A Tank for Christmas

A Happy New Year to everyone and hopes that all had a very Merry Christmas. As has been the case with us for the past few years, Christmas was kept on the light side this year. Not much under the tree and just a bit of family gift exchanging. B did get her #1 wish for the Holiday though...a new food processor whose official name is Flashy Cuts Rebel. His short name is Tank. The Flashy part seems to suit him best as his a black beauty with what looks like it will prove to be an eye catching gait. He is a 5 year old Tennessee Walker that we purchased from the N.C. Boys and Girls Home in Lake Waccamaw. That may not sound like your average pipeline for quality horses, but you can never judge a book by it's cover. They have many very nice, well cared for horses. Tank is green as a gourd relative to any type of showing and will need a good deal of training and ground work, but looks to be well worth the effort. Task one will be getting him introduced to the current residents and seeing how things work out between him and our reigning ban boss, Apollo.

Times are Tough

For the past almost 20 years, our favorite vacation venue has been the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. Not only for our family, but for our Inlaws as well. During that time, we have visited the area as many as four times in one year. We currently own a time share there and have done everything from numerous camping trips, cabin rentals to quick weekend getaways at a last minute motel. The trip this weekend was a spur of the moment trip that was special. For one thing, November is our Anniversary month and I spent this years Anniversary time in Florida due to a work assignment. Aditionally, we had not been to the mountains in two years due to our incredibly busy schedule what with all of B's hore shows and ball games/practices, etc. Anyway, the point is, having not been to the area in two years, we were very much unprpared for what we found. Pigeon Forge has always been the shopping mecca of the free world (at least to us). We were greeted, however, by front row parking at lots that had been previously full to capacity regarless of season or day of the week. Malls that had always provided endless shops of every genre known to man, now sit with well over half of their spaces vacant. The state of the Factory Outlet Mall, better known as the Red Roof Mall on the Parkway, was the most shocking. If you've ever been there you know that only a few years ago there were dozens and dozens of shops with everything from tools to towels or dishes to Dolly dresses. Of the sixty some shops that used to make up the mall, only fifteen are currently occupied. A number of those are in the midst of going out of business sales with many isles stripped bare. We found it really sad and depressing to see these places, with so many memories wrapped in them, left to waste, awaiting better times that may, or may not come.

Varsity Debut

B had her first varsity bball game tonight. As a freshman playing on the varsity team, I think she understands well that she is in a rare position and that playing time will be minimal as she develops and adjusts to the many challenges of a step this big. ECHS opened the season tonight at home against North Brunswick. One thing that surprised B (and us) was the size of the crowd. By the second half of the game, the gym was around 3/4 full, and getting hot. The ECHS Gators took a strong run at the Scorpions late in the game, after falling well behind early. In the end, the Gators came up on the short end of a 62-54 decision.

A Fair Day

This weekend we made our annual trek to the N.C. State Fair Horse Show at the James B. Hunt horse complex. This year, in keeping with our effort to reduce costs, we did not overnight which saved quite a bit with no stall fees or camping charges. We also only showed one horse (Missy) and kept a short class sheet, which was helped somewhat by a limited selection of options for our particular niche in the Walking Horse world. By far, this was the largest crowd we have seen at the fair horse shows since we have been going. And that not only in participants, but in spectators as well. Although we only participated in three classes, the smallest class we were entered in contained 19 participants. Our first of the day was the Non-Trotting Go As You Please English or Western. B and Missy finished a very respectable 9th place out of the 19 entries. In the Non-Trotting Pleasure English or Western (No Canter) she came in a solid 4th place out of 21 riders. To wrap up an amazing day, B participated in the Non-Trotting CHAMPIONSHIP English or Western (No Canter). Of the 26 entries in the class which included some very formidable competition, B shocked us all with a super 4th place finish. WOW!! A Fair day, if I do say so myself.

Back to Back

B guest played with the Impact again this past weekend in Florence, SC. For the second tournament in a row they went undefeated in bracket play and walked away with the NSA 6th Annual Fall Classic Championship. The tournament was held at Freedom Florence which is one of the nicest venues for a softball tournament I have seen. Ths was probably our last tournament playing with the Impact. We have been trying for some time to establish a team focused in our immediate area and things appear to be falling in place to make that happen sooner than later.

Pine Rock Fun

B participated in the annual Pine Rock Fun Show this past weekend in Kittrel, NC. As usual, the facilities looked great, the hosts were super and the turnout outstanding. We got off to a slow start in the morning events without placing in our first several classes. C had planned on participating but scratched her classes as the day progressed and proved to be a rather hot day for the middle of September. In the double show format, B brought home a 5th and 6th place ribbon on Missy in the Youth Trail Pleasure Western 2 Gait. Riding Red, she collected a 5th and 6th place in Country Pleasure Western Youth 2 Gait as well as a 5th place in Country Pleasure Western Open 3 Gait. Her best effort of the day was a 3rd place ribbon on Red in Country Pleasure English Open 3 Gait. In the Games portion of the show B and Red took a double 5th place in the Egg and Spoon class.

First Jumper Show

Despite being very nervous and far less than confident, B and Peanut exceeded all of our expectations in her first ever jumper show at Wonderland Farms on August 22nd. Compeating in only four classes, B brought home a 2nd, a 3rd and a 4th place ribbon. B completed her classes, again, with no faults and no penalties. I think her confidence, as well as ours, got a big push in the right direction.