As I prepare to go back into the show ring, I am gathering many things I need. I want to be prepared, because it is important to me to make a good impression since I will be the only rider riding aside. This is the horse I am going to start with:
His registered name is Heaven and Earth and let me say - it fits him. He is an ANGEL!! His barn name is Oliver...but Oliver does not have a good hair gene! Most Saddlebreds do have great hair - able to grow tails that drag the ground for miles if the owner takes good care of them. Oliver however, just cannot seem to grow a long mane or tail..so we are going to give him a bit of help!
I used to own a gelding named Ivan. Here is a picture of him when he was just 3 or 4 with my friend Janie riding.
Ivan was a wonderful teacher and a fun show horse for me...but Ivan foundered. I have been through that before with another horse and Ivan did survive his incident, but when it happened, I knew he was going to be out of the show ring for at least a year and maybe much longer. I loved Ivan and did not care if I could never show him again...and I nursed him back to health. I decided though to cut off his long tail since he was going to be turned out into the pasture for so long. At the time I cut it, his tail drug the ground about 12 inches.
As it turns out, Ivan's tail is a close enough match to Oliver's that I can tie it in for horse shows. In order to do that though, the hair must be sewn together into a 'switch'. That way it will last a very long time. I am sending it off today to a man who I have heard from many people - does an exceptional job. It will cost me $100.00. If I was in the market to buy a switch and I did not own the horse hair, it could cost me $1000.00 depending on the length of the hair!!!!
If anyone is interested, the guy who is making the switch for me is:
Garland Presswood
27 Staley Ave.
Cookville, TN. 38501
Ivan's old tail will help make my other show horses a little bit more beautiful!
This will be my very first show. OMG - it is only 2 1/2 weeks away too!!! I am sure you are wondering why I chose it, especially since it is so soon. Well, first of all it is a non-rated schooling show. Although in the Saddlebred world that does not mean that there will not be some excellent show horses there...because there will be! But still, it is smaller, located in a wonderful arena just North of Dallas called Las Colinas and I want to get as many non-rated shows under my belt before Spring which is when the bigger rated shows begin. 
Not that I am expecting to take many (if any at all) ribbons home with me...but it still looks very very nice!
..not that I have one square inch of wall space left to hang them!
His registered name is Heaven and Earth and let me say - it fits him. He is an ANGEL!! His barn name is Oliver...but Oliver does not have a good hair gene! Most Saddlebreds do have great hair - able to grow tails that drag the ground for miles if the owner takes good care of them. Oliver however, just cannot seem to grow a long mane or tail..so we are going to give him a bit of help! 
Ivan was a wonderful teacher and a fun show horse for me...but Ivan foundered. I have been through that before with another horse and Ivan did survive his incident, but when it happened, I knew he was going to be out of the show ring for at least a year and maybe much longer. I loved Ivan and did not care if I could never show him again...and I nursed him back to health. I decided though to cut off his long tail since he was going to be turned out into the pasture for so long. At the time I cut it, his tail drug the ground about 12 inches.
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I want deeper pockets! ha ha
This lady is not only jumping aside, but at the peak of the jump she is going to grab the glass of champagne the butler is offering to her! FABULOUS!!!!!
