Horse Show Mom

T minus 17 hours and counting until show time.  My least favorite day...the day before a horse show.  So much to do and never enough time to do it in.  I tell myself each time that we'll get a routine going and be more organized about it, but never-the-less, we still manage to forget something or run out of time.  Syd showed Maui on Wednesday for her 4-H Production Show in Williamsport.  The event earned her a first place ribbon through the Dutch Awarding system.  This means that all contestants in each class have an opportunity to walk away with a first place ribbon.  The best entry of the group can earn a Grand Champion award ribbon.  They will continue on to the 4-H State competition since they earned a first place.  Showmanship isn't Syd's favorite class to show in, but they're getting better.

It's amazing how many horse supplies can fit into a PT Cruiser.  I'm sure Chrysler never intended they're throwback to the oldies but goodies line would be used as a tackroom on wheels.  And despite the best efforts of air freshners, the smell of horse manure prevails. 

Syd has to go to the farm to wash Dakota and then Donna is going to braid his mane.  He cleans up real nice and is a handsome little bugger.  He would make his quarter horse parents proud.  The great thing about him is he's very much a push button horse and nothing phases him. 

I have field boots to pollish and buff, a Dover Saddlery shirt to iron, and Syd's favorite lucky breeches to search for.  They have been missing in action since the Liberty Circuit in Cobleskill, New York.

Sydney's screen name is hunt seat diva...and so fitting.  We all run around and serve the diva.  Diva's helmet, diva's gloves, diva's hair snood.  You name it, we wait on her. 

I'm a newbie to this blogging thing.  Bear with me as I muddle through for my lack of technology skills.  As you can see from my posting name, I'm a horse show mom.  Something else that is new to me.  My daughter, Sydney, just started showing this spring on her lesson horse, Dakota.  In April, my husband and I "invested" in an Appendix Quarter Horse for her by the name of She Knows Shesa Star or her stable name Maui.  She is a tall, leggy hunter by Starman SL out of Courageous Kitten.  Her sire's bloodlines go back to Man o' War and War Admiral.

Sydney and Maui recently won the Small Fry Circuit Championship at the New York State Quarter Horse Association's Liberty Circuit Event.  The amazing thing about it is Maui is only three years old.  Not only did she win in the Small Fry class, she went on to the very next class Green Horse with my Daughter's instructor, Donna Lombardi-Seeley and won that circuit title as well.  She is an amazing three year old.  Our entire family can be in her stall grooming her and giving her love and she justs stands there and soaks it up.  She loves the attention.  And then, you put a saddle on her back and she's all business.  We were very lucky to get her.

In this blog, I am planning to share my show experiences from a "newbie" viewpoint while at the same time getting a chance to voice/vent my feelings.