I rode a horse through many a town

Today started out cloudy and it threatened to rain but it cleared up nicely, except for the wind! I decided to visit the Hammers and Hooves Horse Fair and Blacksmith competition. I don't know how many men were in the blacksmithing competition but the tent was full and, boy, was it hot! I'll bet they sweated off pounds today.
Here's the judges reviewing the finished products. That must have been a tough job!
I watched them for a bit but I really wanted to see the horse fair.

I came in at the end of the vaulting demonstration.

I like the way they braided the mane.

Then I watched a clinic on backpacking.
The guy giving the clinic had a draft mule. He was so big and had such long ears! His name was John.
Believe it or not, these containers, and another identical set, came out of the panniers you'll see in the photo after. What a way to go camping!

This was one of the Search and Rescue team who were riding around. He was riding a giant Clydesdale.
The backpacking demonstration was put on by a group of riders who do trail maintenance in our Pecos Wilderness area.
The clinics ran an hour each and began every hour. There was hardly any time to look around at the vendor booths or buy anything to eat. Thankfully, I brought snacks: granola bar, cheese stick, an orange, and a drink.

This lady presented a clinic on conditioning. She had the prettiest dark brown and white Paint gelding. He had two "glass" eyes. She showed how to take the pulse and respiration and to set up a program of riding or working the horse at least 2x a week to keep it in minimum good condition.
There was a clinic on competitive trail riding. She was a competitor in and talked about both the ACTHA and the NATRC. She told all about the differences in the many levels of competition and gave a great suggestion on how to bring the pulse and respiration rates down really quickly during your ride. She suggested taking off the bit (she used snaps to hold the bit in place) and to teach the horse to drop it's head into your lap. She said to breathe loudly, deeply, and slowly and the horse learns to breathe with you and fall asleep. This helps lower the P & R within the allotted 10 minutes during vet checks. She had a lovely combination Aussie, English, Western, and trail saddle which was custom made for her. Her horse is an 8 year old Mustang.
This young girl demonstrated the use of aids (hands, legs, weight, etc.) and how to make your horse sensitive to them. She said that you should ask first and then "punish" (use the bit or your legs) if the horse doesn't respond. To reward good behavior, keep still and don't use hands, legs, etc. unnecessarily. Make him work if he doesn't do what you ask- go in circles at a lope to slow him down, say "eeeeeeasy" and sit deeper.

She showed that although she used a high port curb and spurs when she rode, she didn't really need them. She could also ride bridleless and slide and spin with the best. See below, she had only a neck strap which really is another form of control. I am a follower of her theory in that riding very, very light on the 'aids' makes a super enjoyable ride. You become a partner with your horse and then they begin to do what you are thinking or asking, rather than telling.
Here is an example of high line tying the lady was talking about for endurance riding. Horses must be tied overnight to horse trailers in NATRC rides, whereas in the ACTHA, horses can be penned. The yellow caution rope isn't really part of her trailer set up. I was amazed how calm her horse was with the yellow tape rippling in the wind. I think my horses would have gone airborne!
This lady demonstrated the art of riding aside. Her usual horse had an accident in the morning loading and she was using an alternate horse. He seemed to do very well. Oh, and the other horse was okay too.
I thought this was cute!


I rode a horse through many a town - song: Bars of the County Jail, artist: David Bowie