Nicasio Classic Horse Show

This weekend we were in the Nicasio Classic Horse Show at our barn. A three day show that was fancier than most of the shows at the barn. Rhett looked as good as he felt!

We had a great show with two firsts in the adult amateur hunter over fences classes the first day. Although Rhett is not a stopper, he took to looking at the fences on the second day of the show. Our first class, second fence - he put on the brakes for no apparent reason. With no spectacular showing, I just seemed to tip to the side and fall off kind of in slow motion. In a way, I was relieved to finally have fallen off of him for the first time in the year that I've had him. Got it out of the way! The second class he stopped at an entirely different fence, seemingly just having a bad day. Our third class, well, I just wouldn't take no for an answer so we had a great round making it around all 8 fences quite well and getting first for that class (adult equitation over fences).
We ended up being reserve champion adult amateur hunter for our division that day. Had I not fallen off, we probably would have been champion. Oh well.

Our third day was equally terrific as we got second in our hunter classic class (missed first by only 2 points) and although we didn't place in our last class of the day, the $1000 hunter derby class, we had a GREAT round. We were the first to go in the class and the course was a little more challenging than the others (fences a little higher too). Our second to last fence we had a rail down but otherwise I think we would have done quite well. Jumps were all very autumnal looking and the air was crisp. A great day to celebrate fall. The photo above is taken from this $1000 hunter derby class. It was the first fence of the course and as with all the rest to come, Rhett was not quite sure of what he was jumping. He was looking down at almost all the fences going "what the heck is this!!!" And although that could make him a bit unpredictable, it also made him jump nice and round and pretty!



Oh, and other than a bit of a sore neck where my head hit the ground and a few sore muscles, I was none the worse for wear for falling off.

Another day, another ride, another show. I've got the bug.....

And by the way - Rhett is short of Amaretto. Every horse has a show name and that is his.