Spindletop 2016

Each year the Historic Outdoor Living Museum at in Beaumont Texas has an Equestrian Day and I have had the privilege of being invited to participate for the last 5 years.  Bluebonnet Farms from Bellville , TX also participates and they graciously bring several American Saddlebreds to show, including the horse I rode aside whose name is Chip.  I actually trained Chip in sidesaddle and showed him a few times!  We are old friends.  Assistant trainer Austin Hazlewood rode an up and coming show horse in training who had never been off of the farm.  He was so impressive!  Mr. Perwin, owner of Bluebonnet Farms came with his lovely wife Ada and he exhibited his driving horse Ipod.  The children and parents who came had lots of questions and had a wonderful time!

This is me waiting for Chip to be tacked up.  By the way, at this point I had no idea if Chip would allow me to ride him with the parasol...

After I mounted and got comfortable, the photographer opened up the parasol and ever so slowly handed it to me.  We did this early when there were only a few spectators.

 

Chip never flicked an ear, even once when I was adjusting my reins and tapped him on the neck with it!  Such a wonderful horse!!

It was quite warm for an early November day...quite warm!

Spindletop Outdoor Historic Museum is a place where you walk around the restored 'Boomtown'  You can walk through each building..a Post office, Print shop, General Store, Doctors office etc and get a taste of what life was like back then.

This is Mr Perwin.  SHHHHH don't tell him I told you - but I think he is now over 90...but that does not stop him from driving this fancy boy named Ipod.

This is Austin Hazlewood - assistant trainer at Bluebonnet Farm and his young charge - I believe he is a 4 year old gelding who is in training to be a 5 gaited show horse.  He preformed beautifully for the crowd.

Horse Show at The Devon Inn in 1896

Wow!  What a great historic sidesaddle event.  So glad it was captured on film.

A Few More Pictures From TASHA

.. most taken by Cathy Ruby:

This first picture is of me (walking) with my friend Erica.  Her gelding Louie is by the same stallion that Sport is by and this was the very first time she was showing him!

The class she chose was called Pro-Am, standing for Professional-Amatuer.  In this class, the amatuer rode the horse in the first direction - all 3 gaits, came into center ring and switched riders with the trainer of their choosing (Tommy Benton) who rode the horse the second direction in all 3 gaits.  I love the look on Erica's face in this picture.

This is a group shot from our barn.. That is Joy on the right side.

Yeah... I was in the bathroom  :0(

..and this last picture is of Joy and Rev.  You would  have to enlarge it to see why I like it so.  We always joke about Rev having spooky eyes ... but in this picture, I think Joy won!

TASHA and a New Horse to Work Aside!!

..well - okay .. he is not new, but Southern Revival will be tested out soon as a sidesaddle horse.  So let me back up and tell you about the TASHA show:

I rode Sport astride in the Amatuer Park class.  I have not had a chance to ride him in a month... a MONTH!  Joy and I tried to get on a flight to LA. a couple of weeks ago, but due to the holiday traffic, there were no empty standby seats.  That is why I felt a little off when we showed in the qualifier class.  I placed 3rd out of 6....and honestly, I am not sure I diserved 3rd place!

Sunday I showed him back and took Reserve Champion.  My ride was so much better - I did not even care about the ribbon.  The point is, every time I show this horse, I am doing more of what I am suppose to be doing and worring less.  Home town shows are more fun too... so thank you to all the folks who put the TASHA show together!

Joy showed her horse Southern Revival - we call him Rev.  She also took 3rd place in the Park Pleasure class.  Actually he is a show pleasure horse, but Tommy had so many horses in that class, he bumped her into the next level for this one non-rated show.  There was a lot going on in the ring that bothered a lot of the horses.. someones trailer parked close to the ring seemed to unnerve a few and many were put off by a photographers flash on a tri-pod, not the one on his camera.  Rev reacted to that flash and had another spooky spot that he wanted to stop and snort at each round before proceeding.... gotta love him!  

Rev is an amazing boy.  He is one of those horses who waits to see what is asked of him before he delivers.  For this reason, our 7 year old Grand daughter has also ridden him.  He does not have a mean bone in his body and it really does take a lot to rattle him.  So now we are going to see how he does aside.  I know Joy would also love to put her foot into Sports stirrup. 

We brought Rev home to the farm and sent Bella Equus home with Tommy to break.  She is a coming 3 year old out of Sport's mommy and had a bit of a growth spurt this fall.  Nothing big mind you, but I could tell that she is ready to learn something.  She was worked lead/halter as a baby being shown in a futurity class.  Here at the farm, I have worked her in the round pen and she will wear a sirsingle, side reins and a beginners bit.  You can tell when a horse likes their training.  Can't wait to see what Tommy tells me about her in the future and hoping she will work out to be Joy's next project!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I must add another piece to this story... Sunday morning on my way out the door and down the outside staircase... yes, my hands were full .... yes - there was ice on the stairs.... yes I was not thinking about anything except getting to the show and swoop.....
my feet flew out and I bent my knees.  My right shin hit the next step and my left knee hit the one after that.  I twisted my body so that by the time I stopped on the concrete sidewalk below, I was flat on my back and looking up the stairs at my feet.

"You just broke both of your legs".. Satan whispered to me.  My heart was racing and both of my legs were burning in different places.  I laid there for a few moments before I even dared to move my toes.  Little by little I realized that although I had a gash on one leg and a swollen left ankle and right knee, I was indeed still intact enough to show my  horse!  I decided not to even look at my legs until the days end.  I gathered all of my things - strewn all over the stairs and walkway and put them into the truck.  I went back upstairs - took 2 Tylenol and loaded up the horses I was hauling that day and off we went!

First Pics From Lee Yount Day!

Thank you so much Cheri Newberry for sharing these with us!!! 

I have already shared with you the history of this event.  I you missed it - please just scroll down a few posts and you can read more. 

The day started out rather awkward.  You see, just the day prior one of the ladies who was to join us decided she could not attend due to so many other obligations.  A quick change and my daughter Joy, who was going to take pictures was now slated to dress up in saddleseat attire and ride with me.  Joy and I drove up in my car and the grooms from Bluebonnet farm were to meet us there with 2 horses for us to ride - Chip, the horse I rode last year at this same event and Jose.  I have shown both of these adorble geldings sidesaddle in American Saddlebred breed shows.  Also to join us was another trainer, hauling a horse and my friend Cheri. 

Cheri arrived on time, but sadly the other trainer's truck overheated - so now we were down yet another person and now 1 horse!

Before the grooms arrived with the horses, I set up my sidesaddle and answered questions.

Once they were there, we quickly readied them and tried to warm them up.  The field you see behind me was so muddy - we opted to skip the warm up...

..and once Joy was mounted on Jose, we just went right into the living museum and did our riding presentation.

Both horses were quite sluggish to begin with.  I had to exchange my cane for a whip to get Chips attention as he would not even heed my queues to trot!  Shame on you Chip!!  And Jose - was just all eyes and he told Joy that if Chip was not going - neither was he... Don't you just love horses!!

After a round, they woke up and we had a lot of fun.  There were 3 times as many people this year as last and the weather was not as good.  It was a bit foggy and misty.

When it was my turn to answer questions about riding aside - I did what everyone wants me to do... lift my skirt!  HA - not for the reason the world would think either.. I think the question I get most often is how do I stay on... and the only way to answer that it to show them!

 

Cheri was so great - talking about the breed.  She is a living encyclopedia for the American Saddlebred horse!  Did you know that the American Saddlebred registry is the oldest American horse registery!  I learned that yesterday.

This is Cheri.  We had a great time.  There were so many children and I saw 2 separate girl scout troops.  The whole event was free of charge and everyone there was volunteering.  I met lots of great people and got to see a lot of folks I met last year again.

If you have never done a reinactment, I encourage you to do it.  It is great community service, a lesson in history plus - it is all the fun of a horse show - with NO STRESS!!

Yount-Lee Equestrian Day

 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION

On November 13, 1925, Spindletop produced its second oil boom when the Yount-Lee Oil Company used new technology to drill on the flanks of Spindletop Hill. As a result of this discovery – and the wealth that followed, Miles Yount and his wife, Pansy, soon became known as some of the best breeders of horses in the United States. Gladys City will celebrate the second Spindletop boom by welcoming some four-legged friends. From therapy horses to award-winning saddlebred horses, families will delight at being able to ride, groom and learn all about the care and breeding of horses. With special guests from Bluebonnet Farm of Bellville, Texas, and Stable Spirit of Rose City, Texas.

(Yes - this is me and Chip from last years event)

 

 

About Gladys City Originally envisioned by Patillo Higgins, treasurer and general manager of the Gladys City Oil, Gas and Manufacturing Company, which was founded in 1892, the town of Gladys City was to be a perfect industrial city, featuring factories, schools, churches, homes, parks and businesses. When the Lucas Gusher blew in on January 10, 1901, there was no more time to be perfect. Quickly, the Gladys City Company began leasing land to businessmen (and some women) who built quick, clapboard buildings to sell goods and services to oilfield workers and their families. By the early 1970s, nothing much remained of the original Gladys City. In 1975, the re-created Gladys City Boomtown was built on lands once owned by the Gladys City Oil, Gas & Manufacturing Company as a Bicentennial project and in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Lucas Gusher. Once completed, the new Gladys City was given to the State of Texas and is governed by Lamar University. Through a self-guided tour, visitors to Gladys City experience 15 replica buildings filled with objects from the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries that depict life during the first Spindletop oil boom. From a saloon and post office to a general store and livery stable, visitors get a glimpse of what it might have been like to work and live in the historic Spindletop oilfield. OUR PURPOSEGladys City complements and enhances the educational, social and cultural missions of Lamar University through stewardship of the Spindletop story, and the acquisition, conservation, interpretation and use of artifacts, representative structures, and other items of social and cultural significance to Spindletop, 1892-1951. OUR VISIONWe aspire to be the educational and cultural leader in the preservation of Spindletop history. OUR MISSIONGladys City kindles the wildcatter spirit in everyone through rich, shared experiences inspired by the history, significance and legacy of Spindletop.

If one had asked a Beaumonter on January 1, 1901, what big news of recent months had most interested him, he would have said the great Galveston hurricane of September 8, or the dawning of a new century. If one had asked him on January 10, he would have said the great gusher at Spindletop - a salt dome about three miles south of Beaumont. Dubbed "The Lucas Gusher," the oil discovery on Spindletop Hill changed the economy of Texas and helped to usher in the petroleum age.

Fall Fest Horse Show - Part 2

My Turn.  I showed later that evening and Connie Blue was so kind to help me with my hair.

 

 

..and then helped to get me in order after I mounted.  What a sweet person she is!!!

 

 

This was an evening class and Joy was taking pictures and had the camera set for sport photo mode.

..what she did not know, is that setting works best for an outdoor setting - so what resulted were some interesting pictures .. and at first she was very disappointed - until we took a  closer look at the shots ..

They turned out amazing ..

..each looking a bit more artistic than the last...

 

some almost appearing to be water color paintings!

 

 

I was thrilled!!!

 

 You see - I ended up being the one and only rider with a Park Horse at this show...

 

 so I was out there all by my lonesome...

which is not a bad thing ...because evidenced by the next photo..

 

I SERIOUSLY need all the show ring practice I can get!

..and the ribbons and trophies were pretty cool too! 

 

Fall Fest Horse Show ~ Baton Rouge, LA. - PART 1

This is the first time I have showed here.  It is a smaller schooling show - akin to our Texas TASHA show... just what both Joy and I needed!  This was the first time Joy was showing her horse Southern Revival since his gelding and more training in the full bridle.

This show is held on the campus of LSU in the Agriculture building.

 
..and while I LOVED the show arena...It was huge and the lighting was great both day and night!

..and how nice the center ring was decorated..

..the long narrow warm up area left a lot to be desired.  This was more of a isle/chute into the show ring than it was a warm up arena.  Horses showing in cart had to stop and walk a tight turn in order to reverse.

 

Joy was the first to show Rev in their new division - Show Pleasure.

 

 

Kendall made some last minute adjustments before she mounted up..

 

..and started to warm him up.

This horse is so beautiful and although he looks like a fire cracker, he is one of the most sensable horses I have ever seen!!!  I just LOVVVEEEE Him!!!

...and becuase I am a MOM.. I stood by the rail and watched them show, coached her from the sidelines and cheered when she lined up - when I realized I was suppose to be taking pictures...

BAD MOMMY... BAD MOMMY

 

..oh well - that is what photographers are for - RIGHT???

Oh Well....

That about sums up my performance at the NTASHA show.  To make a long story short :

Qualifier class - First way went pretty well, but upon the opposite direction the bottom of my riding whip got caught in the stirrup (it was too long), the top of the whip was twisted in Sports massive mane.  In trying to get it fixed, I lost some of my reins and lost contact with his mouth.  Sport nosed up, I got nervous and it just got worse...

Championship class - 2 steps into the ring, it was clear there was a bug in Sport's ear (literally!).  He dodged his head and shook it most of the way around the arena.  Once it was clear, I know we had a much better ride, but what was done is done.  As one judging said at a judging clinic, many times the class is won upon how a horse enters the ring.

In both of these classes we placed 7th out of 8 horses.

We shall just chalk this up to being a learning experience.... right?  I mean you have to look at the bright side of it and that is what this show was for me!