January gymkhana

Here is a video of one of my events.  It's called the Figure 8 Cowhorse.  Apparently using 45 seconds of copyrighted music is a no-no.  Next time I'll do something else for sound.

When I arrived at the ranch for this month's gymkhana, I decided to sign up first and then get G out of his stall.  There was only one family and they were having trouble signing up.  It seemed like every kid had a different last name and no one knew which kid was under which name.  It was taking forever.  Since there wasn't any line, I wandered off while they figured it out.  Big mistake!  When I came back the line was huge.  I decided to get G and groom him while I waited for the line to die down.

Spots at the hitching rails are at a premium and I had to hitch at a rail I don't like.  When someone came to hitch up next to me G threw a little tantrum.  The other rider moved off, and I felt badly about it.  Once I signed up I moved G to the back side of the arena and tacked up in the boonies.  I signed up for all six events.

Once I was in the saddle G was a prancing hyped up maniac.  He really understood that there was a competition. The ranch was so crowded there was no good place to warm up and burn off the excited energy.  The secondary arena was already full and even the pathways around the stalls were crowded.  Not only were there horses and riders, there were friends, children big and small, and dogs running around.  The preschool sized children always worry me the most.  They have no fear and no sense when it comes to hyped up horses.

Gary, Alex, and Caitlin arrived shortly before the first event.  Gary went to the announcement stand to find a good camera angle.  Alex and Caitlin hung out with me until the allure of the goat pen won out.  They were so intrigued that they missed my first event!  The P.A. system is just loud enough for the arena area and doesn't carry to the rest of the grounds.

The gymkhana lasted four hours.  I was in the arena for less than one minute per event and the time between my runs was very long.  The cold wind and Alex's hunger sent the kids back home after just two events.  I called them to come back as the second to the last (penultimate is such a better way of saying it) event was being set up.  They saw my last two runs and then it was off to Chili's for a warm and delicious lunch. 

I learned many things from this months gymkhana.  Sign up first no matter what.  Plan on tacking up in the boonies.  If it's a crowded event have family come for just the second half.  Use a different video camera.  Layers and snacks!

I took a lesson this week so now I have some pointers on what to practice.  It's so much fun that I don't care that I came in last almost every time.  Still I'd like to know what I'm doing and be in better control.