Westernaires Ride 8-10-13 (Games)

So today was my 22nd ride as a Tenderfoot. Yay!!! I got # 40 Lucy. I have had her before. She is so sweet! She is 19 and has asthma. She was in a separate pen so finding her was not a problem. She was great for grooming. Her neck was SO SOFT! We rode down to the arena and checked our cinches. Then our instructors told us that Tenderfoot 1 smoked all the other teams in testing!!!! Then we had 10 minutes of free time. I didn't work Lucy too hard because I knew she tired out quickly. Her gaits are nice and smooth. Today all we did was play games! My instructor told me that Lucy will take off during games so watch her close. It was so much fun! We did a race. We had to lope down and go around the posted instructor in a full circle then come back. We could go as fast as we wanted. Lucy did try and bolt a few times but I anticipated it. Then I just let her go all out on the way back. Then we played a relay race. The instructors had a rock and one rider would ride down grab the rock and come back, handing it off to the next rider. Who would then take it back to the instructor. Lucy did so good. I was able to return the rock, turn and GALLOP back without breaking a step. My group won both. We had all the fast horses except we did have Bantaro. During the next game we had to run down to the other end, touch the rail and come back. Lucy was running her poor little heart out for me. I love her for it. She tries so hard. We got to play Sharks and Minnows again to but Lucy was just so tired, and wouldn't do more than trot. So I got tagged pretty fast. Then we got to try Spanish Bowling. We start out in 4's then split into 2 wide circle in pairs. You have to meet up with your 4 at the center and keep going. Then the outside pair peels off and makes another circle. You have to guide on both sides. Meeting up with your pair then back with your four. It is hard to describe, but it was hard and REALLY fun! Lucy wouldn't do more than walk. She was tired. Then we lined up. Our instructors told us that we can choose what we want to do for our last ride. We can choose from the following

1. Bareback
2. Games
3. Drills
4. Trail Ride Around The Fairgrounds

I would like to do Bareback again but I also really like doing drills. We will have to take a team vote to decide what we will do. I will write after the show next week! Here are some pictures of Lucy

Lucy and I Loping