This is too much excitement!

Saturday October 10, 2009

How long has it been since you've been on a trail ride? If it's been a while, it's time to saddle up! We went on the Ride for Diabetes on Saturday. I wasn't for sure what to expect, but I absolutely couldn't hold still for about two days before because I was so excited!







Here we are! Everyone is getting ready. D was worried about the burrs in the girls hair, then about being on time, and also about the horses acting up. We got the burrs out, made it on time, and the girls were perfect angels....

Baby is obviously not a morning girl...but when it's time to go she's ready!

D was the only one on the ride with an English getup, but no one said a word about it. In fact, all the "Crazy Arabians" got good compliments.

Here's D holding Garry - Where's Marlin? Your guess is as good as mine :)

DDDD, we got to hurry! People are getting lined up! I was feeling worse than a kid at christmas having to wait on the adults to get done eating!!!

This is my self portrait. I like it better than real pics anyway.

Just look at all that space - we haven't even started the ride yet.

There's Marlin! Finally, now hurry upppp!

It's time to go. It's time to go. Get ready, it's time to go! Prize, are you ready?


More to come! The ride lasted ALL DAY.

A New Level of Understanding.

Since the fair I've gone back to life and resumed regular Wynchester time. I've noticed the stark changes. For instance, D sent home a synthetic saddle for us to power wash off and she's hinted a few times it would be useful to break a horse. On Friday, we brought it back and hubby was pestering me again "are you ever gonna ride that horse?" he'll say from time to time, and frankly he's not the only one. So, being the smartass I am I toted the little saddle out to the roundpen. Chester sniffed, snorted, and finally ate at the saddle and then I calmly walked to his side and put it on him. No reaction. I pulled on it and let it fall to the ground - he stared at me like I was a lunatic but didn't move. Then I hoisted it back on and walked him around. Okay, it's done-he wears a saddle. He's not ready to ride, but he'll wear it.
I noticed the differences in our trust again today. The roundpen was way to muddy so I got him out and we went walking. We walked farther than we ever have before down the road and Chester was perfectly okay with just going with me. We came back and went down the driveway, around the trailer, over some wood, stomped on some tin. Chester was content to just be and follow me wherever I took him. It's almost as if we're much more "in tune" with each other and I have to admit it's exhilarating. The fair was much more than fun time and I'm just beginning to understand the deep meaning of all this....

Friday fun and goodbye...

Friday October 2, 2009

Happy Birthday Dian!

This is Heather Travis http://www.spiritthyme.com/
She shows a ton of Sport Horse and Driving and is super nice and helpful - she gave us some rubber bands for Chester cause we forgot! Has a really nice stallion too...






We got to watch some halter classes which was neat - I've never seen the Arabian Halter before.
Below is Donna Copeland - I think she was showing this one for someone else? Really pretty though.














Yes, I know. This one is rather homely, but the BEST MANNERS of all the horses. Honestly! The little one stood much calmer than even Chester!




This beautiful gray filly caught my eye...she looks soo much like Chester.

Say goodbye to the Tulsa State Fair Chester! Hopefully we'll get to come back next year! Guess what I found out? Patience and Prize already qualified for Nationals and Chester qualified for Sport Horse Regionals! $$$ I am going to get that second job now....

All about the KIDS!

Thursday October 1, 2009 Continued...





Aye, Aye Captain!

It's five o'clock and the kids are DYING to ride rides!

Look at all the neat crap!

Ohhh, the skyride is a blast...

Fishing in the middle of town? Those cityfolk...

Had to fish out of a durn tank.

It was interesting to say the least.

Snapped a pic before the rollercoaster started!

Smile Clay.

Tristan, are you having fun?






So, we got soo tired and worn out that ALL FIVE of us crashed in D's trailer! She didn't seem to mind and even cooked us breakfast before daddy and the boys left Friday morning. Patience, Dian, and I stayed to watch some of the show and pack etc...Plus Friday is D's birthday! (she's offically 32)

It's Showtime!

Thursday October 1, 2009





We all got up around 5am (Patience was a little cranky) ate breakfast, took showers, got the horses fed/watered, said hello to daddy and the boys, got dressed and ready and then waited....The sport horse classes were on an open card, so around 8am the show started but it was a little crowded so we decided to wait a bit-MISTAKE. The damn Tulsa State Fair people closed the Mustang arena completely down to do a photoshoot! Two hours, can you believe it!? Dian and I had to walk Chester and Tez around for a while to try and calm them down and in the meantime grandparents and daddy entertained the kids so they didn't get to antsy and bored. Wow, all that waiting....it gave my stomach even more time to act naughty!

Can you tell Patience is cranky?

I have no idea how early hubby got the boys up, but they were all there by 7am!

Tristan found a good spot!

Patience waits-she's ready for her class!

Okay Nancy, this pic isn't fair but I'll get you back...

Even poor Chester is waiting patiently.

Finally! Time to gooooo. Dian and I stood for a few minutes while the horses before us went and we talked more about the pattern, stance, etc...the last thing I remember her saying was that if you screw up the pattern it's an automatic disqualification. Shit, I was so nervous/wound up and so worried about Chester that I screwed up the freaking pattern. The judge was super nice and corrected me instead of disqualifying Chester! WOW!

Dian and I patiently did circles...

Wow! Chester looks sooo handsome!

Here is the judge. He could tell how nervous I was and said "Hey, this is fun right!" I agreed and he explained the pattern (yes, even after I'd been told twice I still screwed it up) and off we went! He corrected me when I did wrong and advised me to give Chester more line to trot out and RUN beside him. I was under the impression that judges were serious, uptight, and never smiled. Boy, was I ever wrong!

Here are the winners! I would like to thank Dian right now, without her help and guidance neither Patience or I would have been able to show.

Here is Patience ready to go! After D and I finished our class she took Patience over to watch the English riding classes to get a better idea of what she's supposed to be doing. Best idea ever.

When it was about time, Dian went to get Prize warmed up while I got Patience ready. Dian was so worried about Prize (It was her first show as well) but we put Patience up and they looked like the perfect team!

Can we go yet?!

Wow, who are you and what have you done with my daughter?

Dian went out for the lineup, I wanted to take pictures!

Everyone was so excited! Prize and Patience had to stand for pictures for a good ten minutes!

There are a few neat points to share:

The professional pictures from the show are at http://www.showchampions.com/

Chester and I made it on the news! No kidding, we are famous! Randoms aunt Gina was by the fence during our class and the news crew talked to her and filmed Chester and I as a plus! They actually did a really nice piece combining our class with some other classes and interviews...

http://www.newson6.com/Global/category.asp?C=121535&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4177607&flvUri=&thirdpartymrssurl=

I am so proud of Tez, Chester, Patience, and Prize!

After Patience portion of the show was over, all the relatives left. That gave us time to eat, relax a little, feed/water the horses, and listen to the kids say over and over - "Is it five yet?" The Tulsa State Fair Starts at five!






The Massey family extends a Huge THANK YOU to Dian and Marlin Bales at Eliza Creek Arabians for their continued help and support involving us in every aspect of the amazing Arabian Horse.

How much can you do in one day?

Wednesday September 30, 2009

WOW! This morning, I got everyone up and going, finished packing the explorer, last minute decided to take Ms Sami, got the boys to school, got drinks and groceries for the show, and went to find the rest of my show outfit! Patience and I finally headed over to D's house and did some more last minute trailer packing...Then it was official load-up time! We walked Chester and Tez down the driveway without any hitches and then loaded them up. Just imagine this....I loaded Chester by myself this time!!! He just about beat me into the trailer, but we did it! After Patience, Dian, Sami, and I got loaded in the truck it was across the road to get Prize..Dian was worried about catching her, but she snuck one in and the catch/load only took about five minutes. Then it was OFF TO THE FAIR! I don't think any of us sat still the whole way there. Marlin followed with some shavings and the horses did great in the trailer. Ignorance is bliss for me, I didn't realize there was sooo much checking in, unpacking, WORK to be done : )

We're here checking in!

Sami waiting in the tack stall while we unloaded EVERYTHING!

Chester and Prize settling in and having a chit chat...

Patience waiting for a hot dog.

Here's Dian's stallion table complete with fliers and candy.

After getting stuff/horses unloaded, Dian proceeded to take me to the THREE check-in's while Patience and Marlin cooked hot dogs in the microwave. I was exhausted at this point, but there was much more to be done! D and Marlin went and parked the trailer (she rented a spot with electric) and Marlin went on home. After that, Prize got bathed and we took Chester and Tez around to explore some and get used the the total sensory overload...I have to say, Chester has only been to the vet a couple times-I don't know what I expected as far as behavior from him, but he was a champion. From the trailer to the stall, he never spooked one time. During our exploration in the evening, he was really nervous but he never forgot where I was.

Patience says goodnight to Prize!






Dian turned around and Sami had decided her spot was good for a bed!

There was a lot of girly giggling goin on, but hey, we got rid of the boys for a while!

Can I come up there with you?

I'll just stay here then...



At this point, I could hardly sleep I was soo nervous. The show starts at eight, my alarm is set for 5:15am!

Last Minute Show Prep!

Tuesday September 29, 2009

Today, after work, I had a meeting at the school. At eleven I e-mailed D to say I'd not be there for the farrier at two and we'd be lucky if I got up at three! I finally made it - better late than never...Chester and Tez both got last minute baths by yours truly and then I proceeded to wash buckets and help Dian get last minute tack and crap together and in the trailer. Next order of business was putting Chester and Tez into stalls for the night and doing some ear/face clipping. In the hub I told the kids to stay near the black trailer until we got done...well, the school alarm next door went off and hubby called me in a panic and said he couldn't find the kids! (They stayed right where I told them to - next to the black trailer) After we got hubby calmed down, Chester and Tez realized they were no longer with the herd - then the herd realized Chester and Tez were missing, and the yearlings were just so confused! With all the calling back and forth combined with pacing I knew Chester was going to get worn out and I still needed to get laundry and packing done....