The Horse Show Life

Horse shows can be (are) brutal. Physically, mentally, and emotionally brutal. How can something so exhausting be so much fun?? Here are a few behind-the-scenes moments from the horse show in Scottsdale.

Of course, Kari is the leader for us all. She makes sure we ride well and look good doing it.

 She's always at the side of the ring, giving her riders quick advice as they ride by,

And I know she feels good when her riders do well.

 Thank goodness our barn has a minimum of drama, which is really saying something, considering there are 30 or more teenage girls and women there on a regular basis. I'm not saying that we don't have our moments- there have been some major flip-outs- but compared to other barns, we set the standard for about each other and cheering our riders on.

 There's the supporting cast too, mostly parents, who keep things going smoothly. One of everyone's favorites is Donald who keeps us laughing,

And can heave his teeny 10 year old up onto her horse with style.

 Show Moms are also in charge of applying sunscreen- on kids and horses.

Then there's the contingency of dogs:

Slinky is the bad dog. She knows she's supposed to stay in the golf cart, and she does, to the spirit, if not the letter of the law.

I guess we wouldn't do this horse show thing if we didn't think it was fun, right?