Well, here we are at the beginning of August and the summer is seeming like a long spring and no summer. Not to many hot days to complain about, but then I prefer warmer that what we have had.
Peanut and I have now done three FQHR shows and have not really done to bad. He has helped me to learn that I am no longer 21 years of age, more than once. I still see him as a really good horse. He will always be my buddy, and anyone who has had a good friendship, knows that our friends don't always agree with us, when we want to do something and they don't.
At our first show in May, we managed to take last place in every class we did. I was a little bummed at first, but then had to keep reminding myself that it was our first show. I know look at it as being consistent in our placings. We did not DQ in one class and I also found that Peanut likes to do barrels. We took a 3rd out of 3.
At the second show, we DQ in ranch cutting, but that too is ok. We are both still learning how to play at this game. If I can recall, we took 8th out of 11 in one of our cattle classes and took a 3rd out of 4 in barrels. Peanut sure loves those barrels. I just need to find it in my heart, or should I say my stomach, to let him run full open on the way back to the finish line. I am still a little apprehensive about speed.
Now at the July show, Peanut was not feeling like Peanut at all. He had a little bit of an attitude towards the cows and that was NOT ok with me. He so wanted to beat the living tar out of them, and I would not let him, that he took it out on me. We took a deep cut into the herd and started to work the cow a little and we lost it back to the herd, on the second deep cut, Peanut wanted to show off his shiny shoes to the cows. I refused him to do so, asked him to move forward and well,
Now at the July show, Peanut was not feeling like Peanut at all. He had a little bit of an attitude towards the cows and that was NOT ok with me. He so wanted to beat the living tar out of them, and I would not let him, that he took it out on me. We took a deep cut into the herd and started to work the cow a little and we lost it back to the herd, on the second deep cut, Peanut wanted to show off his shiny shoes to the cows. I refused him to do so, asked him to move forward and well, Peanut basically told me to buck off. He let me have 4 or 5 good bucks, enough to unseat me from the saddle and left me hanging there from the horn and a right spur caught under the saddle skirt. Thanks to one of my turn backs, Jeff Lebbins, who hollered "whoa, WHOA" at Peanut, I would have been on the ground and looking at the undersides of the cattle. Not a place I really wanted to be. But, I finished the class and moved on. On Sunday, came confirmation class. So far, we have not even come close to placing in this class, but, each and every time, I learn a little something new. The judge saw something in Peanut that the others had missed. I don't know what it was, but a 3rd place ribbon was good enough for us beginners. So far this has given us 3 pretty yellow 3rd place ribbons from 3 different shows. Again, consistency. As the day worn on, it began to rain and Peanut and I still had barrels to run. In the Open Barrels class, we took a 4th place and then in Armature Barrels we took a 2nd place. Now we have added a beautiful white 4th place ribbons and gorgeous Red 2nd place ribbon to the collection. I am looking forward to the August show and hopefully more ribbons to hang up for Peanut.
FQHR shows are not the only thing Peanut and I have been doing this Summer. Parades, Meet and Greets for the Mounted Unit, and other small events. Peanut, along with a couple of the Mounted Units horses, partook in the Lake Ann Homecoming Parade.
It's not a huge parade, but a fun, little hometown parade. Lots of people whom we know, and visitors to the area. I just love small town parades. 
We left Lake Ann and rushed to Beulah to participate in the 4th of July parade there. Another small town parade with lots of spectators.
The next weekend, Peanut and I, joined the unit in Traverse City, MI for the Annual Cherry Royale Parade. This is a huge parade with visitors from all over the World. The U.S. Coast Guard flies their chopper down Front street, just above the tops of the buildings. I was so proud of Peanut for not spooking at that. He carried the Unit's flag with pride. Out in front, by himself, right down the middle of Front street. Later that same evening, we traveled to Bear Lake, MI and participated in the Bear Lake Days parade. Again, another small town, lots of people. Again, Peanut did me proud. He carried the Unit's colors and did it with great ease. He always seems to please me with something everytime I ride this great little horse.After all is said and done, I still tell everyone, "I just love this little horse."
