Effort Shows...For Sure

Saturday became the day of showing the true work and effort I had put into Mr. Jack's training sessions, though I did make a few mistakes within the judges' line of sight.

Halter is naturally not everybody's favorite class, including the horses' who must endure sometimes a half hour to an hour of waiting and standing among the 40+ other animals. Not everyone puts up with what some can get away with as well-the "steroid" horses tend to come up a lot in talk of halter, and they don't recieve the best of responses either.
Take this "little" guy-as the owner loves to put him- that comes to many of our open shows and sweeps away the trophies throughout the morning:

And this was just last year...recent pictures could come up and cause myself to comment. He stood in front of me this year in the line-ups, so Jack was most likely admiring how the horse could even stand, much less walk, with his view from behind.
Showmanship...normally I do good only in this, but my one chance at Hi-Point and I forget the very last part, easy-peezy lemon-squeezy. And the judge didn't let me forget it as I walked away.
J: "Hey now, you totally forgot to back up!"
Me:"Ohhh, i'm so sorry!" *very guilty look, Jack nosing me like he was laughing*

Second go-round, he said I shouldn't have done something-will not mention at this point-however, he ceased to dock points from me for it, as he said.
Well how about you tell me what I DID get points docked for so I now how to do something next time. Great advice.

Riding came as a surprise.
And I surprised myself as well. And seeing my compeitition made me feel all the better as I continued through the almost 90 degree afternoon.
Pleasure is no breeze for my old man, and he performed better than at home. And guess how-I for once gave myself time to lunge the crazy beast. Now I know better huh? 3rd place as a first placing for the day brought some good luck from the good ol' leprechaun over the rainbow.
Equitation we normally cease to succeed. But out of who knows how many, we ranked first, and people come to tell me that really was the best pattern.
Whoa...you talking about this horse right here? Gee thanks! *Almost confused until I hear enough I actually believe it!*
And so we then complete the day with another 6th in Color Pleasure-quite a few entrants as well-and then then 4th for trail, to my surprise. Attempting to eat the mailbox must have come in Jack's favor.

And so now we know how much our hard effort and constant pushing of both ourselves and the horses pays off. We all win, no matter the placing.
Remember those Showmanship patterns though-my memory fails at it, so hopefully you can show me-up and help me lose this dreaded short-term memory.