Roses and Dreams

I was in Tulsa last week for the Arabian and Half-Arabian US Nationals. (It goes through this week, too. Saturday is the last day, but I just went for my class.) It was such a great time. I loved being able to see people I haven't seen in years. I loved sitting around and watching classes, being able to admire the truly talented horses in front of me.

Then on Sunday I had my class. I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous. I never used to get nervous, but it's been a few years since I used to do this all the time.

Fortunately I have an awesome horse and an amazing trainer. Maybelline, my mare, and I had a great ride. She's only a four-year-old, but she's a very talented and very willing horse. When I came out of the ring, before they announced the Top Ten and the Champion and Reserve, I said I was happy no matter what happened. This was my last ride on Maybelline, because she's being sold to another girl at our barn, and it was a great last ride. So I was happy.

And then I was shocked. We won. I've been National Champion at the Canadian Nationals, and Reserve Champion at US Nationals, but I've never won at US before. It was a huge dream come true. I cried.

This is my dad with me and Maybelline.

 

It's cool too, because this win, this dream come true, came one month-almost to the day-before the release of RUN FOR THE ROSES, my novella set at the US Youth Nationals. I'm so excited to share this part of my life with readers. In fact, I'm writing another horse story now, which will show a lot more of the chaos that goes with showing horses than what the other one shows. The horse shows really are like their own little world, their own little small town where everyone knows everyone else. I'm glad to be back.

 

How about you? How was your weekend?