Well, another show weekend down. This weekend, we were showing at Berry College in Rome, Ga. and it was the last show weekend of this semester at least for the Western Team. I can't believe how fast time goes by. The Huntseat Team still has shows next weekend - they will be at Lander University in South Carolina.

*RANT ALERT* 

I am a little disappointed, ok more then a little. I thought that after placing first in the last show at North Georgia that I might do well or at least ok this weekend at Berry. I could have really used the points because I would love to go to Regionals this year. But, no, I received 0 points in both shows, so I still need 11 points. I may be able to get them all in time, but it is going to be close. It doesn't make things any better that the judges couldn't even tell me what I was doing wrong or needed to fix. Yesterday all the judge had to say was that I was a little loose, so he gave me reserve. Today's judge didn't place me at all and could only tell me that my horse didn't back perfectly straight.  I can understand that there are a lot of very good riders in a class and that there is a lot going on for a judge to see all of it.  I just wish that if a judge does not place someone, or places someone poorly, that they would have comments or suggestions for that person - it is helpful to the rider to know what  they need to work  on for next time. If a rider placed well, they obviously rode well and don't need to be told they rode well. My advice, just give suggestions on what needs to be improved and don't place someone poorly if you don't know what they did wrong. 

 *RANT COMPLETE* 

Please know that for the most part, we have very good judges who are good at their job. It just gets frustrating though when you are trying to do well and don't know what you are doing wrong. 

Despite my frustration it was a good weekend. We had other riders ride well and it was our Huntseat Team's first show. They got their nerves behind them yesterday and are ploughing forward. 

It  was also a special show weekend, because the founder and president of the IHSA was at the show. He hadn't been to visit our region in, I think, ten years. We had a banquet  thanking him for coming and thanking him for starting the IHSA. It gave him the opportunity to speak to us. He told us the story of how the IHSA was started and how it has grown from a 40 person club when he started it in college to a 36 region association today. I had never realized before what a BIG thing we were a part of. It is really neat to think that I am  participating in a sport that I love, not only with my team members or even with other students from colleges and universities in this area, but with thousands of students from across the nation that love it too. .