I went home over the weekend for a schooling horse show. When I got home, I wasn't sure if I would show or just help. Well...my mom helped me make my decision. When I got to the show, she happily told me I was signed up for 5 classes! Whoa! Back up this horse! I was about to show in 5 classes on Erin's horse HotRod, and I had only ridden my horse, Daisy, once since August because I've been at school. I said okay to my mom but wondered what I was agreeing to. My mom assured me the classes were all walk trot classes and that HotRod would know what to do, which I knew he would be a good boy.
So a little while later I strapped on some spurs and put on a cowgirl hat. Then I climbed on to HotRod, Erin gave me some tips, and we headed into the arena. I won the class! Well, actually, HotRod deserves most of the credit. He is a cool horse who knows what to do in the show ring and takes care of his rider. This class and the next one were walk trot classes.
Now let's remember it's been a few months since I've ridden, therefore, I was feeling a little sore by the time I had shown in two classes. I was going to scratch the next classes, but the woman running the gate convinced me to go in so that they didn't have to cancel the class. I agreed to go in because I knew the others in the class wanted to do it for practice. So there I was up on HotRod heading into the ring when my mom yells across the, "Cara, why are you going in? You don't know how to lope HotRod!" Whoa! My mom was right I didn't know how to lope him, yet she had signed me up. I thought oh boy what am I getting into. Erin quickly gave me some pointers and with courage I headed into the arena. At first, he wouldn't lope for me but then he did!
It was a victorious moment when HotRod began to lope for two reasons. That was the first time I had ever loped him. Second, it was the first time I had ever loped a horse in a show ring setting. And I got to do it all on HotRod. I didn't get a ribbon from the judge but I gave myself and invisible one. I'm pretty proud of myself for being brave and going in there, and I accomplished two things at once! It was a good weekend!
