Happ's Trail Challenge

Just to let everyone know, I did not ride in the trail challenge after I discovered that each class was $50 (I would have done two of them), and that Amber's truck cost $175 to fill, and that it uses a whole tank of gas to get down there and back (the joys of a V10!). Basically, what I thought was going to be about a $75/day, would have been around a $200/day, and having just forked out over $2500 in tuition costs, books, back to school clothes, and sports fees for the kids, I just didn't have the money to blow on what would have been a very fun day :(

So...even though it was really depressing not having my horse there, I did have a great time watching Amber, Martha, and Kristina compete, and I got to walk around and meet a lot of really nice people and their horses.

On Saturday morning, I woke up at 4:30, and headed over to Amber's house. We proceeded to go to her and Martha's riding buddy (and now mine!), Kristina's, house, and then over to Martha's house, to load up tack and horses (our horse trailer is a three horse, slant, stock-type trailer, with a tack room, but in order to fit three, big horses in it comfortably, we have to remove the tack room, and haul a horse up front). This meant that every ones tack got loaded in the bed of the pick-up, and I am sure that we made quite the sight, driving down I-5.

When we left our area, the sky was clear and full of stars, but as we neared the trail challenge, a thick, misty, rain appeared, and stayed until about noon.We unloaded the horses, registered for classes, and then went on a walk-thru, with one of the designers of the course. Remember how I said it was nice when we left our houses? Well we only had light jackets, and did not have the proper shoes for tromping through a three-mile long course, in the wet grass and mud. My feet never dried off, and by the time I got home that night, they were shriveled up little prunes!

The course was huge and well thought out. The designers strategically placed a llama out in the middle of a big, open stretch of field, that just so happened to be near the beginning of the challenge. Horses either totally ignored him and walked right by, like Curly, or as was the case with Waska and China, spazzed out, and got points taken off for the rider having to dismount and lead their horse by the big, hairy, rabid, blood dripping off of his fangs, llama...lol!!! Both Amber and Kristina said that Waska and China never fully recovered from the llama incident, so they did not do as well as they did last time, which was make it to the championships. However, Martha and Curly were another story! They placed first in both divisions (the classes were broke down into a training/beginning level, and an intermediate/advanced level, which were further divided by age group. I think it was 16 and under, 17-26, and 26 and over), and then they kicked booty (won!) in the championship round as well. I don't think that Martha and Curly can ride in the training/beginning level anymore! (Amber and Waska waiting their turn to load up on the trailer) Curly following Martha around like a puppy, while waiting to load up in the trailer!Here are the lovely duo, who make up Kristina and China, after completing the course. The last obstacle/event, called for you to dismount, lead your horse into a trailer, tie them up, close the door/divider, and then back them out. Poor Kristina. China decided to go into heat (I think it was being surrounded by all of the gorgeous horseflesh that was there!), and she just wanted to find Curly, or keep up with the geldings who were ahead of her. Even though she is smiling, Kristina was rather frustrated at being at the mercy of her hormonal, lovestruck mare!
I don't know about you, but it looks like Waska has his brain back in this shot! If you look closely at this picture, you will notice that Martha is riding bare back. That's right folks! The championship class required that you ride the whole course bareback, and I am proud to say that only Martha, and one other rider, had the guts to do it (there is some table-top jumping involved!)!
You have to look closely at this obstacle, but you can see just how steep it was, and again, Martha was bareback! You go girl!!
All in all it was a nice day, and as you can see from the pictures, the sun finally decided to come out, and then it got down right HOT. I even got a sun burnt forehead and nose! As I previously mentioned, I was really bummed out not to have Bo there, but like I said, I did get to meet some really cool people, including a gal who has won the Extreme Mustang Makeover, and will be competing in some woman-of-the horse competition down in California. How cool is that?

Oh well...maybe next year... It is definitely something that I will have to budget into our already expensive life :)
Another highlight of my day, was that I got to hang out with the professional photographer that was there taking pictures of the event. I lamented to her about my camera, and she looked it over, and said that it was a POS...no kidding!!!! I don't feel so bad now. The link to her photographs is here. Amber and Waska are under "Rider #45 & 47," Martha and Curly are under "Rider # 48," and Kristina and China are under "Rider # 43 &44." Oh and my favorite horse that was there, an absolutely gorgeous, bay, QH gelding, with a lot of get up and go, is featured under "Rider # 30." He is a roping horse, and boy can he ever move!

One last parting shot of Curly(above). We had a lot of bonding time together, but I am not supposed to let our little secret out...lol!! I am told that Curly has always been a rather shy and reserved horse, but he was literally climbing in my pockets that day! Isn't he too cute, and can you see the flies on his poor face? He had just been sprayed, but they flies were literally swarming the horses down there...not sure why....Until next time!!!