We survived 4H Fair!

We had a very long, very fun, and very interesting time at our local 4H Fair last week. It seems eons ago and it's only been a few days. So here's a recap:

It all started a few weeks before, but the real show got Started on Sunday the 21st where we had to get the horse to the 4H barn, get him and Audrie checked in, get the stall set up and decorated, and ready for the GLOW parade and GLOW barrels that evening. Both of those are "fun" events, no judging, just hanging out with everyone.

All GLOWED up!

GLOW barrels ended up being cancelled because of a storm that was rolling through and the lightning and thunder was making some of the horses a little antsy.

bronco riding

Monday and Tuesday were mostly rest days and get the lay of the land. Audrie wasn't competing in any English style competitions so basically it was check out the fair, look at the other stall decorations so we could improve ours for next year, clean stalls, feed the horse, and then see the nightly fun stuff at the fair itself. Monday was the rodeo and Audrie's first time seeing calf tying, steer wrestling and some other stuff. LOL! She was very upset that they were getting hurt and was cheering for them to beat the cowboys and cowgirls.

Getting fresh shavings

Wednesday was her first time of competitions. In 4H they are called classes. She was in a 1st year 4H class for Western Walk, Trot and also in another one called Ranch Horse Jr.  She did really well in them, she even placed 5th in one of them!! Her trainer thought she should have placed in both and higher in teh one and that made her feel better. Basically you ride your horse around and follow the instructions called out by the judge -- walk, jog (trot), lope (cantor), reverse (turn the horse around at whatever speed they say), line up, and then they ask you sometimes to back your horse. She did really well and we were so happy to have the first classes out of the way.

At a cantor

In the line being evaluated

She got 5th in her first year after riding for only 8 months!

Thursday was Gaming Day and she was signed up for 4 of the 5 types of events. Audrie felt she could do well in barrels, but would give the other 3 disciples a try -- flag race, keyhole, and speed and action. We were sort of sure that Buddy wouldn't do so well in Speed and Action after barrels, because he'd be so excited and wouldn't want to stop. BUT on Wednesday evening he stopped on a dime for over the 6 sec required so we were hopeful. She did not participate in poles, mainly because we didn't have any to practice with and get the horse prepared for if they hit him or fall from being hit. LOL!

Giving Buddy a bath

Here is her barrel race:

For some reason her horse, who has done this perfectly for a few months now, decided to go the wrong way around the barrels. Sometimes that is just a  5 second penalty. This time any barrel falls made it a 'No Time'.

Next up was flags:

She went into this race kind of ho-hum, not sure she'd do so good and not sure how she'd run it - trot the whole thing, trot and cantor or even slow the horse down to a walk. Well she figured it out and then even placed!! She was shocked especially since she hadn't practiced this as much as any of the other 3.


After this was keyhole:

You guide your horse down a straight path and then they have to turn around in a circle (without touching the white flour lines) and then back the straight line. She did great!! And placed a second time!

2nd and 3rd

Her last event was Speed and Action:

This one was the one she was most anxious about because after barrels she knew her horse, Buddy, was going to be super fidgety. Which isn't helpful when you have to stand at the end for 6 seconds! The bigger problem for this one was when he came around the cones he kind of kicked the cone with his back foot on the outside of the cone which made her go "out of the pattern" and became a 'no time'.

Learning how to rope!

Horse Selfie

All in all she had a wonderful time, is already planning going to 4H next year and exploring some other classes as well. I'm so happy she had a great experience and we met her two goals ... to place AND make some new friends (she made quite a few) so we're calling it a solid WIN! We are very thankful for her trainer Micah of Off the Fence Farm and all the work they put into helping her achieve her goals. We look forward to continuing our training and our relationship with their farm.