2011 Texas State Fair Arabian Horse Show -- some dreams do come true!
I first saw Arabian horses at the State Fair of Texas Arabian Horse Show in 1964, when I was 8 years old. For the next 47 years, I dreamed of owning an Arabian horse, and showing my Arabian at the State Fair.
Over the years, I did own Arabians, and I did show some of them, usually in local open shows; twice at Class A Arabian shows in Lubbock, and once in Dallas, but never at the State Fair Arabian Show. It became an item on my "bucket list" ... one of those things that I really wanted to do, someday ... but as my health deteriorated, it seemed less and less likely that this would ever happen.
In September of 2011, with the generous assistance of family and friends who groomed, braided, saddled, bridled, adjusted tack, cleaned stalls, fed, exercised, helped me up on the horse, & in some cases, showed the horse for me, this dream came true. My 2003 purebred Arabian gelding, TA Alandro, was entered, shown and judged in 8 classes: Arabian Gelding Halter, shown by Michelle Slaughter -- second place; Arabian Sporthorse Gelding In-Hand, shown by Michelle Slaughter -- second; Arabian Hunter Pleasure AAOTR 40 & over, ridden by me -- fourth place; Arabian Hunter Pleasure Select Rider ATR, ridden by me -- fourth place; Dressage Intro Level, Test A, ATR, ridden by me -- second place; Arabian Trail Horse ATR, ridden by me -- third place; Arabian Mounted Native Costume, ridden by me -- third place; Leadline, ridden by Caroline Davis, age 4 -- blue ribbon.
Thank you to Lisa, Doris, Michelle, Nicole & all who helped make this dream a reality. Lord willing, I hope that Alex and I will see you again next September, at the 2014 Texas State Fair Arabian Horse Show.