At the Horse Show

Look, Ma.  I don't need to be held cuz I'm a trusty trail horse.

Mountain trails can often feature some challenging and precarious situations, so it's helpful to be riding a horse with a calm demeanor and with training/experience enough to get out of the tight spaces and to employ strategic placement of footing.

After all, staying upright (both horse and rider) is the ultimate goal while plodding down any trail.  

So, horse shows have trail classes with various obstacles to test all of the above.  My sister Barbara has always enjoyed training her horses for these classes.  

Trail competition in various categories dominated yesterday's events at the Regional Arabian Show in Monroe.

And, of course, Barbara's cheering section was on hand to help with grooming, photography and general support.  Barbara and her horse Dusty competed in two classes and won two Region Top Five ribbons.  

The first class was a bit shakey as Dusty focused a bit too much on the photographer who had shown up at the rail where he'd be going over his obstacles.  Horses are known for tuning in to anything new in their surroundings. 

So, Dusty, a usually calm 8-year-old gelding, had his mind on the photographer a bit too much in the first class, but once he decided it was okay for that person to be there, he did very well in his second.

Of course, we were all thrilled for Barbara who works hard at her horse pursuits.  She'll be showing in some Western Pleasure classes today as the main regional show revs up a notch or two.  

Laurie and I will leave for home after her last class.  We've had a great time over here with the usual bundle of laughs and eating, of course.  We dined in my brother's travel trailer last night and have generally just hung out.  

Sometimes just hanging out can be great fun.  

We hear that we'll return to a very smokey Sandpoint.  Not a fun thought.

Happy Wednesday.