Several people commented to me afterwards how happy and relaxed Moon looked during our test. We then had a clean stadium and were feeling really good.

Cross country is always the challenge, and Moon stopped twice. So, we finished the show in 4th, but felt really good about the show. Our next show is this coming weekend, and I can't wait.

This week I have to pull Moon's mane, which isn't his favorite thing. We've been having great lessons, and the weather is perfect, not too hot yet. He moved to a new stall at the barn, with his own run, and still gets turned out into the large pasture for about half the day. He seems like a happy horse, which makes me a happy person!

We have shows coming up, and our trainer has suggested we sleep in the back. Sure, it's pretty clean, we try to keep it as clean as possible. And there are shower facilities at the show. I've slept lots of places, and I'm trying to have an open mind, but I think I'd prefer just to bring my tent and sleep on the grass!

Or, maybe if I'm really, really lucky, PaPu, (my grandpa) will bring his camper trailer. He said he would consider it for a hug. Done!

It was the perfect day for the horse show, about 75 degrees, with a little breeze. Moon and I jumped clean both rounds, and in the jump off. In the first round the first place guy beat us by 1 second!

Moon was so good and seemed to be having a great time! We have another schooling show this weekend. If Moon keeps jumping like he is we are going to have our best summer ever!

Maybe Moon needs a bumper sticker advertising "My other" snail-horse! (For those of you who don't know, next to horses, snails are my favorite animal.)

After getting there pretty early we found out that our dressage ride time wasn't until 1:42. So, we had a little time to kill. I helped set up the jumping course and checked out the puppies someone had brought to the show to sell. (No, we didn't buy one, as cute as they were!)

We finally tacked up, and Moon was a little energetic after waiting around all morning, and stepped on my foot pretty hard. It took a couple of minutes of recovery after that before I could make myself put on my show boots. Anyway, we ended up with a score of 31 in dressage, it was our best test ever.
(My trainer told me I was allowed to gloat over the dressage test, so I guess in a way that's what I'm doing here!)

Jumping went pretty well, and despite having the best dressage score we dropped a few places and got fourth place overall. I was really proud of Moon, especially his dressage effort!

We had been in a dressage clinic the day before, and I think it really helped both of us.

Our next show is in June. I feel like we're off to a great start for the year!

Oh, and by the way, thank you richard, for buying the saddle. Happy riding!

So, here's the first one.

It's a Circle Y Flex Tree Arabian Saddle. It has only been used a handful of times, and is in great condition. No discolorations, scratches or tears. It is a size 14 seat. It is really comfortable, and fits our arabian perfectly. It is dark brown with a black seat. Brand new this saddle sells for $1,450. We are asking $1,000.

In other news....Moon is great. Loving the new barn. My new trainer is wonderful, and Dennis, the barn owner, is the nicest guy in the world. He's a quarterhorse guy and has taken a special liking to Moon. I think he almost gives Moon more treats than me! Every time he sees Moon he whistles, and says, "Now that's a great looking horse."

Moon's never had so many compliments! Our first show this year is May 10th. We've been getting ready. Next week I have a dressage clinic right before the show.

Today is "Extra credit doggy day" in biology. For extra credit you can bring in a purebred dog. I'm bringing Jai, our Bouvier. Yesterday he got an extra long bath and he feels like a teddy bear. I'm pretty sure he'll be the cutest dog at school!

After our meeting, she weighed and condition scored all of our horses. I'm very happy to tell you all that Moon scored a 5, (which, for those of you who might not know, is the optimum score.) He's not too light or too heavy, and is in good shape. Some of the heavier horses scored 6's and 7's. One little round pony was almost an 8. Each time a new horse was about to be weighed she asked us all to guess its weight. It was surprisingly hard. Some smaller horses weighed more than anyone would have guessed and some of the bigger ones weighed less. It was a lot of fun.

I'm going to switch his grain to Ultima, and so are most of the people at the barn. AND, we rode outside today, in the sun! There's no trace of the 8 inches of snow we got this last Monday.

Moon and I have our first show of the season in early May, so we plan to spend the next few weeks really preparing for that show. YAY SPRING!

Then, this morning, (Monday,) I woke up to 20 degrees and 7 inches of new snow. Will spring ever come?

Ok, I'll admit it. Moon has a few things that scare him. Bikes, foals, shiny rails, (teepees, which were a big problem for us on the high prairie cross country course,) the usual stuff, really.

My dad recorded a show for us about a group of riders in Africa that had an encounter with a lioness. Evidently the lioness was looking for a meal and watched them for a while before she sprang into action and actually started chasing one of the riders.

She was faster than the horse, and when she had caught up to it she lept onto its back. Somehow, (this seems impossible,) the horse and rider got away.

Now, I don't know about your horses, I can only speak for Moon, but I can assure you he wouldn't have reacted well to a lion chasing him.

In fact, I'm sure he would have been on edge just walking through the tall grass if there had been a bit of a breeze.

If I would've been in this same situation with Moon, I think he would have run for his life from the lioness. He'd of run away with or without me on his back!