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Hey Everyone! Now that Patti Jo started about Blue Earth, it got me thinking and remembering about all that I saw, so…..where to begin….hrmmmm…..and warning-I wrote a lot….. So I came back this year with my chunky buddy Ivan as my project, my Mom and Dad were running around showing their stallion Woods and a new mare to showing named Touren owned by Bob Long. Mom and Bob also showed Bob’s other mare named Penny. I also had the absolute privilege of showing the stallion Niklaus, but I’ll hit on that guy later Well Ivan and I had an interesting show together. We started out driving, and well….OOPS! See I kinda worked him earlier in the day, then he had a few classes in the afternoon, and he knew where the out gate was, so we were kinda walking around in the ring during the show, and he saw the out gate, stopped and started backing (completely unlike him). I just could not get him to go forward and after he backed into the gate and the judge stopped the class and I am TOTALLY embarrassed, I got him to move in the right direction and we continued with the class…oops It was neat though, at other shows if that happened, people on the sidelines would be giving me this look like “urgh, how dare she bring in a horse like that” or “well she’ll get dead last for not knowing how to control her horse”. But you know what? NOT AT BLUE EARTH!! After I got him moving, person after person after person after person was giving me advice (mostly to calm me down) and just simply being VERY encouraging. And those who did not talk just had this smile/look on their face as if saying “it’s ok girl, you just keep going, you’re doing great”. I didn’t care how I placed in that class or the next one. In my book, seeing and hearing all of those people and by getting through that class was worth more to me than what any blue ribbon could have given. So thank you guys!! But after that day, Ivan and I rallied-not sure how, but we did. We came back later in the day to place third in our log skid (no faults!), then second in single pleasure driving women and third in pick your route (also no faults!). We have NEVER placed that high in any performance classes before, and I was absolutely tickled pink. Nik, Nik, Nik, Nik, Nik. If any of you have met this boy, then you know what I’m talking about. Nik is this BEAUTIFUL grey dun stallion with a heart of gold owned by Mike & Susie Sadlon. I was given the amazing opportunity to ride him at Blue Earth and I was extremely excited. I rode him in English pleasure and equitation, we didn’t place but he did a very nice job. Being my first year showing a stallion and in classes with mares, geldings and another stallion, I never felt for one moment that I was on an uncontrollable horse. He was absolutely excellent and disposition wise he is everything that one could dream of in a stallion. Before the show Nik was at Patti Jo’s getting some work done, and I caught wind that Nik jumped and I was showing him. Well I’ve never really jumped before and I really didn’t have the best horse to practice on (Ivan + Jumping = Earthquakes in China). At one point in practicing with Ivan, I did lose my balance and I fell-not Ivan’s fault- all mine. So going into Blue Earth and the hunter hack class, I have to say I was worried. We took our practice jumps at a trot and he did just fine, and then came time for the real test. I know that Nik knew that I was worried, and he took care of me better than any horse. We took those jumps perfectly. We went into them, jumped and I finished with the biggest smile I could get. Good boy Nik! Later on Eby Higdon took Nik in the Low Hunter of Fences and also Jumpers Choice which she totally blew everyone away in! Every jump they took we all cheered and it was truly a sight to see. Our show has become a lot of fun at the end with all of the gaming classes. One imparticular class that has been developed is the Team Farmers Race. Now this year we didn’t have the two stone boats and all the hay, so we had to improvise. We ended up having a guy & girl team driving a team of horses pulling a stone boat and weaving through cones. Sounds simple enough-but it was FUN! I first drove with Michael Kline and Birger & Ande both of us wound up winning our divisions and the whole class. I then drove with Mike Sadlon and Daymon & Tana, and well, oops again I kinda hit a cone or two, but was still fun and I had a blast. I’ve never really driven a team a lot (once with Sadlons at the Kentucky horse park!!) and so for both Mike & Mike to let me drive their teams was very generous and it is something that I will always remember-THANK YOU! So now that I’ve talked about me and what I did, I need to get going on some other people that made the event extra memorable. So lets start with my wonderful mother. Mom as most of you know is the chair of the show. Now to a lot of people that might sound kinda easy-maybe a little tough at some points, but overall, not to bad. Right? WRONG!! I’m telling you guys I have to live with this show a year before it is held. And with ALL of the phone calls and ALL of the emails and ALL of the questions and sorting out of people in charge of divisions and judges and photographers, it’s a miracle that one can keep all of it straight! Not only is she running the show (which is a lot more work than some realize) but she has a family, and trains and boards and conditions many many horses for all disciplines, and shows with and for clients at other shows, and throws and stacks hay, and mows lawns, and draws pictures, and judges other shows, and drives tractors, and fixes fences, and paints barns, and cleans our house (sorry mom-mostly my fault), and cooks dinner, and just overall helps to solve problems and answer questions and promote the breed to people all over the nation! So I think that by the simple fact that the show ran as smoothly as it did is a huge accomplishment for this 5’ 2” little bundle of compassion and heart. You ROCK Mom!! I have to talk about this new group that attended the show-the Carmody crew. These guys were awesome. Very friendly and excellent workers. I remember first talking to them when I was knee deep in bubbles from washing Nik, and then later on off and on around the show and waiting for classes. I am so excited for them and they are an excellent addition to the Blue Earth Show! And then there is, of course, Miss Kay Van Natta and Mr. Bjoge. Talk about a pair to see. Kay’s personality and Bjoge’s signature look is something that everyone admired and loved to be in the presence of-we love you guys!!! So towards the end of the show, I was walking around while the Ride-A-Buck class was waiting to go in. And I turn around, and I see Ann Longfellow (who easily wins the award for the exhibitor with the biggest and kindest heart) waiting for that class, and I’m just thinking “what?!” Well she went into that class AND SHE WON!! I had NO idea that Ann could ride bareback let alone have the balance to win! We were all so happy for her!! And finally (I promise) the last group I have to talk about is the Alexanders. They are a new family to the show and boy are they wonderful! They come in with so many people in their family all willing to help and happy to be there. I remember seeing one of the smallest in the family (an ADORABLE little girl) carrying a bucket that was almost her size to get water and then sweeping the area in front of their stalls. I cannot tell you how much I love seeing a whole family come and show together-it’s truly what makes Blue Earth a wonderful place to be. So now that I am done with this novel, I just have to say a few more things to wrap up. This show was wonderful. I LOVED the exhibitors, LOVED the horses, LOVED the judge, LOVED the helpfulness of everyone, LOVED the compassion, LOVED anyone and everyone who was there! I love running around at a show, and having the openness to go up to every exhibitor and striking up a conversation. I love never feeling pressured to win from my family and friends, but rather the feeling of accomplishment when I get through a class-whether it was a blue ribbon, green or invisible, it does not matter. I love the feeling when I blow a trail class pattern or hit a few cones in log skid that it’s ok, it’s not the end of the world, I tried my best and my mom and dad and friends will still love me regardless. I love seeing a smiling face every corner I turn and knowing that no matter what happens, they will be there to help me when I fall. There is something truly special and unique about the Blue Earth show. Those of you who have been there know what I’m talking about. And for those you who have not attended it yet, well it is about time for you to discover the magic behind the Blue Earth show. Hope to see you next year! Robin L Holland 3601 S Irish Hollow Rd Hanover IL 61041 C 815/858-4042 H 815/591-3658 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
