Well, it's official, I remember why I don't like showing! It is like watching paint dry only more painful! LOL Nah, it wasn't that bad, but close. As you already know, Ryan and I went up to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to run poles, barrels, and heel of Twister (aka Bean), our "colored" paint horse. That is funny even as I say that now. But, let me explain, We have 3 'finished' horses and they are all registered (APHA) paint horses. However, Twister is the only one that carries that actual color of the a paint horse. The other two are sorrels (red hair). They are registered as paints because one or both of their parents are registered paint horses. They now call this a 'solid paint.' Anyhow...since solid paints have an official name I have decided to give Twister an official name of 'colored' paint. I digress...right? Anyhow, for my MANY non-horse friends...there is your lesson in Horse 101 for today!
Back to my opening. This was an experience to start with...we left our house at 8:22 AM to head up to Houston. We took the back way, which helped keep Ryan out of the hospital from the stress of me driving in Houston traffic with his 'babies' in the back. We only had to drive about 15 miles in traffic compared to most of the time in the Houston traffic. So, we get to Reliant Arena (actually we didn't go to the main arena...we went to the astro arena...it's on the same grounds though)....had to check our horses in by showing them our coggins papers and our health papers. Then, we had to fill out the form to get stalls and check our truck and trailer in. This required all the official stuff....truck plates, trailer plate, my drivers license, etc. Then, we unloaded the horses and went and checked them again. More paperwork....and had all our stuff delivered to our stalls. Then, we took the truck and trailer about 10-15 min. drive to another location so we could drop the trailer off. We had to check that in too. Then, we went back to the arena and parked. Finally, we had to check in at the show office to officially register our horses for the paint show. Now, picture doing this with Ryan and having it all done by 10:30 AM. My NON morning husband was already irritated. I told him to chill and just enjoy the moment and this is as much of a waste of time as sitting on the couch til 10 AM. Not sure how that was received. We both were quite after that comment. :)
Now, this is the fun part, we got to sit and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait...well, you get the idea. That, other than the moving the trailer to another spot, was the major down fall. I had no idea someone could run something so slowly!
I finally got to run at some point. Not sure what time...but I ended up hitting the 1st barrel. ARG...I had to really push Twister the entire time so I'm assuming the solid white walls was throwing him off and making it hard for him to hunt the barrels. So, I'll blame it on that...but I also know I probably didn't give him enough room going into it and so we rolled around and I nudged the barrel over with my knee. The normal Stacie would've tried to pick it up, but I'm trying to change that bad habit (bad habit cause valuable time is lost) so I let it fall. That's ok...I later learned I wouldn't have placed in the top 6...so that made tipping the barrel a little easier to swollow.
The good news is I later ran poles. Now, Twister, is BAD A** at the poles. I'm sorry for the language, but there is no other way to really describe how good he is. I NEVER practice and he still runs a 22 (for my non-horse friends...a 20 or 21 is pretty darn good!)....well, I safety'd (sp?) up a little coming to the end by the alley way cause Twister tends to make a wide turn with the anticipation of running out the alley way...so that slowed us down, but it was worth it. My planned worked and I got 5th in the poles!!! I was really proud of us. Unfortantely I was 1 out of the money though...but I got a pretty ribbon...LOL...oh joy...and some points on Twister.
(Poles - 101 --> You have 6 poles lined up perfectly....the rider and horse run down passed all the poles and turns at the last pole....then weaves in and out of 6 poles and turns at the 1st pole and weaves in and out of the poles until they reach the end of the poles again then makes that turn and runs out.)
The team roping FINALLY came around and Ryan and Caleb roped around 9:30 PM last night. We decided to have Caleb ride Twister. Ryan and Caleb had all the intentions of Caleb riding Twister ahead of time, but rain, time and some other issues got in the way...so he never did. They did pretty well though...they got 6th. SO.....nah nah boo boo...I beat them! HAHAA! No, I'm not competitive.
(Side note - another reason I don't like show horses...they put sliders on these heel horses so they really slide up underneath themselves. It looks pretty, but sure is hard on those horses to stop that steer and it's really hard on their legs....all so the horse looks 'pretty'....we just don't agree with that...anyhow...I say that because that's why many of the horses placed up high in heeling...)
We finally got home around 11 PM. This was after we went and got the truck, drove to the trailer, checked the trailer out, went back to the arena, checked our horses out....loaded and headed out on our way....OH, I almost forgot....we had just gotten on 288 South from 610....when a car in front of me was stepping on his breaks. He swings over into the other lane and "Voila!" there was a small white car spun out from a blow out right in front of me. I brought our rig to a stop. It wasn't a real close call, but was still scary. It was dark and we saw the wrecker. He didn't have lights on though...so I didn't think much of it. I sure hope no other rig came up not seeing it and not able to stop fast enough.....they would've plowed through that little car. The stupedst (sp?) part (other than them leaving it in the middle of the slow lane) was the people were still in it. HELLO...you are on a highway....you might want to get out of the car that is in traffic! HOUSTON DRIVERS!!!!!!!....those of you that live there can have them! Also, this is for those of you who have never pulled a rig or anything else.......those of us driving rigs aren't out to cut you off or screw you out of your 'driving position'....we just want to get our animals and us from point A to point B as safely as we can....it's not easy maneuvering them through all the traffic....remember...be kind...give them room...let them get over...our intentions are to TRULY get out of your way!
And that...my friends...was our Houston experience. All I can say is it feels good to be home today listening to our birds and feel the warm sun and the clean air. You can have the city! HA!
Now, it is time to enjoy the rest of my vacation. I'm sure you will all be pleased that baby and me are doing very well and all you worry warts can know the baby is fine and can't wait to run poles and barrels on his/her own! I am done competing until then!
As for painting...that ain't happen'....I washed our horse trailer on Monday and had to take a nap. It was enough for me to realize Rome wasn't built in one day and my house is not going to be painted in one week. So, I'll begin to tape off what we will paint and when it gets done is when it gets done. hahaha...
Well, now that I have written a book I guess I will go. Stay tuned....
God Bless....Stacie & Ryan
