A really big win

Last weekend was our first big horse show.  It was an APHA show in Ohio at Roberts Arena.  We'd never been out of state to a horse show before so this was a new experience.  We drove down I-75 to Dayton where we were to head south east to Wilmington, OH.  Missed the exit.  I-75 was under construction and the signs were all messed up.  I got turned around and headed correctly at the next exit but the directions took us through a section of Dayton that wasn't really accommodating to lost mommies hauling 35' horse trailers.  I was giving myself a big pat on the back for stopping for fuel a short ways back on the expressway.

When we finally got there, we realized that the arena was part of a huge horse farm, Roberts Quarter Horses, and looked like an old southern plantation with the white board fencing, big house with pillars, etc.  The arena was actually several arenas all connected together with barns added on here and there making a rat's maze of connecting buildings.  It took me a while to find our stalls and unfortunately, since rain was in the forecast for the weekend, we were in one of the barns that was NOT connected to the arena.

We got unloaded and settled in with Equestrian Girl almost getting the trailer backed into our spot on her own (I'm teaching her while she's young with hopes she'll be better at doing it soon than me).  Stanley got worked, bathed and wrapped up tight to keep from getting dirty over night and we tried to sleep through some massive thunder storms.

In the morning Equestrian Girl and I were both tired and nervous.  And at each other's throats.  It all fell apart when Stanley broke the buckle on his $400 show halter minutes before the first class.  Since it was just Halter Class, a class we only do because we have to do it for the all around, we put him in a plain leather halter and headed for the arena.  On the way back we found some Michigan friends and asked to borrow their show halter for showmanship.  They very kindly agreed.  It ended up being a very lucky halter.

In showmanship setting up in the pattern and wearing her new self-designed and self-made outfit.

We love this pic.  You can see the judge smiling as Equestrian Girl goes past.

Walking up to the judges to set up.  There were 4 judges which should have made this a huge show but the turnout wasn't so great.

Inspection.  Stanley seems to be checking out the judge in the chair.  His name is "Goose".

Done with the pattern and feeling quite good!

The lineup with the other girls in the class nervously waiting for the results.

And the announcer says, "In a unanimous decision of all 4 judges, in first place is Equestrian Girl with Standards Gold Watch"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!