There has been a lot of back and forth between Jennifer Buxton's blog, my blog and several other blogs I follow recently. I am pretty sure Jennifer started it but the end result is there has been a lot of talk about performance showing. There are people that are terrified to show in performance because they think it is too hard, too expensive or any number of other reasons. As anyone who follows my blog (or Jennifer's for that matter) knows, performance showing can be a lot of fun. And I happen to love it.
Today's post was inspired by a comment posted on Jennifer's last blog. It related to being able to win champs with a standing horse but having to really work for it. The main focus of the post today is Cloud Dancing. He is my Bold Endeavor resin that was a super show-horse for about 3 shows until I discovered he was covered in cracks. I may either try to restore him or get him restored so he can show again. Cloud Dancing was a grail horse of mine for awhile and I decided I wanted to try for a NAMHSA Performance Versatility Award. Which means he needed 18 performance cards and they needed to be in English, Western and Other performance classes (minimum of 4 of each type). Really it means he has to be able to do it all and prove it. My goal was to see if I could earn his PVA in three shows. He did it in two.
The only photos I can currently find were taken at the Quabbin Valley Performance Open in April of 2011. Cloud Dancing is wearing tack made by Pam Perkins, a saddle pad made by Elise Partansen and the cowboy was dressed by me and has a head sculpted by Liesl Dalpe.This first entry was a team penning scene. (5th)
which was followed by a non-competitive ranch scene (4th)
This is Flash in the sky. She is wearing a tack set made by Jennifer Buxton with a saddle pad I borrowed from someone that day. I dressed the doll. This is unrelated to Cloud Dancing's placings but also something that can be done with a standing model. This was a natural trail entry I have done many times with many different models. It nearly always does extremely well (3rd)
Next we are back to Cloud Dancing. His rider is a doll made for me by Joan Yount. Marci Driscoll painted the poles for me and I potted the flowers. (1st)
And something else to do in Arena trail with a standing horse (4th)
I really love this game :) (1st)
A very simple but very correct western riding entry competing in the other western class (1st)
And western pleasure stock type (2nd). They also received western champion
Not the most flattering angle for a showmanship shot. (1st)
And here is my auction scene. I often have more dolls in it. (1st). Cloud Dancing did some other things in the other performance division but I missed getting the photos as I was changing tack and props for other classes. He managed champion in the other performance division as well.
The dressage salute. These days my dolls have bendy necks to do this properly. Cloud Dancing was a good choice for this as he is standing squarely and matches the pose of the reference photo. (3rd)
Here is a tack check before a riding less in other English performance (2nd)
There was a 2nd in Natural trail (no photo) and 1st with this Arena trail entry. Then a first in Hunt seat pleasure other type and Champion in the English performance division.
Cloud Dancing got 1st in Native American costume and then 1st in parade (not photo)
And then 1st in Other Costume dressed as Harry Potter. He also received champion in the costume division.
So in one show this super versatile standing horse received 15 NAN cards and 4 championships. Some classes take a bit of creativity and some classes are just right out. But a standing model can be an extremely versatile performance model. It didn't hurt at all that I love this horse and love showing him.
6 comments:
Why do I get blamed for everything?!?!
:D
It wasn't blame, it was credit :)
Same thing!
By the way, I really liked this post. I just thought the part about me was funny.
credit where credit is due. We all LOVE your blog! You inspire me to keep posting. And actually the last 5 post ideas have come from your blog or comments.
I very well may be an outlier, but what I think keeps horses from being versatile is more about how people think about them. If you're willing to do deeper research, you can often take that one class horse to many more places.
My case in point is a sliding BHR reiner with a superior event horse award and a national championship in driving. Yes, he does reining. And games. And stock work. And cameos in funny sorts of scene entries. But he's certainly not boring, or a one class horse!
Horses of nearly any pose can do a lot of different things, if you're willing to not let yourself be boxed in with convention.
That is absolutely true. Though you are a superior performance shower and the average or new shower can't necessarily do as well with a horse like your reiner. You do have to have some basic performance showing skills to pull it off (admit it, you're awesome!)It's not impossible to do well with a horse in an unusual pose, it just really does take more skill and creativity.
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