Our First Texas Race

Today was the first race Amy and i have gone to since we got here. we woke up at 4:30 and got to the ranch around 5:30. we loaded up five horses. we took Captain, Frosty, Mario, Cutter, and another colt named Popa Top. he was a 3 year old bay quarter horse gelding. we loaded up everyone and helped Martha load up her horse. i road with her Martha in her RV, that she hooked her trailer to. it is quite a site to see little Martha driving a HUGE RV plus a trailer at the end of it. we call it her castle because it really is nice and very big. we pulled into the site and unloaded everyone. we wanted to be there an hour or two earlier so we could use their arena and let some of the younger horses warm up in it and get used to it. the exhibitions started at 9:00. An exhibition is a race that doesn't count for points. its like a wamr up. you pay an amount of money and you can make as many runs as you want or need to. Terrie ran each of the horses three times threw and Martha ran hers as well. at 1:30 the counted races began. Martha ran her horse(i finally found out his name) Cash second. he ran a 15.776 that put her in first for the 1D(the divisions are determined but the time you run. 1D is the fastest then 2D,3D,and 4D) she kept the lead until another rider tied with her time exactly. this is a very very rare occasion. since they tied they split the prize money. Martha also raced Frosty. she did well for her first race, she also raced Mario. she just trotted him though. Amy and i would tack up the horses, warm up the horses, walk the horses out, hold the horses, and un-tack the horses. we probably walked back and forth to and from that trailer so many times it would be un-countable. the open race finally ended and youth began. we waited to retrieve our prize. the races all wet fairly smooth. the only thing that was a down fall was the down pour. it started at a sprinkle, then stopped, then lightly showered, then stopped, then down poured and stopped. the sun finally started to try to come out. when ever it would start to rain people would scatter from the arena and dash to their trailers to put covers over their saddles, tie up their horse to where it was covered, or put them in the trailer. but other than that the day went by easily, it was simply very long and tiring. we finally loaded up and got home at about 6:00pm. we put everyone back in their stalls and put back all the tack. it felt good to finally get home. watching all the runs and paying attention to the riders and their styles helps you learn from taking the good with the bad. after watching Martha race i am reminded of why i idolize. she had been racing almost all of her life and she still has a deep admiration for the sport. it was never just a hobby...it was simply her life.