Home SAFE

Well our last day at the 2019 fair was truly one that NO one will forget. The day started out snowing and cold. Karin, Shaeya, Ariya and I got to the fair early enough to get our parking place up by the barn and as soon as the horses were fed and watered Karin went to work to put the heater on. Yesterday we ran out of propane so on the way back to the hotel exchanged it at a gas station near by. Today when Karin tried to put the heater on the new propane tank it would not work. There was something wrong with the thread where the heater was suppose to screw in.  We couldn't take it back as we did not want to lose our parking place and resigned ourselves to freezing. Anni arrived while Karin and Shaeya were out riding a couple mares, heard what the problem was and offered to lose her parking place by taking it back and bringing in a new one. When she arrived back we quickly put it on and tada..we had heat. That made it bearable until 2:00 pm. At that time Karin had everyone arrive to start tearing down the tack room and loading the truck so the heater was also loaded.
The person in charge of the stallion class explained that the snow had caused problems and the stallion class would be cut down to riding or liberty but not both. As Rebekah's mom and grandparents arrived to watch the show we chose the riding but when Rebekah and Valiant went into the arena to perform the wrong music was playing. The announcer apologized as her music had been deleted. Rebekah was able to wing her program and Valiant was very well behaved but just as she was going to ask him to lay down they opened the doors for him to exit. Instead of laying down, he was sure he was suppose to exit. Those pictures will be downloaded later.
The picture time for the entire group was set at 3:00 pm except it was still snowing outside and turning bitterly cold. We tried to line up in the practice arena but the lighting wasn't the best. We had to use that place though, the other arena's were all being used but clinics.

We had so many munchkins that we couldn't see the horses very well so had to take at least one picture without them

 The entire group of actors were practically perfect in every way! They all know how to play to an audience and loved performing.

We were all ready for the 4:00 pm performance and were waiting in the freezing cold to be called when the fair office sent someone to tell us they were running a half hour behind. The horses were all put back in stalls while we tried to keep warm. By this time about the only warm place in the barn was the restrooms. Do you know how many people can fit inside the women's restroom? A WHOLE bunch!

Karin wasn't very happy as by this time it was WAY late and she was off schedule and freezing. We still thought we would be on at 4:30 but that time came and went. We found that the heater was running full blast in the covered arena so some of us went there to try to warm up.

The fair was suppose to shut down at 5:00 pm and we were suppose to be able to leave and believe me we were tempted to leave except Rebekah's mom and grandparents had driven all the way down and paid for a ticket to watch the play. Anni got a nice surprise. Her fiancee Matt got home from Canada and drove all the way down to the fair to be with his beloved. By this time it was after 5:00 pm and we were still waiting to perform. Matt got on with Anni just to help keep her warm.

Below Olivia and Braelyn are petting Jenis while Faith talks to Hannah.

At 5:15 we were finally called to head in and start the show. The play went well and as soon as it was over the riders rode straight to the trailer to untack horses. Matt took the pedestal down to the trailers.  The munchkins all headed to the stalls to get their reward (cotton candy) for performing so well. I took the wheel barrow full everything that was left to the trailers. When I arrived the horses were not yet loaded. All of their lead ropes had frozen and couldn't be attached to the halters. It really was that cold. Karin led Valiant to the trailers, loaded him first then got the rest loaded by leading them with the halters. It is a good thing we have well behaved horses and horses that almost self load. We were on our way home by 5:45 pm. Both trucks ran well but when we got home we had to drive through snow, try to unload 8 horses without lead ropes, in the pitch dark, slip sliding around to get them where they belonged only to find the gates had frozen in the open position. Karin must have had some real adrenaline going by this time and man handled the gates open. It is only 7 degrees and none of us had gloves on. How can it be this cold March 3rd? 

It is almost 9:00 pm. The trucks and trailers were just left in the drive and will be dealt with tomorrow. Pictures and videos will also be done tomorrow. Right now I'm going to BED!  Thankful to be home safe!