Our First Showmanship Class!!

Billy and I went to a local show and entered our first ever Showmanship Class tonight.  I have shown my ponies in Halter classes which is judged solely on the horses conformation - just like a dog show - the best put together horse or pony wins.  I have shown ponies and horses in hunter and jumper classes...soaring over fences - driven my ponies at shows too.  But I've never done a showmanship class. Showmanship is judged on the handler and how they present their pony.  You have to line your pony up to cones, trot certain distances, stop, back and pivot.  You also have to keep your pony between you and the judge as she makes a complete circle around you and the pony.  It's kind of like a dance...there is a method to where you should stand as the judge circles your pony...lots of movement and your pony needs to stand perfectly still.  The picture above says it all - big smile...I was really pleased with our first attempt!  Billy was great...a bit crooked at one point and our pivot was, well...it was lacking.

The pivot has alluded me...  I've seen the pivot done correctly and have talked with knowledgeable trainers concerning the training steps to get the job done.  It's really a beautiful movement, as the handler moves toward the pony, he steps away crossing his front legs as he sticks his back hoof on the ground and pivots his whole body around that leg in a circle.  I have been told that it is a challenge when teaching a small pony...as I tower over him and my body language isn't the same as it would be to a full sized horse.  I can see and understand the logistics of what they are saying...but there's got to be a way, we just hadn't found it yet!

I was watching this beautiful young lady and her equally beautiful palomino pony practice before we entered the ring.  I was in awe...they moved like one...it was truly a wonderfully well choreographed dance!  I complimented her and explained the trouble Billy and I had been having with this movement. This sweet girl and her pony won 2nd place - well deserved!  I, on the other hand, was rejoicing that Billy stood nice and square, trotted right with me and was relaxed in the ring (that was amazing for this pony who often has ants in his pants and finds it difficult to stand still), even though we blew our pivot...we experienced PROGRESS!

I returned to my trailer reflecting on our time in the ring, happy we finally completed our first showmanship class and grateful it wasn't horrible.  I was pleased with how well my pony responded to me and did all I asked...  I no sooner settled my pony back into his regular halter and started to reach for a cold water and I see this darling young lady and her beautiful palomino pony walking toward my trailer.  Sarah wanted to give me a few helpful tips.  In a few short minutes this very knowledgeable young lady answered all my questions.  She gave me some awesome helpful hints on how to teach my pony to correctly pivot.  She also showed me some fancy footwork that would make my movements around my pony smoother!  I thanked her profusely.  I learned that she was interested in driving her pony and I felt really happy that I could give her some really great tips and information on how to get safely started with her driving pursuits. It was a good and happy exchange!

It was a good day...lots of preparation for that one class. I really enjoyed spending time with my pony ...that's always a very good day!  I enjoyed wearing my first cowboy hat too...that was fun...didn't look too bad afterall.  But if I have my druthers...I would rather hitch my pony and drive...

Come Drive with Billy and Me

I've always wanted to take a video of Billy and I driving.  Finally here it is...  I've had some time off driving this year because of my illness and then subsequent surgery.  This is our first drive after the Dr. gave the ok to get back to driving.  It felt great and Billy was wonderful.  We both had a long time off, but we were both eager to get back to it!  By the way, the cute pinto pony in the video with the handsome "whip" is my hubby, Matthew and his pony Lil Miss.

Disclaimer of sorts...  Billy was a great boy.  I've known this pony for 14 years - driving for 11 years.  I wouldn't recommend driving one handed and taking a video unless you really know your pony.  Billy and I have been building our relationship for 14 years now...I felt safe in finally giving my video a try.  Driving is far dangerous than riding an equine.  Amazing that humans ever thought of attaching a carriage to a 'fright flight' animal.  When things go wrong they can go south very fast - in a blink of an eye.  Think about it...once a pony or a horse gets loose with a cart or carriage attached to them...that carriage can become a lethal weapon.  Get out of the way and quick.  I don't take my driving training lightly with my equines.  I've only driven ponies I have trained and occasionally a pony or mini of well trusted trainer friends of mine.  That's why we purchased our new yearling ponies...so that we can develop relationship with them from an early age. We are starting to teach them verbal cues right now, we are slowly building a strong and solid relationship. I am interested as I read accounts of days gone by, when our ancestors only form of travel was by carriage, the many accidents that happened.  And there were many, actually.  As I mentioned, I just finished reading a Team of Rivals and just before Lincoln's assassination, William Seward, Lincoln's secretary of state was almost killed in carriage accident.  The description of his injuries were horrifying.  So, please don't try this at home...

I was so pleased as I watched the video at how responsive Billy was to my verbal cues.  The most interesting thing is as I'm babbling away (ok, friends you can stop rolling your eyes now...)during the video Billy is able to pick out the verbal cues he recognizes and instantly obey them. We also could hear a gun being fired quite close to us and thankfully Billy was fine with it (there was a day that that would take some creative driving on my part). Very cool!  Before I ever thought of hooking  Billy to a cart I started teaching him these verbal cues(a second language for him) during all our ground work, from the time he was very young.  This consistency, time spent with my pony has really paid off!

I was recently sent a beautiful story about a horse and rider...it wasn't your typical story as the rider had no arms and rode using her mouth and bathed and brushed her horse with her feet.  In the email my friend hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "This story is not about the horse or the woman...it's about the relationship."  I could not agree more.  Happy and safe driving to you...