This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 7/27/07 11:14:11 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Nice size classes, well turned out horses and handlers and > FRIENDLY, HELPFUL Fjord Owners! > i would like to second that emotion. this was the first year that oz and i really worked as a team, and after all our practice, i was very pleased with how well things went. i was still a little nervous, but he didn't miss a beat, being his calm and lovely self the entire week. i knew things would be ok when i went to the barn to pick him up sunday morning. we had practiced a little trailer loading the day before, and i knew there would be barn workers to help me get him in. i have the world's smallest trailer, at least the smallest one i saw at blue earth, and i thought it might be too small for him to get into without some urging. however....i walked him from his pasture to the trailer, clucked once, and he walked in all by himself!!! i didn't even have to go into the trailer, the only help i needed was hooking the butt chain around his ample behind. it was a week of firsts for us......our first ever english riding, and our first canter classes. he did so well, even with several operator errors and missed cues on my part. so easy at school, but a little nerve wracking when a judge is watching. cantering has always been rather scary for me, but we conquered that, and i am so proud of him. by wednesday afternoon, he'd had about enough of the heat and humidity (didn't we all???), and the barrels made for good comic relief since he wasn't too m uch in the mood to hurry. apparently my friend carol, who was videotaping, overhead some people commenting on how THIS isn't how barrels are supposed to be done. snobs. i think the fact that those of us who are less experienced and just want to go for the fun of the experience can get out there and trot around and have people cheer for us is part of what makes this show so user friendly. by the time games roll around, it's like being with family. of course, now that marlin the announcer knows my name, i may never be able to ride anonymously again :) and...this was the year that he learned to pronounce heike's name correctly.....certainly a big step for him LOLOL. thanks to all who supported us and cheered us on, it meant a lot. laurie, and the magnificent and powerful oz p.s. i sponsored a class, and wanted to present the ribbons. marlin the announcer made the announcement, and then asked what an OZ was. we straightened him out right quick :) ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
