ClickMini
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Just back today from a long, exhausting, exhiliarating, scary, exciting, wonderful trip to Nationals! Yes, it was all of those things and more, my emotions ran a gamut from the highest highs to the lowest lows. It all started off pretty well with Flirt performing admirably in her Amateur Country Pleasure Driving classes. The classes were HUGE! Flirt was great, soooo very steady, I had some of the best drives EVER with her. We didn't place in those huge classes, just got lost in the crowds. We didn't place in Ammy halter either, we only showed in the enormous jackpot class, so I was not terribly surprised. But we took 8th PLACE in Amateur Versatility to achieve our first National TOP TEN! I was so ecstatic!
That night we returned from dinner to see that Flirt had swollen up in minutes in huge hives!!! That poor baby had her eyes swelling shut, she was miserable to say the least. We immediately gave her some benadryl and thankfully the hives resolved overnight. But it was so scary to see my little girl like that. She has never been sick or lame a day in her life, it was very shocking to say the least!
We then drove in a HUGE open Ladie's Country Pleasure class. I warmed up for quite a while that evening as Flirt can be a bit hot and I wanted to get her really listening to me. We had a great drive and again missed being in the cut.
The next morning we prepped little Flirty for open halter. Syndi was taking her in, so I went up in the stands to watch. She looked very beautiful, but it was then that it became apparent that she was sore behind. She again went TOP TEN! with a 9th place! I was so proud but also worried, as we put her back in her stall after massaging and fussing over her, she gradually became stiffer and lamer. I was just sick! Patty had yet to drive her in her mares class, and I was just sure at that point that we were done for the show. I was in tears, I couldn't believe we had come that far only to have to finish that way. I spent most of the night with Flirt, massaging and icing and sitting in the stall with her, and when I came back the next morning after a short night of sleep she was MUCH improved. THANK GOODNESS! I think that the warmup arena was like concrete and the shock on her legs was just too much with our lengthy warmup. I did scratch her out of two classes to make sure she was not too sore to compete in Mares.
Finally Patty drove her in Mares Country Pleasure, under division. She looked fantastic, and I was so excited! I was dressed to head for her, and a good thing it was, because Flirt went RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!! WOW!!! I discovered my inner cheerleader, giving a holler and jumping like a Mexican jumping bean! In our first year of driving and showing Flirt, we had achieved our goals and much more, my little girl gave her all every time, and we were rewarded so well for it.
:
We showed in a couple more classes and didn't place, however I cannot fathom how that scoring system works. In the stakes class Flirt was 3rd on one judge's card and 10th on another, dumped by the third. The horse that got 9th place was 9th on two judges cards and dumped by the third. I do not know on what universe two 9ths beat a 10th and a 3rd, but that is the way it shook out and they did rerun the computer program so I guess I have to accept the results. However, in my heart and mind, Flirt did deserve to be in the top ten in her country pleasure stakes class.
I got a chance to meet several forum members who recognized Flirt and I, that was very, very fun! Most enjoyably I got to talk quite a bit with Linda of FRED fame (he is GORGEOUS in real life, I tell you!!!), Keely, Lyn_J, Erica, and many others...what a great opportunity to meet and make wonderful friends this forum gives us!
Here is a link to our winner circle photo, I hope you can see it! https://www.imagequix.com/exec/vando/fullSi...rue&color=0
Overall it was a great experience! We came home with a Reserve National Championship and two National Top Tens in our very first year of showing at this level, that is pretty special for sure.
I know there will be some people who read this thread who have been very instrumental in our success, as supporters, mentors, and true friends. So thank you to STACY SCORE of Mountain Meadows Miniatures, PATTY CLOKE of Cloke Training Stables, SYNDI KANZLER of Triple Heart Training Centre, and TOMMY AND DAWN THOMPSON of Lost Spoke Ranch. You all have been great helps to me in so many ways, and we never would have gotten there without you!!!
:
That night we returned from dinner to see that Flirt had swollen up in minutes in huge hives!!! That poor baby had her eyes swelling shut, she was miserable to say the least. We immediately gave her some benadryl and thankfully the hives resolved overnight. But it was so scary to see my little girl like that. She has never been sick or lame a day in her life, it was very shocking to say the least!
We then drove in a HUGE open Ladie's Country Pleasure class. I warmed up for quite a while that evening as Flirt can be a bit hot and I wanted to get her really listening to me. We had a great drive and again missed being in the cut.
The next morning we prepped little Flirty for open halter. Syndi was taking her in, so I went up in the stands to watch. She looked very beautiful, but it was then that it became apparent that she was sore behind. She again went TOP TEN! with a 9th place! I was so proud but also worried, as we put her back in her stall after massaging and fussing over her, she gradually became stiffer and lamer. I was just sick! Patty had yet to drive her in her mares class, and I was just sure at that point that we were done for the show. I was in tears, I couldn't believe we had come that far only to have to finish that way. I spent most of the night with Flirt, massaging and icing and sitting in the stall with her, and when I came back the next morning after a short night of sleep she was MUCH improved. THANK GOODNESS! I think that the warmup arena was like concrete and the shock on her legs was just too much with our lengthy warmup. I did scratch her out of two classes to make sure she was not too sore to compete in Mares.
Finally Patty drove her in Mares Country Pleasure, under division. She looked fantastic, and I was so excited! I was dressed to head for her, and a good thing it was, because Flirt went RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!! WOW!!! I discovered my inner cheerleader, giving a holler and jumping like a Mexican jumping bean! In our first year of driving and showing Flirt, we had achieved our goals and much more, my little girl gave her all every time, and we were rewarded so well for it.
We showed in a couple more classes and didn't place, however I cannot fathom how that scoring system works. In the stakes class Flirt was 3rd on one judge's card and 10th on another, dumped by the third. The horse that got 9th place was 9th on two judges cards and dumped by the third. I do not know on what universe two 9ths beat a 10th and a 3rd, but that is the way it shook out and they did rerun the computer program so I guess I have to accept the results. However, in my heart and mind, Flirt did deserve to be in the top ten in her country pleasure stakes class.
I got a chance to meet several forum members who recognized Flirt and I, that was very, very fun! Most enjoyably I got to talk quite a bit with Linda of FRED fame (he is GORGEOUS in real life, I tell you!!!), Keely, Lyn_J, Erica, and many others...what a great opportunity to meet and make wonderful friends this forum gives us!
Here is a link to our winner circle photo, I hope you can see it! https://www.imagequix.com/exec/vando/fullSi...rue&color=0
Overall it was a great experience! We came home with a Reserve National Championship and two National Top Tens in our very first year of showing at this level, that is pretty special for sure.
I know there will be some people who read this thread who have been very instrumental in our success, as supporters, mentors, and true friends. So thank you to STACY SCORE of Mountain Meadows Miniatures, PATTY CLOKE of Cloke Training Stables, SYNDI KANZLER of Triple Heart Training Centre, and TOMMY AND DAWN THOMPSON of Lost Spoke Ranch. You all have been great helps to me in so many ways, and we never would have gotten there without you!!!
