At this show I decided about 2 wees before that I was going to do the performance division in addition to the halter. I knew that it was going to be tough and tight getting everything done, but I wanted to try. After the last 2 performance shows, I wanted to do it in a different area with a quality judge. I have had issues in the past with judges that don't know much about performance or nothing at all. They have placed set ups that had beat up OF horses with straight out of the box props and tack, over entries with nice models and custom made tack/props. I was hoping that this time would be different, it wasn't really overall. There were still things that the judge over looked that are big rule breakers in the actual event. As in most cases, the time allowed between performance classes was rather lengthy. Once they realized they were getting close to the start time of the Artists Gallery, magically the time between performance classes got much shorter. I had plans to do every class in western and english. After no placings in western and only one placing after half of English, I decided to stop doing the performance and just focus on the halter stuff.
Overall I had the same feeling about this show as I did about NAN, anything I got was going to be a bonus. This show has Large scale and mini divisions, and like more shows with mini classes, they were packed. There was not a single class in the mini division that had less than 12 horses in it. One of the big perks of this show was that it was double judged for Breed and Workmanship, so you only had to bring a horse up once. I always like those kind of shows because there is double the cards to give out with only half the work to get them to the table.
I'll start with performance.
Without digging up all the same issues I seem to always run into, I will say that were some really amazing set ups for the most part. After seeing the first couple classes in Other Performance I knew that I was going to be out classes in most of the classes, but I was hopeful that I would get a few good placings and maybe bring home a card or two.
Yeah, that didn't even come class to happening. I bought home 2 placings in the 10 classes that I did, both being 5th of 5 entries. The more frustrating part is when the judge keeps giving you feedback that doesn't help. Hearing I was out classed over and over really starts to bring you down. I'm going to take the rest of the summer to decide if I should keep doing performance or if its time to move on.
Halter/Workmanship went better than performance and the competition was even tougher. I did bring home a few cards and some good placings in large classes. All of the most recently painted horses got in the show ring and most of them found success. Running on Empty, Pascal and the medallions all bought home some ribbons.
Here are the results from Halter and Workmanship:
Running On Empty - 2nd & NAN Tb Halter
6th Tb Workmanship
Steve - 2nd & NAN Longears Workmanship
5th Longears Halter
Southern Comfort - 2nd & NAN Appaloosa/Pinto Sporthorse Workmanship
5th Appaloosa/Sporthorse Halter
Titan - 2nd & NAN Light/Sport Foal Workmanship
Stonewall Lady - 2nd & NAN All Other Pure/Part Draft Workmanship
Pascal - 2nd & NAN Mustang Workmanship
5th Mustang Halter
Colorado Matinee - 5th Carriage Halter
5th Carriage Workmanship
Clearly Unexpected - 3rd Carriage Workmanship
Sea Breeze - 6th Carriage Workmanship
Mya - 6th Other Pure/Part Light Workmanship
Call Me Sir - 5th Euro/Asian Draft Workmanship
Drax - 5th Euro/Asian Draft Halter
3rd Euro/Asian Draft Workmanship
Bob - 6th Deco/Unrealistic Workmanship
Coffee Break - 5th British/European Pony Workmanship
Rayne - 5th Other Pure/Part Stock Halter
Performance:
5th Other Costume
5th Dressage
Medallion
Liam - 5th Light/Sport
Bailey - 5th Stock
Roxanne - 2nd Pony
Van Gogh - 5th Pony
Eli - 1st Any with tack
Overall I ended up with 9 placings in Halter and 14 in workmanship. Most of my recent works placed in workmanship. And after my work placing at NAN, this was the boost that I needed to keep going. I wasn't sure after the last few shows at home but showing in a different region and getting the response that I get I know that I am going in the right direction. I still plan on taking my time and learning everything I can but I definitely going in the right direction.
Who knows, maybe some day collectors will seek out my work like look for others work now.
Until next time,
Happy Breyerfest