Mr. Peabody and I rode in our second Ranch Horse show yesterday. Taking place @ Win$um Ranch it was a special horse show, entitled Show & Tell. The premise was after all the events the riders would have the opportunity to meet with the 3 judges and discuss and actually see the score sheets.

It was  a huge success. over 20 riders per division mostly Novices (that’s us!).

The Amateurs (the more advanced group), and the judges, were all very helpful giving us newbies lots of advice: breathe deep, take your time between obstacles, work the cows nice and slow, maybe you should have shaved…

The first event was the Trail Class. This involved crossing a bridge, roping  a stationary cow, handling a rain coat on your horse, and my biggest worry, the dreaded opening going through, and closing a gate!

My turn was coming up and I was worrying about the gate,thinking the first moment of my 5 events (ranch reigning, cow cutting, amongst the others), was to open the gate. Mr. Peabody and I have no problem with our gate at home, but we have NEVER successfully worked this particular gate properly.

As I am pondering my fate, Terry Peters, a very accomplished barrel racer, horse woman, and all round help to us beginners called out to me across the other 20 or so riders. Hey Mark I have to tell you something (here it comes the answer to my gate debacle)!!!

“I wanted to let you know you have you  (cowboy) hat on backwards”.  I was said in the “cowboy way” with no intent to embarrass and also without a sense of subtlety. Just a fact. You are wearing your hat backwards.

As I approached the gate a few minutes later we walked into the arena, I checked the direction of my hat, and we quietly opened, walked through,  closed the gate behind us, and moved to the next obstacle.

Front of Hat

Back of Hat

We took 4th out of 20 in the Ranch Trail Class, and looked pretty good doing it. It must’ve been all about the hat.

Thanks Terry!