While I was watching and listening to the versatility demonstrations, Velvet got a full body makeover for her debut at the most important horse show in the world. We decided on a new lipstick color but stayed with our same nail color.” Sinful Black”. We figured that she might sweat, so we choose thickened Maybellhorse waterproof mascara, and stayed with her regular eye shadow, “Bright Blue Barn Hue”. We let down her new “do” and marveled over how much younger and sophisticated it made her look. She cursed her farrier for the millionth time as she continually asks him for Black patent leather Mary Jane shoes…all he will give her the normal steel shoes that all the common horses wear. (Personally, I think that she was thinking of attracting that Black Stallion, Camelot, instead of the competition ahead of us 1998 Celebration.) I decorated her saddle for the costume class. We were going in as an Ozark Fox Hunter and we had our “brace of dogs” tied to every string or ring that I could find on her saddle. I gave Velvet her final makeover. The Princess of the Pasture was primped and ready to meet the public at Ava. I met my friend, Mona Dollarhide at the cook shack. We enjoyed the remainder of the versatility demonstrations when the announcer told us that the Foot Race, Costume class and Water Glass classes would be held in the main arena.
The second disaster occurs! Mona and I were contentedly watching the versatility demonstrations wrap up when the announce announced: “In twenty minutes the foot race, costume class, and water glass class will start at the main arena.”
We had twenty minutes to lug two saddles and the rest of my costume approximately ½ mile.Truck, trailor and costume changing staging area was parked down by the versatility arena. Now we find out that these classes will be held in the main arena!SCREAM!The foot race was 1st…no bridle…no saddle…just Velvet and I with halter and lead rope.
I told Mona the bad news…”I have two saddles and a pile of costume junque to get all the way to the main arena in 20 minutes.” I throw the costume saddle, the huge bag full of more stuffed dogs (to throw to the crowd) , the bridle, and the Wal-Mart special rifle pop gun with an American flag attached on the end with duct tape on the saddle…somehow. Mona puts the other saddle on the wheeled saddle holder and starts to pull. Unfortunately, the wheeled saddle holder decided at this emergency moment to throw a wheel and it became too heavy and unweilding to tote a heavy saddle. Mona picked up the heavy saddle and said…go ahead…I’ll get there as soon as I can. I asked her where her car was…it was parked ½ mile away at the same place we were struggling to get to. She said, “I’ll just carry the saddle.”
Velvet and I start walking–rapidly. Someone makes a “lady, there’s something wrong with your saddle” noise” and I turn around just in time to see the saddle slip under Velvet’s belly. A nice young man ran over to help me get it back to the top of Velvet…whew! Have I mentioned that we were right smack in the middle of Missouri humid heat?! Velvet was glad that she had switched to waterproof makeup! I have yet to find deodorant that is stronger than Missouri humidity and I wasn’t wearing makeup. Finally, we made it to the arena. I stripped the costume saddle off.
I looked around and didn’t see anyone ready for the foot race. All the other competitors were mounted on their horses with their costumes on. “Oh my,” I thought. I haven’t a chance of winning against some of these elaborate costumes. It’s good I’m here just for fun. I wondered if the costumed people were too chicken to enter the foot race…or that their horses wouldn’t follow them. snick
It seemed like an hour had passed and finally a small hunched over woman came into view pushing a wheelbarrow with a flat tire. Mona, with sweat streaming down her face, stopped and took one look at me and said, “Susan, knowing you is an adventure! Mona didn’t appear like she could push the wheelbarrow anymore. So I exchanged Velvet for the wheelbarrow and pushed it over to the side. That saddle was awaiting the water glass class.
We are ready for the 1st class to start…the foot race.