Saturday morning I started out in the booth, which isn’t so bad at all. After the first year, when my back got sore standing in the stall with just shavings between me and pavement, Kendra and Charlene bought nice squishy mats to go under the stall, and now it’s a great place to hang out … and to curl up and have a nap because it’s so comfy! Plus, while I sure don’t mind visiting with all the kids at Aggie Days, the people at Mane Event KNOW how to scratch a horse!
About an hour before I had to get ready for my clinic Kendra took me back to the barn so I could “rest”. Obviously, SHE’S never had to live with Duke, if she thinks that’s relaxing!
Did I mention the cookies? When you sign up for a clinic at The Mane Event, you get a goodie bag with all sorts of interesting things in it. Kendra’s favorite part was the bale cutter. Mine was the cookies! Best. Cookies. Ever.
They did try hard to improve the footing in the arena, taking out half the sand and packing it, but it was still deep, and only got deeper as the clinic went on. Each time it was our turn to go through the cones I’d have to rest and catch my breath again. The instructor kept telling Kendra not to cluck at me all the time, but usually Kendra has to get me to slow down when I see cones! It was hard work, but Cones are NEVER not fun! The big horses in with us (a Standardbred and a Connemara/Warmblood) were tired too, very sweaty.
The instructor, Dana Bright, said that Kendra needed to focus on accuracy, not speed. Which Kendra agreed with, but I REALLY DON’T! I want to go FAST! 
Right after the clinic was a demo, and I didn’t go in this time since I’d just worked so hard. I walked out of the arena and there were all my buddies! I was happy to see them. After I’d caught my breath and Kendra talked to the instructor for a while, I was ready to go again, but by then the demo was over. Kendra said I needed to walk, so Emmett jumped in with her and drove me around for a while. Emmett is 2, and he likes to drive! He even got a helmet at the trade fair, so now he’s ready to go for the summer.
Drifter spent lots of time in the booth on Saturday. He’s just 3 years old, and a stallion, but he was a pretty good boy, other then pulling up the tarp when he got bored. I do that when I’m bored too, and I’ve been doing this for 5 years now!
Looks like Drifter likes the new cookies too!
A few people talked to Kendra after my clinic, and they were worried about me because I had to work so hard. Kendra was even a little worried about me, but they all don’t know how tough I am! By the evening when we hooked up for the “Equine Experience” I was ready to go! We got to go warm up out in the grassy infield, and that was fun – more like what we’re used to. It was just me and Duke and Charizma that night, and we only had about a minute in the arena.
A LOT of people go to the Equine Experience. They start staking out their seats by mid afternoon, and when we go in there are people sitting and standing in every available corner, and they all cheer like crazy when they announce “Miniature Horses”. (They probably cheer like crazy for all the other breeds and performers too, but I’m not there for that part. ) First you have to go through a hitching ring filled with lots of other horses, and then go into the arena with the cheering and music – it always makes me a little hyper! Kendra was thinking we could go at a nice trot around the ring, but I wanted to go FASTER so she let me and I got to tear around which was FUN! Duke and Charizma got caught up in the spirit too, though Duke doesn’t go for fast for very long. Charizma though – she’s usually a slow and steady type, but I think I showed her how much fun FAST can be! (Charizma’s driver, Peggy, is still not speaking to me ….)
In the last couple years the Equine Experience has gone so late – it was usually dark before we ever got started. Not this year – we were scheduled for 8:54, and by that time we were back at the barn. It was quick, easy and a fun outing to stretch my muscles after working hard earlier in the day! We got a nice bed time snack (even Drifter and CinDeeGo, who didn’t have to work) and went to sleep.
Sunday I started in the booth again, and very much enjoyed the comfy sleeping arrangements! I had a big long snooze, and Kendra said that her and I would look after the booth during the demo, so I got the day off from driving. I did do my tricks by request for lots of pictures (amazing how word travels around!) and try on harness and eat lots of cookies!
Me in the WCMHC booth.
At the end of the day, I was finishing my supper and they started shoveling out my shavings! Then packing up the booth stuff! It was pretty alarming, until Kendra took me back to the barn with Duke for a few minutes … then they started shoveling out those shavings too! It was actually a world record tear down – with the help of the Tilleman’s, Lapierre’s and Cook’s we were loaded in the trailer in under an hour! Awesome!
Mane Event was fun, but I was happy to be home in my own little stall (that I don’t have to share with Duke!)
Next weekend Kendra tells me we’ve got a lesson scheduled with Deb Laderoute, the first woman to drive a four-in-hand for Canada at the World Equestrian Games! Kendra’s very excited, so I guess I am too!
Kendra says she’s busy getting the Hawk’s Nest ready to head down the road!
