Tama County Fair

Wow .... can't believe four whole days have passed since my last post. Time flies whether you're having fun or not. Well, last time I talked to everyone I was getting ready for the Tama County Fair. That was one of the most fun days I've had in a long time. I felt really comfortable performing each time. The crowd was a nice size .... not too big or overwhelming .... and not too small so Gato wouldn't want to do anything. He sometimes absolutely refuses to dance or do anything if nobody is watching. It's like he is telling me "I already know how to dance and do these stupid tricks. I'm not doing them if nobody is watching. I don't need to 'practice' when I already know them." It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to practice with him unless I get really mean and force him to do it. Put a crowd in front of him and he's a total show off. He will start dancing on his own just so they clap and whistle.

So anyway .... yeah ..... we made it to Gladbrook with only one missed turn and I actually didn't completely panic when we missed that turn this time. I only slightly panicked. No mental break downs. I was able to turn the rig around and get back on track pretty easily. I think the tips that Dannielle L. gave me a few weeks ago about backing gave me a tiny bit more confidence in myself. I even managed to pull the truck and trailer into kind of a tight spot in the fairgrounds. I did get help at the end of the day backing it out but I think I might have been able to back it out myself ...... but figured if someone else is going to offer ..... I'm taking the help. :o)

So yeah. We got there and were greeted by a whole group of people who helped us unload and carry our stuff to our stalls. Even the girls couldn't believe how helpful and friendly everyone was. Our first performance was up right away so instead of setting up our stalls, we decided to hurry up and get Gato ready to go and I went in and got dressed. Our first ride was at 11:15 to start their 4-H Show out. We rode to LMFAO - I'm Sexy and I Know It and Lady Gaga's Born This Way. Krystle said it was our best performance so far this year. It felt really good. :o)

After we were done, Dani untacked Gato while I changed back into my t-shirt. Krystle, Dani, Stacey, and I all worked on finishing setting up the decorations then we headed out to find a bathroom and some food. We ate at a nice little lunch barn run by the Gladbrook Community Center. After we got done we went back to get ready for my next performance ..... the Indian. By that time I had a little entourage of kids following me around. I loved it. Gato was so laid back and calm. He did so well bridleless. He did everything I wanted him to. The whole thing went really well. No bucking ..... no running to the gate ...... it was awesome.

Next up was my very first trick clinic. I went back and while Dani and Krystle were getting Gato ready, Stacey helped me get out of my sticky clothes and into my next outfit. We had a little time before I had to go up so I gave some kids some rides. By the time 3:30 rolled around, I had a nice little crowd gathered again. This time I rode briefly to Purple People Eater then jumped off and talked about how I taught Gato some of the simple little tricks he does and how to sit on a beanbag chair. I also showed them how I made some of my blingy tack. I'm not sure how long the whole thing took. The girls warned me not to talk on and on too long because I would get boring. I think it may have gone around 20 minutes? I know my song was about 2 minutes. I think I talked for about 15 minutes showing everyone stuff and then they asked a few questions.

My last performance was at 5. I was worried that Gato was getting really tired. He didn't really want to dance during the last one and was starting to act up a little. I dressed up in my 50's poodle skirt and at 5pm we had a crowd gathered again for our last performance. When I went in to stand on the pedestal, he was already being a butt man and wouldn't step up on the pedestal. he kept going round and round. Great. This isn't gonna be a good one. I told him to straighten up ... we only had ONE MORE LEFT then we're going home. Sometimes I think he understands me ....... cuz he stepped up on the pedestal after that. He still was pissed ..... but he stepped up there. He had his ears back the whole time like he was saying ....FINE. I'll get up here but I'm not gonna like it. The music started after the announcer announced who we were. I could tell he was sluggish. We went into the dancing and I was happily suprised that he was dancing pretty well, actually. He even did the jumping/hopping thing fairly well. Awesome. He was giving it his all. .....so I decided to cut it short since he was doing so well and I jumped off after a couple minutes and decided to finish up in hand. That's not as strenuous on him. It is on me ..... but easier on him. We did some big stepping ...... but again, he was being a butt and wouldn't really march with me. I tried to dance beside him ..... he kind of did it. He reared. Kind of. I went to sit him down...... he sat for 2 seconds and popped back up. I tried it again and it seemed like it took FOREVER for him to sit. He kept looking at me like ....NOPE. NOT GONNA DO IT AND YOU CAN"T MAKE ME. I have sat on that stupid beanbag a million times today and I want to go home. I'm DONE. .....I finally just looked at him and said PLEASE!!!! Please do this one more time then we'll go home. ....and he sat. and sat. and sat. I pulled and pulled and PULLED to get him up. He finally stood up. We bowed. I went and stood him on the pedestal cuz the music was still playing ....... I curtsied to the audience and while I wasn't paying attention that stinker stepped down off the pedestal. I turned around to see him walking to the other side of the arena. WHAT?! GATO!! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!! He does this at home when he's bored or tired or done. He just leaves. So he left. He was done. The ladies from the fairgrounds came in to help me catch him. I knew chasing him would be futile. When he is in this kind of mood ..... there's no catching him until he wants to be caught. I turned my back to him and started walking to the gate. I told him I'm done ..... I'm going home. He kept going the other way. When he noticed one of the ladies walking after him he picked up into a trot. He's thinking -- YES! They're going to CHASE ME!! When she picked up speed .... so did he. Until he was in an all out gallop .... tail up .... snorting .... blowing. I stood at the gate ..... Great. Just great. My fabulous trick horse is out there putting on his own show. I yelled at him and told him HE"D BETTER NOT ROLL IN MY GOOD SADDLE OR HE"S TOAST!!!! He stopped and looked at me for a second then took off running again. I stood at the gate and yelled at the audience ...... "This is part of the show ..... we seriously meant to do this .... not." They were all laughing. I knew he would eventually come back to me. He's a smart horse. He knows the only way out was that gate and the only way home was ME. He was going to come back ..... it wasn't a matter of IF .. it was a matter of WHEN. Then as I was standing there waiting ..... he decided he'd had enough running around free so he came running full blast straight to me ....just like I figured he would.... and slid to a stop about 3 feet away...... I grabbed at his reins and caught him. We did one final bow to the audience .... then I had them open the gate to let us out.

He was prancing around like a freaking 3 year old stallion. Still snorting. He sure wasn't tired now!! That goofy horse. The kids were running up to him to come talk to us ..... I was a little worried he was too wound up for them to be around him ..... so I just stopped and petted him for a while. Dani wanted to take him from me but I told her no ..... we need to just stand here a minute and calm down. So we stood there with the kids all around him and as we stood his head came down ..... and he stopped shaking ..... and he got calmer and calmer. I had the kids walk up to pet him and as they started touching him it's like they flipped a switch and he turned back off again. Like he took a big SIGH and was back to the old Gato. Aaaahhhh .... I love little kids petting me ......

Yep. It was a good day. We met some great new friends. I had a wonderful time riding my beautiful Gato. We had some high points and some low points but all in all I think the overall day was a good one. I'm so glad they invited us to come.