Well it has been a blessing to have had the past 10 days to experience my last Worlds.

I am leaving today and sharing driving with my co-pilot, Patty Kanegae, since Dean got called to work early Sunday. It’s just the two of us girls and our caravan pals behind us with their horses heading back to California.

We left Will Rogers in Fort Worth around 6:30am. I have the wheel now and we are lucky to have great weather ahead of us. It’s now 2:00pm and I am starting to worry about my 3 y/o gelding. He’s been on SMZ for 5 days with a cough. I decided the best plan at this point is to drive straight through and get all the horses home quickly. I made a quick call to the others in the caravan and they mirrored my feelings.

Wow, that was a hard drive. We made it work by taking quick 10 minute stops for gas and gave water to the horses on every other stop. That way they drank more readily. So far, so good. We find gassing up at the Love’s truck stops works best for us so we keep our eyes out for those signs. They are usually easy access and have diesel. I was glad I carried water onboard to make it easier, too. We finally got into Riverside at 3:00am on Monday. I am going to sleep for two days when I get home…just to recover. UGH!

We did have so much fun and success this year. Having our friends travel and stable with us kept it light and we had built in cheering sections. Somehow sharing a good go, or even a bad go, with friends makes it all the more fun.

We finished up with a Reserve World Championship in Masters Trail, a 3rd in Hunter in Hand 4 & Over Stallions, and a tenth in Masters Western Horsemanship with our stallion and a 3rd place in Masters Hunter Under Saddle with my 4 y/o gelding. Win Win!

If I can share anything of value it would be to pack carefully so you don’t have to iron shirts or get dry cleaning done (if you do, most shows offer a cowboy cleaners service). If you take hay be sure it is weather protected, put your sheets and blankets in trash bags for safe travel, take work saddle pads and show pads, take an ice cooler and pack crackers and peanut butter for those moments at the show when you’re too busy to stop and too hungry not to eat. Don’t take more than you need, and remember to carry a small bucket for water & a flashlight for those nighttime stops.

This was my last Worlds and I will miss it….or maybe I can do it one more time in a year or two….oh yeah….I am a horse addict. And I am…..out.

This was one long day as the only one without classes was me. I played groom and gopher most of the day, gladly. I got to watch the futurities and a variety of other classes. California still rocks and rolls in the Top Ten department.

I need to work my boys, clean tack, and start packing so we can get an early start on Sunday. It’s bittersweet to think my two weeks of vacation and my last Worlds is almost over. I really do miss my doggies and own bed. I feel like a kid after Christmas.

It’s late and I have all the horses bedded down. Time to head for the hotel. It is surprisingly warm after our cold wet morning. No tornados and I am beat. More tomorrow night before we head home.

I am…..out.

When we woke up this morning the news said around noon we’d have 80 mph winds, large hail, and a tornado warning. I am a Californian and that scares me worse than earthquakes. At least those can’t pick you up and take you to the next state.

I never had any weather problems once we got to the showgrounds. I had a cinnamon roll while the horses ate and then watched a few of the Californians show. Halter was light but the ones in the arena were really tough. Riding classes have had 15-30 entries and given the current economy I can’t complain. Plenty of good competition.

Today we’ve had a very large California contingency in the top ten, as well as several reserve and champion winners to represent.

I’m watching 3 y/o ApHA HUS Futurity right now and those horses look and move far beyond their years. I’m glad I didn’t try to ride my 3 y/o in the class as he is not nearly up to that level of maturity or training yet. We didn’t start him as a 2 y/o HUS. Some very familiar faces, including Beth Case, Cheryl Thornton, Nancy Sue Ryan – to name a few. I will watch for the pinning and then hurry back to feed and clean up so we can go out to dinner.

I have had a great show. My horses have really tried their best and we’ve had some success. I can’t complain as there are many exhibitors who didn’t even get a callback and that’s not the case for us. I have been blessed my last Worlds to have had a call-out in all but one class and….after all…..I did get my reserve in Masters Trail.

SIgning off for now…..more tomorrow as both geldings are in Hunter In Hand with my husband so for now…..I am out

Wow…today was another amazing day for me. The sun is shining birds are chirping and all is right with the world.

As I sat on the rail after my Masters Hunter Under Saddle class waiting for the judges cards to be read I had a huge moment of bittersweet. This is my last Worlds and this is the last and best class I have ever ridden on my 4-year old gelding.

As they call the placings out we line up single file in front of each judge so everyone knows how that judge called the class. Right out of the box I get called to a 3rd place under the first judge, then a 2nd place under the next judge, a zero, and then two others (sorry I can’t remember all of them, as I am still reeling with excitement).

Overall I got a 3rd place in Masters HUS. On top of that, the breeders were in the audience watching. That’s such a great feeling to know you make them proud too.

I had two other classes and didn’t make the cut in Jr HUS, but got one call out by one judge in Hunt Seat Horsemanship. Not bad at all. I am very happy with my turnout and performance and we are all exhausted. Now back in the hotel I am ready to get sleep so I can go back and do more classes with our friends tomorrow.

Well yesterday was a super day for the California exhibitors. The show team of Patty & Missy Hiebert did very well at their first show. Our club, Calizona Appaloosa, had a cheering section in the stands and we kept the noise level high for each of our peers as they were picked in the individual placings. In non-pro Western Pleasure Missy got a first place call-out under the first judge! She had no other call-outs so the overall awards did not pin her go. That was not the case in her Mom’s non-pro western horsemanship. There she was called out first under one judge and scored under all judges and finishing tenth overall. Her daughter won Saddle Seat Equitation championship that evening. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Today there are multiple events for the California exhibitors. We will be privileged to watch many of the world’s best Appaloosas competing in classes that range from showmanship, cattle classes, showmanship, and under saddle. After a humongous thunderstorm last night we are all huddling in the main arena watching showmanship. I think the exhibitors in this class must eat, drink and sleep showmanship all of the time.

I need to prepare for my Masters Trail class tomorrow. This is a real push for me at 62 and I want to put my best foot forward tomorrow to make my family proud. More to come…

Thursday is finally here and the competition starts today. I feel so ready to rock n’ roll with all the nice folks at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth.

Finally the weather looks more like California (not really, but close!) and we are in the zone. It’s “Worlds Show” time. We’re heading off to Ol’ South for breakfast and then get the day started by washing, banding and doing all the things that make us smile.

After breakfast we drive to the show grounds. As a sidenote, if you like cinnamon rolls or need coffee and hot chocolate to get started, try dropping by the little food booth just outside of the trade show area in the John Justin building. That man has the Midas touch for great cooking.

I just walked in the barn door and can hear horses around me munching their breakfast. This is the best! It even smells good, which won’t be the case at the end of next week when all the horses have been cooped up in these small stalls. I wish we’d brought something to neutralize the ammonia. That’s a tip from me to you.

Across the aisle are a “First Worlds” mother and daughter team, Patty and Melissa (aka Missy) Hiebert. They do all their own training and team up to get the chores done at the shows. As they are readying their shared mount, Color Max, or his busy day Missy shares the she has a couple of tough Non Pro western classes today. Her mom starts showing tomorrow.

Show ran a little late tonight. I will share results tomorrow.

We wanted to leave at 2:30am, but woke up at 3:30am. After scrambling around and putting our old clothes back on we got to the ranch. Now we have all five horses and six adults loaded and on the road by 6:30am. A little later than hoped for, but still a nice start. We grabbed a cup of coffee and extra gas at exit 133 and were back on the road by 6:40. It isn’t raining anymore, although there are lots of clouds on the horizon and that worries me. We expect to hit Fort Worth at 5:00 pm.

About 10:00am and it started pouring down again. I hope we get to the show grounds before the night sets in, but there are lots of construction on this route and a plethora of accidents to slow us down.

We are going to make our last gas stop and get right back on the road.

Got into Will Rogers around 5:30pm and folks are already on their horses and riding.

We went to the stall office, then out to the barn and bedded the stalls, unloaded the horses and set them up. Putting as much of the working gear, hay, and tools into our now locked tack room, we went straight to the Quality Inn – Cattle Baron hotel.

We are soaking wet since it’s still raining 3-5 inches in Fprt Worth.

I am very anxious to start riding the horses tomorrow and get them used to the arenas.

My last thought as I sign off is I wish we’d come in a day earlier so I hadn’t lost that extra day of riding time.