When I was 11 I entered my first Horse Show.  It was held at a local stable in Nebraska called Ponca Hill.  Princess and I won the very first class that we entered.  I laugh when I see the pictures.  My mother, being a seamstress decided to make me a tan corduroy blazer instead of buying me the traditional Hunt Coat.  I can understand that...they are expensive and who ever knows when their child will stick with something.

My second event at the show was jumping cross-rails.  I was doing fine but on my last jump, Princess stumbled on the landing and fell to her knees.  I slid down her neck and took in a mouth full of dirt.  My parents had been watching in the viewing area and my dad had to hold my mother back from running out to me.  My trainer however, came out, dusted me off and put me back on my horse (as the cliché goes.)   I took my courtesy jump and exited the arena. 

That class was special to me, because they awarded me sixth place even though I had fallen and disqualified myself.  The person that gave up her ribbon so that I could be encouraged by reward; was my good friend Barbie.  She went without so that I would feel better about my tumble.

We would spend the winter have lessons every week riding all of our favorite lesson horses, Mac and Princess of course, along with; Paint, Eugene, Royal, Jody, Simon, Happy, Q'ubert, Goodbar, and Wildfire.  For one particular lesson they let me ride a horse that was there only temporarily.  His name was Bates Motel.  He was a huge bay State Champion Jumper.  He was solid brown with a huge white face.  I was in love with this horse and wanted my parents to buy him for me so badly.  That however did not work out. 

We continued showing throughout the winter at Ponca Hill and we also showed one time at the Base Stable.  This was an exciting new place to show for us.  I remember at some point during the day, my mom and I stopped and waved at the plane high in the sky.  My dad was leaving for Europe and he would miss my day.  We would end up missing him too for quite a while. 

At this show they were giving trophies for every placing in every class, however Barbie and I were a little out of our league at this event.  So to ensure that we did not go home empty handed, we rode in the pairs class together.  There were only four entries and we made five.  So there we went in the pairs class, where the idea was that our horses should look alike.  We entered on our brown and white Pinto and our yellow and white Appaloosa.  Our mismatched duo took home a fifth place trophy for our efforts. 

                      

The day finished up with a single jumping class, which turned out to be very disappointing to me.  Several horses went in for their go-rounds and never completed it, because their horses couldn't jump the fences.  I was on the number one lesson horse, so I was ready to step in the ring and show them how it was done.  Princess and I cantered around and took our fences.  Half way through the course however, she did the unthinkable and refused a fence.  This was not at all like her and was not supposed to happen to me!  Mrs. Carhart (the stable owner) pointed out to my mother that she had never seen a jump before made out of hay bales.  I circled her around for a re-approach and she took the fence just fine.  I was the first rider to complete the course that afternoon.  However there were 7 completed trips and only 6 awards.....I walked away empty handed. 

Can't win em all.