We can say we knew her when...

Bliss has always told us she was special and deserving of special attention, and now she has proven it...earning a very impressive score of 8.1 which classifies her as a Premium Mare! She actually only needed a 7.5 or higher to be premium, so the 8.1 is a noteworthy score and speaks highly of her breeding, conformation and conditioning.

The day started with Clare and I braiding Magnus and Piper for the Northern Breeders Classic. We planned to leave ourselves plenty of time just in case one or both of the babies didn't want to load, but they were both eager to get in the trailer, so we got there with plenty of time to spare.

We pulled in just as Amanda arrived to help, so Amanda stayed with the kids while Clare and I registered. Thanks you Amanda! I don't think we could have survived the morning without you! (She also brought the geldings in off the grass this afternoon, which my legs were greatful for)

The classes took much longer than we expected...about 10 minutes per entry. Which meant a lot of standing around holding our restless baby horses...standing and walking around attached to a horse is more tiring that I would have expected! Piper enjoyed seeing her family though...her mom and a half sister were at the show and were in a paddock by the arena. Coregel's half sister was there too...and super cute. Rob got some cute photos of Piper's sister annoying her mom...I will post them later this week....but I digress...

Piper and Magnus each had two classes, the "Triangle" class, and the dressage suitability class. Both horses scored 6's in the first class, but did better in the suitability class, with Piper placing 4th in the yearling class, and Magnus earning a 3rd in his class. It was about 2pm when we finished, and Bliss' class was still a ways to go, so we loaded up the babies and came home, leaving Christine and a runner Bliss' breeder procured to help show in the mare's classes.

By 5pm I was beginning to worry about Christine...that was a long day for them, but it turns out it was well worth it! Bliss won the 5-6 year old mare's class, so had to stay for the Championship class...and so was Grand Champion Western Alberta mare (ages 3 and up)...which meant she still had to stay for the Provincial Championship...and was Reserve Grand Champion Mare for Alberta! Woo Whoo!! Apparently this means that Bliss has to go to Olds for a Presentation at the Breeders Sale to get her award.

As tiring as it was, it was also fun. Perhaps I will go again next year...but if I do, I will enter earlier and have a stall for the day!

It was also weird being back at Mistral Wind...the barn that I had Tango at when she was showing in the Jumpers. It is nice showing at a familiar location; takes some of the anxiety out of the day for me.

Karen