I don't mind sharing my nationals experience. I had an awesome time.
My trip started with trying to get there. 12 hours of delays, layovers, canceled flights, and wait lists finally got me there several hours later than anticipated, and I was supposed to start clipping that day. I originally had planned on going to nationals only to clip, hired by Silver Meadows. I might add that Gail and Richard are awesome people to work with, and have bred some gorgeous horses. It was relaxing, good company, it made the entire experience much better.
A few days into it I was asked to help out in some classes. Originally I had liked the idea of not having to show, and being able to sit back and watch, which I rarely get to do. I decided to show though, and went to Target and bought an 18 dollar pair of dress shoes, one white t shirt, some 12 dollar dress pants, and a dress shirt/tie combo for 20 dollars. I had to borrow Richard's jacket, which I was amazed fit, but I later deemed it the lucky jacket, and I may just be asking to borrow it again, despite the several I have at home.
The first horses I got to show were futurity horses. In those large classes I got the gait with all of them. Although I did get into the "pull-out" group of 15 in the 51 horse yearling stallion/gelding over futurity class. I was honestly thrilled, and at that point thought it would be the highlight of my showing experience there. Congratz to the winner of that class, Amanda and "Master of Disaster" perhaps one of the most stunning horses I saw at the show.
In the 2 yr old futurity gelding class, I showed LOF Suprise Attack, a gelding I loved after clipping him. He got the gait in the class, which disappointed me, because I happened to think he was gorgeous.
On Wednesday I showed Franklin(LOF Surpirse Attack) in my his open class expecting to do mediocre at best after getting the gait the previous day, and being in a class full of trainers. To my surprise and excitement, I won the class, claiming Franklin's (and mine) first ever National Championship. I barely had time to hand his ribbon off before going back in for the Jr Championship. Winning that was just as much a surprise.
I then had a few hours to fester in my excitement and nerves(And still showing in that one pair of show clothes I threw together, and Richard's lucky jacket). Franklin showed his heart out again and took the grand, a feat that brought his owner to tears, and one I thought I might go a lifetime without achieving. Congrats to the Reserve in that class, FFF Ooh Meets Ahh, and his owner and handler, Kelly Robinson and Corey Hatfield.
If that was all I got out showing at nationals, it would have kept me happy for a long long time, but the next morning I showed Liz Debem's mare in the model class and took reserve. I was then approached by Eddie Mccarthy and asked to handle one of his weanling fillies. Being asked to handle the filly was flattering, and then to take reserve in that class too topped it off, truly amazing. I liked that particular class especially because 3 of the top 5 placings were taken by young handlers. Fighting politics in this industry is sometimes tough, and it was great to see it turn out that way.
Apart from those highlights, I took several top tens in huge classes, all thanks to Gail Ray and her clients for trusting me to handle their horses, and Richard's lucky jacket. Oh, and I can't forget Frank and Liz DeBem, they let me handle some of their awesome horses too, yielding a reserve, a 5th, and a 9th, all in large classes. I also showed their gelding in open jumper. I think I ruined it for him, haha. He's got world and national titles and jumper and with me he knocked a rail in the first round, I guess it was just a sign that I had had my fair share of winnings.
As an amateur, I consider myself very lucky to handle a horse to an open grand.
Besides the showing, the atmosphere was a lot of fun, lots of meeting new people, visiting friends, and friendly chatter. And we can't forget about the yummy red frozen stuff at the Water'n Hole. Oh, and we can't forget about Bubbles, a few of you might remember, erm . . . her?
I'll definitely be going back next year!
