Breezy Has A New Mommy

Well, Breezy sold today. He will be moving to a ranch in Idaho! I have not met his new owner, but from what I hear she is a really nice lady. I think Breezy will enjoy his new home. I so wanted him to get a good new home and I really feel like my prayers have been answered.

I really feel that this is the best for us. As Johnette says, "too much has been said that can not be unsaid" between us. It's just time for both of us to move on. I want to show and learning and get better. He really prefers to take care of rookie riders and resents being pushed really hard. We just want different things now. I just know that his new owner will fall in love with him has I have.

A few things that I'll never forget about Breezy:

• The way he would nicker at me when I'd call his name
• His 2 favorite treats - baby carrots and vanilla wafers
• How he loved hugs (even when he's grumpy he can't help but put his ears up when I'd give him a big hug around his neck)
• The way he would stair and nicker at me when I'd leave him. Most of the time I'd get half way to the car and have to go back to give him another hug.
• His warm breath on my neck while he'd nuzzle in my hair
• The way people would gasp as he'd charge down the arena with his classic both that he only does for me for some reason I'm sure I'll never understand
• Winning my 1st bronze on him
• Sitting on his back under the Gateway of Champions before galloping in the arena at the AQHA World Championships

Finalist Photo

Finals

Had a great time showing in the Finals tonight. Rode hard and had fun, which was the plan. Unfortunately, Breezy apperently wasn't as enthusiastic about the finals and did his little bolting trick again. But, oh'well. Ended up tied for 12th. I'm competely exhausted so I'm going to bed now.

Full Story of Making the Finals

I wasn't nervous at all, but was a bit emotional. I got the to show grounds early that morning and when I walked in to the coliseum to watch a couple barrel racers go (the class before mine) I totally started to get teary. It was just so surreal. Even as I was getting ready and warming up I still never got nervous. It wasn't until I was standing in the tunnel waiting for my turn to run in that I got emotional again. Johnette gave me a few final words ("Ride one box at a time" or something like that) and then walked in to get a seat to watch. I turned and looked down the tunnel and at the words that arched over the top "Gateway of Champions". I'd seen it in pictures and on TV, but to be sitting there about to go thru that gateway myself I just started to tear up (as I am now doing even now as I type this 3 days later). But, I pulled it together and had a great ride. Breezy ran down great to all 3 stops up the middle with no bolting. He didn't stop his best, but we still managed to get some +1/2s from most of the judges, other then the 2nd stop where we trotted out and got 1/2 penalties for 4 of the 5 judges. Breezy backed up to center great after the last stop, which was especially good since we had to back a very long way because he had slid so far. Turns were OK, got mostly zeros on them, but I under turned on the 2nd set giving us another 1/2 point penalty from all the judges. The circles were super fun! We ran hard and we ran fast. Breezy guided great and came back to slow great both times. I even forgot to set him up for the 2nd lead change, but he still changed perfectly for me. He did bolt a bit on the last stop, but then stopped HUGE. So most judges gave us a +1/2 anyways. Since I was the 2nd horse in I didn't know what to think of my score. I thought it seemed about right for how we ran maybe even a bit high, but I didn't think it would be high enough to make the finals (which, btw, was fine with me. I wasn't at all disappointed. I
had just had the time of my life showing and that was good enough for me). Johnette thought the score would put me on the bubble so she held on to hope. I sat in 3rd place for a long time and half way through the order I was tied for 5th. It was at this point I allowed myself to hope. We watched horse after horse go and not beat my score. Seemed like a lot of people were really struggling with nerves. I watched some people I thought for sure would be in the finals make big mistakes (like only turned 3 times for example). Finally when there were only a few horses left to go and I was still tied for 5th, Johnette double counted and told me that there was now no way that I would not be in the finals. I had done it! I immediately started balling. I mean balling - huge huffs, can't catch my breath, tears streaming, balling. Even now I still can hardly believe it. Just doesn't seem real.

God is so GOOD!

AQHA World Championship Horse Show Finalist!!!

We made the finals!!!!

We marked a 212.5 which was good enough to tie for 7th place putting us safely in the top 15 and into the finals. Now I get to come back on Wednesday and show again!!! I still can hardly believe it. It is just a complete dream come true. Only in my wildest dreams did I dare that this could be a possibility. And to top it off I had an absolute blast showing. It was so much fun!!!!

AQHA World Championship Horse Show

I'm here! I can't hardly believe it!

Tomorrow I will complete the in Amatuer Reining at the World Show!!!

I'm not nervous at all. Just excited. My plan is ride hard and have fun. Whatever happens I'm just going to love every minute of it! I'd, of course, love to make the finals, but honestly won't be disappointed if I don't. I'm just going to do my best and hope that Breezy does his best too. But, if he doesn't I don't really care. I'm just so excited to be here.

I'll probably show between 11am and 12:30pm Oklahoma time if you want to try to watch on the streaming video. Here's the link:http://www.aqha.com/showing/shows/worldshow/schedule.html ("Live Video" link is at the top of the page).

Whirlwind Week

Monday night I left work and went straight to the airport to hop a plane to Las Vegas. Yesterday I showed in the Non Pro slate of classes as the High Roller Reining Classic. Rode well and had fun, but still had trouble with the run downs (or "run offs" as I call them). We were still in the placings and won more then enough money to cover our entry fees. And I checked the curent year end standings for the Desert Reining Horse Association and none of the people that beat me yesterday are in the top 10 for the year end awards. So I will be able to maintain my lead. Last night I took a 9:18pm flight back home so I can work the rest of the week. Then I'd head back to Las Vegas on Saturday so that I can show in the Novice Horse Non Pro on Sunday.

Reining By The Bay

Our best run from the Reining by the Bay show. We marked a 72 1/2.

We're Qulaified!

On Friday we took a little break from the Reining By The Bay show in Woodside to drive over to the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds to take a shot at getting our last 1/2 point to get qualified for the AQHA World Show. We arrived with just enough time to get ready, warm the horse up and show. There were only 9 horses in the class and I was last to go. I knew I had to get 1st or 2nd to get the 1/2 point. There was hardly any space to warm up and we didn't even get to practice stopping. As I was preparing I heard someone mark a 71 1/2 and I had already heard a 70 so I knew I'd have to ride hard. The day before at Reining By The Bay we had marked a 72 1/2 so I knew we could do it though. Finally it was our turn and we had a great run. But, it took a really long time for them to announce the score. I asked Johnette what she thought my score should be since she had watch the horse go that got the 71 1/2 and she thought at least a 71. But, when they finally announced my score it was a 69. We were shocked and disappointed. But, then we noticed a horse was in the pen showing. Did another horse add the class to make it 10? Johnette asked the ring steward. Yes, it was now officially a 10 horse class and I was 3rd, which was good enough for 1/2 a point.

Yippy! We are finally qualified and the last goal of the show season accomplished (won a buckle, won a bronze, & qualified for the World Show). I have dreamt of showing at the World show since I was 7 years old. And now that dream, 23 years later, is finally going to come true!

Breezy's Excuse

Well, at least Breezy has a good excuse for his bad behavior at the last few shows. He took a little trip to the vet on Wednesday and we found out that, as Johnette and I expected, his hocks were hurting him. So he got treated and by this time next week Breezy should be feeling almost as good as new and ready to be back to his old self for our shows in July.

Not Looking Good

Showed 2 more times this week with out getting so much as a 1/2 a point. We are still really struggling with the run downs. I am getting the feeling that Breezy really doesn't want to go to the World show...

Breezy at Hollywood Charity

Sunday's Winning Run

Marked 71 1/2 under both judges.

Pics from Del Mar National

Spring Classic - Day 3

Well, you can't win them all.

We didn't even end up showing until after 6:30pm. By that time both Breezy and I were tired, cold, and extremely crabby. As soon as we started warming up I knew it wasn't going to be good. Breezy just didn't feel like he did the 2 days before. He just didn't want to perform. We got thru the pattern, but ended up with a score of 66 from 1 judge and 66 1/2 from the other. We aren't actually sure why so low without any major mistakes, but all the scores for the day were pretty low. I didn't think I heard any scores in the 70s.

Oh, well. We'll have anther chance to show in a couple weeks at the Del Mar National Horse Show.

Spring Classic - Day 2

Well, we did it again! Today was double judged and we scored a 72 under one and a 72 1/2 under the other!!!! And we won all our classes!!!! I looked at out score sheets and we +1/2ed on all maneuvers, but the turns where we got 0s.

I wish there was a video of it to post, because it was night and day from the video I posted from Cactus Classic. Breezy was relaxed and ready to do all that I asked of him. Everything was just right on. So FUN!!!!

Spring Classic - Day 1

Yesterday Breezy was awesome! The plan was to show, but get a good school so he'd be good for Saturday & Sunday. However, he was perfect! There was nothing to school him on. We got our new high score of 72 1/2!!!! It felt great! We ended up 1st in 3 classes and 2nd in the AQHA Amateur. We were actually tied for 1st, but the judged decided to give it to the other rider. But, we did get another 2 points toward qualifying for the World Show. We now have a total of 5.5 points with 10.5 to go.

Pics from Cactus Classic

The professional photos arrived from Cactus Classic!From Lt to Rt: Wendy, Maria, my Aunt Coletta, Johnette, Me on Breezy
Dogs (Lt to Rt): Jazzy, Jack, Jill, Arnold

Happy Easter

Cactus Classic

Well, Thursday we had a major break thru on the run downs and minimizing the charging, but our solution had an unexpected side effect the really hurt our score. We didn't end up placing in any of our classes, but I felt really good about our run. Felt like we made progress! Oh, and as I was walking by the horse show office a poster caught my eye. It was a poster ad for the show photographer and it featured a photo of Breezy and I from the day before!!! So fun!

Friday was a day off from showing. So we took our win picture from Wednesday's big win and gave Breezy the rest of the day off. He came out of his stall a bit sore so we took him over to the horse chiropractor and got him a massage and an adjustment and then some cold compression therapy. Basically he had a spa day.

Saturday he warmed up great. He felt wonderful and completely dialed in. But, when we got in the show pen he turned into a total monster. He was bolting off like there was a bear chasing him and I lost my power steering. I some how managed to make it thru the pattern penalty free and still sitting semi-securely in the saddle, but then spun 5 times giving us a 0 score. Later when we checked the judge's score card we were running at an amazingly low 66 1/2 without any penalties!!! I was furious with Mr. Breezy!!!! He was a complete jerk! Needless to say no cookies, carrots, or hugs from him the rest of the day.

Sunday he was terrible again in the warm-up pen and Johnette had to get on him to try to get him to come around. Basically she stepped off and I stepped back on and walked into the show pen. Everything in me told me that this was going to be total disaster. I didn't see any way that it could work out well for us. Came close to just stepping back off and going home. But, I loped off and we were running toward the center of the pen. As soon as we passed the center cone I said whoa and Breezy through himself into the ground and stopped huge! We ended up getting a +1 for the maneuver! Then he turned better then he ever has! He circled great to the right and I pushed for some solid speed and then he came back great in the center into a small slow. He was a bit more difficult to the left to circle, but we managed to get a 0 on the maneuver. He was really challenging to run to the stops, but when it was time to stop he stopped huge. We scored a 71.5 which was good enough for 3rd in the $1000 Novice Horse Non Pro. Johnette thought it was one of our best runs which was a great way to end the show.