Our Summer in the Blue Grass
Braving the elements, we loaded up the horse vans and camper and headed to KY for July and August. Making the trip were CH Here We Are, CH Nutta You Business, Ch Your Lucky Stars, CH Heartland Resplendent, Magic City, Palisades Kentucky Colonel, Undualtas Lover Boy and Nuttin But Kisses. After laying over in Danville KY, we headed to Asheville N.C and the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show. We’ve enjoyed this venue for several years and did this year as well. The weather was cool and cooperative and the competition deep. CH Nutta You Business and stablemate CH Your Lucky Stars each took the Championship victory pass in their respective divisions with owner Gen Hess. CH Heartland Resplendent trotted to the red ribbon in the Pony Pleasure Driving qualifier as did CH Here We Are in the Adult Five-Gaited Pleasure class. Undulata’s Lover Boy and Jennifer earned the third-place ribbon in the Ladies Five-Gaited classes. Magic City and Gen Hess were sixth and fifth in the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure in some very good company as was Lauren Brizgys and Nuttin But Kisses in the Amateur Three-Gaited Park division.
We traveled directly to the Shelbyville show grounds from Blue Ridge for the Shelby Summer Classic. Once again, the weather cooperated with the exception of a rain delay one night. Showing only in the evening was a fun difference. CH Your Lucky Stars continued his winning ways as did CH Heartland Resplendent. CH Nutta You Business marched for the Reserve Champion ribbon in the Adult Three Gaited Country Pleasure as did Magic City in the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure. Undulata’s Lover Boy was third in the Ladies Five-Gaited Gaited. CH Here We Are and Susan Valley turned in very strong performances in the Adult Five-Gaited Pleasure classes. This after a mishap on the asphalt in NC resulting in broken bones in Sue’s foot. Sue also showed Lyle Lovett to good ribbons in the Ladies and Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited classes. Julia Chen flew to Shelbyville to cheer her Mom on as well. Great seeing Julia! Lauren Brizgys had a very nice go in the Amateur Three-Gaited Park qualifying class and then showed in a downpour back in the Championship. Palisades Kentucky Colonel hasn’t been able to show yet as he came down with a respiratory infection in NC. We are hoping he will be good to go for the Kentucky State Fair.
Becky and Katie Sinclair made the trip as well to find a new mount for Katie. Sir Blue is the newest addition to their family! “Moose” who is aptly named, will compete with Katie in the Juvenile Five- Gaited division. Katie is looking forward to Moose getting to CA and beginning to team up with him. We are looking forward to Katie returning to horse shows with us!
Shout outs to Rylee Abbott who has been on the road with us for the first five weeks of adventure! Rylee has helped in every aspect of getting horses ready to show, setting up and tearing down and making us all laugh at any given time. Kaylyn Abbott has helped hold down the fort at home and make sure everything there is in good order. Brett and Wayne Willnauer have gotten us to our destinations on time and in good shape.
Navigating the “new normal” has had its moments. Remembering to have or wear a mask, staying distant and lots of dining at the camper. I know we all feel more than fortunate getting to do what we love and thus far we are all healthy! The Kentucky State Fair, minus the carnival and added people will be the last stop on our list before heading home.
We did manage to attend the Carousel Charity Horse Show in Scottsdale, AZ before the pandemic lock down. California Springfest was forced to cancel in April, but the Silicon Valley Horse Show was able to get dates approved at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA in June. All the horses performed well at both shows. Katie Sinclair showed Amanda Vinson's VVM Uncensored to good ribbons at Silicon Valley and Rylee Abbott showed her own Rausser's Willow to good notice in the Hunter Country Pleasure and All Breed Hunter Pleasure classes.