a good time. 

And best of all. . .

I drove Shyloh in the Draft Working Cart class and she did awesome! Beth rode in the cart with me, just in case. Shy was listening great and was very calm. And she was being lazy. She was walking like she had no place to go! And when it came time to trot, she was inconsistent in keeping it up, but that is okay. For our first time in an actual cart class, I could not have been happier! And we got fifth place!

That was our first ribbon ever! 

We also did halter, showmanship, trail-in-hand, and line driven reinsmanship (where Shy refused to enter the arena and our circles looked like ameobas). And even though we did not place in any of those classes, we had so much fun.

We also got the Most Improved award for the show, because we drove in the cart class. A whole winter of hard work and tons of help from Jaime, Becky, and Beth, got us to this point. I will be forever grateful for them.

I didn't take nearly as many photos as I wanted, but here are some from our fantastic day!

Line driving Shy

She looks sleepy

Practicing in the cart!

Pleasure driving class, Becky driving Allie

Pleasure driving class, Flo with Nick

Youth cart class, Beth and Regina with Art

Youth cart class, Chelsea and Cody in his three piece suit

Kyle and Clutch

Becky and Maddie driving Allie, getting ready for youth cart class

Shady the donkey!

Pretty Gypsy pony

Another pretty Gypsy Pony

Skylar the cart dog. He had so much fun, he finally passed out from exhaustion.

Shy

On our way to the show!

Grand Reserve Champion in halter! Go Jaime and Notch!

Little Shady

Youth showmanship class. Great turnout!

Haley rode Notch and Kyle on Clutch

big clinic day

Holy farmer's tan! Whew are my arms red. But it was well worth it. I think a lot got accomplished today. Jaime's aunt let me borrow her trailer and I got up super early to pick up Shyloh and head to the clinic with Terry, Jaime, and Kyle.

Peeking out the window

First up was braiding manes and tails. For draft manes, a special ribbon is used to make a type of braid called a mane roll. The draft tail gets a braid and a bun. Shy got a tail cut because her tail was as long as it has ever been and was hanging on the ground. I knew I would have to cut it at some point, so no better day than today. Becky used Shy as the demonstration pony, which was good for me since I have been incapable of doing it on my own. Lesson one: It really does require two people. Lesson two: my attempts at the mane roll had me using sections of hair that was too thick. Lesson three: Shyloh can really clamp those butt muscles! Wow. She showed some of her best clamping during the tail bun demonstration. Lesson four: Becky can do some tight braids! But when all was done, the results were very pretty. Becky did a fantastic job.

Pretty tail!

After that, we had showmanship and halter practice. What I learned in this part of the clinic is that you are not supposed to let your horse fall asleep while waiting for your turn. Shy always falls asleep.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

She must find it boring. . .I also learned a little bit more about showing showmanship and halter, so I will be able to put that to use come showtime. . .if I can keep my horse awake in the line up.

Our lunch break included a discussion on Scotch bottom shoes. While I will never put those shoes on Shy, it was interesting to learn about them. I did not stay for the whole discussion, about halfway through I went to check on Shy. As I was petting her neck I found a tick! I am not looking forward to starting this whole tick thing again. Yuck.

Up next was safe harnessing and hooking to the cart. Beth was awesome and helped me fit the new harness to Shy, which included many confusing buckles and punching new holes. I may have to get a new saddle piece, but this one will work for now. Good thing for Beth, because she knew all these tips and tricks to get the harness to fit Shy just right. 

New harness!

Next she hooked Shy up to her cart and took her driving. This horse messes with me so bad because she was damn near perfect for Beth. They had a great start and Shy was doing very well. Then I got in the cart. I don't know why I am such a bundle of nerves with her. It is frustrating to me, but there is not much I can do about it, except keep on practicing. There was a point today where I was questioning myself and Shy because I have no confidence when it comes to riding or driving her. While I still don't, I think now that maybe me and Shy can make it work,

Cruisin'

When Beth was driving her, we discovered that the ball bearings on my wheels are shot. My new wheels. The wheels I have never used until today. What the hell? So I got out of the cart and Beth drove her back to unhook her. When Shy saw she was near her trailer spot, she started acting up. She would not back up for Beth and was giving her a hard time. I would have had a meltdown myself, but Beth handled it like it was no big deal. After Beth got Shy to do what she wanted, we unhooked her and  Beth went to hook Art.

I think Skylar liked it!

Beth also took her new puppy, Skylar for his first cart ride on Art. How cute are all of them?  Art took a couple kids around for some cart rides and I watched Curly. . .or Moe. He has two names. I have mane envy when looking at him.

Look at all that on Moe/Curly!

Art!

By now, most people had left and it was just a bunch of us Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit people still at the clinic. Jaime's aunt had found a saddle and she brought it for me to try on Shy. So I did and it seemed to fit pretty well. Haley was volunteered to get up on Shy and try it out. Shy was actually very good for Haley, quick, but good. Haley had Shy super trotting and turning and said she would be good at barrels, haha!

Then, I got on Shy! I haven't really been on this horse since October. . .well no one has aside from me sitting on her bareback a few times. As usual, I was a bit nervous (just because I know what she can be capable of), so I asked Haley to walk next to me. Shy was actually very good for me. We walked a bit, then I just sat on her and chatted for a while. It felt good to sit on my horse!

When I got off of her, this little boy asked to ride Shy. I said yes, but that I would walk with him. Shy was perfect for him. Absolutely perfect. *Proud pony moment*

Shy and her new buddy. She really liked him!

By now, we all were sunburned and tired, so we packed up and headed home. Shy seemed so happy to be home, she nickered when she stepped off the trailer and wanted to trot to her pasture. Once in there with the halter off, she took off towards the back where the rest of her herd was. 

On the way home after dropping Shy off, I drove the truck with the trailer. . .first time ever towing anything! And I did awesome. Now I am about to fall asleep dreaming happy pony dreams. Shy was a good pony today!