Glis gets another A+ in my book for her 2nd Trail Trial event. I knew going in that we do have things to work on so I go in with a open mind to just go in and have the most fun ever. If Glis were perfect at everything, she'd be boring. LOL. If I remember correctly, we had about 14 obstacles to do along the 3-4 mile ride. We were done within 2 hours of riding. I took the camera but really I forget about taking pics when I'm out riding and talking. So I am not great at multi-tasking. Like that is new to you. LOL. We got there just before my friends I was riding in got there. Glis settled in fine.
Here are my friends getting ready.
Glis is ready for her day.
Our first obstacle was a rope gate. Glis went 3rd and was not too happy about having to wait her turn. But we got up there and got it accomplished. I put her score as a 8. Next was a mail box, set up about wither high. You go up to it, stand quiet and pull out envelope. Glis would put her nose up to it but got no where near it close enough for me to get out the envelope. She was still a bit high strung so we choose to skip it before she lost her marbles. Better to leave on a good note than to sit there and get her more upset about not being with her new buddies. Score 0. Next was back out of box. She went in but stopped crooked, so I had to back her and move her hips over to back out. I'd score her a 7 there.
Next we are suppose to calmly walk over the low, middle section of this jump. Glis went 2nd this time. She walked up to it, snorted at it, wanted to back up. I got her to go forward and she totally jumped it.LOL. Love that crazy girl. I score her a 7 for trying to immitate Solo. Then we had to walk over a muddy ditch that had a blow up something or other laying in it. Don't remember what it was. She walked fast over it, I score her a 8. Next was a car wash type of thing set up in a grove of trees. Plastic bags hanging down, tied up with baling twine. They are about wither high or a tad bit lower that you walk through. Glis walked right through them. I score her a 8 or 9.
Next was the water crossing. Walk through the water that had little rubber duckies floating in it. Go up the bank and trot off to a set cone. We had to wait there a bit before we did it cause another rider was having a hard time getting her horse across. I score Glis an 8. Then we did a walk over another middle section of a wooden jump. I score her a 7 there cause she paused there and snorted. Next was take a horse shoe and throw it into a bucket with other horse shoes so it makes a noise. I never said I was an athelete with talent. I missed the bucket, skimmed it, made a little noise, and horse shoe fell on ground. Glis never flinched, I score her a 9. Then we had to go to an unscored obstacle and grab an envelope off a step jump. It took me just a little bit to get Glis up to it, get sideways enough for me to grab it.
Then came the walk over a small open ditch. Its made out of wood around the sides. You just have to walk over it. You can kinda see that there are 3 different widths set up here. Glis did it great. I score her an 8 there. My friends horse, who did this course last year like a dream, totally balked here and refused to walk over it. Her DH on his horse did it great. His horse should place high in the standing. Then we had to walk over 2 bridges. The first bridge crosses the driveway and Glis did wonderful there. Then you had to walk over an elevated small bridge. I knew Glis would not go over it cause she wouldn't get near it in our clinic last month either. I skipped the 2nd bridge so I gave her a 5 here. Then we had to get a water balloon off a barrel and toss it into the round pen. Here I had to walk Glis around the barrel a few times so I could lean over and grab the balloon. She would not stand next to it so I could grab it. I give her a 6 here. Then our last obstacle was bowling. There were 5 or so big blow up bowling pins set up and you have to toss the ball and knock a pin down. The ball was lighter than air and it was windy. It took me numerous trys of throwing it to finally hit a pin. Glis was ever so patient with me and my atheletic skills here. Bless her heart, I score her an 8 here.
So Glis gets an A+ for her day even though we prob scored below 90. I'll be interested in how they scored her compared to me. My friend placed 2nd last year on her horse and that was after having to leave early and missed the last obstacle because her horse started to colic. Like I said, her DH did awesome on his horse. First time for both of them doing this.
If you don't want to stand behind our soldiers who are in danger zones, please stand in front of one.
If you really open your ears and eyes, you will see that there is alot of great advice given on here. You just have to see it and hear it without closing off your mind.
VanHalen 26 yr QH Stallion R.I.P. 4/11/82 - 5/8/08 24 wonderful years together.
Scout 25-28 yr Paint/Draft Cross Gelding
Glistening 13 yr Arab/Saddlebred Mare
