Category: horse show

Posted on in fair food, horse show, midway, New Mexico State Fair, rides

fair play: questions

Hello fellow Chicken Wingers.  Yes….it’s that time of year.  State Fair!!  Just returned from the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque to show the lovely equines.  I’ve got more State Fair fun facts than you can shake a roasted turkey drumstick at.
All this week….Lord willing….I’ll be sharing crazy fair impressions with you.  It would behoove you to keep stopping by.  Don’t miss a moment of the silliness.  Or miss the animals.  Or miss the rides.  Or the giant midway foods!  Some fair mysteries to whet your fairical appetite.
Why is this clean-cut young man rapping an innocent pig with a stick in front of rowdy onlookers?

 

What is the purpose of the horse huddle?  Or….is this a brazen example of public prayer****gasp!****??
 
Is the serious young lady about to hurl her texas taters?

 

Uh….huh……can’t think..of..a….thing……..I’m rendered speechless.  Enjoy.

 

Now,  for the MOST DISTURBING IMAGE…..you’ve NEVER seen anything this debased.  It’ll scare the h-e-double L out of ya!  Hold on to your footlong corny dog!

 

Silence of the Lambs….Goat Edition!  How many hapless homo sapiens did this wicked goat consume before the fair police chained him to the fence in his Anthony Hopkins mask??!  Or, is the goat simply too fond of fava beans and liver?  look on top of the cage for the body……
Have the best Monday ever.  Remember….Fair Fun ALL WEEK on this blog.  Check back.
Midway love to all.
Posted on in horse show, Midland

west texas weekend

Was on the road last weekend with ‘my best old-lady horse in the world‘, Rodney.  This is where we were.  Any guesses?

No, not Seattle…not Santa Cruz….not Miami…..but Midland! That’s right. There are lots of pump jacks in Midland. It’s not exactly the most verdant city in the USA. Can you guess the name of this arena?

No….not the saddle arena…..no, not the lopin’ arena…..not the easter egg arena. That’s it-the Horseshoe Arena. It was a nice facility. Since my class didn’t show until later in the day, I went looking for trouble. This is where I found myself.

I know, I know. I’m a nerd, but I love history. This little 1950’s house was such a blast from my past. It is a modest house in a very modest neighborhood.

Remember the phone nook in the hall of your house? The Bush’s had a phone nook, too.

The house and the memorabilia were interesting and they are a treasure for the city. I had two extremely knowledgeable guides take me through the house. The inside of that house sure did take me back to the 1950’s and my childhood. Midland may not be a verdant town, but the people are verdant in spirit. Wonderful, polite, salt-of-the-earth…..just nice folks. A very pleasant and helpful lady took some pictures of me with Rod and emailed them to me.

Look at all the fans!!  Could hardly think with all the yelling and cheering.  What a privilege to ride this talented horse. Because he has so much heart, we did really well at this show. Here I am leaving the arena trying to look cool.  I was really screaming !YAY! inside.

Here is my cowboy/friend/trainer/ Roger with me after the show. He’s really short isn’t he?

Don’t you dare make fun of him having just 4 fingers on his right hand. He likes to tell small children a horse bit one off! It makes for a fun story, but it was nothing that dramatic.  He’s every bit as capable as any 10-digited man I know.
A fun weekend in a friendly town. Thanks Nancy, for the photos!

Posted on in american quarter horse, horse show

a day in the life of a show horse

Today we have a guest blogger-Rodney, the American Quarter Horse.  Rodney is my horse and I am lucky to show him at Quarter Horse Shows.  Let him tell you about a typical horse show day.  Take it away Rod!
Hay everyone…let me show you what I do at a Quarter Horse Show.  We care about our hoof-wear.  My person wears this on her hoof. It helps me understand what part of my body I am supposed to move


She puts these on my legs to give my muscles support. Please don’t call them hose-they are leg wraps

Sometimes a person comes and helps us with our feet. Some of us wear very special shoes.  They are nailed on-but it doesn’t hurt

Hay buddy…why the long face?  Sorry…..bad  joke. I have to be patient and wait my turn

My mane is cut short and banded with little rubber bands to make it lay down nice and neat.  It’s not cool to have stall hair in the show pen.   Some of us wear braids and others of us have long, flowing manes.  Most horses in my class (western pleasure) wear the mane short…but you don’t have to

My person puts a shiny saddle on my back and pins this paper to my saddle pad

To do my job correctly, I have to listen and pay attention.  Practice, practice and no neigh-saying

While I was practicing, a lady who walked with the help of a piece of wood asked if she could pet me.  She had white hair and she told how she used to ride and show horses…but not any more.  Her hand looked bumpy, but her touch was soft and reassuring.  I stood still while she touched me.  She thanked us and turned to limp away with her stick.  She looked to me like she could use a good vet.  I don’t know what happened to my person…she either had dirt blown in her eyes or she had a run-in with her water bucket.  She wiped her cheek and looked down, but I knew the eyes were making water.
 
These are different things that go in my mouth. Which one depends on what I am doing and how old I am and things like that.  I turn my head towards my person, open my mouth, and help put my own bit in

Some of us get tired and have to take naps. We wear pajamas to keep our hair and mane neat

Only the wisest and most experienced horses get to carry around a small person like this.  This one must have grazed on something hard…his teeth are gone

After my class, my person pets my cheek and pronounces me ‘the best old-lady horse ever’.  I don’t understand what that means exactly, but then she kisses me on my muzzle and we both feel proud.  I start looking for a snack.  Hope you enjoyed hearing about my day.