3D Champion for the Winter Series!

It’s been in the 50s, 60s, and even a couple 70s days the last couple weeks, but of course when the last horse show of the season rolled around it was 25 degrees out. Nonetheless, the boyfriend and I packed up and made our way over for a sure-to-be freezing day.

It was worth it!

After a bit of a mishap two weeks ago at a show (knocked a barrel) we had spent as much time practicing as possible. I’ve been using the sweet six bit, which I found has been great for her with barrels. We worked a lot on adding more speed and pushing my limits more than hers- we’ll never get any faster if I don’t push. After only two weeks I saw a definite change from her fat winter belly to a more defined and slimmer one, as well as the rest of her huge muscles coming back. I love having a horse that is such an easy keeper!

A couple hours after watching some very talented Peewee riders it was finally time for barrels! I took one exhibition to jog her through the pattern, then one at a fast lope. She was incredible for her second exhibition. We’ve had problems in the past with what I say is “getting stuck” on the first barrel, where it just takes forever to get around it. Before I went into the ring I let her get a little excited, and just kind of let her do her thing going in. I think from now on I just need to trust her more instead of pulling back going towards first. A trainer said something to me once that has stuck with me: “What do you think she’s going to do, run into the wall?” So true. She’s a smart mare and she knows her job, so I let her just run into her pocket and right around she went.

I came out of the ring with the attitude of, I don’t even care how her open run goes, that run right there proved to me how great she really is (but of course plan to do my best!). I shouldn’t underestimate my Fancypants. Once again I let her get excited before letting her run in and let her go full out to first. We spun around first fine, but I got nervous going to second as I felt her trying to turn too early. Luckily I was able to pull her back up enough to spin around second and fly off to third. Our second and third were a little wide, but still we ran our hearts out. When I finished I was thinking something we’d ran maybe an 18.5, and then I heard I ran a… 17.374!! That is by far the fastest we have ever ran. Needless to say, Fancy got a bunch of hugs and kisses and loving. One of my favorite things about Fancy is how she can run like that, then come back down in a few second and go right to sleep- even with other excited horses running around her.

Photo by Rumoured Moments Photography

So we sat there and watched the rest of the runs- for awhile I was at the bottom of the 1D, then the top of the 2D, and then someone ran  a 15 something (didn’t hear the whole thing) and I was pushed out of placing in the 2D, probably placing 3rd or 4th or so in it. I didn’t even care though, I do this for the fun of it, the fact that we ran that fast is amazing to me especially just coming out of winter!

This was also the last show of the season, and was double pointed. I ran too fast for the 3D, but had previously won 1st place at three or four other shows this season. At the end of the show I just didn’t know what to expect. There were two shows (including this one) that I had ended up in the 2D, and one show I had knocked third. Somehow, I ended up winning first in the 3D for the season! They brought Fancy and I into the arena and I was presented a breast collar. I still can’t believe it. I am so proud of my and Fancy’s accomplishments and couldn’t have asked for a better partner for all of this. We started the season running an 18.9, and ended with a 17.3. Here’s to practicing for a successful rest of the year, too!