It was called “Follow the Leader”. We couldn’t believe it. An obstacle course at liberty. I was fairly confident that Nova and I would do well. Were we going to start, run around a barrel and come home? That’s all I could imagine.
Imagine my surprise when the facility put up a real obstacle course, including a tipping bridge.
1. Deer head mounted on one long arena rail and you needed to go close to it.
2. Scary stack of haybales with a scary Scarecrow stuck in the top of the bales with decorative gourds and stuff around it.
3. Tipping bridge
4. 3 Barrels to weave thru
5. pole on the ground
6. Tarp
7. Car Wash stand with scary things hanging down. The horse was to go thru the hangy down things..one of which was a cardboard black cat.
GOOD GAD! NO WAY! Where would I lose her?
This was a timed event. You got seconds added to your score if you didn’t complete the obstacle. Most of the horses wouldn’t get on the tipping bridge.
Nova and I ran through all the obstacles except the what? Did she actually cross the tipping bridge at liberty? Yes she did…without hesitation. Was she scared of the deer head. Nope, she didn’t even notice it. What about the carwash scary obstacle. Piece of cake to go thru that!
We got second place because she wanted to eat the hay at the scary haybale scarecrow obstacle. I had to drive her away from all that food with my carrot stick…with a lot of effort! Then she ran right with me over the bride, thru the barrels, crossed the pole, over the tarp and thru the car wash.
WHEW!!! Breathing Hard.
I never imagined she would do it all!
Nova and I are partners!