I love mah horsie...

[NoniMe]

Right. Like you all didn't know I love mah horsie.

But you know what? He keeps making me so proud of him...

We showed today. I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but I needed to spend the day with friends and horses, so I decided what the heck...

It was an out of my area show. 45 minute trailer ride, all day at the show, and then a 45 minute ride home...but we did it.

We did showmanship (I did everything backwards. Tango was great, I sucked.) and took third (there were only three in the class. ROFL).



Then Tango had a hissy fit, broke his reins, spilled coffee on me, and copped an attitude. I handed him to one of the "Dads" at ringside, and took off my boots; found another set of reins, and sat down and 'recouped' myself.

Tacked the big ol' boy up, and we went into the warm up arena. This time, no shenanigans...utterly, totally listening, no anxiety, no upset...just a horse and rider, warming up. There was a 2'9" jump, and Tango kept eyeballing it. I got my trainer up onto him, she took him over it, and he clonked his hooves on it...but the pole stayed right there. I was so very proud of Tangoman...that's the highest he's ever gone. But we weren't showing jumping, we were in the flat classes.

The jumping went on for about forever...so we got some pizza and chips and salads, and had lunch. Tango was standing so nicely; every once in a while would poke his head around the trailer, note where I was, and go back to his lunch.

Then...tacked him up again, and went off to show. First class, we placed 4 out of 6. The only reason we placed so high was the other two were very illbehaved. But hey, I'll take it. Tango is not used to that many horses...the next class, there were 9 people. And we took 4th again. YAY us - we actually beat some folks...I didn't see them do anything wrong, but I'm pretty sure they must've, 'cause we were on the wrong lead once...

Took him in for the next class, and we got bunched up in a group. I did everything I could think of to get away from them, but just as I got into the clear, they asked for a reverse...and I was bunched in again. Sigh. But still, Tango handled it well. I have to learn how to do this spacing thing better, though...


Took him into the next class, whispered to him "get the right lead or no carrots for you!" and voila, he got the right lead. 'Course, the fact that I managed to get him set up well and cued before he was cantering helped. LOL...


We took blue this time!

Then we went and did another class...this time, I forgot to threaten the carrots...we went the entire circumference of the arena on the wrong lead; he never broke into a trot, and I couldn't get him to switch. I know that it was my riding, so I can't really blame Tangoman...we took 5 out of 5.


But I managed to get all my diagonals...never once missed it. Tango was having a ball; he does enjoy this stuff, I think.

Like I said, I was going into two more classes, but a young girl's horse spooked badly at the shadows, and she hit hard and knocked herself out briefly. I went over and helped until the ambulance got there, and then I just wasn't in the mood. Besides, Tango had been taken back to the trailer, and had gotten his carrots...so we packed up and came home.

Overall, besides looking startlingly, frighteninly like TweedleDee, I think we did all right. I took some hints and got my hair in two nets and a bow, and Tango had a different style of braiding. I didn't do such a good job on that - it fell apart after the 4th class - but still, it was braided better than before. I still look like a fat toad, but hey, at least I'm out there, and we're doing it...just don't ask me what was going on with my collar...I had no idea it was winging around behind me like that. And, above all, I learned a ton, Tango got exposed to a lot, and we didn't get hurt...and even managed a blue in there, too.

5 more photos from the day...


And:


And


And:


And:


Hope everyone had a great day - we sure did!

Best-
Noni

[Horselady44]

You two look great! Hes a handsome boy! Congrats! It sure looks like you had fun

[merleliz]

Woo Hoo! Another Blue!

You've shown twice and gotten a blue ribbon each time, I think that's fantastic!

Love the new boots and the new hairdo, it looks great...good pics, Tangoman is looking awesome, as always, look at the shine on that boy's coat!

Get over the fat toad, Tweedledee bit...your heels are down, your back is straight, you've got a leg on each side and you stayed on...that's a whole lot better than I could have done, LOL!

Is the girl who was hurt okay? Glad you were there to help, although it's a shame you missed out on the last classes...still, priorities...you and Tango will have plenty more chances to show...sounds like he's loving it, what a good boy he's become. You two have come such a long way, and you are such an inspiration to those of us who are still trying to come to terms with a canter, LOL!

I'm very proud of you, my friend, I think you and Tangoman are doing awesome!

[canteringkids]

Congrats on a great show! Tango looks awesome, so fit and shiny!

[qtrhorse1993]

you both look great and i am glad you had a good time!! thats what counts!

[kanoo32]

Congratulations, Noni!! You guys have come a long way!!

[scrapchick]

Noni and Tango! You look great! I'm so proud of you two!!!

[tuffsmom]

Noni and Tango great job. Looks like the day was just what you needed.

[NoniMe]

Thanks, you guys. Merle, I think the young lady will be all right...she did wallop her noggin good and hard, though. And it was kinda scary that she kept drifting in and out of consciousness, but the parameds were wonderful, and she got into great hands during transport and at the major trauma center, so I suspect she'll be fine in the end. She may not be riding today, but she will be soon.

Tango was so great. Except for the attitude in the morning, he was about as perfect as I could've asked for. He even went after the 2'9 jump...!!! Bless his heart. That boy loves the spotlight. When we're in our own arena, he's sometimes sluggish and lazy; but put him in an arena for show, and he gets so responsive and quick to do what I ask...

And he TIES!!! sort of. But the whole pulling back thing seems to be done with, and as long as he knows I/we are somewhere nearby, he's content to just hang out by himself and/or Shasta (his "BFF"), and just stays relaxed and quiet.

And I was asked a bunch of times what I used on his coat to make it so shiny...and all I can answer is good food, good exercise, good health...I groomed him once in the morning - and it wasn't even a lot; just to knock the dust off him. But he's just shiny. And that's the beginning of his winter coat, too...a bit of fuzzy stuff has appeared now, but he's still reflecting light like there's no tomorrow. Dunno...he just shines, I guess. LOL.

Tuffsmom, the day was exactly what I needed, and I think what Tango needed, too. I needed the break and the 'away' time...midterms have one last test to get through (this Thursday), and they've been insanely killer this term. So I really needed the break...

Thanks, guys. I do love mah horsie...he's turned into such a good boy. I can remember when I couldn't shower him, or even saddle him without it taking 2 hours...or the bridle wars...or the refusal to enter the arena without a lot of help from everyone. To have him willingly - happily!! - working with me is such a blessing. And to show? That's the icing...with little blue ribbons (amongst many other colors...) hanging up...well, yeah. That rocks.

Best-
Noni

[Arabx]

Congrats!! I like your braid job on your hair, it looks nice. And I have to comment on how shiny and healthy he looks! Glad you had a great day.

[Harmonyhill*]

Originally Posted by NoniMe

I can remember when I couldn't shower him, or even saddle him without it taking 2 hours...or the bridle wars...or the refusal to enter the arena without a lot of help from everyone. To have him willingly - happily!! - working with me is such a blessing. And to show? That's the icing...with little blue ribbons (amongst many other colors...) hanging up...well, yeah. That rocks.

Best-
Noni

Oh Noni! I am SO proud of you guys!!

You both look beautiful and congrats for dealing with Tango's morning fit. It would have taken a lot for me to put that behind and still have a good day!

You guys are such an inspiration, Thanks!

[NoniMe]

Originally Posted by Harmonyhill*

Oh Noni! I am SO proud of you guys!!

You both look beautiful and congrats for dealing with Tango's morning fit. It would have taken a lot for me to put that behind and still have a good day!

You guys are such an inspiration, Thanks!

One of the things I've learned in the last year or so is to focus on what's at hand. Put whatever's just happened aside, and get back to work. If I'm having a rough day, you can hear me mumbling "what's my job right now?"... and since I've learned how to do that, it's been a blessing.
Coffee on my show shirt was my fault. I should not have been wearing the shirt while drinking coffee...he got spooky and attitudinal, and I was still holding the coffee...thus, it went onto my shirt. So, I learned...don't wear the showshirt while drinking coffee. "What's my job? Rinse the show shirt, put it into the sun, and wear it wet if necessary. Get back to work."

Same thing with the reins. Bring an extra pair to the show, because you never know when you'll have a big ol' horse rear up and snap the reins. LOL. "what's my job? Put new reins on, and get back to work."

And so on. It's a great trick for school, too...when something upsets me, I think "what's my job right now? Pass the test/tend the patient/do my homework/study. Get back to the job at hand."

The cool thing is that when I can get back to the job at hand, I have great days. Things get accomplished, shows get ridden in, and things just work out somehow. I rode poorly, but as merle said, I kept a leg on both sides, my head above my horse, straight back, and learned a huge amount. That was my job; not necessarily winning, just doing it. That was the competition for me and Tango...trailering to a completely new place with strange smells, sounds, and shadows. And riding in the arena and showing. That was the job for the day...and we did it.

Arabx said:

Congrats!! I like your braid job on your hair, it looks nice. And I have to comment on how shiny and healthy he looks! Glad you had a great day.

Doesn't he look good? Lots of muscles and shiny as glass.

As for my hair, it's just a french braid done inside out. I'm sure there's an official name for it, but I don't know it. I wear my hair at work mostly in a french braid or an inverted french (like you see), and it keeps it out of my way mostly. It's so thick that if I wear it in a pony tail, it can often come over my shoulders and get in my way...although somewhere there's a photo of me riding Tango with my hair just clipped back and loose...

I am pleased at how the day went. He has developed into such a great boy...just a great boy. Someone called him a trusty mount yesterday; I got such a giggle out of that...'cause once, he was about as untrustworthy as it got. ROFL.

He does love showing, though. And I can't believe how he's trailering now. It's just so cool. He did try pooping out the back window yesterday, though...bombing the car (ahem...me) behind him. Cracked me up to see the road apples perched on the windowsill of the trailer. On the way home, we put him in the middle one stall, and we didn't have to worry about road apple bombs.

Best-
Noni

[horsebabyhehe]

way to go!! you guys look great!!

[NoniMe]

Originally Posted by horsebabyhehe

way to go!! you guys look great!!

Thanks. We had a good time...after his attitude got dealt with. LOL...he's a good boy, is Tangoman Fancypants Sweetcheeks...

Best-
Noni

[snwflk]

What a good boy.. cept for the lil tude.. but doesnt every kid get that every now and then! YOU did GREAT! and YOU LOOKED GREAT TOO!

[AngelPA]

You and Tango Man ROCK!!! Great job!

[Horselessnomore]

Congratulations on a job well done. You both look great!!!!

[kshnooks]

ah, you guys look really great! Turnout this show is much more spiffy looking and agreed that Tango is so shiny! Forget a mirror, you could just look at your reflection in his coat

Good job and even though you may not have always come in first place, I think its the journey for you two thats the most important!

[NoniMe]

Katie, it is about the journey. We won't win all - even most - of the time; in fact, when we have won blue, I generally figure that for whatever reason, it's just a fluke.

When I remember - really think about - where we were two years ago...yeah, it's about the journey, and the joy which comes from traveling the road. Sure, it's fun to "compete", to see if we can do this...but it's not about winning for me...it's about the doing and the fun and overcoming the challenges...about becoming better and better over time, and finding those edges and pushing past them.

And YES, he's shiny...good food, good exercise, and good grooming goes far. Hair nets, different stirrup leathers, and a different braid style works, too. LOL.

Best-
Noni

[Lady_MCSE]

Sweet, looks like you had lots of fun!