This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi,
First of all, I want to say thanx to Catherine for putting the Evaluation on for all of us. I have put on two of them myself, so having 'been there, done that', I KNOW how much work it is! I swear, Murphy must have moved into one of the bedrooms at Catherine's house for the duration! I would have been a basket case, but Catherine just went with the flow! First of all, her power went off while she was making copies of schedules, etc. Then the wells went dry - literally! It has been very dry here for quite a while. Guess the spring that feeds the houses and barns just couldn't keep up with the demand. Her well down below got emptied what with all of the baths in the 100 degree temperatures! They did refill after a bit and we were reminded to please be conservative. The 'FIELD OF DREAMS TEAM' included Sue Grantham and her gelding, TRR Thomas, Majson, 9 year old stallion owned by Dan & Carol Tripp of Victor, MT, and Johan, my 4 year old gray stallion, who, incidentally, was sired by Majson. The road to this evaluation had been a very long one for Majson. Carol had sent him to a trainer in preparation for the last evaluation in Libby 2 years ago. Unfortunately, this trainer did not do Majson justice and he was not in very good condition for the evaluation. He did not score very well and Carol was quite disappointed, to say the least. After that evaluation, I wrote to Carol and asked if I could present him for her at the next one. I had sold 2 Dusty daughters to Dan & Carol a few years earlier. I had put them through the evaluation that I did here in Eugene. They both earned their Silver Medallions for Intro. Western and, in fact, one of them (Johan's dam) got a BLUE in Conf. Carol agreed to let me do that and sent Majson here last year for several month's training in preparation for the Nev. Evaluation. Needless to say, Tripps were NOT HAPPY CAMPERS when that got canceled at the last minute! As a matter of fact, neither was I! Given that 'history', I didn't think Tripps would even go watch an Evaluation, much less participate in one and I sure didn't want to even approach the subject with them! However, when Catherine decided to put on the Eval. at her place, Carol decided to give it one more chance. I was glad because I had faith in Majson and knew that he had what it takes. BOY, did I put pressure on myself to make this happen for them! When the dust settled, Majson received a 79 in Conf. (OOOEEE only 1 point away from BLUE - one tiny point!) He performed a very nice Intro. W. test and received a blue score and his Silver Medallion. He scored a red for his Adv. W. test and also received his Gold Medallion! OOOOEEE! Now we had a HAPPY CAMP!! Sue Grantham is one of my students and her Thomas lives in my barn. Thomas is Sue's first horse and they are a great team. Thomas scored a 78 for Conformation and they went on to earn their Silver Medallion for Intro. W. The DREAMS TEAM was really grinning by then!! Last year Catherine sent one of her mares, Lakka, here for training and to be bred to my gray stallion, Johan. She didn't think that Lakka had any gray in her background so we were really surprised when Lakka had a gray colt. Catherine called when he was born and was pretty excited! She sent Lakka back to be rebred and she is in foal again to Johan. The baby's name is Qvadmann. Catherine and I sure did think he was a top notch colt, but then, we grandma's are always prejudiced! It helped to make Catherine's day when Lakka received her BLUE for Conformation. BUT, it REALLY made our day when Qvadmann also received a BLUE! We grammas were crying and jumping for joy!! Now comes Johan, the daddy horse. Drum roll when all of the stallions are brought in for their awards - butterflies in my belly. I looked at the card that held the ribbons - two blue and the rest red. Funny how BLUE suddenly becomes your very most favorite color!! By now, I COVET that BLUE RIBBON! It seems like an eternity as they begin calling each stallion. I hate it when they leave me until the end!! By now, there are two stallions left and one BLUE ribbon left on the card?? UH OH? What's that about? Did they dislike Johan so much that he doesn't even get a ribbon? One's mind plays funny games sometimes. Johan's number is called. I bring him forward and set him up, ever hopeful and scared at the same time. Wayne begins his dialog and the comments are quite good. THEN, he finally announces his score - YESSSS - BLUE!! The remaining stallion owned by Peggy Enge also got a BLUE, but they were out of ribbons. I couldn't wait to get out of that arena so I could jump up and down and be silly!! WOW!! After we got outside, the entire FIELD OF DREAMS TEAM and Catherine hugged and cried like a bunch of kids!! I believe this is the first time ever that 3 generations have been shown together at the same evaluation. Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I guess! Final tally was high red(79) for Father (Majson), Blue for Son (Johan), and Blue for Holy Ghost (Qvadmann). All of us love our horses and think they are the best, but as a breeder, when we get validation of our breeding program like this, it indeed confirms that we are on the right track! It felt sooo good! When it was over, we were all absolutely bone weary, but basked in the afterglow with a sense of satisfaction. We had achieved or surpassed each goal we had set for ourselves. It was worth the effort! Now it is time to get back to the real world and back to normal, if there is such a thing. Thanx again for the hard work Catherine! Until Next Time, Gayle Ware Field of Dreams Eugene, OR www.fjordhorse.com
