[MissTargets]

How are you doing with the new horse?

[MissTargets]

Last show of the year! Two day, AQHA show. I went on Saturday and watched her in Horsemanship and Pleasure. She won the Showmanship in the morning. Sunday she won a first and second in English equitation and hunter under saddle. These are the small fry, walk-trot classes. She did win all around for the year and we are so proud of her. This is a lot of tough competition.

Last minute instructions from mom.

This was her horsemanship class...two judges and she won a third and fourth. 10 in her pleasure class and she won 2 ninths. PJ broke into a trot from a walk and both judges saw that. :(

Looks like she is imitating Angelina Jolie.

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, she's a piece of work. Very green. She doesn't want to trot, doesn't want to collect, doesn't want to canter, doesn't want to take her leads, doesn't want to walk, doesn't want to stand still . . . it's really not cussedness or vice, she just (1) doesn't really know what I want and (2) has never been asked to behave before.

We pretty much have a long-running argument for about 15-20 minutes on the flat, where she tries every trick in the book to avoid the aids and I just quietly press her where she needs to go. Eventually she realizes that arguing with me is really pointless and gives in.

Then when I start working her over fences the whole argument starts again, because she wants to rush her fences and then buck on landing. My back and shoulders and triceps are sore just from holding her in position and pulling her head up when she starts bucking.

My trainer is thinking about putting her in an elevator bit. I don't know, I guess I'll try it, my shoulders are really sore!

She's a pretty, pretty young Oldenburg mare and she's got plenty of power and reach. She'll be a good horse . . . someday!