Trail Class
At last I would be a rider!
Jenny was right at the gate to take Powder. I staggered over to get water and revived myself. I got my shirt and vest and went into restroom for a clothing change. I love the nice white secluded chairs in the restroom!
The judge gave us a walk-thru after our volunteer helpers set up the trail obstacles. These volunteers are our horse friends who were there to support and help us. They had no idea that they would be setting up all the obstacles in all classes today. Thank you Hope and Angie from your versatility family! When the walk-thru was done, I came out of the arena and found Jenny warming up Powder’s buttons or cues. Jenny helped me get on. I took a few practice spins and it was my turn to shine!
After standing through the long showmanship class, riding “Powder Perfect” in the trail class was fabulous. Fabulous! I love the trail class. The competition is between you and each obstacle. The obstacles are brutal as are the gait transitions. The obstacles have no regard for humans.
I specialize in the 3 barrel back-through. I generally put that obstacle in the Kansas City club horse Show trail classes. People come from near and far to seek training from me on how to back through the three barrel triangle. (Snort)
Sidepassing over the “W” is an example of a brutal obstacle. No matter how cute I am, nor how beautiful Powder is nor how fun I am is immaterial to the “W” poles. The “W” had no favorite in the class. Everyone had a negative fault.
Opening and shutting the gate…humph! Gates are mere bits of fluff to an experienced horse like Powder. I could have rode through that trail class three more times in complete happiness.
I had another nice break after the trail class. The obstacles were gathered up by our volunteers and the next class was walk-trot Western Pleasure.This was the only class that Powder and I did not compete. It is not a point class and I have a more fun Western Pleasure class in which to ride. This is a class in which we get to canter . I love cantering!
Western Pleasure is a rail class! There is nary a pattern to be run! All the rider has to do is get the correct gait asked for by the judge and avoid getting penned in by a group of horses. If you are hidden behind another horse in the class, the judge can not see how wonderful you are. The rider always has to be looking at where every horse is in the arena and plan ahead.
( All classes except reining all are Open and Youth. Reining is only Open.)
We had plenty of time to revive ourselves until walk, trot and canter Western Pleasure was called. What a great class that was. Everyone did fantastic. No one crowded me and Powder always found an open spot on the rail in which to fully impress the judge. Again, Powder did Perfect! Again, I had a lot of fun doing the three gaits around the arena on an amazing horse. I love Western Pleasure! Ribbons were handed out.