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| Captain America's horse... |
OK, anyway! This year I had a small, specific list: replacement helmet, snap-on bridle, certain fly mask, biothane beta breast collar, folding saddle stand.
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| These are not the breast collars I was looking for... |
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| Anyone who knows me knows I do not do bling... Orange, yes. Bling, no. |
And how much did I find after hours of wandering booths, etc? Nothing, nada, zilch. Damn. Walked for miles and saw a million booths of crap I have no interest in. LOTS of western stuff. Almost no english stuff. One endurance vendor who I like but didn't have the stuff I wanted. The one vendor I liked last year (Action Rider Tack) was not there (I'd been hoping to sit in a few different styes of saddles they usually have). I signed up for a free drawing of some brand of beet pulp, other than that I pretty much have my feed/supplements chosen.
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| This big Percheron's name was Lazarus, he filled the whole stall. |
There weren't really any clinician demonstrations I wanted to watch (Melinda from Boots and Saddles wrote up the perfect description of the event, read it for my exact feelings as well). I did listen to a few seminars (Clair Thunes and Nancy Loving) and while very good I had heard it before and was just cementing some ideas.
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| horse sculpture is pretty neat |
I saw a finished reining horse sell for $14,000, and a 3-year-old western horse doing sliding stops sell for $4,000. I saw a neat obstacle-course contest that gave me a few evil ideas to try out on Major.
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| As my SO said: "All you need for the apocalypse." |
It was still pretty fun. I hung out with a friend on Friday and SO on Sunday. Half price tickets and some bad fair food (garlic fries and a smoothie!), total cost about $30. Still an entertainment value, but I have been disappointed at the lack of variety in clinicians, since it is now almost all natural horsemanship, which is fine, but the same year after year. (A few years back they had Karen and David O'Connor, that was interesting).
Will I go again? For half price and to hang out with friends? Maybe. For stuff? No. For clinicians? It depends if they improve the line-up.
I think I might rather spend the day on a nice ride with my horse. Or creating that pool-noodle glittery-boa obstacle course challenge…
Not gonna lie... I am very awed by the sparkly breast collars...
ReplyDeleteThere was sparkly everywhere! If you wanted you could get a lovely breast collar, matching bronc halter, and one whole booth was devoted to sparky conchos!
DeleteDitto...and I wasn't even there. Seems like the last few years that I've managed to spend my time doing things that mattered more to me-so I haven't gone. Not that I know everything but I can be more efficient with my $ doing something else-lessons, research, internet helps alot. Maybe we need a break from Horse Expo.
ReplyDeleteA break from Horse Expo might be right. But I also feel like I do spend so much time with the horse, riding, etc, that one weekend of possible learning something new could be worth it if they make some schedule changes!
DeleteEvery time I look at sparkly tack all I can see is hours and hours going at it with a toothbrush of saddlesoap to try to get the grime out. :(
ReplyDeleteInteresting that it's all NH, but no proper western clinics. I bet a reining trainer would be fun to watch!
I think my horse would be embarrassed by all the sparkly.
DeleteI did watch some cattle sorting, that was interesting, but it did go on and on. Many of the clinics seem to cater to new or worried owners. I've been there, I get it, but maybe something more advanced (like advanced reining, or jumping) which I would totally watch !
Yup! What Mel said - we were talking about it on Facebook too. I'm glad the scared horseowners are getting help, but I'm just past that (at least with this horse, at the moment!)
DeleteYes, exactly, and what Mel said too. Expo..Meh..
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd wanna go to a sexpo either... especially not a (w)hor(e) sexpo. I think you'd end up gaining a lot of freebies you'd really rather not take home with you...
ReplyDeleteYeah. And whips, riding and shoes or boots are entirely different discussions! 8-)
DeleteBahahahahaa. BDSM....bareback dressage sado-masochism. Yeah. Bareback dressage...OUCH.
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