Pictures from the PCFTA Show

Scanned in my pictures from the show.

Halter Classes:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155108063
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155109036

Under Saddle Classes:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155108308
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155109274
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155108780
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155108546
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155108308
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie/155107734

My First Gaited Show in California

Wow! This weekend, I went to the first gaited horse show that I've been to since Apache and I moved to California. I was hoping we'd do better here than we did in Texas, since the focus there is much more on the built-up horses and even in the more lite shod classes, exaggerated action is still preferred. The California gaited community seems to be much more focused on flat shod horses and more natural ways of going. However, you just never know until you show up.

So, Apache and I headed up to the PCFTA show in Elk Grove this weekend, with classes for Peruvian Pasos, Mountain Horses, Tennessee Walkers, Missouri Fox Trotters, and Spotted Saddle Horses. We started two in-hand classes, SSH Halter – Open and TWH Model – Stallions and Geldings, Open. Neither Apache nor I is very good at halter, but I just think he's so pretty that I always have to try. I need to put more practice into my showmanship and into getting Apache to do his job and pay attention in hand. He gets bored and starts looking around and chomping and breaking his stance. So we'll put in some more practice and hopefully get better at it. We got 4th/6 in the SSH class and 3rd/3 in the TWH class.

After the halter classes were out of the way, it was time to move on to the under saddle classes. First, was the SSH Amateur Owner to Ride, 2 Gait. There were 7 horses in the class and they were all good looking. I felt like Apache had a perfect ride. He kept his gaits consistent the entire class and had a great energy with his ears up and his headset alert but collected. I was thrilled with him, regardless of how we placed. I think it was his best performance the entire show. On the lineup, I couldn't believe it when I heard my number read off first, especially after my experience at gaited horse shows in Texas where the judges never really like us. Next was the SSH Open – 2 Gait, with 6 horses in it. Apache performed well, but I didn't feel he was *as* perky and consistent as the first class. I was still very happy with him. This time, we got second, which I was quite proud of. The last class for the day was SSH Novice Horse or Rider – 2 Gait with 5 horses in it. Apache was getting a little annoyed at this point and I carried a crop because he was trying to be lazy. While I had to push him more than before, I felt the performance I got out of him was about the same as the previous class. When they announced the results, I got another first. I couldn't believe it. What was going on? I'm not used to anyone appreciating my horse but me! I was on cloud 9 by the end of the day.

The next day, we did two more classes. First was SSH Amateur Horse – 2 Gait, first thing in the morning, which had 4 horses in it. Apache was still a bit annoyed from having to do so much work the day before and now was being asked to do it again, and on top of that, I had interrupted his breakfast. He gave me a level of energy about equivalent to the last two classes of the previous day. I took a crop in just in case and I did have to use it a few times. He just wanted to go back and eat. He kept up his pace, with great encouragement from me, but was inconsistent in his gaits. He was pretty square the first way around, but was doing a stepping pace the second way around. I kept asking him to square up, but he wasn't having it. In the end, we got 2nd, and the judge gave us a few words about remembering to keep the gaits consistent both ways around. I already knew we had messed that up, but I got the feeling we weren't the only offenders in the class. By the next class of the day, SSH Open – 3 Gait, he'd had a chance to finish his breakfast and was a little perkier. Plus, he always perks up in the ring when asked to canter. He thinks it means play time! He gave me a beautiful canter in both directions and got both his leads with no trouble. His gaits were pretty consistent, too. He did get pacey a few times, but I asked him to square up and he responded this time. We ended up getting another blue ribbon.

There was another SSH class before lunch, SSH English/Western – 2 Gait, Open, but I didn't want to ask him to do yet another class. He had been so good and done so well. I did want to do the SSH Championship, as I thought I had a good shot at the blue, or at least reserve, but it was the last class of the entire show and wouldn't start until early evening. My trainer wanted to get on the road before traffic started, so unfortunately we had to skip it. : \

Needless to say, this was a great show and a great experience. I am so proud of him and of all the work I've done with him over the years working on his gaits, particularly consistency. I know that foundation has everything to do with where we are today. In the past 6 months or so that I've been working with Dee Dee, she has also helped tweak our performance, getting a better action and speed and getting Apache to move off my leg and balance in the bridle as well. It all has come together so well. I got several compliments on him at the show and several people made comments to my trainer about what a nice hores he was and asking about him. I even had some women spectators telling me how great we looked each time I came around in the 3 gait class. It was a very proud experience for me. We'll see how we do at the Woodside gaited show in a few weeks.

The New Machine

So I did end up getting a new laptop – one of the new dual core Dell m1710s. It plays BF2 and WOW flawlessly. I have not had any more lag or performance issues and playing BF2 widescreen is prettycool. I have gotten 2nd and 3rd on the server a few times again – hadn’t happened in a while. I’ll be back to 1st in no time, once I get used to the new config/keyboard. I actually bought an m170 and then the 1710s were announced the day before it arrived. I was able to get Dell to pay for me to return the m170 and credit me the full cost with no restocking fees so that I could buy the more expensive m1710. Pretty cool. The cost stung a little, but hopefully this machine will last me for a good while.

Flickrish

Mmmm, tasty – actually I hate licorice. Unless it's fake licorice, like strawberry flavored, like Twizzlers…aww yeah. Anyway. I have final been assimilated. I broke down and created a Flickr site for myself: http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmickie. Yeah, schmick was already taken, I was bummed. Oh well, the ole fall back works just fine. You may enjoy pictures of me, my horse, and some other random things. Pictures of my dog can be found on my friend Nicole's page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhanusek/search/tags:sammy+/. Pictures of me since my self-imposed make over (yeah, I hit 30 and decided I should start looking my age, at least in the way I dress) can be found on my other friend Nicole's page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/83029962@N00. For example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/83029962@N00/138541187. Hopefully I will get pictures of both Sammy and my newer self up on my own page soon, although to date, the only pictures of me post-make-over have been taken by Nicole.