The Race List

Sniff sniff Wuz'up?

1. Practice riding bareback
2. Work on dragging objects
3. Try to stay on while carrying objects
4. Try not to close eyes to tightly next time we jump object

5. Work on flying lead changes

There it is. The list. At least the short version to keep me on track with Sandy's continued training if we want to compete in the Extreme Cowboy Race.

I've been watching the different videos online and trying to decide what needed to be done next. The bareback riding has been coming along nicely. Walk, trot and lope, stop and back up, slow spins both directions and gate opening and closing. Mounting is a bit of a problem, unless you're after the whole sumo wrestler look where the muffin top (mine) bounces off another ample tummy (Sandy's.) But I think bareback only happens if you make the finals...

I was emailing a friend The List and talking about what we needed to accomplish. Her response?

"Um, Tracey, I don't see that Craig Cameron's going to be back this year."

Huh? What? Excuse me?!!? No, that can't be. I've been practicing!

Well, this just stinks, doesn't it? Sandy and I have been belly dancing for naught. But I suppose something else will come along for us to take part in. I'd just really been looking forward to being at Expo with him. Looks like we'll need to find something else to do!

In other news, Paint Girl handed me an award last week, and I've yet to post it. It's the Intrepid Riders Faction Award! I'm very excited to receive this and am honored that Paint Girl would think of me. I had to ponder for a few days just who to pass it along to...read who I selected here!

18 Months & a New Adventure Unfolds

"Do you remember me?"

It's hard to believe that 18 months ago I'd just returned home with Sandy. The ugliest horse in the pens, I called and told my friend Lea. We'd prayed so hard for the right horse, and I have to admit I turned my eyes up to the heavens and asked God why the perfect horse was the ugly one.

It took six weeks for me to get on Sandy. It probably should have taken longer. If Curt had had his way, it certainly would have been another month. But I watched the other trainers, all riding in the first couple of weeks, and I thought I was falling behind.

Sandy wasn't really ready. He was still scared, nervous, and snorty. And ugly. Jay showed up like clockwork to help out, promising he wouldn't let go of the horse if things went wrong. There is no better anchor than Jay, who used to hold onto his father's race horses at the track when he was a kid. The man knows how to hang on...and it was a good thing because we did go for a scary ride in the round pen one day.

They wouldn't let me off the lunge line for weeks. It wasn't until the day before I left for Sacramento that Curt let me get on without someone hanging onto that snorty, homely colt of mine. Golly...we were all such a scared group, the lot of us!

God was right, of course. This frightened boy was perfect. He taught me how to be a leader when my horse was afraid. And he taught Darling how to ride. There's not a person who see's the two of them together who can believe this horse's snorty beginning. But you do...because you were here with me.

Darling, of course, has graduated to Steve Holt! and wants to be a jumper, putting dear Sandy back in my hands. He's come a long way...but we have a long way to go. I was recently asked if I was going to apply to do the makeover again in Albany. I thought about it, but decided no...I'm not. Not this year, at least. I've got other fish to fry. Oh, I'm hoping to make it down to the Expo with a mustang, alright...I'd like to try the Extreme Cowboy Race instead!

Sandy and I, we've got a lot to work on. We need to get his spins going, and we need to practice picking things up, like scary tarps, and carrying them at a lope across the arena. Sandy needs to get brave and do the things Steve Holt! does without thinking about it. I need to get braver, too. I've seen the cowboy race...they stand up on their horses and ride bareback (but not at the same time, mind you.)

Yesterday I practiced my bareback riding skills. I should say former skills...I used to stick like velcro and jump 3'4'' without a saddle. Not anymore! But riding my trusty Sandy, I know it can be done, because God gave me the perfect horse.

And you know...all I see is beauty in him now.

My prayer was just a Speck of Sand...but God listened.