Yep, that's right, Clint owned 2 cows when I met him. And I started off riding horses in the 4-H program which entitled us to go to the county fair and show. Back then it was much simpler to compete in the fair.
I remember my first competition I was doing Western Trail, showmanship, another Western riding class and an oral exam. I rode a 29 year old horse named T.J. who used to be owned by a man who would let the horse into the house and the two would watch T.V. together. It was T.J. who gave me the many firsts in my equine world. For example, the first time I got to pick up horse manure couldn't have been done with out T.J.'s help. Realizing how much horses shed in the spring, T.J.'s help. My first experience in a relay race, Old T.J. was by my side. Literally.
I did a relay that you had to walk or jog, not canter down to the other end of the arena, jump off your horse, put on costume clothes, take them off, get back on your horse and walk or jog back to your team. I was 8 or 9 when I did this aka vertically challenged. I jogged T.J. as fast as his old bones would go, jumped off, did the wardrobe change and then literally climbed back on. I was offered help, but denied it. Little stubbornness coming through and I climbed my way up the saddle and off I went back to my team. I don't remember what place we got, but I DO remember that my trainer's son said I had "balls" and it was the first of many such comments about my willigness to try most things. Eating bugs, NO, but making a fool of myself on a Japanese subway by swinging from the hand rails, or making jumps out on the trail so we could jump them, or doing the bungie/dive swing at Magic Mountain, HECK YEAH!
So here are a two pictures of Clark at his first fair. I'm sure he won't remember watching the pig races, sweating buckets because it was so hot or watching his Uncle Jack win him a prize, but we had a great time.
Us at the Pig races.
I had to take a picture of Clark next to the cow. The poor girl with the cow. I had told my brother that it would be cool if we could get a picture of Clark riding the calf, but a little joking about it realizing that it probably wouldn't happen. So Jack went over and asked her! She of course said no. I like how all three of us have horrible expressions on our faces. Oh well.
2 comments:
How fun for you! Loved hearing about your horse memories. Would you let your horse in to watch tv with you?
The fair is coming up here as well, and we were just thinking about how much you would like it. Glad you're having fun!
Anna, I so would let my horse in to watch T.V. :) As a kid I would have never left the stables and ate, slept and breathed horses all day long if I could. Mom and Dad had to set SOME limits.
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