Beth’s first swim meet Saturday night was followed by her first horse show on Sunday. We were all up early (but barely awake) and managed to have the pony loaded into the trailer by a little after 8 AM. Considering our barn has no water and no electricity, and our equipment is scattered all over the place, it was quite a feat preparing for a horse show… even a small, low-key 4-H show!


We started off bathing the pony to eliminate those nasty manure stains on her white legs… and she did great, even though I had no sponge and had to use human shampoo.


Diamond and Beth entered two halter classes (not riding, just showing the horse) and two walk-trot classes. One class in each category was more about the horse (or the horse/rider combination), and one was more about the child’s showmanship. Beth’s best place occurred in her last class where she received a 3rd place out of 7 entries. She had to “work a pattern”. Three orange cones were placed in a triangle formation, and she had to drop her stirrups at Cone A and walk to the top (point) B cone, pick up her stirrups, trot a circle around the cone and continue trotting back to Cone C. We worked on it before hand and she did a great job.


We had a few tense moments when she first started riding as she got nervous and started jerking on the pony and playing the “DQ” (Drama Queen), but when I suggested we scratch the classes if she couldn’t get it together, she found some fortitude.


So all in all, these old parents had quite the fun weekend with a child who is motivated to do well (you should have seen her eyeball those HUGE trophies at the horse show and inquire just what one had to do to get one of those!) There is much she can learn from healthy competitions in swimming and riding, and horseback riding teaches many, many skills besides how to look good on a horse. She has to be responsible for another living being… and be the one in charge.


We wrapped up our day by listening to a great sermon on the Da Vinci Code, and then having dinner with soon-to-be new neighbors. These folks have a daughter Beth’s age and the girls are in the same class and have really hit it off. I have often noted how much like me Beth behaves, therefore it is no surprise I have hit it off with Beth’s friend’s mom. We have gone riding several times and have discovered we think much alike on many things.


I am so happy to be back in Kansas and so very thankful we have Beth in our lives.