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Time came to give it a try at a local show. We didn't have asperations higher than a walk-trot pleasure class for starters, so the primary consideration was getting her, the tack and me clean and spiffy enough. The first show was at a rather nice farm boasting an Olympic level trainer, though the show we went to was just a small one, with lots of pony hunter classes. We got Sarah all wrapped up with shipping boots (for the 15 mile trip), hired someone to haul her, and gathered nearly every bit of her layette in Hap's car. Off we went, Sarah screaming part of the way, evidently upset that she was in the trailer all alone and her pals weren't coming along.
Once there, all our work at spiffing up Sarah was for naught as far as her hind end went... a case of nervous stomach, right down into the shipping boots. Lisa courageously took care of this problem while Hap layed out all the equipment in an organized manner. I led Sarah around the show grounds to let her see what was up. A lot! Flags!! Ponies tearing around!! A hot dog stand!! Kids waving their balloons and cotton candy!! The registration booth!! A loudspeaker!! Well, all that excitement was over in about half an hour, and she settled down. A few carrots and some grazing helped.
We got her saddled and began the warm up. A little lounging to start, with Hap at the controls (below).
We did this behind the rows of trailers
and cars to keep her out of all the excitement, and she did very well. No
more nervous stomach. I got up to ride her back in that area, and she was
still quite calm, so I rode her back to the ring area to see if she could
maintain her cool. By golly, she did. A few small spooks in the warm up
ring, where ponies and horses were whipping by like speed demons, and near
collisions over the jumps were a constant danger. Back for a little cool down ride behind the trailers, and we figured we were ready.
Somehow, Lisa caught this great picture of
us being blessed with a sunbeam. Almost time for our class! I came back to
the trailer to get some final slicking up of me and the horse and tack.
Alas, as I slid off her, I caught a button on the saddle and popped it
off. We had everything we could possibly need... except for a
safety pin. But, these show people were a friendly bunch, and we borrowed
one quickly. I was back in business and actually in the ring before I knew
it. Sarah moved nicely along at a trot, a little faster than desired
(surprise), but calmly. True, she did do a little (well, maybe a
medium) skip in front of the announcer's stand, but that was only
the first (or maybe also the second) time around. She came back to a walk
smoothly when asked, and in general did everything well except for trot
just a bit slower. We kept finding ourselves lapping others. Oh, well, it
was a pleasure class, and I was enjoying myself. 
There were eight horses in the class, and one I knew for sure
wouldn't place higher than we would... it was a fresh off the track TB
gelding and he was really acting up, bucking and half-rearing. We
lined up well, stood square, and backed very nicely. The wait wasn't
long... we placed 6th of the eight. Oh, we were happy! My greatest
nightmare had been that she'd get so upset we'd be excused from the ring,
so this was a definite triumph. On to More Shows
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