nothing but smiles

The AQHA State horse show is this weekend. I am not going to the show. However, I am happy to report Brad said he was nothing but smiles! Day one & day two. I tried to talk him into writing a guest post. He declined, but sent me photos throughout the day complete with captions. All photo credit & quoted captions are Brad's. His sheer joy of being at the horse show with Padame, is nothing short of heartwarming. Brad is SO very smitten with her. I am super happy for him!! 

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Padame hasn't been trailered since she was delivered to us in February. She loaded and unloaded well. She backed out and into a bustling noisy strange world. Padame slowly made the big exit step down off our trainers four horse trailer, paused and just stood looking around. Not the typical scooting of a young horse with the unknown. Brad walked his very interested girl into the huge pavilion towards her stall, through typical show hoopla. Complete with children and dogs running amuck. Padame instantly made friends with a neighboring mare, who was even willing to share her hay. It was so sweet, like they were old friends. The mare's owner was okay with her horse sharing, and left the hay bag hanging accessible to both stalls. Most hang hay bags where it wont potentially become an issue.

"Hi mom. My world just got a lot bigger.
I already made a friend"

Brad is very proud of how Padame is taking everything in stride, and listening. Really really well, like a seasoned show horse. The huge five day show was quieter than years past. Perhaps due to lingering pandemic related things. In the Ranch circuit, there were multiple riders missing. They retired horses and are either still looking for new ones or not ready to show new mounts. Class days are always split, except for halter. Halter shows in front of all four judges in one day vs two judges per day for everything else.

"Waiting patiently for my turn"

(Brad said he was trying to do my eye photo thing. He did good!)

This year Ranch falls on Friday morning and Sunday afternoon. Padame arrived Thursday, and went home after watching Fridays Ranch classes. She will travel back for the day on Sunday with Checkers. The other ranch riding mare from the barn. Checkers is a seasoned older mare, being shown for the first and last time this season. It is just the way things worked out this weird year. Checkers has appeared on my blog before as well as her owner, who we trail ride with. 

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Padame calmly watched and soaked all show things in. Brad said her ears were constantly moving around like antennas. He started introducing her by watching arena activity, then lunged her in different scenarios.

"hurry up and get out of my arena"

excuse the wiggly lead
Brad is turning while holding a rope/phone/lunge whip
(37 sec)

The trainer had a good ride with her on day one. Brad declined to ride "this is about Padame, not me". Gotta love an owner putting the horse first. 

Trainer riding Padame

Padame (L) Checkers (R)

Day two was even more wonderful. Brad and his girl were on their own as the trainer was getting ready to show Checkers.

Brad riding in the practice arena, with Hunter horses

Padame wasn't fazed by the big horses. Not even when two side-by-side riders approached on the rail, and then split. Padame became a Hunter sandwich, and kept her stride in between facing big horses.

"listening to her first Star Spangled Banner"

"Finally, breakfast and some coffee (water).
This early morning stuff is for the birds. I need my beauty sleep"

"Do you know what they made me do all this morning? They made me go to work early. Made me ride in this huge arena with all them tall hunter horses (they are really stuck up). Finally, I got to eat breakfast and my morning coffee. What the hell. An hour later they had me back out riding again, and it's not even 11 am yet"

"I'm sorry. I'll share my hay with you"

Yep, Padame's world just got a whole lot bigger.