[i_luv_wildfire]

Sorry to disappoint you if you thought I rode in a horse show yesterday. I didn't, and I don't have any pics. But yesterday was the annual horse show at the therapeutic riding center where I ride and volunteer. Since I haven't been doing that great in lessons lately, I decided not to participate this year, but my mom and I still signed up to volunteer.

Well, anyway, we got there at about seven (volunteers didn't have to get to the farm until 8, and the show started at 9, but the barn manager/volunteer liaison, who we're really good friends with, said to get there at seven if we wanted because she knows my mom and I know what we're doing and have been helping bring in the horses from the pastures at seven since forever).

Things were already up and rolling, but there were still some horses out so we helped bring them in. Then everyone (well, almost everyone) started grooming horses because there are approximately 35 horses at the farm and most were being used in the show. This isn't a "real" show, with show clothes and braided manes and tails and such, but every horse had to be groomed, obviously.

So anyway, we groomed and stuff until 9. Jean, the barn manager person, said not to worry about coming to the volunteer meeting because we "belonged to her" for the day. She said we were working in the barn, which I was (overly, maybe) excited about because not everyone is allowed to be in the barn during the show, to cut down on traffic and chaos. So by letting my mom and I work in the barn, it was sort of like telling us she could trust us and she thought we knew what we were doing.

The jobs of people working in the barn were to get horses ready (students didn't groom and tack up by themselves, because it had to be done really fast and again, there was the chaos factor) for riders. So basically I led horses, groomed, and tacked up for eight straight hours. By the end of the day I was getting REALLY fast at putting bridles on. Since the horses were used more than once during the day, and usually about every twenty minutes or so, their saddles were left on and they were tied (with water and hay) in their stalls to save time.

The good thing was, all of us in the barn (about six people) started working like a team from the very beginning. We always had the horses ready when the people who were helping the riders mount called for them. The bad thing was, the people mounting got really behind. Then something on the trail course broke, which put things even more behind. But other than that, things went through without a hitch and the rain held off until everyone was done riding.

And I was excited because the one little girl who I led for her three different events got first place in every single event! So apparently I did well (she had to stay on a lead line the whole time, so I basically was leading the horse through the courses). So I was proud of her. Also, Wildfire did REALLY well for the one girl riding him-she's an independent rider and basically on the same level as me. He actually stopped where and when he was supposed to, which he hasn't been doing lately. So I was proud of him, too.

Anyway, just wanted to share! It was really fun...only bad part is, my feet are really tired! I only sat down for about fifteen minutes from seven to three yesterday!

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

WOW!! Sounds like our show at the therapy center I ride at. Ours is strictly for the disabled riders though. Ours is a 2 day show now because we have so many riders we'd be there from like 7 to 10! LOL We get assigned horses and I'm usually assigned to 2 or 3.

It's a great feeling at the end of the day though isn't it?

[i_luv_wildfire]

Geez, your center must be huge! Mine (well, not mine but you know what I mean ) has like 100+ riders but not all compete in the show. I guess that's why the volunteers are allowed to ride...but only if you're in a volunteer riding class, and not everyone is.

And yeah, it's like the greatest feeling. They're all so excited to get their ribbons at the awards ceremony at the end (everyone gets a ribbon, but they do have places-like not everyone gets a blue, or whatever). This one girl-well, lady I guess-that I know from Wednesday nights got like a fourth and two eighths, but she was so excited! Most of them don't even care what place they get, they just like hearing their name called.
But then there are the riders who don't have a big-deal disability, and it's more of a competition for them. No one really gets upset though. I love seeing the smiles.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

^^At the center I'm at every rider gets their own blue ribbon. And I believe they hang them around their necks so they can wear them all day.

[i_luv_wildfire]

Originally Posted by bay_blnd jmpr07

^^At the center I'm at every rider gets their own blue ribbon. And I believe they hang them around their necks so they can wear them all day.

Awww, that's cute. The riders at Pegasus get them put on their collars (using the part that would be clipped on the horse's bridle normally) but normally they're off within seconds. They all want to hold them and look at them.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Awww LOL

I think I used pics from Pegasus for an 8th grade English assignment...I e-mailed and got permission first though hehe

[Super Step]

I am proud of you and your mother for what you do. Though there is no actual pay, the payment is in the smile you bring to the faces of the children and their parents.

I commend you.

[SweetIron]

I think that's a great way to spend your day! Not only are you doing something awesome by volunteering and helping, but you are also inadvertantly learning too! (you did mention that you were getting faster at putting bridles on...)
The world needs more people like you.

[i_luv_wildfire]

Originally Posted by Super Step

I am proud of you and your mother for what you do. Though there is no actual pay, the payment is in the smile you bring to the faces of the children and their parents.

I commend you.

Hey, thanks Tim! I just like being around the horses, and of course helping in class and stuff. It's really fun. What really tears you up is seeing how far some of the kids have come...I've watched one girl with Downs go from being terrified of horses to getting on them and having fun on them. Another girl couldn't use a saddle because of something with her legs. Now she uses a saddle and is working up to using stirrups. It's just amazing, what horses can do.

And bay blnd jumper...do you have the pics on your computer? How did you even hear of Pegasus? Or maybe it's two different ones?

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

I was doing a goolge search for therapeutic riding and it popped up so I looked at it and saw the pics.

I love watching the kids(and adults) grow in the their classes. I remember one night I was leading for my favorite rider and she didn't talk. Though she did make humming like sounds which was her singing. And she did sign language a little bit. But one night she said "Whoa" for the first time!! And then she said "All done"...We were all crying. And now she can ask for things like "More ball please", or "Outside please" and she can command her horse to walk and trot. It's so amazing. And I love it when I can go up to her and say "Hello Bella" and she'll look at me and say "Hi"...It's awesome.