Horsing Around in Malone Brings in the Ribbons

Well, Margaret and Patricia had their first horseshow experience on Sunday and made us all very, very proud. The show, held at the fairgrounds in Malone, had several classes and the girls each entered walk/trot and equitation classes in their age groups. The one thing I didn't count on, arriving about 10 a.m. in anticipation of their showing around lunchtime, was that it wasn't going to happen in that timeframe. I didn't want to have to hang around with the baby all morning, but it turned out that we did. And Brigid was as good as she could be, but it got to be her lunch and nap time and neither of those things happened for her.

Just when the girls were scheduled to go in the ring, Brigid had a major meltdown. It was hard to watch the girls compete with a crying baby on my hip, but one of their cousins, (second cousin Lindsey) managed to distract Brigid so I could take some pictures. I used my 35 mm so I have to have them burned onto a CD before I can post them here. Patricia competed first on Curly Sue and did so well. But when the horses and riders have to line up in the middle for the ribbons, she had to ride out of the ring so Margaret could get on for her event, which immediately followed. Patricia's name was called as she was walking back into the ring to join the other competitors. She earned a white and a pink ribbon for her performance and we were so happy for her.

Margaret placed third for both classes, earning yellow ribbons. Their very first ribbons in their very first event! How much better can it get? We got the horse back in the trailer and Grandma and Granddad Downs took off to bring Curly Sue back to the lake and the girls and I climbed into the van (Jack had to work, so he missed the events) and Brigid was asleep before I even got out of the fairgrounds. She slept the way back to the lake and woke up in a good mood even though she was very, very hungry.

I told both girls that the ribbons didn't matter to us. They're a nice bonus. What really mattered was that they went in there and participated, that they went in the ring, in front of everyone and did their very best and enjoyed themselves. They were beaming ear to ear, and so was I. They looked so darned cute in their riding habits, very grown up and businesslike. They love riding and this is a good outlet for that passion. They want to participate in the next show in August on the 19th.

Both girls then had to turn their attention once again to their theater workshop project, which entered its second week at the college. They are doing "Seussical the Musical" on Thursday, July 26, and this week and next will be spent preparing for it. They have several costume changes and many, many songs and dance numbers to learn but it's so far been a great experience. Tomorrow, they change from a classroon across campus to the theater in Hawkins Hall, the building where I work, so I'll be able to peek in from time to time and maybe take a few pictures to post here of their rehearsals. It's such a good experience, both participating in the horseshows and in theater (and dance, too, for that matter) because it prepares them to be comfortable in front of people. From the looks of it, Brigid will be a performer, too. Boy, does she love to dance and sing. The dancing is getting more and more sophisticated as she becomes more certain on her feet. She sways and waves her arms, she puts her hands on her hips and bends back and forth. She twirls and waves her arms over her head. She squats down and stands up, stamps her feet and runs around, all in time to the music. She has a great sense of rhythm for a kid who just turned 16 months on the 12th. She also sings, or at least babbles to a tune in her head. It's adorable. But I'm not surprised considering we always have music playing and are always dancing with her and singing. Jack had pulled out his guitar to play and Margaret plays her flute along with him. (thank you, Michelle). It's a lot of fun because Brigid enjoys the little concerts, too.

Now if we could only parlay this into a lucretive career. Hmmm, the Von Downs Family Singers. Hmmmm.