Christmas Westernaires Carhartt!

So I got my very own Red Carhartt for Christmas! I was so excited because every rider at Westernaires loves their red marshmallows. I can not wait to try it out! It is so warm and comfortable so I shouldn't be cold at my rides anymore! Just thought I'd post about it. Here is a picture!

Westernaires Blue Ropes 12 - 28 - 13

So Saturday was ropes. Our time got changed so we had to be there early in the morning. It was a beautiful day so it was nice not having to rope with layers on. So we were all just warming up and then Danielle showed up and had us make our big circle. Then we all did the flat loop routine as a group then instructed everyone to keep working on toe dances and around the back. I was working on my 15ft rope. Danielle came and gave me some advice. Bend your arm more. Move it more back towards the center of your head. It really does help and using those tricks I actually got my 20ft rope going! Danielle then taught me how to do two tricks. One with each rope. 15ft = Lay Down 20ft = Drag. So for the Lay Down you do a basic wedding ring with the 15ft loop then creep your hand up the tail to make it higher above your head. Then you go to your knees and lay back, stand up and ta - da! For the Drag you have a 20ft wedding ring going and you bring your hands down and switch it back and forth around your body twirling it around your feet. I tried that one a few times and it is really fun! I did smack my knuckles together a few times but it was a blast! I am so happy to be finally learning White Division tricks. Hopefully I can move to White Ropes in March. Another girl on my team is moving to the bigger ropes as well. I like having ropes in the morning much better. I decorated my ropes with colored Duck Tape. My 10ft is Purple, my 15ft is Green, and my 20ft is Pink. White Star Colors! Overall it was a great class and I can't wait to start working on my new tricks.

10 Foot Rope

15 Foot Rope

20 Foot Rope

Westernaires Rides 12-21-13

Well Saturday was interesting. I got weirdly sick in the morning so I missed grooming and J1. You know I'm sick when I say I can not ride. That's saying something. I started feeling better by the time White Star came around but I was steel feeling queasy so I watched the ride instead. So of course the day I'm not riding we do a Propeller for the first time. I was so jealous but they did really good. Fell apart in the middle a some points but not bad for a first try. I went and bought my 15 and 20 ft ropes and taped them before diagramming. I was feeling much better so I went to diagramming. I did not have to take a sequence test so I had more time for Quiz #3. Danielle really pushed us today. We did sloppy copies for 8 charts.We ran out of time so we went to the diagramming room across the fort and finished up. I just had to finish 1 chart. We got our corrections back from our first set of diagrams. I only have 1 correction! I just have to move a few riders. So I have 9 total diagrams due in two weeks.. Sorry for the delay in getting this post written. I was very sad that I couldn't ride but at least I don't have to make up anything. I also scored 34/35 on Quiz #2!!!! Very Good!!!!

Updates

So a lot of stuff is getting thrown at us. Here are some updates from our instructors.

We really want all of the riders to have spurs, they really do help with some of our horses. All riders will be expected to have spurs after the first of the year. Please wear them now, if you have them!

Ride:    Don't forget your spurs.  Come prepared and ready to work.
Diagramming:    Sequence Test ( I don't have too take this one because I have passed 3)

 Quiz 3    -    Museum Study Guide, American Flag Etiquette, and Rule book Sections (costumes through maintenance)

                                                  There is no reason why anyone will not be able to take this quiz.  We have attached information and the study guide just in case.

                                20 Handwritten Sequences (Also don't have too do)

 Don't forget your supplies and notebooks as you will be getting the second set of diagrams and corrections

Please Don't forget it is your responsibility to get with the instructor(s) if you have missed a class BEFORE the next class time to get the work you missed made up.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

        Based on the amount of missing pages that were not turned in last week, we as instructors will be implementing a new rule starting next ride.  The riders will be required to meet with the instructors at least 30 to 45 minutes prior to the White Star ride to hand in the required diagrams.  If you do not turn in all the diagrams that are due for that day you will ride the rail for the White Star ride.  You will still be responsible for paying for your rental horse for the day.  We are implementing this for safety reasons.

As you can see they are really stressing spurs because they really do help some of the livery horses and make it so we can learn our drill more quickly and efficiently. Our instructors are also stressing diagrams. If someone is falling too far behind and rides. They will be lost and not know where they are going and get someone hurt. I do not have to take a Sequence Test or turn in 20 Sequences because I passed the first 3 tests. I do have to take Quiz #3. Can't wait to ride! I wonder when we will get to start riding our drill... Probably at least by next ride.  It will be nice having two rides again. I am lucky I even get that opportunity. I hope the weather is nice and the arenas aren't muddy so we can lope again! Loping is by far the best gate ever. Such a fluid rocking motion and so easy to ride. Just slower than a full out run. Walk, Trot, Lope, Gallop! RIDE WITH PRIDE!!!

Who Are We?! WHITE STAR!

Westerniares Christmas Party 2013

Well the Christmas party was not what I expected. I arrived a little late, and they were presenting attendance awards. Then they transitioned into Ticket Sales. I didn't win anything which doesn't surprise me. Then they played a slideshow of the summer shows. It was pretty cool but it didn't highlight any Blue Division shows like Interclub. Then we ate cookies and drinks and that was all there pretty much was too it. It was kind of fun to socialize with my fellow riders, but it seemed like more of a White Division awards/graduation ceremony. Unless I am expecting an award I don't believe I will go next year. I will write this weekend for White Star!!!! Hopefully the weather is nice

Blue Ropes 12-14-13

So today was Blue Ropes! This was only my 2nd practice. We were all just practicing waiting for Danielle. She is also the T7 instructor who's class rides right before ropes. I can do the whole flat loop routine and over 10 toe dances. Apparently I practice a ton! I am a lot more advanced than my group. I guess practicing everyday for an hour helps. So I was doing my toe dances and Danielle saw me. She came over and said you've definitely got the timing but move your arm back a little. Oh my goodness so much easier! Then I was helping a girl who was brand new. After I got her going I practiced the routine some more. Left Hand, Behind the Back, Under the front leg, Under the back leg, around the shoulder, and toe dances. Then Danielle pulled me aside and had me do the whole flat loop routine. I was so nervous! This could make or break my chances of moving to white ropes. I guess I did good because then she told me that next week after White Star to go buy a 15ft rope and a 20ft rope, tape them and bring them too class in 2 weeks. Then she gave me a 20ft rope and had me practice with that. She showed me how to spin it around my head. You hold the rope the same way to start then bring your right arm out and around your head and let go. I actually got it to spin around my head! I had it going for a good minute... It is a lot harder than it looks. Danielle said I was really good! My only problem is I move my arm too much. I need to keep the movement in my fingers and wrist when spinning the 20 ft rope around. My arm hurts so bad but it was so much fun!!!!! I actually impressed Danielle! Overall it was a very good practice. I will write tomorrow for the Christmas Party!

White Star 12 - 7 - 13

It was so weird not having Juniors before White Star. We got to ride in the White Arena! I had never ridden in there before. It is a more square like arena, right behind the Volunteer Arena where Red Division rides. That arena is huge! We checked in then went to the Red Arena to get our horses. OMG it was SO COLD today! I got Smoke #49 We mounted up and rode to the White. Danielle called us to the middle. She said she couldn't believe we were riding today. It was that cold. So we would not be working the horses hard. Which means no Loping or Trotting today. We worked on drill maneuvers! We got to do about 4 thread the needles! I love those! They are so much fun! We did it as individual riders first. Then the last 3 in pairs. We also did a pass through. All the horses were acting so weird today! Probably because of the cold. Smoke wouldn't listen to me. He resisted my commands. So Spurs helped quite a bit. He was being real thick in the skull whenever a Halt Ho was called. He wouldn't stop! I had to pull back so hard. My arms are sore. Otherwise he was ok. We also circled in 4's. Lots of drill riding. Then was diagramming class. The room was warm! Yay! We turned in our sequences and diagrams. We then took our next Sequence Test. 100% I only have to pass 1 more. Then was our 2nd quiz. It was pretty easy. We had to label Line Up and fill in the heading. I hope I did good. Today we took a museum tour. We had to take notes. It was boring because I had just taken my tour for Tenderfeet in July. The questions will be on our Quiz #3. We have no diagrams to do this week :( I am sad because I actually like diagrams they are kind of fun. Once you get used to them. Just studying for next ride. I got 32.75 out of 35 on our first quiz! Yay!!! That's pretty good :) Here is Smoke

Smoke

White Star Ride

WHITE STAR IS RIDING TOMORROW!!! I'm so happy :) I will write tomorrow. I will be short one ride but I don't care. I still get to ride!!!! YAY!

Junior Rides Cancelled :(

I just got the email from my J1 monitor telling us that all BLUE Division Junior rides are cancelled. As of right now base teams are still riding. We will get an email tonight. Even if Juniors are cancelled 1 ride is better than none. I really hope White Star is still riding. We did get information about the Westernaires Christmas party of 2013! It will be on December 15. I am excited it should be fun :) I did not go as a Tenderfoot. It isn't mandatory but I want to try it out this year. I will write when I know about base teams! Hoping for the best!

Flag Boot!

I finished decorating my flag boot! It's green and purple! I am so excited for this weekend! I hope we do a Thread the Needle in Juniors again. That was a blast!

Ropes 11-30-13

I was unable to attend ropes yesterday :(  I will write in 1 week for base teams! I have lots to study for White Star

Due on Dec. 7
 - 20 handwritten sequences
 - 5 completed diagrams

On Dec. 7
 - Quiz #2
 - Sequence Test #2

Quiz #2 will cover Rule Book (Advancement - Chain of Command) and we will have to complete a diagram from the 5 we had to do for homework.

Another Day In My Westernaire Life!

So today I completed my transformation into a White Division Double A Rider in 2 ways.

1. SPURS
2. DIAGRAMS

That's right diagrams started today. I have to do 5 before next ride. So today I got Apache #77 for Junior 1 and Chester #122 for White Star. Thank goodness I got to wear spurs today! Apache has over sized ears that flop when he walks and he is adorable. But so slow. He was great for grooming. We rode to the Moore. Bill talked to us about how to ride with spurs. Loose rein, kiss, calf pressure, and finally do a little tap tap with the spur if he doesn't respond earlier. Usually that's enough. So we worked on building up and breaking down to eights and fours. Apache is bouncy! Oh my goodness! Then we got to lope in 4's. Apache's lope is absolutely to die for! I had to use my spurs to get him to fast trot and lope. I can't even begin to describe the difference it makes. Definitely feels different too. We also got to try 2 thread the needles and a pass through! We did awesome! We did have a Halt Ho (Stop Immediately) during the 1st thread. We talked through it gave more instruction and tried again. We did it very nicely. So after Juniors my friends and I went to the cafeteria and warmed up. I definitely did not wear enough layers. I was cold! I did remember my yellow leather gloves. We pulled out our binders and helped each other study for the quiz. One friend also gave me another Winddancer pin for my backpack along with a pin for Summer who was my 2nd Tenderfoot ride. Then we went to the Hutchinson Arena to check in for White Star. We went back to the water troughs and I was given Chester. He is a beautiful paint. So we spent a lot of White Star working on riding as a team not individual riders. Also a lot more discussion about spurs. It changes the whole way you ride and communicate with your horse but it is so much easier! Totally worth the whole wait through Tenderfoot. Chester's trot is SO SMOOTH! So much more comfortable than Apache. His lope though is more on the choppy side. Not a nice flowing gait. But we were loping very nicely on the rail. Dodging Cinder and Dakota. Even with spurs Dakota wasn't moving an inch! White star was actually really fun! I actually got a compliment from Danielle! Which if you know her means a lot. She sure pushes us. After White Star I went to the store and bought my Flag Boot! It is a piece of pipe or something with a leather strap. When we ride with flags we will put the flag boot around our stirrup and use it to help support the flag. It's just plain white right now. I will post when I decorate it. Then it was time to check in for diagramming. So 1st thing we did was hand in our 20 Sequences. Then we took  our first Sequence Test that actually counts. Out of the 30 or so riders on my team 4 got the pop one 2 weeks ago right. I was one of them :) Then we took our quiz. We had to label an arena and some arrows, name the color code, monitor + instructor names, and some questions from the White Division Basics. I think I did really well. I passed my Sequence Test 100% so far rocking it in Double A! Then we learned how to make a sloppy copy. Danielle stuck a giant sized version of the 4 maneuvers + line up. We could move around the room and we used Double Arena diagramming paper. It's just a quick sketch of what we have to diagram at home. A few numbers some really sloppy quick arrows and some motion dots ( - - - - ). It was very intense. But we got through it. We also learned how to fill in the heading of the diagrams. So for my homework I have to

1. Hand write my sequence 20 more times
2. 5 Diagrams

Here are the pictures!

Apache

Chester

Apache

Riding with my Spurs

Apache and I Loping

Chester

Chester and I loping in White Star

Schedule for 11-23-13

So I am at Westernaires until 1:00 pm this week! I get more breaks in between my classes though so that's nice. We will start diagramming our drill this week so we have to bring colored pencils and all our supplies. We also have our Sequence Test and Quiz #1. We finally get to ride with our SPURS! I am so excited :) I love being a 2nd year!

6:30 - 8:00 am  = J1 Grooming/Saddle
8:00 - 9:00 am  = J1 Ride
10:00 - 11:00 am  = White Star Ride
12:00 - 1:00 pm  = White Star Diagramming

1st Quizzes and Sequence Tests

So I just got the email from my monitor telling us what to study before our ride on Saturday. We will have Quiz #1 and our 1st Sequence Test.  Here is what my email said

Quiz 1 will cover

•     The contents of the folder (except the Rulebook, and American Flag Etiquette)
•     The Westernaire Drill Design
•     Monitors and Instructors
•     The Color Code

Don't forget your 20 handwriiten Sequences.

Don't forget you will have a Sequence Test (this one counts) this week.

Thanks

Danielle, Aline, Brittany (Instructors)

Well it looks like I will be studying this week and writing out 20 sequences! I definitely need to study the rider color code and The Westernaire Drill Design! So excited to ride this week! I will let you know my schedule for the day when I can! 

1st Blue Ropes Practice!

Wow! Ropes was really fun! I went to the store and bought my 10 foot rope. They weren't expensive at all. $ 5.22 It was just a length of stiff rope 10 feet long. That was about 1:30 pm then I went and watched some Tenderfoot classes and found my friends horses. So we hung around at the trailer area opposite the 3 outdoor arenas and played with her horses. I went and checked in with my monitor and waited for Danielle to arrive at about 2:45. She is my ropes instructor as well as my White Star instructor. Once she arrived she and some Red Ropers helped us learn how to tape our ropes. We used black electrical tape. We had to loop one end tightly around to make the Honda then taped the other end to prevent fraying. We spaced out into a big circle. She told us to wear tennis shoes from now on because it will be easier to do ropes with shoes instead of boots. I wore my tennis shoes anyway so I was fine. Then she taught us how to hold the rope before we start. You grasp the tail and loop in three fingers, separated by your index finger and held on the outside with your thumb. Now for twirling our Flat Loop you can't just move your wrist and arms. It's not that easy. In fact it is all twirled by your fingers. You start the loop inside towards yourself and twirl with your fingers. It took a little bit to get the hang of but I got it. Man your lower arm muscles just start burning! It will take awhile for my arms to get used to it. Danielle is a good at multi - tasking she was pushing a baby stroller spinning a loop and instructing the class. Then we played a little game. We had a giant rope going as a jump rope, then we each individually had to jump in, jump rope, and spin the loop. It was really hard! I absolutely failed but I was laughing. So much fun!!!! Danielle made 2 people run laps because she will not allow us to say, "I can't" She will let us say,"My rope is not cooperating with me." But she will not take I can't. It was so much fun getting to do my first specialty. She said I was doing very good :) We were just having a great time goofing off. Soon Horse Roman riders started lining up to go in the White Arena and our class was over :( But I get to ride again in 1 week! GO BLUE ROPES!!! Here are the pictures.

Honda

My 10' Rope

Horse Pasture

Danielle talking to the class

Blue Ropes Call!!!

Hey I just got my call for my first Blue Trick Roping Class on November 16, 2013. I am so excited! We have to go to the Westernaires store and purchase a 10 foot rope. Then our class is at 3 pm behind the White Arena! I can not wait! It is going to be so much fun. Sure I won't be riding horses but I still get to be at Westernaires with my friends and enjoy learning a new skill. What I like about ropes is that I don't have to be at Westernaires to practice. During the week, if I have some free time, I can pick up my ropes and practice a little. I can not wait! Getting to be at Westernaires every Saturday will be so cool! Guess I will be writing on Saturday!

1st Junior 1 and White Star Rides!!!

Whew! I lived threw my 1st real day in white division :) I checked in at 6:30 for Junior 1 then got assigned my horse. I got Keno #15. Finding him in the pasture was funny. I had a JI helping me. We had looked everywhere and couldn't find him. We asked an adult wrangler she turned and pointed to a horse who we had walked passed at least 4 times. Keno apparently likes to shift color. He is a red roan but as winter comes his coat gets darker making him look like a red bay. But it was funny because we were like he is going to be right under our noses I know it. He was. I offered him water but he refused. He was such an angel this morning for grooming! He just stood there and did everything I asked. He probably wasn't really awake yet. Bridling took a little bit of work though. I would stick my finger in the corner of his mouth to try and make him open up and he would just grind his teeth a little rather than opening. After much persuasion I finally got it in. After that we were all set. We rode down to the Moore Arena and started our ride. We weren't allowed to wear our spurs :( Sad day but I didn't care because Keno doesn't need them. He does everything you ask of him and listens so well. His trot is a little on the bouncy side but not unbearable. His lope though is AWESOME! He is so calm and collected and responds so well to leg cues. I loved finally getting a good 5 laps of loping around the arena. I can't even describe the rush. We met in the center to have a talk and all the horses started snorting. I mean all so there were 20 or so horses all snorting repeatedly. It was funny! All too soon the ride was over and we dismounted and watered our horses. Then I went with my team to clean the Red and Blue Arenas. We finished early so I went to the cafeteria and got some breakfast. By now its about 9:30 - 9:45am. I then walked to the Hutchinson Arena and payed for the next ride and checked in with my other monitor. It was so weird getting my horse without grooming first. 1st time ever. It was also weird riding so late. So for my 1st White Star ride I got Cisco #76. I had to mount up like 3 different times to fix my stirrups and check his cinch. While mounting up one time I cut my right pointer finger on part of his saddle. I think it might have been the metal design on the back or something... I have no clue. But it hurt. The skin on my knuckle was all screwed up. So I had a bloody finger to ride with. So 1st we talked in the center learned Danielle's (my Instructor) expectations, etc. Then we headed out on the rail. Cisco has NO slow button. He has a hackamore so his bridle had no bit, but instead applied pressure to his nose. Every time I would even slightly pull back he would toss his head. Twice I got horse spit all over my glasses. He never stopped. So when we got into 4's and 8's and I was stuck with Brutus, Dakota, and Cinder. 3 very stubborn horses... It wasn't a good mix. His saddle isn't very comfortable either. Oh and this whole ride was ridden without stirrups. So him spazing out didn't help at all. This ride went really fast. It was uneventful. Kind of blah but still really fun to ride twice in one day. In White Star we have a special way we call to dismount.

Instructor,"Who are we!?"

Riders,"WHITE STAR!"

Instructor,"Who are we!?"

Riders,"WHITE STAR!"

Instructor,"Prepare to dismount!"

Riders,"WHITE STAR!"

It was really cool! In normal classes we just have

Instructor," Prepare to dismount!"

Riders,"Westernaires!"

When we are calling to dismount we stand up in our stirrups. I like White Star's call off much better! Then after I watered Cisco and put him on the rail I headed to the Seminar Room for my 1st Diagramming Class. There we went over the basics of what is expected and how to diagram. We looked at examples and took some notes. We learned about how we will make a really quick sloppy copy then make it nice and pretty at home. Then we had a Pop Sequence Test. Good thing I memorized! I am about 99.9% positive that I aced it. Diagramming will really start next ride (November 23,2013) So at the end of the day (about noon) I had a throbbing finger, raw inside of my knee, sore thigh muscles, and a smile on my face. :) It was a great day and my teams did well enough that we are allowed to wear our spurs next ride!

Here are the pictures!

Keno

Cisco

Bedazzled Bandanna

Hey I just bedazzled my bandanna. In sparkly letters it says," RIDE WITH PRIDE" which is the Westernaires slogan. I also put a few light blue and silver sparkles as well. 1st Junior and White Star Rides Tomorrow! Here are two pictures of my bandanna. I will write after my 1st crazy Saturday!

Junior Team!

Hey everybody! I'm on Junior 1!!! Yay! So i will check in just like I did for Tenderfeet and wake up at 5 to groom and saddle! I'm so happy I love going out to catch my horse! Grooming is also a great way to learn the horse's attitude before riding. J1 has to clean the Red and Blue Arenas after our ride. Not my favorite thing but every Westernaire has to do their part. Between Diagramming, Junior Rides, and Base Team Rides I will be done at around 'noon. Here is my schedule back to back activities! I am going to be booking it all around Westernaires to get where I need to be on time. Ready for year 2! I do like the extra ride time. This is the only year in Westernaires where we are part of a Blue Division team AND a White Division Base Team. It will be amazing getting to ride twice in one day!

6:30 - 8 = Groom/Saddle for J1
8 - 9 = Ride for J1
9 - 10 = Cleaning for J1
10 - 11 = Ride for White Star
11 - 12 = Diagramming for White Star

Junior Team Agony

Sitting here staring at an empty email box... waiting for anything about Westernaires to pop up. I want to know if I'm on J1 because I want to groom and saddle in the mornings like I did for Tenderfoot. Oh well. Another 24 hours of waiting won't kill me. I guess. Write when I know :)

PROMOTION SATURDAY!!!!!

So today was Promotion Saturday!!! I arrived early and checked in to my monitors at the Livestock Arena. There I sat anxiously in the stands. After a while our monitors gave us our rider information forms. But we couldn't open it. A man,(Whose name I don't know) started to talk. We were instructed to open our sheets. The number in the corner of my sheet was a 35. So was many others around me. Well at least I won't move up alone. Then they started calling out the numbers and telling us where to go. My number was called and I was instructed to meet at the West Side of the Stands. There we met our instructors of our new team. They said," Hi I'm Danielle, I'm Brittany, and I'm Aline and Welcome to White Star!" I got on a Double A Team!!!!!!! I could not believe it!!!! I wanted this team so badly. My new costume colors are Purple, Green, Pink, and White. These are our show costume colors. For regular riding we wear our practice uniform. I can not wait to start riding next week! I guess my equitation test with Belle did me good. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost half of my Tenderfoot class went with me to White Star and a bunch from T- 9 as well. We were given a floppy binder. Mine is gray, with diagramming sheets and sequences as well as a copy of the Westernaire Rule Book and lots of other information. My homework for this week is to hand write out my sequences 10 times and write 1 to 2 short paragraphs of what I like about Westernaires and what I hope to achieve. They are due at our 1st ride. We will also be starting diagramming right away. I can't believe I skipped Single A! I will let you know what Junior Team I am on when I know!

Single Arena Diagramming Paper

Here are some pictures!

My Number

View From the Stands

Flag with Name

Double Arena Diagramming Paper

Flag Without Name

To view photos from last years White Star Team (Standard Drill Show) September 2013

Click Here

To view photos from last years White Star Team (White Olympics) August 2013

Click Here

To view photos from last years White Star Team (White Division Show) June 2013

Click Here

Headed to Promotion Saturday!!!

I am leaving now to find out my new Westernaires team(s) for the 2013 - 2014 year!!! I am so excited and nervous I can barley breathe! I know that no matter what team I'm on I will have a blast! The costume's not important, the complexity and awesomeness of the drill's not important. It's the memories  made and the fun times had and friendships strengthened and created that makes you team your family. I will write as soon as I can! Wish me luck!

Here are guidelines for Advancement within White Division

1.  Attendance
2.  Attitude and Deportment
3.  Dependability
4.  Classroom Grades
5.  Equitation Test
6.  Team Grade
7.  Ticket Sales from Annual Show
8.  Instructor/Monitor comments and suggestions

Spur Tie Downs

Hey my spur tie downs got here! I am all set to ride after promotion Saturday. My spurs don't ride up my heel anymore. They don't move an inch. Here are some final photos. My spurs are complete

These are what they look like but mine are brown.

Promotion Saturday 2013 Information!!!

I just got the email from my monitors giving me all the information I need for promotion Saturday which is November 2nd, 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited and nervous.

Here is what my email said!!!!

This Saturday is Promotion Saturday. You will find out what Base Team you have been placed in. It will be an exciting time for you. You may or may not be with the same riders you have ridden as a Tenderfoot with, but you will now expand to watch each other ride.

Remember, your Base Team is White Division. You will learn drills that you will perform next summer in White Division shows and  you will have a "Training class" in which you will diagram your drill for your team. You will also have your Junior Team, which is in Blue Division.

1. Base Team---Performing team--White Division
2. Training Class---A classroom training hour for your White Division base team, in which you will diagram your drill for your team
3. Junior Team--- Your Blue Division Equitation class.. Your Junior team is a continuation of your Tenderfoot Team, expanding and fine tuning the skills you learned as a Tenderfoot.

Please report to the Livestock Arena (same place as Ticket Rally) at 8:30 am sharp.......Being on time will be important, so we will be ready to start the meeting.
You will receive a sheet of paper, not at the beginning of the meeting, but a little in to it  (rider information form), with a number in the corner. Pay close attention to all Mr Keller will be saying, it is all important. So please listen and do not talk while he is, or you may miss something important.  

Mr. Keller will announce numbers and the classroom that number will report to. Your number is in the corner of your sheet. As soon as Mr. Keller announces you are dismissed to go to the classroom you are assigned to. Go with your family member to that room to meet your instructors and possibly Monitors for your new White Division Base Team. We will form your Junior teams later in that day, determined by your Base Teams, to avoid the least conflicts for you, the rider.Please report in Uniform, be prompt and wear your smiles....you are going to enjoy your new teams and all you will learn in your 2nd year in Westernaires.

 Attached are your Medical and Rider Forms-- please make sure you fill them out for both your new Base team and your new Junior team-- you will need a set for both.  
Please watch your e-mail next week for times for your new teams rides . You will receive contact from each team separately. You will have different instructors for each team and have different Monitors for each team.
You will have two separate teams, so you will pay for them separately if you are a renter, and you will submit a Rider Information Form and Medical Form to each team. I have attached the forms so you will be able to bring a filled out form to your new base team meeting on Saturday.
It has been a pleasure watching you grow as riders in your first year as Tenderfeet. We have no doubts you will continue growing as riders and will be successful in your new Base Teams.

Annual Show 2013 VIDEOS

So here are some videos. I videoed the Varsity Big Red Team (Highest Team) and Blogger.com won't let me upload it. :( I think it is too big of a file or something. They were amazing. I will post as many videos as I can. Hope you enjoy! 

Freedom Riders (Red Trick Riders)

Nighthorse Rangers

Royal Rangers Spanish Bowling. This is what I was trying to explain in my post with Lucy.

Crimson Rangers

Crimson Rangers (Thread The Needle)

Crimson Rangers (Mariners Cross)

Royal Rangers (Thread the needle in 4's)

Red Liberty 

Cavalcade 

Pre Show - Circus Horse (Red Vaulting), Batons, Hoedowners

Pre Show 2 (Same as above + Fire batons)

Annual Show 2013!!!!

So yesterday was the 60th Annual Show "Horsecapades" It was AWESOME! Sophomores sat right at the opposite gate end of the arena so we had a great view of all the drills! Sophomores checked in at 1 and we went to the paddock area where we watched all the teams line up. That was awesome! You could feel the excitement. How I wish I was up there riding. Someday.

Here was the line up. In order for Saturday Afternoon

Pre-Show

Rio Bravo

Circus Horse (Red Vaulting)/ Batons/Hoedowners

Belle Starr (Red Whips)

Royal Rangers

Wagons West

Show

Grand Entry

Crimson Rangers

Freedom Riders (Red Trick)

Nighthorse Rangers

Liberty Riders

How The West Was Won

Red & Glow Ropes

Horse Roman

Special Guests/ Alumni

El Latigo del Diablo

Precisionettes

Riders of the Steppes

Chariots

Equidance (Red Dressage)

Cavalcade (White Division Parade)

Firelight Finale (Varsity Big Red)

My friend showed me some booths and I bought 4 Westernaire pins to go on my sweat shirt or my backpack! I bought Yukon, Wyoming, Winddancer, and one that is an american flag and has a rider on it reading,"Proud to be a Westernaire" They are very cool. Then I went to another booth selling necklaces and charms. I bought the necklace with the Tenderfoot 2012 charm and the Sophomores 2013 charm. :) I will have to add my new teams next year. Then it was show time! The show was spectacular! The teams were incredible. I videoed a ton and will blog those in another post. These teams never cease to amaze me! I can not wait to learn! Then cavalcade was where all the white division teams paraded around in there costumes and flags. Renters on foot and owners on horseback. That will be me next year :) It was very cool. Then they recognized the Sophomores and we stood up and the spotlights shone bright in our eyes. I can not describe in words how cool this show is. When Red Horse Romans were preforming they were doing the part in their drill where they go through a flaming arc. One girls horses split and she almost crashed right into the fire. Then they were going over flaming poles in splits and one rider fell off and on the pole. She was fine. They are standing on 2 horses so they did really good. In Liberty some horses were scared of the lights on the arena floor and started shying away or bucking and rearing it was funny! They turned them off for their drill. The programs were awesome! Our team photo is in there this year!!!!! It shows a tenderfoot rider holding a varsity big red rider's hand looking up at the distance in the arena. Here are photos. 

Sophomore Charm

Tenderfoot Charm

Westernaires Ticket Turn In 10-24-13

So tonight was ticket turn in. Sophomores reported to the Conference room. I got there at about 6:15pm. There I found my monitor and since we were about 15 minutes early there was no line! My monitor double checked that the amount sold matches with the money and so on and so forth. They gave us a map and instructions for where to park for our show, where to meet, what to bring etc. My grand total is..... 25 TICKETS!!!! In the eyes of Westernaires that is not very many but it is a improvement for me from last year! I only sold 14 Tenderfoot year. I am very pleased with myself. Sophomores report at 1 o'clock for Annual Show on Saturday. We have to be in full uniform including our red side - ties. The show will end at about 4 or so and we have to clean the bleachers afterwards so I won't be able to post until late afternoon or even until Sunday. I do not ride this weekend because of Annual Show :( But it is still great too watch. Write in 2 days!

Better Spur Video

Spur Video

Sorry about the bad quality I will upload a better one later. You can't really hear the Spurs in this video.

SPURS!!!

I got my very own Spurs yesterday!!! I can't believe it, finally after all this time as Tenderfoot + Sophomores I finally have my spurs! They are silver with a twisted band and a gold rowel. They ring too! That is by far my most favorite sound in the whole world. That and any sound involving horses! I got them at Murdoch's and I bought new straps. I know in one of my previous posts I bought some very nice straps and I decided to use those for shows. My new ones are straight and dark brown. I can not wait to ride with them! Here are some photos of my awesome Spurs! I totally feel like a Junior now! My rubber tie downs are being shipped. I will post when they get here. I will try to upload a video later, no promises on quality though :) Ticket turn is next week so I will post again then. November is going to be a very exciting month :) Blue ropes will start sometime in November