Buzzell Training participates in the Midwest Mustang Challenge...
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and cheered Bella and I on at the Midwest Horse Fair. I was definitely more nervous than Bella, she took everything in stride as usual. She was typical Bella for the entire weekend, beautiful, smart, sweet, and unpredictable. I was surprised how cool and calm she was in the stable area, but then as soon as I thought we'd be okay for the competition aspects, nerves got the best of both of us. Whether it was my nerves affecting her or vice versa or Both, who knows, probably all of the above. We got a good conditioning score which was my goal from the beginning, an okay score on the inhand course, and didn't complete much more than mounting in the ridden course. Well, 8000 spectators can be a little intimidating, and at least I didn't fall off. Again it was more my nerves than hers, I made the poor decision not to take my dressage whip into the ring, and opted to retire when we could have probably gone on. So that is the update everyone has probably been waiting for, but even with some disappointments I have to say I have not had so much fun in ages! Patti Colbert and the MHF staffers were tireless! Patti, ribbing herself about being a hag, kept the show on the road from dawn to dusk, easily putting in just as many hours as any of us trainers. The BLM folks I had the pleasure to meet were VERY encouraging and sweet. I felt a quite a bit out classed by the obvious life-long horsemen (and women) I was surrounded by, but we all have to have something to aspire to. I made some hopefully lasting friendships with other trainers, and got an education from the whole experience...
Bella was the winner in it all, of course. She was treated like the princess she knows she is all weekend. When it came time for the auction/adoption, I couldn't really hear what was going on with the bidding, I just did my best to show her off and talk her up, and she went to a petite little lady named Tracy. Tracy has her right on her own property and just plans to trail ride with her. We have been in touch. They have been busy bonding and have already been on an overnight camping trip! Show results aside, I definitely have to call this Challenge a success.