The blind squirrel finds the acorn!
I began showing in the AQHA only because a friend badgered me into it. It had always been my opinion that you cannot be competitive in that arena without a trainer by your side. (That is still my opinion.) Realizing I needed help to polish up my reining skills, I worked with Casey Deary before venturing out. Much to my surprise, we placed very well 3 out of 5 runs. Because of my kids busy schedules, I only showed enough to get the points needed to qualify for the 2009 World Show. That was the trip that fired me up to go at it again but in more than one event. With Marilyn Duncan and Lisa Anderson meeting me in Amarillo for support, the stage was set for fun. While I did not make the finals on this trip, I saw the possibility to do so and the possibilities to enter other classes and be competitive.
I set my goal for taking 4 horses to the 2010 Select World Show, competing in reining, cutting, speed events, and Working Cow Horse. However, it only took two shows for me to realize that I simply could not prepare four horses for four different classes that were held on the same day. I chose my top two classes, reining and cutting, and finished up those points within a few shows. I asked Steve and Carol Metcalf to help me prepare for the World Show, as they had other clients competing in those same events, and they were going to attend the World Show. Marilyn and Lisa were on board again to make the trip as my "barn help".
My first class was reining on Kings Sir Charles. My goal with this home-grown horse was to make the finals. I had my heart set on a finalist jacket. We had a good run and squeaked into the top 15 for the finals. We had another good run with only a bobble or two and ended up 10th in the finals. I was so surprised and ecstatic. I was giving little thought to the cutting at this time as I felt like so many of my "King" dreams had already come true. We had a couple of days before the Cutting prelims and we hauled off site to practice. Once again, my goal was to make the finals. I was hopeful but not very confident as I knew quite a few of the contestants and there were some really good cutters competing. We had a decent run, holding three cows, and made the finals. I was the first cutter up in the finals. My goal was to hold three cows and not fall off. The entire herd was black, big and fast. CD loves fast cows and he held the three we cut. I crossed my fingers in hopes of making the Top Ten. Marilyn watched from the stands as one cutter after another lost a cow. We both silently celebrated when it was obvious that I was in the Top Ten. Since they do not call out scores in the finals, you really do not know how you are placing until they call out awards. Towards the last of the finalists to show, a young woman informed me that I was tied for first and there would be a work off. I was shocked and thought she had the wrong person! I was visiting with Marilyn in the stands and not at all prepared to ride right back in. I hurriedly tacked CD back up and prepared to go back in for the work off. I laughed to myself as I thought, " The worst I can do is Reserve World Champion..no need to get nervous now". CD held all three cows with some leg quivering in the middle of the pen, my competitor lost a cow.......... surreal is the only word I know to describe this week in Amarillo. Two good friends, two good horses, lots of good luck, a Select World Champion Cutting title for CD and Top Ten Reiner with "Chuck" ..... After pictures, we loaded immediately and headed to Shawnee for the September OKFQHR show. I couldn't wait to get there and see the rest of my friends....
Top Ten Reiner "Chuck"
Select World Champion Cutting "CD"
