This weekend, I competed at the Mary Etta’s Madness race in Alvarado, TX. That arena at the Diamond W is massive and it was a great change from the indoor pens I’ve been in since last fall in South Dakota.
Friday we ran in a $500 added warm up race, and Shuttle and I hit two barrels. I’ll post the video anyway, because basically I rode her like an idot. And I think she’s not completely and totally sure she’s well yet, so we’ll be working on helping her to realize that she’s no longer sore. In fact, when I finish this posting, I’ll be going outside to saddle and work my horses in some sunshine and freshly worked up ground compliments of my daddy (who is the best dad in the world!). Gump ran ok. That’s his first time in a huge pen and I really didn’t know what to expect. He did win me a check so that was good.
Saturday morning we ran there again and Gump ran over a whole second faster. I am so proud of him. We still have work to do of course, but he is getting better and better with each run, really. Shuttle ran 8 tenths faster but it still wasn’t what I know she’s capable of. I also got to spend time with my bff, Jill and our friends Andi and Robin. Andi has video from a different angle of Shuttle’s run that she’ll post at some point. I also saw my friend Tracy. Her mom sold me one of the nicest, sweetest mares I ever owned. Tracy is one of the nicest people I know.
Saturday night Gump was a tenth slower than his morning run, and it was entirely my fault. I just didn’t help him enough on his second barrel and so we too will be continuing to work on that troublesome turn. I think he’d have been faster than his morning run though, because we were all over the pen on barrel #2.
One of my other amazingly wonderful and beautiful friends, Lacee was there last night. She brought her daughter, Rilee, whom I adore, and their bestest old horse ever, Flash. Flash was one of my lesson horses and I gave him to Rilee when I moved to South Dakota. He is the best babysitter ever. Lacee filmed us last night, which is always great because she is a professional videographer. Well not really, but she’s really good at it. It was nice to get to see her and though I didn’t get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked, I’ll see her a couple more times while I”m here.
Ok. I’m off to ride. Enjoy the photos from the weekend!
Gump running for home on 4.4.2009
Shuttle rounding barrel #2 last night, 4.4.09
Gump running for home on 4.4.2009
So glad you made it out of this north country before the latest blizzard! It was really bad in Cheyenne yesterday. I spent most of the day digging my horse runs out of snow;) It’s funny looking at your barrel racing pictures, your horses are lots fuzzier than any of your previous preSD pics;) Enjoy your time warming up!
yay!!! Im so sorry I missed the 1st barrel on I cant remember which one you ran first .. and I hope the 2nd video ROCKED because I filmed it just where you told me to, lol. SO, get to posting those videos for all to see how well yall worked
MLB…you missed my first barrel too!!!!! But, I guess I still love you!
Jillian .. bite me, okay! lol
Im sorry I missed your 1st .. I get busy talking to people and forget things too easy. I promise I wont forget next time! And yes .. you still love me 😉 and Mark still loves you
That first picture looks like you guys were just flying around that barrell, and the second one almost looks like he is standing still because of the position of his front legs in that picture.
I know I have said this before, but you are so very lucky.