Baby's First Show

[Sandy M]

He turned 4 on April 19th. The only other show he's been to was in a very quiet indoor where we did W/T English Pleasure. These pics were taken at what can be a scary locale, since it's in a regional park within a large city - lots of traffic - people/dogs/bikes/noisy port-a-potty doors slamming, etc. LOL He did shy/spook/semi buck three times during the test, but overall behaved fairly well. I'm just happy we stayed together and overall it was a pleasant experience. He got mostly 6's and 7's, but of course, several 4's for the blowups.

http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/42985/2792252910103428920S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2792252910103428920yKTuaj)


http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/24374/2675951620103428920S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2675951620103428920OCBnex)

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/42814/2579382920103428920S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2579382920103428920dTkelK)

http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/38779/2467052650103428920S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2467052650103428920XfrNdq)

[mp]

I love your boy and I'm all for pleasant experiences at Baby's First Show. Congratulations!

You should frame that first pic and call it "dressage among the giant redwoods" or something. It's very cool.

[FancyFree]

I like the second pic too. He has a very pretty head.

Congrats to you both!

[MyReality]

I love the first pic. It's beautiful.

The first time I brought my guy to a "city" park, his eyes popped out of his head when he saw the swing.

[Sandy M]

Yes, I thought that one with the trees and sunlight was a kind of "arty" shot. I just grabbed a friendly bystander (sitting on a big Paint trail horse) and asked her to take some shots. Most weren't all that great, but I do love that one.

Just to note: His ears really are THAT big! Arabian shape, but not Arabian sized. (He's by Aul Magic (Arab) out of Confetti's Red Rose (App). He's about 16.2 now. Don't know whether he'll get taller or just fill out.

[rabicon]

Congrats. Doesn't it feel great!!! :D He is very cute and I'd say he looks dang good for a 4year old at his 2nd show. Congrats and let us know how it goes the rest of the year.

[Dressage Art]

Oh Sandy, this shot does have a fairy tale feeling to it! Love it! MHA is such a fun place to show at. I was hoping to be there as well, but had plans for that weekend: my son's B-Day. Those family events always get on the way ;) just kidding... I'm in the midst of painting a horse walking among the redwoods - we took a N. CA vacation to the Avenue of Giants last year - I got some really nice shots from it. But what a cool idea to paint the MHA arena - thank you for your email and I'll take you up on the offer to incorporate some parts of your photo!

Congratulations on your first show, especially with a 4 year old baby horse. For me, anybody who shows 4 year olds are a ***Rock Star*** !!! And so glad to see that you are wearing a vest!

[Sandy M]

LOL. My birthday was Monday! (I think I am a wee bit older than your son, however!!) (Too old to be showing a 4 year old, but, it is what it is!)

[monstrpony]

OH, how neat! I grew up showing in that arena, have wondered if it's still there and what's going on there. How great to see your pics! (I'm almost as old as you ... )

Your youngster looks lovely!

[Dressage Art]

Really? Happy birthday Sandy!!!!!
Hey, look in my store and choose something with an Appy design - I'll send it to you as a happy birthday gift and a thank you for the idea for the painting! Breed design section: http://www.cafepress.com/dressageart/2649405

[Kimberlee]

I absolutly love that first shot. That is priceless.

[Sandy M]

Really? Happy birthday Sandy!!!!!
Hey, look in my store and choose something with an Appy design - I'll send it to you as a happy birthday gift and a thank you for the idea for the painting! Breed design section: http://www.cafepress.com/dressageart/2649405


That's so sweet of you! Thank you so much. I like the #104422196 (The Player one, cap sleeve, ladies Large/Brown/white).

[charismaryllis]

beautiful pics!

[Reiter]

My eyes just about popped out of my head when I saw that first photo! After reading your description I was expecting cars zooming by, playground atmosphere, etc. When I saw that wonderful picture I thought I must have misread. It looks like you are in the middle of the forest! Absolutely beautiful and definitely worth becoming a famous DA painting! :yes:
Good job on your ride, both of you look great! Kudos for not being afraid to wear a vest! I have a 4 year old as well, but am nowhere near ready to take him to a show! I did take him on a trail ride yesterday and was wearing my eventing vest as well! I'm getting a bit old for baby antics and am not as brave (or stupid ;) ) as I used to be!

[WindsongEq]

Congratulations!! I also absolutely loved the first shot...it was very artistic with the tall redwoods and the sunlight shining through on you.....

[Hazelnut]

great photos, what a great bystander!!

congratulations.

[Sandy M]

Reiter - What happens is that people/dogs/bicycles - pop out from between those lovely trees all the time (lots of concealed paths you can't see in the photo)! A paved path runs behind the bleachers you can see on one side of the arena, and bicycles come shooting down full speed. Yee-hah! LOL

[Dressage Art]

For some horses, this location can be one of the scariest show rings in the N. California. Bikers do zoom past the arena behind the trees. People hiking. Arena is located in the gov. park. Horses do spook and look around on what's going on behind those big trees. http://www.mhaoakland.org/facilities.html I saw some horses tremble with their whole bodies - this is how much they where scared in being in the real woods. Horses who trail ride – do have an advantage at that place ;) I love to show there - it's like a camping trip!

[Sandy M]

Yes, my old boy, Erik (horse in my profile) was an excellent trail horse by the time I first showed HIM at MHA, and he was totally unimpressed - it was just another horse show to him.

Baby Mark has only been on ONE trail ride, and that was in a pasture at the colt starter's place. Since I've had him home, strolls down the driveway have been our only "trail rides." I've been unable, so far, to find someone with a "babysitter" horse to accompany us on a trail ride, and I sure ain't going solo in our suburban area. Our open space isn't as forested as MHA, but it's equally - if not more - busy with hikers/bikers/dogs. While I am on vacation in August, I am leaving him with the colt stater with a specific request that she get him out on the trail (and used to clippers - I've been unsuccessful with THAT so far - even though I have them sitting on a shelf buzzing away while I groom him. Sigh.)

[monstrpony]

OH! OH! How neat to see the link to MHA, I'm so glad to see it's still alive and well. My mother was editor of the Trail Blazer for a while in the mid 60's. Does it really still have the same masthead?

I don't recall the arena being at all spooky, but I had a truely bombproof QH mare when I was a teen. However, I can imagine that the area and the park has grown to host a diverse number of sports (like the bikes--we never saw them 'way back then) and because of the trees, I can easily see where it could be quite a dicey place for a green horse.

We had our own little place in Orinda, back when normal folk could still afford to live there, and I remember riding thru neighborhoods on paved roads, finding little back trails all the way to the high school (Miramonte) and into the orchards between the high school and Moraga. That's probably all subdivisions by now. And I can't imagine riding in places like that now, even on the bombproof QH gelding I now have--who I bought when I realized, after twenty years of eventing and dressage, how much I missed that mare! Funny thing, somehow, I'M just not that bombproof, myself, any more.