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Before we leave the subject of mules I will relate a funny story of my early horse show days.
Now, at that time Arabians were not the average backyard horse. They were rare and pricey beyond even what they should have been. It was kinda a status symbol among an elite group. Movie stars and such. I liked them for what they could do given half a chance.
It took me awhile to acquire a Purebred. When I was finally able it was Hasaad, the cowhorse, pictured above. I made monthly payments on him for a LONG time.
Long before we chased cows together, we worked the regular western show circuit. The breed shows were expensive so we practiced where ever there was an open event for all breeds. This was local events where all you needed was a truck and trailer, health papers, and a $5 entry fee.
I often showed and shared travel expenses with a friend of mine, Kathy, who was about my age and who also had an Arabian gelding showing in western events. Now I’ve never been beautiful. Cute was about the best I could do on a good day. Hasaad was a fine riding horse but he was not the embodiment of Arabian, or equine for that matter, conformational perfection.
However; Kathy was a very pretty young woman and her horse was very structurally correct. He having won many halter titles including a Buckeye Top Eight as a yearling. Which was no small thing. He was nice and deserved every bit of it. He was a solid mahogany bay, which would appear to the eye to be a black. Although he was genetically a bay. Very pretty to the eye and not something you would over look in the ring. Kathy, small of statue and very attractive with long platinum blond hair. Collectively they were a stunning pair.
On this particular day we showed up, at an open to all show, unloaded and began our show preparations and such. Including going to the show office and entering our classes. I had the good sense NOT to enter the halter classes that judged a horse on lead, stood up for the judge to gauge his overall appearance and structural correctness. Not so for Kathy. By gosh, she entered that class straight away.
As we warmed up our horses for the under saddle classes we noticed the bray of mules in the parking lot. Sure enough some folks with mules were also preparing to show that day. Okay, fine. The more the merrier. Or so we thought.
I forget how the under saddle classes went. Its not burned in my memory as is the halter class. Suffice it to say, I don’t remember being bucked off so it must have been a semi okay outing.
Well…….along came time for the halter class. I left Hasaad tied to the trailer munching his hay and helped Kathy and Max prepare for the class. He was spit shined and mighty handsome as they made their way to the arena.
You guessed it. The mules, both of them, were also entered in the class. I stood on the rail and watched as each handler presented their charge. The mules took their turn and made a fine showing of themselves. As did Kathy and Max.
In time the judge’s card was turned in and the announcer called out the placings. The mules were first and second, someone I don’t remember as 3rd., and poor Kathy and Max as 4th. Guess the judge didn’t favor Arabians <g>. I had to stumble my way back to the trailer I was laughing so hard. I almost needed a rescue squad for oxygen. It was a miscarriage in justice but the dang funniest one I’d seen in a long time. The only thing I could say……between gasps for air….was “well, they were fine looking mules.
Kathy failed to see the humor. Its still a touchy subject with her today.
Before we leave the subject of mules I will relate a funny story of my early horse show days.
Now, at that time Arabians were not the average backyard horse. They were rare and pricey beyond even what they should have been. It was kinda a status symbol among an elite group. Movie stars and such. I liked them for what they could do given half a chance.
It took me awhile to acquire a Purebred. When I was finally able it was Hasaad, the cowhorse, pictured above. I made monthly payments on him for a LONG time.
Long before we chased cows together, we worked the regular western show circuit. The breed shows were expensive so we practiced where ever there was an open event for all breeds. This was local events where all you needed was a truck and trailer, health papers, and a $5 entry fee.
I often showed and shared travel expenses with a friend of mine, Kathy, who was about my age and who also had an Arabian gelding showing in western events. Now I’ve never been beautiful. Cute was about the best I could do on a good day. Hasaad was a fine riding horse but he was not the embodiment of Arabian, or equine for that matter, conformational perfection.
However; Kathy was a very pretty young woman and her horse was very structurally correct. He having won many halter titles including a Buckeye Top Eight as a yearling. Which was no small thing. He was nice and deserved every bit of it. He was a solid mahogany bay, which would appear to the eye to be a black. Although he was genetically a bay. Very pretty to the eye and not something you would over look in the ring. Kathy, small of statue and very attractive with long platinum blond hair. Collectively they were a stunning pair.
On this particular day we showed up, at an open to all show, unloaded and began our show preparations and such. Including going to the show office and entering our classes. I had the good sense NOT to enter the halter classes that judged a horse on lead, stood up for the judge to gauge his overall appearance and structural correctness. Not so for Kathy. By gosh, she entered that class straight away.
As we warmed up our horses for the under saddle classes we noticed the bray of mules in the parking lot. Sure enough some folks with mules were also preparing to show that day. Okay, fine. The more the merrier. Or so we thought.
I forget how the under saddle classes went. Its not burned in my memory as is the halter class. Suffice it to say, I don’t remember being bucked off so it must have been a semi okay outing.
Well…….along came time for the halter class. I left Hasaad tied to the trailer munching his hay and helped Kathy and Max prepare for the class. He was spit shined and mighty handsome as they made their way to the arena.
You guessed it. The mules, both of them, were also entered in the class. I stood on the rail and watched as each handler presented their charge. The mules took their turn and made a fine showing of themselves. As did Kathy and Max.
In time the judge’s card was turned in and the announcer called out the placings. The mules were first and second, someone I don’t remember as 3rd., and poor Kathy and Max as 4th. Guess the judge didn’t favor Arabians <g>. I had to stumble my way back to the trailer I was laughing so hard. I almost needed a rescue squad for oxygen. It was a miscarriage in justice but the dang funniest one I’d seen in a long time. The only thing I could say……between gasps for air….was “well, they were fine looking mules.
Kathy failed to see the humor. Its still a touchy subject with her today.
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I can just see that in my imagination.
