Most days I keep my head as far into Rainbows and Unicorns
land as it will go. Every once and a while I step back into the land of
reality; and then quickly remember why I don’t like it there. I have to decide
in the next 10 days if I am going to haul to Novice Championships this year.
Entries are due on the 31st. It is not the $275 entry fee that is
getting me down, it is the expense of hauling down to Vegas and back that I’m
not sure I can pull off in less than 2 months. If money were not a factor I
would haul down this year to have the experience of showing under the big
lights and then plan to haul again next year with a chance of being
competitive. When I think of not going, I feel like I’ve been kicked in the
gut; I really was looking forward to showing Grace in Vegas. At the same time I
also stop grinding my teeth in my sleep wondering how to pay for the trip. Ugh –
being a grown up sucks!
Region 1 was a real eye opener for me. I did not expect it
to be easy or anticipate winning before I went. I had hoped to suck a little
less than I did. I didn’t feel overly nervous but the mare became stiff and
tense when we walked into the show pen. This was after having some of the best
warm ups of all times on the same horse. So something must have changed when we
walked through the in gate, the trainer says it was me. I have to admit it was
hard not to compare myself to the breed show crowd, I often felt like I just
didn’t belong. This feeling was further driven home by a “new friend” that
suggested that my horse might just need to stay at the Zone show level. Wow,
nice welcome for a Rookie competitor! I know the only way to overcome the show
ring issues in the bigger shows is to haul to the bigger shows. I’m just not
sure that I am ready for that size of a blow to the ego again. The big show
made me miss my small pond. Have I said yet that being a grown up sucks??
There were some really good points to the show. The patterns
were the most technical I’ve ever ridden and I feel that I was able to rise to
the occasion. I had an excellent trail clinic and wish I had ridden that well
in my class. I was on my way to a great pattern in showmanship, until I
questioned myself and hesitated. I think I might want to actually master the
showmanship class, I no longer despise it. I was pleased with my Rookie Am
pattern on Sunday, I wasn’t nervous and had the mare exactly where I wanted her
during the pattern, I do wish it had stayed together for the rail work. I had
the chance to watch some pretty freaking amazing Western Riding patterns and I
do have hope that someday we will look like that. My mind was also opened to
the experience of a red neck swimming pool on the day that it was 100 degrees
and I will never look at the bed of a pickup truck the same on a hot day. Hmmm,
amazing how much better I feel after focusing on the good stuff.
