Burman Barn Holiday Party

1 Year Anniversary

So this past weekend, November 7th to be exact, marked the 1 year anniversary of showing at the World Show and making the finals. Basically the realization of a life long dream. An accomplishment that took many sacrifices and at many times just looked too far out of reach. Even today, over a year later, as I was telling the story to a couple of co-workers over lunch I started to get emotional about it.

Growing up I had 2 main goals; getting married & showing at the World Show. Goal number one came to fruition in 2000 when I married my one true love. I am so grateful for each day I get with my wonderful husband. I shared my dream of showing at the World Show with Dave early in our relationship. He listened and we budgeted and we planned. In 2005 it was finally time to purchase the horse that would carry me to the World Show. I spent several months looking for just the right horse before I found him. He was talented for sure, but not without his flaws. And after taking so many years off from riding i wondered if I'd ever be good again. After showing in 2006 and 2007 I still had not earned a single point toward qualifying to show at the World Show. So I decided 2008 was going to be the year to put it all on the line and go for it. After many conversations with my trainer we decided that I needed to make a change. January 1 of 2008 I moved my horse to Temecula to ride with a new trainer that committed to doing her best to get me to the World Show. And she did just that. I showed in 20 shows in 5 different states in 2008. Even with all the successes of the year getting the 13 points needed to show at the World proved to be quite a challenge. In fact, we didn't get our last 1/2 point until the last day possible and had to haul to another show about an hour from the show we were already at in Northern California. But, we did it. We got our points and qualified. But, this did not happen without sacrifices. By the time we got all our points my horse and I who once were best of friends were now fighting each other every step. I had missed countless baby showers, weddings, and family events. I had considered giving up several times especially toward the end. It seemed like tears were more prevalent then laughter as we got closer to the deadline to get all our points. But, I'll never forget when that World Show packet arrived in the mail making it official that I had qualified. I even made Dave take a picture of me holding the packet. But, I knew that I'd used up whatever enthusiasm my horse had had left for showing just trying to get to the World Show. That added to the fact that we had just barely qualified at all made me quite positive that making the finals wasn't even a possibility. But, I really didn't care. I was just excited to go and show my horse regardless of the score or the result. I will always remember sitting on Breezy in the "Gateway of Champions" before heading into the arena to show. I had seen it on TV so many times and only in my dreams had I seen myself there. But, to be there in real life was amazing! I just showed my horse. I rode hard and did my best. I focused on enjoying every moment. Really experiencing it. Then about 4 hours later while sitting in the stands watching the final few horses in my class go and still seeing my name on the leader board my trainer turned to me and said, "You're in the finals. Even if the rest of the horses still to show beat your score, you will still be in the top 15." I couldn't believe. I cried. Face in hands. Cried.

Now it is a year later. It feels like it was yesterday. I still remember all the details and emotions. I don't think I'll ever forget them.

It is an interesting place to be; on the far side of all your dreams coming true...

In 2009 I sold my horse and now own a different horse. I just did a couple of shows and have mainly just been resting in contentment. The question is...now what? Do I set new goals? Bigger goals? My trainer suggested setting winning a World Championship as my new goal. Though I love her for her faith in me and admit that winning a World Championship would be amazing, I'm just not sure I have it in me to want something so badly again. Enough really might just be...enough.

I am so blessed. Is it really fair to want more? Do I just enjoy where I'm at and keep showing just for the fun of it? Or do I refocus my sights and see how high I can fly?

Photo Shoot

This Saturday was the annual Hobby Horse photo shoot. So fun!

Happy Halloween

Fun at California Challenge Horse Show in Burbank

When to the Callifornia Challenge horse show to cheer on some of my fav peeps. Here are some pics of the day:

Johnette reviewing Kim's video with her
Tim showing off his newly won belt buckleDiane showing her horseChad relaxing & trying to stay cool
Team Burman preparing to cheer for Diane
Kathy showing off her new hatHarry is "over it" and ready to go home (I think he might be upset that he didn't get to run off and had to settle for 2nd after the coin toss)

Hollywood Charity Horse Show

Had a fun show this weekend. 2 solid rides. I feel like I've built some confidence in Zeke & I.

Here's a video of our ride on Sunday. I late lead change put us out of the money, but overall a good ride.

Emily Jungers

A lovely lady was lost at 3:40am this morning after a courageous battle with cancer. She meant a lot to a lot of people and will be missed greatly.

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

Sun Circuit 2009

Since both horses were going to the show to get sold and the plane tickets were cheap I decided to fly out to the show for the 1st weekend to show Zeke for fun. And fun I had!!!

Getting ready to show in the Amateur Reining on Saturday afternoon.

Talking thru my game plan with my trainer.

Zeke about to get spiffed up before going in the show arena.

One final lap in the warm-up area before we show.

Loping in the in-gate for our run-in pattern.

Spinning to the left. Check out the cross over of his front legs!

Stepping in the left lead to do our 1st set of circles.

Big and fast.

I had so much fun on Saturday that I decided to show again on Sunday. There weren't any amateur classes so I just showed in the Senior Reining with the pros.

Taking a breather after our spins before loping off into our circles.All done. Time to relax.

Such a fun weekend. Loved cheering on my pals and loved showing Zeke. He is such a sweet horse and always tries so hard for me. He's such a good partner to have in the show pen.

A big thanks to Aunt Coletta and Uncle Scott for providing my lodging for the weekend. And a special thanks for Uncle Scott for all the pics!

And I also received my 4 year end championship buckles from DRHA for last year. They are gorgeous. I just love them!

2008 Show Season in Review

• Completed in 20 shows in 5 different states
• Won over $5,500 in NRHA earnings
• Top 15 NRHA Earnings in Novice Horse Non Pro for the year
• Top 20 NRHA Earnings in Imtermediate Non Pro for the year
• 1 Morrison Bronze ($1000 Intermediate Non Pro at Cactus Classic)
• 3 Pewters (1 at Del Mar National and 2 at Hollywood Charity)
• Circuit Award (3rd) for the Non Pro division at Reining by the Bay
• 13.5 AQHA points in Amateur Reining (Breezy achieved his ROM)
• AQHA World Championship Show Finalist in Amateur Reining
• 10 championship belt buckles (Hollywood Charity Intermediate Non Pro, 3 CRHA year-end reserve high points, 2 PCHA year-end high points, & 4 DRHA year-end high points)
• Wildest dreams became reality!!!!

This could have never been accomplished with out, 1st God's amazing grace. And 2nd some amazing people in my life. To name a few....

Dave - My support and benefactor. He made countless sacrifices this year so that my dreams could come true.

Johnette - My trainer and friend. Just a year ago Breezy and I had only $266 in NRHA earnings and not a single AQHA Amateur point to our names. All of the above definitely could not have been possible without her coaching and dedication.

My Mom - Who's commitment to my passion as a kid has given me the ability to be successful now so many years later.

Cheryl - My encourager and mental coach. She kept my head on straight. And partway thru the year when I felt hopeless and wanted to give up she helped me find 'me' again.

Family & Friends - Who supported me with encouraging words, blog comments, cards, e-mails, texts, and especially cheers from the side lines.

A special thanks to those that came out and cheered for me this season - Dave, Nick, Vera, Aunt Coletta, Mom, Dad, Lanell, & Lila. Also my fellow Burman Reining Horses Non Pro Teammates - Maria, Kim, & Wendy.

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.

The Finals

Well, tonight is the night of the finals. It starts at 7pm CST with the finals of Heading and then the Finals for Heeling. And then Reining. I, of course, drew up 1st (seems like a always have bad luck when it comes to draws, but as long as I have good luck in the show pen, who cares!). So I think I'll show between 8pm and 9pm CST if you want to watch along on the web feed.

I woke up this morning feeling a bit nervous - at least my body is telling me so much. I am hoping that goes away over the course of the day. Really I am just excited to be in the finals and whatever happens tonight the whole thing is just a dream come true. Worst case scenario tonight is that I don't make top 10 and walk out of the arena a World Show Finalist with a vest with "Finalist" patch, a World Show Finalist ribbon, and a World Show medallion. And that actually sounds wonderful to me and beyond expectation.

Don't Sell Your Saddle

Don't give up on dreams.

Take time to see 'em through.

There is no magic recipe,

hard work makes 'em come true.

Even when you're struggling,

your friends will stick like glue.

Don't ever sell your saddle,

your dreams won't give up on you.

By Don Bilup

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).