So Surreal...

Pin Oak Charity horse show has been without a doubt the most amazing sidesaddle showing experience of my life! It has always held a special place in my heart because this was the show my Grand Father took me to where I saw my first American Saddlebred. I have shown here before, but never sidesaddle.

Equusport was shown by Sandy on Thursday night in the 5 gaited novice horse class. I had to work that day and came to the show right afterwards. Sadly, I left home without my camera. The photographer captured some beautiful shots of them though, so when I get the proof I bought, I will post it.

Friday morning is the first class for Jose and I. It was a limited rider Show Pleasure class. I have been showing Oliver in Country Pleasure. The difference is mainly marked by 2 things. Show Pleasure horses are generally more animated than Country Pleasure horses and Show Pleasure horses are allowed to have a pad between their hoof and he shoe where Country Pleasure horses are strictly forbidden to wear any pads.

I wanted to show Jose in Country Pleasure but the decision was made to use him instead of Oliver so late and Jose was already in a shoe with a pad..so Show Pleasure it was! Since our first class was in the morning, I chose to wear the new silk skirt with the pink vest. I give this outfit 2 thumbs up!

Our class was one of the first, so I was up in the saddle early to get in a few practice rounds.

Saddle adjustments had to be made..



Once up, the show officials announced a few class changes and now there was an additional class before ours....

So we had to wait..

..and wait..

..and wait..

..and then a gate hold was announced for the class preceding ours...

..so we decided maybe it would be a good idea to walk around a bit. First we walked around the barn area, but it was a bit congested.

So we decided to walk outside.

Outside, I could tell Jose was relaxed.

We attracted quite a crowd. People stood around taking our picture and asking me lots of questions. One lady even told me that she read my blog. I was shocked by the stir we caused. Yes - at other shows, I would always get a nice comment here and there.. but this was totally different!

..and then they finally called for my class!!!

going in, I felt a bit out of sync with Jose...until we hit the first corner and then everything fell into place.

I concentrated on what Jose and I were doing.. but looking forward, I could see the other horses were very talented.

Jose has the dreamiest canter EVER!


We changed directions and had a perfect ride.


The announcer called for the line up and we troted right in. Upon the advice of a couple of Jose's former riders, I was told he was easy to line up.. but difficult to keep him lined up...

..all proved to be true. He was such a perfect gentleman...until that is, the first place number was called. Jose jumped off of his feet and started to do a slight spin rear.. where he was jumping up and around at the same time. When I snapped the reins in the opposite direction, he started to crumple his legs, as though he was going to lay down on me! "GOOD GRIEF!!!" I thought to myself... "WHAT IS GOING ON?"

With all of the jumping around, I had failed to see that Jose was working his way to the exit gate.. in a most unfortunate manner. Thankfully all of this took place after the class was judged.

We placed third out of a class of 4. Not bad in my book. Jose has only been ridden 4 times aside and that included the class we were just in....... but for such an elegant and outstanding possible show and sidesaddle model horse... that is one major flaw. I wish I knew why at that point, he acts as though someone is opening a gate to let in the lions... and his rider is a Christian....gulp!