barnbum

This "horse show" happened last Wednesday, and this was the third annual event! Years ago, the activities director to Quail Summit, Kandy, and I talked about the minis when I took my class into this assisted living place to play games with the residents (we also have put on three talent shows!). She encouraged me to bring Blessing, now sold, into the facility. She assured me they had machines to extract anything out of rugs, so it could be a training ground for a therapy horse. So, Mazie will fill that position once she's old enough to leave her mama. She's small enough for me to take her in the van so I don't have to haul the trailer. Anyway--since I had foals the year Kandy and I chatted about this, we decided to bring the residents to the minis!! We had the perfect place to set it up... so here is the 3rd annual Little Church Minis horse show. (The photos from the 2007 and 2008 visits can be seen on my website, these haven't been added yet. It's fun to watch the horses, and Kennedy, grow!)

Greeting them off the bus. A bus is needed because 13 can come at once.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1294.jpg[/img]

That's Kennedy with the next resident. Remember her? She's been my barn buddy for going on four years now. She's still not sick of me! :)
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1295.jpg[/img]

This is a former student from this year helping out. Her mom is a horse person--and came to help, too!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1300.jpg[/img]

All smiles and ready to go! Most of these residents have been here before.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1298.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1299.jpg[/img]
This lovely woman was 100% delighted the entire time! She never stopped smiling!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1302.jpg[/img]

All set up in the shade.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1305.jpg[/img]

That's me giving them the intro piece. The horses are right behind me in front pasture--what I call the round pen area.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1321.jpg[/img]

It's amazing how goofy our expressions are when we're talking. Anyway--I wanted you to see behind me--the girls are getting the obstacle course and the horses ready. (There are too many photos of me--just look at the horses. :wink: )
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1307.jpg[/img]

Such a captive audience!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1318.jpg[/img]

First Kennedy gave an obstacle course demonstration with Whisper. They were awesome!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1324.jpg[/img]
Backing an elbow:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1333.jpg[/img]
Cute shot--Kennedy getting treats out of her pocket, while Whisper was waiting patiently?? :lol:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1330.jpg[/img]
The other horses wait their turn.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1331.jpg[/img]
Jumping!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1340.jpg[/img]
Ooops--Whisper is supposed to jump them, not Kennedy! :lol:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1336.jpg[/img]
Then Whisper came to meet everyone.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1348.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1352.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1354.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1356.jpg[/img]
Kissing her kissing snip!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1359.jpg[/img]

Rosie's turn! She was a little too bouncy for me to let her get close to them--she was on high energy mode. :roll:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1362.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1365.jpg[/img]

But she showed how she can shake!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1370.jpg[/img]
And back on cue!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1377.jpg[/img]

And we showed them our dance--complete with circles, backing, and sidepass. :wink
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1378.jpg[/img]

Jazz's turn!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1380.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1381.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1382.jpg[/img]

And here comes Chloe and Tucker!
My former student's mom helped me out here.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1385.jpg[/img]
It's okay, Tucker! They all wanted to touch the babies! Tucker was a little hesitant. :wink:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1394.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1388.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1389.jpg[/img]
(that's my husband--in the Yankee shirt :D)
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1396.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1397.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1398.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1403.jpg[/img]
Don't forget the kisses!!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1401.jpg[/img]
Chloe!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1404.jpg[/img]

This is great socializing for the foals.

Gypsy and Mazie were last! (Jan must have loved Mazie--she got many photos of her! :D )
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1406.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1410.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1411.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1412.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1413.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1414.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1415.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1417.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1419.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1420.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1425.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1430.jpg[/img]
Gypsy coming through the line.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1427.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1433.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1435.jpg[/img]
There's the bus!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1436.jpg[/img]

Last shot with horses
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1438.jpg[/img]

Then we served lemonade and pretzels and the 3rd annual visit was over.
Wonderful day!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1449.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...m/IMG_1450.jpg[/img]

PS A HUGE thank you to my friend, Jan, for taking the photos. I'll send her a link to this post. And Kandy! I posted on the horse forum, but only half the photos went up there.
I've had help every year with photos--and I'm so appreciative!

Okay, I'm done editing the goofs, hope I got them all because my time will be up.

In case anyone is wondering... the residents sign a wavier for liability for all field trips...and I have permission to post their photos. We cleared all that up years ago--when I posted photos of the talent shows and game days on my classroom website.

mytwopals

That's fantastic, Karla. Looks like an event for me in another 30 years or so. :lol: Seriously though, it's wonderful for you to take the time to have this show for these very appreciative folks. It looks like they all had a great time.

MsSage

awwwww OK I am a sap....I am sitting here crying. The seniors looked like they had a BALL. how could they not fall in love with the too cute for words faces????? MAzie is ADORABLE.
Thank you for doing this both the pics and hosting the show.
I am sure you feel like you get more from this then the seniors do.

amma

Awwww another good time had by all 8) 8) 8)
Thanks for sharing this with us again :D :D :D

sewmuch

What a great thing for you to do for the old folks, I could tell they loved it as much as hubby and I did. Your mini's are adorable :lol: :lol: Thanks, Karla

Knot Sew

Tucker is a hansome boy looks like his dad......beautiful pictures Karla. I enjoy looking at them as do all my gran kids
:D

barnbum

You bet!! :D :D :D It gives me something to do with the horses, and it's fun to get the help because all the help has a blast too. Kennedy comes the day before to help me get all the horses cleaned up and to work on her part of the performance. Then others come to help with grooming before and during the show. I make lunch for all of us. My in-laws love to come out--I put my m-i-l in charge of bringing out the refreshments when we're ready. It gives the horses someone to look at besides me--gives me a chance to show off what they've learned..and I know if they could, the residents would give all my horses the rosettes and blue ribbons. :wink: :wink:

quiltykitty

Thank you so much for sharing your minis with all of us. I always look for a post from you. Really enjoy looking at your horses. I appreciate your efforts to bring some joy into the lives of those older people. And their happiness shows on their faces.

gaigai

Karla, Thank you so much for posting the pix. I love to look at your babies, and read the stories. You should do a children's book. I would buy a dozen!!! Thank you, thank you!!!! And please give all the horses kisses on the nose from me!

barnbum

I wrote one--but it didn't get published yet. It's not about horses though--it's about onions. :lol: :lol: