High Point Show Series

On Sunday I was asked to help assist in a local high point horse show. I was thrilled to have been asked and the weather here in Florida has been beautiful so I told them I would help. After two classes and my input on who should win and why, the judge handed the reins to me and said, " you got it Joan, you go ahead and judge the show." So, I judged my first big show. It was so much fun, I loved it. I know what a well trained horse looks like and how they should move. The hardest part was being friends with so many of the folks who showed. The best part was a few horses at the show have been in my training program. I have got to tell you that they were always in the top two if not finishing first. I was not leaning in favor towards them either because the other two judges had no idea what horses at the show I had trained or worked with in the past and though I had the final say on the winner, they made sure I was correct. I could not have been more proud of them or my work. Yahoo! Just another way of confirming that Natural Horsemanship works!! Thank you God for that pat on the back!

And last but not least, I have made the difficult decision of not applying for the Mustang Challenge in Ocala, Florida in March 09. The main reason besides finances and sponsorship for my decision is because of my leg. I should have been on bed rest for three months, not training a wild Mustang named Blossom. But, I had to do it. I had to finish what I started and get Blossom to the point that someone could adopt her. When I got home from Texas I got caught up with my kids and house by taking two weeks off and not riding. Two weeks was not long enough and the doctor said I need months. So I got to thinking, if I got a 3 or 4 year old Mustang at the end of January and got bucked off than that could pretty much send my training career south for a long time if not permanently. Now, that's not to say that a horse in my starting and foundation program will buck or to give Mustangs a bad rap, as a matter of fact I have never had a horse buck on that first ride, but that's because I
was always able to take my time if need be. But with these Mustangs we are under the gun, 100 days from wild to mild. Mustangs are intelligent horses but I think I will sit this one out. :(