Sunday stuff

It was a sleep-in morning. We don't leave for the fairgrounds until around 7. I actually slept in---until 5:45. Days at the horse shows are good for insomniacs. I slept well last night and enjoyed every drop of it.

Yesterday was a good day at the show. Yesterday put it all together for my new chapter of horse ownership. It's an ongoing story and will continue to be, but for one year and one day after the loss of my great horse Rambo, we enjoyed a lovely moment at the show.

Lefty came out of the ring with a sash of yellow, white and purple flowers. He was named champion purebred Arabian gelding. First, I must be point-blank honest and point out that he had just one other horse for his competition---a two-year-old from the Tri-Cities.

It was not the luck of lack of numbers though. Lefty looks good, and I can say that after a lifetime of being critical about horse conformation. He looks really good, and the judge thought so too. He received a higher point total than the show's champion Arabian stallion.

Not a good thing for a stallion which is going to pass on his genes, but a great thing for a gelding who's just gonna be a much-loved nice horse for riding and showing. Lefty scored high in all categories---legs, Arabian type, head and neck, back line, etc. We're proud of the little guy, and we know he has a nice future. I know Rambo would be proud too.

I have no means of putting up my pictures, but I'll sure post a few tomorrow.

Today Laurie will ride again at the dressage show up on the hill southwest of Spokane. It's a big show; the grounds up there are crawling with horses and their owners. Many elegant sights with riders dressed up in top hats and tails or breeches and caps. Rusty did well yesterday, but the judge was sparing with her points. Laurie was thrilled because the judge noted that her hands looked "tactful . . .don't change that."

I walked Lily around the equestrian center yesterday. I knew she was tall, but she seems taller than ever after a few weeks of being away. She was happy to have me brush her in her box stall, didn't even try to nibble at me.

We attended the dog show yesterday in between classes. It's a sizable show with 2,700 pooches and their handlers, groomers, owners, etc. The two Yvonne's next door to our barn stalls (a mother-daughter team from Vancouver) have a couple of Boxers. Turns out one is a Canadian champion, so they were watching the Boxer competition as we strolled through.

I love dog shows, and I wish I had more time to take it all in. I've never seen so many golden retrievers or Boxers or shelties. I met a young Border Collie pup who had beaten all the boys in her class. She resides in Seattle with her adoring owner.

Lots going on here in Spokane, and a busy day ahead. Then, we'll take Lefty back to the equestrian center, pack up and head home. Barbara and Laurie know they've got a field of lawn hay to mow upon their arrival, and I'll get back to the business of gardening and lawn work. All the while I'll be revisiting those moments when Lefty pranced through the fairgrounds with his beautiful sash.

It's been a good horse show, for sure.