Saturday was the Souhegan Riders first show of the summer term and I must say that Coach Jess and I were very impressed with the girls performances both in and out of the show ring.
Friday night was a late one for all of the girls. The tunes were on as the horses were bathed, clipped, braided, and dressed in their glittery retro slinkies. No one left until it was dark and then managed to drag themselves out of bed and back to the barn before the sun was up the next morning.
All of the prep time and elbow grease truly paid off first thing Saturday morning when the girls walked into the ring (a first time experience for many) to be judged on their showmanship. Hannah Gagnon walked out of the ring with a third place after her English Walk-Trot division showmanship pattern. Amazingly, the girls were able to keep Princess looking as Fancy Schmancy as a white horse should. Jess Stepaneck also showed Princess for the day and tied with Amanda Giesinger and Just Call Me QT (QT) for a first place in showmanship in their Western Walk-Trot division. Lauren Weinstock and Blazing Into 2000 (Blaze) impressed, and shocked, us all by taking a second place in showmanship in their Junior English division. Go figure, a jumper turning into a calm and cool pattern horse almost overnight!
As if the girls' showmanship did not make Coach Jess and me proud enough, the girls hustled to get the horses ready for their riding classes. Hannah walked and trotted around that arena and you never would have known it was her first horse show; she placed in both her equitation and pleasure classes which had around ten exhibitors in each class. After a super quick tack change, Jess was able to take Princess into her western equitation and pleasure classes alongside Amanda and QT. Jess came out of the ring with a first place ribbon and Amanda was right up there, exiting with a second place ribbon. Again, you would never know that it was Amanda's first horse show! Lauren kept Blaze collected and in control and placed in her large equitation class.
The girls also had to compete in a trail class in order to qualify for day end awards. Again, Hannah and Princess came out on top placing fourth in their division. Lauren and Blaze placed second in their crowded canter division. To top off all of the trail excitement, Amanda and QT won the Western Walk-Trot trail class!
Lauren then took Blaze in two jumping classes where he was able to really shine. Lauren stepped on the gas and won her Junior Gambler's Choice class! Although they did impressed the heck out of us in their other classes throughout the day, we all concurred that Blaze should keep his day job as a hunter jumper! Hannah was also very determined in her Walk-Trot Hunter over Fences class and placed in it as well.
We anxiously awaited the announcement of the day end champions while the girls competed in a few gymkhana classes for fun after all of the main ring classes were over. QT was a crazy man when he saw the cloverleaf barrel pattern and speed paid off again for Blaze when he won the stake race.
The time came that we all had been waiting for and the day end champions were announced. Amanda and QT were day end Reserve Champions alongside of Jess and Princess who won the title of day end Champions.
Girls, we are so incredibly proud of you all. You made the day fun and exciting for everyone who watched you. If you were nervous at all, you definitely didn't show it. You all worked hard and competed at your very best. Again we are so very, very, extremely proud of all four of you that competed and worked together, helping each other throughout the day and night before. We can't wait for our show next Sunday!
Great job girls!
Labels: shows, team
Jilly May has just arrived from down south. She is a three year old blue roan registered paint from the bayou of Louisiana. She is an imprint foal which makes her very comfortable around people. Make sure you pay this little sweetheart a visit.
