10/10/10

The Arizona Fall Youth and Amateur AMHA Miniature Horse Show was on Sunday (which also happened to be 10/10/10, Mom says it's a really neat date and wont happen again for a really long time). We had been working towards this show but Mom wasn't sure she was going to be able to go up until the morning of the show. You see, my personal servant (Also known as my Mom's Mom) wasn't sure if she would be able to go or not until the very last minute. Mom doesn't like going alone and Amanda was out of town. On Saturday I got another full clip (I had, to my Mom's surprise, grown an astonishing amount of hair in one week), a bath, and a quick lesson to prepare for Sunday. Sunday morning Mom got the ok to go and everything was a rush. We hadn't registered for classes, I had to be measured in, and Mom had forgotten to prepare everything the night before. Oops! Needless to say we were running late when our neighbor called in a favor. His dinner from the previous night gave him a bout of food poisoning and he needed help feeding his horses. So my personal servant ran over to feed while Mom tried to put everything together so we could leave as soon as she got back.

Thankfully at 6:45 am on Sunday in Cave Creek/New River traffic is nonexistant and it took no time to get to Arthur Ramirez's trainign facility-where the show was being held. Once there Mom signed me up for my one class: Amateur Halter Junior Stallion Level 1 then took me over to get measured in. I'm 25.75"! That means I've grown  1/4" since the Touch of Class show back in March. I'm on track to top out at 26" (miniature horse colts tend to stop growing in height between 18 months and 24 months). Mom elated that I'm going to stay so small. The show started about a half hour late and classes were running slow. Before my class I had to stand around for five long hours. I did get to meet some of the fillies from I Am Ranch. Let me say, they sure were purdy! I really liked Joy, their palomino filly. But she didn't share my affections as right after I said a suave hello she squealed and struck out at me. Her mom says its because she likes her men taller. pffft. To put size in perspective: in the photo you can see Joy and I. She's about 8 months old and the same size as me... I also met a lot of people who had just come to see miniature horses. All of them fell in love with me and wanted a horse just like me! Maybe one day they can own one of my sons or daughters. Every one, owners, trainers, breeders, showers, and guests a like kept commenting on how nice of a stallion I am, especially for being so small.

Finally the time came for me to go into the arena and strut my stuff! I'll admit I get a little nervous being in that arena with people watching me. It makes me forget my training some times. It also didn't help that Mom forgot my treats so my attention wasn't always on her (like any boy the key to my heart is through my stomach). We did our best though. When it came time for placings the loud speaker announced that the judges had placed unanimously. This is a very good thing if you place high (but can be bad if you place low). The loud speaker called out the horse numbers and their placings, "Unanimous first to number 130"! That was me! This meant I had to go back for the Amateur Stallion Championships and more waiting. It was hot in the sun but not bad in the shade but either way I was ready to go home. Finally  my last class came. I was too tired to be nervous. The judges all agreed, once again, on the placings.

You can now cal me the "Unanimous Champion Amateur Stallion". I took home the champion under both the judges. We took out winning photo (there was sadly no photographer in the ring) infront of the "trailer" that brought me to the show (a tradition Mom started with Avalon). Only our "trailer" happened to be Mom's car. Even though I did very well in this past show Mom and I both know we have a lot to do before the big show in March. We would both like to go to the World Show in 2011. Until then we're continueing to train and for now, work on my halloween costume (pictures soon, I promise!). I haven't been able to prove the rumors about Amanda getting a filly true nor false. I guess I'll just have to sit back and watch the gate to see if any fillys stoll on by. I have a feeling Mom knows but isn't saying.
Until next time, I'm out!