Update

     Before I talk about my limited riding time this week (sad face haha) I wanted to share some pics of me playing with fluffybutt.  I love this dog to the moon and back but man is he hard to get pics with lol.  He always makes my day by greeting me with licks and a wagging tail.

     Phoenix got the whole week following state off due to her needing some time off and my parents being out of town.  I was upset I didn't get any time with my girl but there was nothing I could do.  Here is a pic that doesn't do the paint justice from paint tag from mutual last wednesday.  I had a blast tackling people and getting caked in paint lol.  

     On monday I was finally able to have some horse time and man was Phoenix excited.  I let her get some bucks out while I free lunged my girl and then I tacked her up in a Western saddle and her shanked snaffle and split reins (her reining headstall).  We worked on flatwork and ran through all of the gaits.  Phoenix and I just needed some chill work and I needed to work on sitting her jog while she worked on keeping a consistent pace.  We worked on leads and figure eights and Phoenix is definitely a lot better at picking up the correct lead with split reins (something about neck reining I suppose).  

     There were points were she got pretty excited and I had to run her out in a circle till she chilled out but for the most part Phoenix was great and doing reining work really made me miss queening.  She still pulled out slide stops when I asked her and her backing and hindquarter turns need work but are getting there.  I pulled off her saddle and worked her through all the gaits on the flat bareback (which is always exhilarating!) and then I hosed down and walked out my girl.  

State Day 2- Gymkhana Day

    Omg I had been waiting forever for our opportunity to run our patterns and I couldn't believe we were competing at state!  I fed Phoenix and filled up her water in the morning and let her chill while I watched the roping and hung out with my bestie Caulina.  When it got closer to our turn I brushed Phoenix down and tacker her up and then we headed to go warm up.  Phoenix was super excited to run around and we hand galloped a lot to get some of it our of her system (though she would be needing some of it today) and then we chilled next to the indoor arena while we waited for our turn.

     Phoenix was a little jumpy under the arena with all the noise but I got her to settle well enough and just circled and walked her when she started being dangerous.  Our first event was goat tying.  Phoenix did great running and slowing her lope while I jumped off (though I almost fell haha).  I flipped the goat in a good amount of time but I haven't practiced goats since fair and I had trouble gathering its legs to tie.  It was a fairly large goat and it took me a little while to remember I had to put my right leg into it more to help hold its legs together to tie.  I almost lost the goat but I was determined to atleast get a time.  Finally I got its large legs tied and it stayed.  I received a time of 48 seconds which isn't too good but I will take it over nothing.  

     Next was our barrel run haha.  I was excited and ready to go and Phoenix really tried her best for me.  Yes our turns weren't perfect but our run felt good up to the point were we slipped and fell haha.  Luckily, Phoenix and I were both unhurt and I actually stood up laughing and asking if I could have a re-do cause man I was ready to run a good time lol.  I caught my girl and sadly we were DQed so we have to wait till further notice to see if Phoenix and I are improving.  I am getting less nervous about letting her our and now that we have slipped and gone down I'm not too scared of that either cause it honestly wasn't that bad.  Hope this video cracks you up as much as it does me haha. 

     Our last event for the day (and for state) was pole bending.  Phoenix and I haven't honestly done pole bending in a long time and it has never been our strong suit but she did amazing and I couldn't be prouder.  Phoenix and I ran a 29 second pole run (which is our fastest) and she whipped around those end poles like a boss!  We didn't place but I sure couldn't keep the smile off of my face!

     State was a blast and I can't believe it is over!  I loved every second and I learned a ton.  We won some and we lost some but Phoenix put her heart into everything for me and I couldn't ask for anything more.  Caulina and her sister kicked some butt and I loved meeting new people and watching everyone else!  I wish Phoenix and I could travel and compete all the time cause that was such a rush (maybe one day we will haha).  

     I hosed off my girl, loaded up the truck and trailer, and we hit the road home.  Phoenix munched on hay and was super excited to get home and settle back into her stall.  I am super thankful for the opportunity to compete at my first major show and I'm sad I wont be able to go next year lol.

State Day 1 - English

     I was nervous as heck for day 1 of state so I arrived at the barn bright and early around 6am to feed and water Phoenix.  Once she was fed and hydrated, I groomed her and tacked her up in Western tack to go run flags in the opening ceremony.  We got to carry the U of A flag and Phoenix was totally fine with holding it...until we started running haha.  Phoenix wanted to run hot laps so she took off and galloped the arena, which was ok except that I couldnt get her to pull up.  They were saying the pledge of allegience while I was circling Phoenix to a stop.  She wasn't scared of the flag, just excited to run with it haha.

     After flags I had about 20 minutes to untack Phoenix, put on my breeches and too small white shirt, try and brush out Phoenix's sweat spots, and slip on her English bridle so we could go compete in showmanship.  Phoenix and I tried our best and I was suprised and super proud of my girl for winning 10th place!  We work on groundwork but not much showmanship and I wasn't really sure about competing in the class, so 10th out of 18 made me feel great and was the boost I needed for the rest of the day.

    Next up were our jumping classes.  I put on Phoenix's saddle and warmed her up in the practice arena.  They set up practice jumps at 2'3'' and 2'6''.  Those were the biggest jumps I would ever had attempted to get over with Phoenix and I was nervous as heck (especially since the jumping class we had taken ended in broken ribs).  I took a deep breath and tried the jumps.  To my surprise and delight Phoenix jumped over it!!  She refused the 2nd jump (mainly due to me being so surprised that I didn't have much leg on her haha) but I circled her back towards it and she took it.  

     Sadly we got DQed in both of our jumping classes due to having 3 refusals in both classes.  Phoenix probably felt my nerves and though I was feeling more confident I was still unsure about the classes.  Either was I'm proud of Phoenix for getting over the practice jumps and I know that with practice we can actually complete a jumping class haha.  We left the arena laughing and with a smile and we still went back in to complete the flat portion of the class were Phoenix did a good job picking up the correct leads.  

     Our last 3 classes were flat classes in the indoor arena.  Phoenix was a little jumpy at first and didn't like the clapping people in the stands too much, but she listened good and we tried our hardest.  We messed up a few leads and had to fix them and I had to check Phoenix a few times for getting too fast but overall I think we did great.  We didn't place in English pleasure or equitation.

      We placed 9th in the state for bareback!!  We have been working really hard at bareback so I was a little disappointed we didn't place higher but I'm glad we atleast placed!  Phoenix was smooth and we only had to fix one wrong lead.  I got the sitting trot but had a little bit of a hard time with the posting trot because I had never done that bareback before.  We gave it our all and I was super proud of my girl!

     For not showing English all year and trying her best for me, I am super proud of how well Phoenix and I did at state!  I brushed her down and fed her and then headed out for the night with my dope outfit (yes I went to dinner and desert wearing that with my horse slobber covered t shirt haha).