Bob’s second Ranch Horse Show . . .
[recall that I have been only doing Ranch Horse anything since April 2024 –until then I was a fox hunter and dressage rider]
Bob and I attended our Ranch Horse Show in May. We did better than we thought in the 10 classes we entered, best of all, met two COTH folks IRL @2Dogsfarm and @endlessclimb.
Bob’s second show: 3 weeks later was much more fun and we did better across the board with two exceptions.
I learned Bob is liar.
We practiced Thursday before the show on Friday. It was raining and the footing in my arena was deep. But we practiced. Friday, when I took Bob to the show at 6 AM, signed in, although somewhat delayed by an angry lady ahead of me at the show boot that took forever to understand she needed to be a member of the Ranch Horse Association to show –we were down to only 30 min of warm up time as we were the 3rd rider in the first class of the day: Horsemanship –a pattern class. The footing was deep in the warmup ring. My plan was to canter Bob around until the last possible moment because, previously, he does much better if he enters the show ring sweating.
Bob assured me he was exhausted from the early wake-up, and hard work previously. Liar. The horse I took into the ring was a fire-breathing dragon. We DQ. [Edit --just reviewed the score sheets. I did not DQ, I just did not do well]. After that, and more of the planned warm up, we had gradual improvement. By our 4th class of the day, I felt Bob and I had begun to sync. We had no placings.
Home, then back to the show on Saturday with a plan in place. Bob was entered into 4 classes: two trail classes and two cow boxing classes. He would not fool me again with “I’m so tired, I can’t canter to warm up.” I mounted at 8 AM, dressed to show, and moved Bob’s feet until our class at 1:00 PM.
The horse I rode into the trail class was no fire-breathing dragon. We completed our class, had a short break and then did our second class. In between classes, we cantered some more. There was one tricky part in the trail pattern –a counter canter after a side-pass. Bob nailed it both times.
[drumroll] Bob placed 10th out of 20+ riders! Bob placed!!! Our first every placing in Ranch Riding. But it gets better –in the second Ranch Trail class Bob placed 7th!
I took Bob back to his stall, washed him, gave him hay and water, and watched the first two cow boxing classes.
Then it was our turn. My biggest worry was that Bob would walk into the indoor arena, take one look at the cow, and bolt out the door. He didn’t. We called for our cow, we did the best we knew how, Bob had a flash of brilliance at one point as he, all by himself, dogged right and cut off the cow from escaping. Then our time was up. We almost immediately went in for our second boxing. This cow was a little lethargic, and Bob and I were playing it safe –the best boxing is when the rider moves the cow at will. Bob and I were content to keep the cow at the end of the arena. We were successful in both our classes, placing last, but that’s a start!
Sunday classes were in hand: two confirmation classes where Bob did not place, and two showmanship. I won’t enter confirmation again –he’s done it four times, eight judges and no placing. As beautiful as I think he is, I see no point in trying again.
And Showmanship. At the last show those were the two classes in which I placed. That was before I tore two menisci in my right knee. I thought I could tough it out. I was wrong. The pattern called for me to lead Bob at a trot over three poles. I couldn’t lift my leg high enough to clear the first pole. I went face first into the dirt –both hands being engaged in holding Bob’s lead rope correctly. Nothing to do but stagger to my feet, brush off my pants, and finish the pattern. We were almost immediately in the next class –but by then I could barely lift my leg at all. I “ran” beside the poles this time (probably more of a shuffle). We did not place in either class, but we tried. FYI the other exhibitors were extremely kind and supportive –many took a moment to come by my stall and see if I was ok.
Until my knee is replaced (third replacement) probably in February, I will eschew Showmanship. Instead, I will take my confirmation entry fee, and my showmanship entry fee, and enter one more of each class I currently do –Bob can do that as “open senior horse” is a category we can enter along with our current Amateur and Novice Amateur division. Lemonade out of lemons. That means I will have no classes on Sunday, as the only classes left are rail classes which hold no interest for me.
I will also never believe Bob again when he says he is “too tired” to warm up!
No photos, but a video of my best trail class ride!!! And a second one of my second boxing try.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbipQUsx-uI
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oJXNjqmoTjA
on your knee.
