Touch of Class (Part 2)

With the last class finished, ribbons handed out and horses out of the ring, we set up the last Obstacle, #3 consisting of jump standards and ground poles, dropped some cones on the ground in place, slipped the numbers and letters on things and we were set to go. Peggy, Jim and I headed into the gazebo in the center of the ring to watch, announce, time, judge and keep 'score'.

First up was JoAnn Souza with her mini who's name escapes me. I think it was Shadow??? Peggy was announcing and explained how there are two levels, training and expert. Training level can go no faster than a trot and expert they are allowed to run. JoAnn and Shadow cruised thru the course, with a little cantering here and there and turned in a time of 3:19 and change. Next up was Ann Kosin with her mini Joker(?) and they completed the course with a bit more cantering and turned in a score of 2:43 and change. Then it was time for Lisa Schultz and her mini to try their luck. Their time was also in the 3 minute range and speaking to her afterwards, her mini was getting squirrelly on her every time they headed into a cone or gate in front of the wall. He wasn't too sure about that.... Next up was Kelly with her mini and as she was coming in, I seen another club member Bretta had climbed on a cart and was warming up.

As Kelly finished up her course I made my way down out of the gazebo and over to the gate. Jim asked Peggy- "Where's she going?" As Bretta was getting ready to come in the arena, I made my way out and asked JoAnn if she still wanted me to drive the course? "Sure!" So as we quickly exchanged my hat & sunglasses for her helmet and the reins, I asked her the important question- "Does he run?"

Shadow and I got a short chance to figure each other out as Bretta went thru the course. She hadn't really walked it, just help set it up, so she managed to get lost at one point, but found her way back on course and completed it in a little over four minutes. Before we knew it, we were up.

I found out later from Jim, that as I made my way into the arena, he turned to Peggy and said "Thank God she's last!" I don't know if he was expecting me to crash thru it and tear stuff down or really ramp things up and get the crowd going but the 3 of us had a good laugh about it. As we came into the arena, Ron asked me which level we were doing? I told him, "Whatever the horse wants to do- we're doing that." We entered the arena, I saluted Jim and as he put his hat back on I seen him shake his head almost as if saying " Oh dear Lord here we go..." He blew the whistle, Shadow and I made a circle around to pick up speed and went thru the starting gate at a swift canter.