Steve and I mainly went to Julie Goodnight talks at 10am and then 2 or 3pm on Friday and Saturday. The rest of the time we went to some other presentations but then just walked around at the expo exhibitors (aka Fun Stuff to Buy!) or went to the barn (aka pretty ponies to pet!)
One presentation was about obstacles that you took your horse over with speed, so instead of just the walk the lady demonstrated trot and canter. I never did get to see what she did with the second horse that was pawing at the ground while tied. He was not very happy!
Anyhow, she had a tarp, a bridge type obstacle and then something I'd never seen...a channel with balls in it! Hmm. That makes a horse really have to see where their feet are going, I bet it's great training for trail riding particularly in rocky areas.
As for obstacles that I could "make", the tarp or the balls and PVC pipes would be easily transportable. The bridge....not so much, it's heavy and hard to move so something that would need to be more or less permanent at a boarding facility. I wonder if I could build one and then just store it at a facility for all boarders to use?
Steve and I also stayed to watch some of the mini horse show. We unfortunately missed the costume class, we did see them headed towards the arena but I think we were running to a Julie Goodnight thing. Anyways to see the cute costumes check out Braymere's blog! The costumes were so cute!
I loved watching this little girl and her horse. She was standing in the gate area between her runs and holding her cute pony while swinging her legs out and about. Here's what I think was going on in her mind. " La la la, holding my little pony....la la la, do de da!"
Then later she had issues getting her pony over this one jump. Apparently a couple of the ponies did not like those fake flowers!!
Temple Grandin was also there on Saturday giving a talk. The seats were full and the curtain they had set up was pulled back in areas as a ton more people stood to listen to her talk. She is an amazing and very smart person. She has a doctorate in Animal Science...she now teaches at Colorado State University I think. She is Autistic and in her book, "Animals in Translation" feels that this has attributed to her being able to really understand animals. Autistic people tend to think in pictures rather than words or thoughts like the rest of us. I seriously think you should check out the movie "Temple Grandin", not only is it well acted but it's about her amazing life with a "disability". Wow.
Next was a polo match between University of Kentucky and Colorado State University. I've never seen a polo match before. It was very fast paced!
It reminded me of Quidditch...or perhaps Quidditch reminds me of polo! The girls were brutal! They would ram their horses up against each other in a way that I was so surprised that the girls did not fall off!
The tack had lots of straps but the one think I found most interesting was they didn't just wear polo wraps. The horses also had a boot on the front legs and bell boots over the front hooves.
Most of the game was just a jumble of horses and riders...I had no idea what was going on. Then the ball would suddenly be free and loose and the pack would disperse and the riders would chase the ball again.
Lots and lots of galloping!! It was hard with the lighting to get these action shots, I am going to have to plan on going to one in the outdoors so I can get these action shots! Again we didn't stay for the entire match since we had another Julie Goodnight thing. She must be one of my favorite clinicians you'd think! More posts about the expo to come!!
2 comments:
I read recently that Temple Grandin has been asked to be a consult on the redesign of horse slaughter facilities in the US. If you seen her movie you know she designed the cattle ones, I have yet to see the movie! My Dad told my about it, it sounds very interesting!!
Looks like you had a lot of fun! Wish I could've gone!
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