Thursday June 10

 Kaitlyn continues her reign as the Queen of Finals.  She made finals today in English Showmanship and English Bareback Equitation.

It was a very long day today, finishing around 6:30. Fortunately, the ice cream social helped cool things down while we waited to see if Kaitlyn got called back for Bareback Eq. - which she did and was placed by one judge, but no Top Tens today.

Enjoy some photos.

Laura, Jenn and Sherry

Scott

On the Road to Worlds

Here’s a short recap for our first day,
Twelve-plus hours of driving; four people; two horses, one blown tire; destination Albuquerque.

Written on Day Two:
We’re on the road at 8:49 local time (Sunday), which is a whole lot better than yesterday, when we started out at 5:15. Ah yes, yesterday.

Three a.m. arrived too quickly, especially after getting to bed late as we packed at the last minute. We got to Sherry’s around 4:30. The girls hooked up the trailer, gave the horses their supplements, while I fed Tucker roses. He likes the dried roses from the bushes around the stalls. Sherry came out in her bathrobe and the pretty pjs she bought at last year’s World show.

Somewhere in Arizona, we had a trailer tire blowout , and while Scott and Kaitlyn were putting on the spare, Jenn discovered a trailer tire on the opposite side had a hole in it, tread pealed back and some steel showing – there was no way that we were going to get very far with it – and no spare. About 20 miles later, we made our way to a truck stop with tire repair and bought two new tires.

Later, as we were driving, Scott thought he noticed something sticking out from the horse trailer. Turns out that the bars from the feed window had dropped down and Tucker was sticking his head out to look around. Fortunately, he had his fly mask on, and Scott pulled over so the bars could be put back into place. Don’t need any eye injuries to ol’ Tucker-butt!

We rolled into Albuquerque around 6:30 – and Kaitlyn easily remembered how to get to the state fairgrounds. The security guy who checked us in was an idiot, but other than that, the horses were settled in pretty quickly. We went to have dinner and found an inexpensive hotel that, incongruously, had a cheesy replica of the Statue of Liberty outside of the check-in area.


Kaitlyn and Jenn snuck into another motel’s pool for a few minutes (ours closed at 9:00 – the other at 10:00). I was asleep within minutes of them getting back and slept soundly until a little before six this morning.


Included with the room was an advertised “hot breakfast” which we consumed before leaving – waffles and toast and pre-made egg patties – yum!


We got back to the fairgrounds, hooked up the trailer; the horses were fine and Tucker had guzzled a half bucket of water – Feather was working on her third, I think! They were fed and loaded into the trailer, and we hit the road.

Here’s the conversation taking place while we drive the endless highway: “Cyborg blogsters, I want a red vine, turn on the radio! Quack like a duck, can’t wait to get to Texas, I deserve a medal! That’s a Studebaker! It’s kind of insane!”


Scott wanted today to be a singing day.  We all vetoed him - a capella. 


Yesterday the air conditioner took required rest periods and after giving it some time off, it cranked out cold just fine. Unfortunately, that’s happening again, so we are driving with the windows down as I write this. Yesterday was the hottest day in Albuquerque’s recorded weather history. They haven’t seen heat this early in the year since 1890-something. Lucky us! Right now it’s 79 at 9:30 in the morning. And the laptop is making my legs sweat, so I’m signing off for now. More adventures later.

Desert Color Classic Results

For those who attended, we appreciate your good humor regarding the flooding of the show arena.  One of the valves at the north end of the arena broke the night before and ran to the southwest corner of the arena and formed a small pond, rendering that end of the arena unusable. 

Staff from the Town of Apple Valley Parks and Rec were on hand before we arrived, and quickly drained the water; they also barricaded the area and dragged the arena for about an hour.  At the end, we had the better part of a nicely groomed arena available to use.  Our thanks to Chops and the rest of the crew who assisted. 

Of course, the snow, rain, hail, sleet and wind was as big a surprise as the waterlogged areana.  Great appreciation to everyone who came up with extra winter-gear for those of us who weren't prepared for this less than May-like weather!

There were some awesome prizes that were raffled throughout the day.  Many, many thanks to everyone who donated.  If I've forgotten your name, I apologize - I'm sitting in Tulsa with my notes at home.  Sara Henson, AJ - Hooves N Paws, Sherry Krig, Alissa and Linda Osburn, Scott & Lisa LaMere, Laura Fowler, Nature's Farmacy.

Lynn and Jake Jaroszewski - Kudos to your Snack Shack!  The hamburgers were a hit!  And the Laura/Kaitlyn cupcakes were beautifully scrumptious!  As always, Sherry's and Lisa's homemade chili remains a crowd-pleaser!

Desert Color Classic - MRVHA Open Classes



Halter High Point


Exclusives Design/Morgan Betts


Reserve: Mighty Cool Sis/Cindy Polly


Walk-Trot High Point


Teresa Osburn & An April Impression


Reserve: Emily Cullins & Katchmyblaze


Youth High Point


Kaitlyn LaMere & Fairly Special Tale


Adult High Point


Laura Fowler & HF Artistic Babe


Reserve: Suzi Smith & So Slow Zippo


Open High Point


Laura Fowler & HF Artistic Babe


Reserve: Pam Boyd & Scandalous Vision






Desert Color Classic - Pinto Classes


Youth High Point


Kaitlyn LaMere & Fairly Special Tale


Amateur High Point


Laura Fowler & HF Artistic Babe


Reserve: Vicki Phipps & Yes Im Pawnee


Breeding Stock High Point


Exclusives Design & Morgan Betts


Open Horse High Point


Laura Fowler & HF Artistic Babe