Equilocity AOTH

    Recovery from horsefest is turning out to be a very slow process for me. I am still super exhausted, which isn't helped by having to get up fairly early to get Travis ready to go. Naps are my friend, and I have enjoyed many of them since getting back in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Though I guess I am right on schedule with things. I got everything unpacked, for the most part, on Wednesday when I got up. All the laundry is finished and put away. Yesterday was Thursday and I struggled through the day, which seems about right. I still didn't get enough sleep last night, not even 7 hours, and as soon as Travis got on the van I went and took a nap, with my feet up. This is important information. I have been dealing with somewhat painful swelling in my feet for several days. Yesterday I did a long soak in Epsom salt with lavender oil. And I went to bed with my feet up. This morning I napped with my feet up. And now my feet are almost back to normal. Walking is not nearly as painful. It seems that 55 miles of walking in a week and eating less than ideal food caught up to me. But I am recovering. 

     Today we are going to talk about Equilocity, the Art of the Horse Show. This was an all workmanship show, and the first of it's kind. There may have been other all workmanship shows out there, I don't know of any, but I have never heard of a show that had a dolls/props/barns division. It was quite exciting to see the class list! Even without performance I was excited for this show. Though I woke up when I meant to be at the hall. It turns out the alarm I set was a school alarm, which repeats every weekday. And it was a Saturday, so that alarm didn't go off. I panicked for about 30 seconds and then decided it wasn't that big of a deal. The only division I really cared about was dolls, and that wasn't going to be happening until after tack. Two tack sections actually. So I had time. 

     We did eventually get to the hall, and I had missed some of my tack classes, but that was OK. I really wasn't bothered about that. The first class I showed in was braided western headgear. That may have not been the official name of it, though braided was in it. 

      This first place in doll related props was not as exciting as it looks since I had the only entry in the class. I was going to show one of my backpacks, but I couldn't find mine. I have a bunch I made, but I have a pink plaid one I made for myself. And it is currently missing. 

     The first class in the doll division was western pleasure and it had a lot of entries. The two dolls I brought to show didn't even place, though quite a lot of the dolls in the class were ones that I made. It was after this class that I decided I would stand the dolls, even without stands (I forgot to bring some). I do have the ability to do that after all. 

     The next class was working western dolls and my super bendy cowboy got 4th. He is a bit old and tired at this point, but he is still pretty good at his job. Which is bending. 

     Little Elecktra managed third place, which was fun. This was a class that I didn't make any new dolls for, and it was nice to see that some really old dolls managed to do well. 

     The next class was gymkhana and this was a new doll that was actually made for an order and rejected. So instead of making myself a new doll to show, I showed this one. She is currently for sale. 

     I have hunt seat dolls, but I made this new one specifically show show at Equilocity. She has already been sold. 

     I don't have saddle seat tack currently, so this doll was also made specifically for the show, and has been sold. 

     Since jumper allows for more interesting coat colors I wanted to do someone a bit different so made this teal jacketed lady. She, and several other new English dolls, are wearing helmets that were made for me by my friend George. This one was glossed, though mostly I leave them as-is. 

This eventing lady was another brand new doll, and she is still available for sale. 

     I don't have upper level dressage tack, and I'm really only comfortable showing in lower levels, but I do love to make upper level dolls. Especially now that the rules have changed and they can, or have to (I can't remember) wear helmets now. I don't love making top hats, even though I do love making fancy driving hats. 

     I got lazy for the judge doll class and didn't get a ribbon photo. Mine is on the left and got second. I agree with that placing. He forgot his hat (actually, he has a really big head and none of the hats I had with me fit him. If I had remembered to bring a judge's kit with me, he might have done better (maybe) even without a hat. But I didn't have any with me at the show. 

     The final class list changed after I printed out the show packet. An Arabian doll class had been added. This was the only class in the doll division that I didn't have an entry for. But I absolutely loved this doll! Her entire coat glittered and it was just amazing!

The last class of the day was other dolls. And there was quite the variety of other dolls. 

All sorts of dolls. 

And there were a lot of them. 

Some of them were quite unusual. 

Some didn't have heads (I don't know why the head is removable, it just is)

     The other doll class got split into 3 sections, though I can't currently remember what they were. My showmanship doll got third, in showmanship (which I am almost sure was one of the sections)

     My Jester doll got 2nd in her section, which may or may not have been the same section as my vaulting doll. 

My vaulting doll got first, just laying around on the table. That was fun. 

The callback tables were insane!

      This is my first place crew. 

     And the rest of the doll callbacks. 

     Being the first show of its kind, the classes in the tack/props/doll classes were not usually very large. I made a point of entering (almost) all of the doll classes. It would have been irresponsible of me not to. I did show a handful of horses, but I didn't get any spectacular placings. I am not a halter shower and I don't necessarily have horses that are super awesome for halter. I did bring tack to show but I missed a lot of the classes, and I didn't mind that. I went to show dolls. Thank you Erin Corbett for making an entire division just for me! (she didn't, but I make dolls, so she kind of did, lol).