Murphy’s Law of Horses

As Lucy from Peanuts used to say, AUGH!

So the VLC and his entourage, myself included, headed all the way to Tulsa for the ABRA (Buckskin) World Show. He was going great, and it was his last year as a junior horse, so why not? At the very least he’d get to see the arena and we’d find out how he dealt with a long trip to a show.

The good news: He traveled great! Not a single problem – eating well, drinking tons. Arrived fresh and happy. Well, a bit too fresh. He hit the air conditioning in the arena coming in from high-90s heat and bucked for the first time in his entire life under saddle. He wasn’t the only one – seems like this is a common reaction! Fortunately, he settled down. He had a near perfect ride in his western pleasure at the pre-show on Tuesday, but spooked once when someone dropped a water bottle in the stands. Of course, all three judges were watching so there went that class. He was pretty good for trail but some of the obstacles were set tight for a big horse and he had some problems navigating those cleanly so it just wasn’t good enough to get in the ribbons. But hey, he was behaving well, and most of all he was happy and enjoying the experience.

The World Show started and while he didn’t have a great go in the Junior Trail (he needed to pee, hadn’t done so and was uptight and a little antsy as a result), he did still get 5th so that was cool. He got worked Wednesday night and looked wonderful. We got a lot of compliments and tucked him in for the night.

Next morning? Dead lame. The physical evidence suggested that he had somehow managed to wedge his hind left somewhere (how he managed it, we don’t know as the stalls truly are pretty safe looking) and gave it a really good yank. He was sore all the way up to his pelvis. My best guess is that he did it stretching out while lying down. The princess absolutely must lie down flat every night – no standing up and sleeping for him! – and he didn’t really fit in the 10 x 10 stalls at the fairgrounds.

After I got done banging my head against the wall, we started cold hosing it and walking him periodically, and just a day later, he was much better. Of course, there went the rest of the show but I am trying to be grateful that I am not one of the two people whose horses died at the show (one from a drug reaction and one from flipping over on the concrete). He seemed to think this was the best thing ever – he did not have to work, and everybody petted him and felt sorry for him.

Oh, and he threw stuff all over the aisle to entertain himself if I dared turn my back for a minute.  He figured out that you can collapse those chairs if you just give them one good yank at the right spot!

Well, Mr. Smarty Pants, there is always next year and you ARE going back!

Seriously. Horses. AUGH!

So what major event/important show has YOUR horse manage to screw up for you? Misery loves company, so please tell me your stories and make me feel better!