[bnttyra]

My very first AQHA breed show in now over and done with. The girls could not have done better then they did and I was very happy with them.

We didn't place, last in almost every class, but I expected that and was surprised and very pleased with the one 5 out of 7 placing. I had been to these shows before but it sure is different when you are there showing yourself and the larger big horses really did have me in awe at first.

I showed Mo in amateur mares 2 and under and she was perfect for me. Set up well and stood quietly the whole time.

Then I showed Niki in novice amateur showmanship. She wasn't setting up well at all, was camped out and only set up perfect when we finished the pattern and lined up.

Next was Mo and Amanda in green hunter under saddle. We really just wanted to get her in a class with other horses all undersaddle and she did very well for her first one ever. She has maybe 45 rides and we are not pushing this mare at all, only ride her maybe 1-2 times a week and didn't canter her until this last week so she learned her leads 2 days before the show and did them right! I was very happy with her and know that as long as we are patient and don't push her, she will be a very good show horse.

Reining was last on Saturday. Niki did the pattern very well, she was giving me a bit of trouble on her right spins (this is her bad side) and I lost my focus and did one to many. We dropped down on the lead changes only because I wanted to make sure she did them right and her slides, well, weren't exactly slides, due in part to my timing being off. So we ended up being DQ'd but I was still happy with her performance and believe we could have placed 2 or 3 in that classes if I had done it right. There were 5 in the class and only 1 was good at everything, every one else had more deductions with the exception of one other gal that was close to how my pattern was but she did it right.

I was able to met some local big name reining trainers who came up to me after my pattern. They saw lots of potential in Niki and gave me some great advice and I even found out that one of them owns the feed store I go to and is planning on being down here alot so I got his number. Tyler Wise gave me so many tips and I was thrilled to just be able to speak to them and have him come up to me!!!

Today we only had one class, novice amateur horsemanship. Niki was so good! She didn't want to pick up the left lead when we first got there but by the time my class came around, she was doing it perfectly. She broke gait on the rail (she saw my husband and decided she needed to say hi!) but the was really her only mistake. I was thrilled to have one of the judges place me 5 of out 7!

So I can say that I am happy with my 1st AQHA show and know that we will be much better at the next!!

Pictures are being uploaded as we speak!!!

[LuckyAshley]

I'm glad everything went well! It sounds like you guys had an overall good outcome, placings or not... the experience is what counts! Good job! I can't wait to see pictures!

[bnttyra]

This is Mo being set up for her halter class.

I am trying to get the other on here but my internet is the speed of a glacier right now!!!

[Acme Acres]

Tanya, win or loose, Im proud of you! You're one of the few people in this state that I know of who's willing to go from halter to rail to performance, rain or shine, being the best in the class or not. Just wait until the tide turns back to the all around. You're just a head of the curve

[madvoice]

You got out there and you had a go and you and your horses had fun doing it. That's a win!

[bnttyra]

Thanks guys! It was sorta weird to see the halter people, then all the WP/SMS people, and then the reining crowd. They are all sorta in their own little groups with a couple of people doing what I did. I have to say everyone was really nice and supportive, especially the reining people. They cheered everyone one no matter how you did!

Still working on the pictures, may not have any more on here until tomorrow, with the way my internet service is working!

[Canadian Sage]

CONGRATS on having a fun weekend!

Even if you didnt place, the experience is great! one day, just you wait!

[bnttyra]

I know we will be in the running in the near future and I can't wait for our next show. I know on day two I didn't feel as out of place and definitely had more confidence and I think that helped alot. Plus placing 5th showed that I could run with the big dogs, heck, my little girl is far from finished, only 4 and I was competing against finished older show horses with people that had full time trainers. I have done almost everything myself with her since we got her and she keeps getting better every show I take her to.

[Zoomarsgirl]

Win or loose, the important thing is that the horses were good and you had a good time! So congratulations! You'll get 'em next time. Mo is gorgeous, by the way.. *drools*

[Quick2Skip01]

Congratulations! Im glad to hear that it went well, and that your horses were well behaved. I love your SMS outfit, super sharp! Cant wait to see more pictures!