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!

SCU Reunion

Last weekend was the SCU Reunion. Natalie really sums it up on her blog pics & all. So much fun!!!

Vancouver

My job took me to Vancouver this week. I spend most of the time working, but got to sight see a tiny bit in the area right around me hotel. What a great city!!!!

The view from my hotel room a the Farimont Hotel Vancouver A count down to the Vancouver Winter Olympics

Looking up at my hotel

Standing in front of the Olympic counter with the reflection of The Hotel Vancouver in the bulding behindThe breathtaking 120 year old church across the street from the Boutique

The view from my window seat on the way home

Happy 4th of July

For the 4th Dave and I drove together to Hemet in the morning. I rode my Breezy & Dave watched for a bit before heading across the street to the golf club. Breezy was fantastic and I am feeling good heading into the show in the 11th to hopefully pick up our last 3.5 points to go to the World Show.

Then we grabbed lunch and headed to Norco to spend the afternoon with Mom & Wendy. We hung out at the pool for a while & then had dinner at Felippi's.

Then home to watch the Mission Viejo Lake fireworks show from our backyard and a movie.

My "Unc"

January 29, 1948 - June 27, 2008

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...

1 Point

Well, today was much better. The judging was a bit odd and we ended up with a 72 under one judge and a 68 1/2 under the other. Hmmmmm. Basically everywhere judge A marked me a +1/2 on a manuver, judge B would mark me a 0. And everywhere judge A would mark me a 0 judge B would mark me -1/2. So I am focusing on judge A's scores, he gave me a +1/2 on our left spins & left set of circles and a full +1 on our right set of circles! Run downs were still a struggle, but I managed to keep it under control by riding with me reins shorter and using them more and by keeping my knees loose. We ended up 2nd on judge A's card and 4th on judge B's card. So we earning 1 point for our 2nd place finish. So we now have a grand total of 10 points and just need 3.5 more to get qualified. Oh, and we ended up Circuit Champions for AQHA Amatuer Reining for the show!

Photo Hunters: Self

PhotoHunt

These 2 photos show 2 different sides of me. One I took my self and the other was taken by my husband.

thoughtful, caring, understanding, complex, empathetic, feeling, romantic, intuitive, loving

proud, athletic, direct, fun, goal oriented, optimistic, challenging, committed, creative, courageous

No Points

Well, that didn't go well. We just can't shake the bolting thing. Sunday we have resigned ourselves to just have to run him slow to the stops, but hopefully get a score even if it is less then 70 to at least a 1 hopefully. Just so frustrating because we don't know why its happening.

On the bright side I found out there their is another one day show in Temecula that we could go to if I still need a couple points after next weekend.

Last Chances

Only 4 more chances to get qualified for the AQHA World Show. I currently have 9 points and need a total of 13.5 to qualify. So only 4.5 to go. The 1st chance is tomorrow and the 2nd is Sunday. Then I'll have another shot next Thursday and my final opportunity next Saturday.

I talked to Johnette and there are 12 horses entered in the class tomorrow so there are a total of 4 points up for grabs to the winner under both judges. Unfortunately, all the patters for all 4 days are around the end patterns which are the most challenging for Breezy & I. At the last show, which I don't think I even blogged about because I was so bad, Breezy bolted going around the end all 4 days (even when we were just schooling!). So I am really crossing my fingers that Breezy keeps his head and waits on me in the run downs.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see....

Never Forget

THANK YOU!

Breezy at Hollywood Charity

Sunday's Winning Run

Marked 71 1/2 under both judges.

Hollywood Charity Horse Show

Check out all our loot!!!

Today we scored a pair of 71.5s to win 2 pairs of spurs, 2 pewters, & a belt buckle (along with various other prizes)!!!! For a full list check out my MySpace page.

Breezy was great. I got the video so I'll upload it to YouTube and post it soon.

And 2 of our 3 goals for the season have been accomplished! Won a bronze in March @ Cactus Classic and now I've won my buckle! All that is left is to qualify for the AQHA World Show and just 5 more points to go for that!

Pics from Del Mar National

Del Mar - Day 4

Friday and Saturday I got good schools in and felt ready for Sunday. I was entered in several Non Pro classes that all ran concurrently.

Our turns weren't great. Our circles were good. But, our run downs were not good. Extremely chargey. As soon as I'd face Breezy down ring he'd bolt. Ended up with a 69 1/2 & a 70. We got one 1st, a 2nd, a couple 4ths and a couple 5ths. And I was feeling a bit discouraged that all our schooling didn't pay off. So Johnette suggested showing him again a few hours later in the Novice Horse Non Pro.

So we went into the show pen with a different strategy for the $500 Novice Horse class. Instead of planning to show my horse and 'hoping' that he would be good, I went in with the plan to show my horse and 'make' him be good. And we scored a 72 & a 71 to win the class and my first pewter! What we think was happening was that when I would 'hope' for him to be good I would stiffen. And when I plan to 'make' him be good I say relaxed. Whatever the psychology, it works! So not only did we end the show with a win, but also learned something that I think will really pay off next weekend at the Hollywood Charity Show in Burbank!

So I am now in New York for work and will get home late Thursday night, change out the close in the suit case, sleep for a couple hours, and then head to Burbank early Friday morning to show my horse and 'make' him be good. Hoping to win a belt buckle!

Del Mar Show - Day 1

Well, I made it!

Got up early this morning and headed to the horse show. Spent some time listening to a few of my favorite songs and reflecting on what I've accomplished on horseback to get this far. I had to do my visualizing in the car because I wasn't going to have any time once I got to the show grounds. But, it went well. As I crested the hill on the fwy and was able to see the show grounds I found myself smiling. Bottom line, I love showing and Breezy & I are a good team, no matter what else is going on win my life.

Breezy and I warmed up well and I was completely focused and relaxed by the time I walked in to show my horse. We had a good run. We scored a 71 1/2 and a 70 (this judge gave us 2 1/2 points worth of penalties the the other judge didn't). Good enough for a 4 way tie for 1st under on judge and a 3 way tie for 3rd under the other. We aren't quite sure how they broke the ties, but I ended up at the bottom of all of them with 4th and a 5th.

Tomorrow we with be show/schooling. Should get a score, but run the whole patter slow and correct. Then the same thing on Saturday. Then Sunday show full out.

Del Mar National Horse Show

So I've just crammed over 39 hours of work into 3 extremely long days. Now I have to somehow figure out how to let that all go and focus on showing my horse. Not sure how i am going to manage to do that at this point. Guess I have 12 hours to figure it out....