Sunday, September 1 was the first of three days of Versatility and Ranch Horse classes. Heat and Humidity (Double H) were the opponent at this show. Forget the cow, the obstacles and the gaits, Double H was the enemy. The Versatility and Ranch Horse Days were held from 9:00am until 4-5:00pm enduring the Double H. Sadly, the days were too long for me to compete. I now understand why we have few 70+ year old people riding in the long days.
On the morning of the second day, I arrived about a minute before the show was to start. Chas Young, my best friend, saw me and immediately assigned me to “live stream”. What! I don’t have that app on my phone. Oh wait, it’s Facebook. See the word Live. And that is how I ended up being the Live Streamer. What, my phone is running out of power? I plugged it I to my car. It didn’t increase the battery, it stayed the same, near dead. So, I started using the iPad. My car doesn’t charge the iPad. I started filming from inside the car. My viewers got to see my rear view mirror. Later I remembered I had a long long cord which enabled me to “live stream” outside the car. Yee Haw!
Most of Sunday, I hid in my car with air conditioner running, watching the classes. I survived on a large iced coffee from McDonalds. It was too hot to eat food. Many contestants do not eat anything until the day is over and horse bathed. They do try to keep hydrated, but it is tough.
After the long hot day competition day, there was time for a trip to McDonalds to get my large iced coffee. I drank a portion of it and then refilled the cup where it would be just watered down iced coffee for the next day.
After Monday, classes, I went into Casey’s to get cash money. I had only drank the ice coffee that day. I lost my mind and got two donuts and chocolate milk for dinner. There’s nothing better than Casey’s donuts and chocolate milk when you are starving.
I made it back to showgrounds for shopping and occasionally wondrous vendor food in time for the evening performance classes.
I was now an expert “live filmer”, except for the dang camera turning the camera sideways. Live filming takes talent!
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