I woke up bright and early this morning for the first morning of the National Trail Championship. As usual, my stomach was tight and I had no appetite, so we quickly got ready and drove over to the Oregon Horse Center.
This time, my husband, Travis, came with me. Usually he gets out of shows because of his work schedule, but this time he'd agreed to be there the entire time to be my groom. Not that the mules take much grooming for this show -- it's too late in the year to even clip them -- but it's nice to have someone there to run back to the stall when you forgot your hat.
Maxine was waiting in her stall when we arrived. It was strange to think that I wouldn't even have to tack her up this year. It would save a lot of time, but I was sad that we wouldn't be competing against the big boys in the Open class. Still, I was firm in my decision to put her health over my selfishness... er, happiness.
Hazel and Molly did have to be tacked up, but I wouldn't ride them until later, so it could wait. Instead, we wandered over to participate in the walk through.
Ah, the trail course walk through. This is one of my least favorite parts of the trail show. While I do appreciate the chance to walk through the course and ask questions of the judges -- I've learned a hell of a lot that way -- I am often annoyed by how much people over-think the course.
Here's how it works: First I get a course map from the show office. The map includes a primitive drawing of the course with the obstacles numbered, typically from one to 20. Above that is a description of what to do at each obstacle, such as enter pond, walk between two rocks, circle waterfall, etc. Then, I head over to the course to walk through on my own, deciphering the map as I go.
Now, I'll admit that the map is sometimes so crudely drawn that it's difficult to follow through some obstacles. Major, the gent who runs the show, is the first to admit that the drawings are less than perfect. In fact, he often claims that the map was drawn at 4:00 a.m.! Even so, it doesn't take too much common sense to figure 95% of the stuff out. The rest I just take at face value, but not everyone does.
The walk through starts with Major explaining the course while Mario, the head groundskeeper, walks the course. This is very helpful, if you can get in the front of the pack and follow Mario through the course. Unfortunately, folks start to pile up and go off course, confusing those behind them. This leads to the inevitable questions: "Do we go to the left of the right of the rock?"
Personal observation: Okay, call me a brash snob, but personally I really don't care what side of the rock you ride on. In my book, you take the side that (a) keeps you in view of the judge, (b) looks the most difficult, and (c) is, above all, safe. Nevertheless, the topic is discussed at length until every person who wasn't listening when the last person asked the same question has received a satisfactory answer.
The show starts immediately after the walk through, so I go and get Molly and Hazel ready. My first class of the day is with Hazel in the Logan Arena. That's the smaller arena that's intended for riders and/or animals that aren't quite ready for the big course in the Silverado Arena. My trainer suggested that I enter Hazel in this side because it was her first time being ridden in this show and there was a Donkey, All Riders class. Much to my disappointment, I was the only rider in the class.
Personal observation: Some folks would be exstatic to be the only rider in the class because it's a guaranteed blue ribbon. However. I'm highly competitive. While I enjoy my time in the class regardless, I'd much prefer to compete against at least four other riders. I have principles, you know!
About 30 minutes before my class I took Hazel to the arena to warm up. Anyone who's ridden a well-trained donkey knows that they don't need much in the line of warm-up. If you can get a donkey to trot you're doing well. Therefore, I didn't think it would take much to get her ready.
Much to my surprise, Hazel was sharp and ready to go. A little bit too ready. Like Maxine at her first show trail show three years ago, Hazel was dreadfully bothered by the unpredictable crowd in the warm-up arena. Unlike a regular show, the trail show attracts folks who don't normally spend time on the show circuit. Therefore, they don't quite have a handle on proper warm-up arena etiquette.
To make matters at little more intense, a few of the riders have horses that must be warmed up at a full-out gallop. While many of these folks are good riders, they sometimes forget that not everyone in the ring -- be it rider or animal -- is as experienced as they are. Hazel was in that group. Every time a horse would gallop alongside her, she would tense up and speed forward. Once or twice she even broke into a trot, headed for the gate -- not common for a donkey, especially Hazel. Each time she stopped obligingly, but I could tell that she was rattled.
To be continued...
Photo: Hazel loves attention!
