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The last post was done by our daughter. We got home late yesterday afternoon in the midst of a terrible wind/dust storm.
Reno was an experience of a lifetime but I don't think I will do it again. For a couple of reasons. First of all my age, next was the heartbreak of giving up my special baby, and we just could not afford to do that again. I received a lot of support from a lot of people, money, services and so on but it cost us about $l,000. to go to Reno twice, food, etc.
We arrived Wednesday afternoon and got settled in the 12 x 12 panel stall. I put her kind of in the middle so neither the the morning, nor afternoon sun would be on her. It was hot enough without being in the direct sun. She settled right in and drank a lot of water. We put her banner up and sponsor board up. Thursday, she got her bath. She never did learn to like a bath much. We had our trainers meeting and got the pattern for the obstacle course. My big thing was, I did not trot with her in circles around cones. We did serpentine etc. She would trot to the right with me just fine but to the left she barreled her shoulder into me. A young lady next to us named Jaci took her and worked with her. I certainly appreciated that.
Friday morning we first had the conditioning competition and they painted our number on each hip. #310. I got dinged .5 because she was too heavy. No ribs showing. That amounted to -4 points. I did not know they were judging her on manners and she moved away from the person painting her and got knocked 2 points there. That is 5 points. In the actual obstacle competition, she walked halfway around the 2ND. circle. I could not run fast enough that way. She did the square perfect. She got marked down a little at the trailer because she did not just follow me in but stopped and smelled before she stepped in. And then when I was picking up her feet, on the last foot she was a little off balance and I took it away from me so I picked it up twice. My fault there. She did the rest of the course very well, nicked one pole.
When all the points were tallied, I came in, in the top 10 and 7Th overall. 6.5 points out of first place so you see the competition was fierce. Only the top 5 got to do their freestyle in the big arena.
I cried myself to sleep Friday night because I was so afraid she was not going to be adopted and they told us if they were not adopted they would go back to Palomino Valley Center and I could not stand that. She trusted me. However, she was adopted by a lovely lady from Reno. They picked her up Sat. afternoon. I did well then, she loaded right in their trailer but when she left she looked out the trailer window and whinnied at me like she was concerned why I was not going. I lost it.
Only 4 of the babies did not get adopted and they did not go back to PVC but to the prison program at the Nevada State Prison in Fallon, NV. They will do very well there and help a man get his life in order.
We met some wonderful people, will never forget them nor will I ever forget a young bay filly that gave me my confidence back and pulled me out of a depression that I could not seem to shake since last Jan. Sierra, I will always remember you, will you remember me?

We stopped in Burns on our way home a picked up a 3 strikes filly that is 3 and we have named Rusty. Will post pictures tomorrow.

Hi All.... We are in Reno. It's bloody hot here and the AC went out on the truck. We stayed last night at Andi & Tom's in Burns. Sierra did just fine on the ride down here. Tomorrow is check in and some meetings and then Friday it all starts. Until then.

0 0 0 0 0 0 Days to go.

Well here it is. We leave early tomorrow morning. We have had a very busy day. Getting everything ready. Just have the food to pack and the ice chests ready and my "show clothes" ironed and hung in the trailer and I am going to go to bed and put my head under the pillow. I am tired.

Sierra was not good today. She did the obstacle things very well today and that was OK. However she did not want a bath, did not like it and was mad at me for doing it. I tried to lead her to the front lawn for some pictures and she bucked and tried to jerk free. Did get a couple but not what I wanted. Oh well, she will be pretty tired tomorrow evening when we get to Burns. So will we.

I will not have Internet access in Reno. Don't have a laptop. I will probably be be back on Monday the l8Th. For all my sponsors, friends, family I can't say thank you loud enough or long enough. You are all very important to me. THANK YOU.

One day left, l, ONE, Uno

Our garage sale ended today and we did awesome and got rid of a lot of stuff, tack, farm equipment, clothes, etc. What was left we boxed up and a lot of it will go to the Salvation Army when we get back. Anything western, left over tack etc. got boxed up to store until next March when the tack swap is. Our granddaughter helped us and she made a little spending money and we got to play with Liliana, our great granddaughter.

The airshow also concluded today. I love watching the airplanes flying in precision. Don't want to do it just like watching. Got some nice pictures. The Blue Angels were the planes this year.

I put Sierra out in her little pasture this morning and she began to tear around like a crazy horse. That is what she was doing when she jumped the gate. I called her and she came to me and I put her in the round pen and she loped and trotted for a long time before she began to listen to me. We just kept at it. She did whatever I asked her minus halter/lead so I put her back out and she went to eating. So I thought it was a good thing to have done. Later she and I worked with the music and obstacles. She did pretty well. I will give her a good work out tomorrow and then Tuesday we are off. Whew. Can't believe it.

Sunday, 2 to go.

They are me, Tyler, Lane by Grandpa, Ryan on the other side, Seth and Dustin. Sheya (better known as Princess) in the front. Tyler, Lane and Dustin are brothers, Ryan Seth and Sheya are family. That is less than half of the grand kids though.

In spite of all the kids, the yard sale is doing very well. Have sold quit a bit of stuff, most of our excess tack, some older farm equipment an bunches of stuff. Some things I thought would sell quickly hasn't and some things I almost didn't bother to put out sold immediately. I don't care. Just want every penny we can pull together.

tomorrow is clipper day again, and packing the trailer up.

Oh my gosh. OH MY GOSH. Had a good cry with Sierra today. Hope I got that out of the way. She did just fine when I worked with her. It has been a great experience. Don't know if I will do it again but am not sorry I took it on.


The picture is why I have not gotten anything done for the past 2 days.

Five to go.

My stomach is in knots.

Got everything out for the yard sale which starts in the morning. Spent part of the day watching the Blue Angels practice for the airshow Sat. and Sunday. Fortunately we live close to the base and they go right over our house, very low and sometimes upside down. Hope my pictures turn out good. And am hoping our weather holds but it can cool down some. It was about a hundred again today.

With all the going on around here, Sierra did not have to do too much today. She backed some and trotted some and led around the midst of all the stuff. I had to make special plans to arrive in Reno on Wednesday instead of first thing Thursday morning. That just would not work for us. I think we are coming the farthest. I think Cindy and I have it figured out OK. A lot of thinking there huh? My brain is about worn out. And tomorrow morning 3 more grandchildren arrive. They will all be here till Sat. And the yard sale, and get the trailer ready and on.

I think maybe its all a good thing, then I wont be tempted to sit around and worry about it.

A better list of sponsors

I knew I forgot some: I hope this is a complete list as of today.

Lorisue Enterprises
Jed McKinley Equine Vet
PhotoImage & Counsulting
Nikki Edgerton
Nancy Bayliss
Kay Waller
Katie Marabello
Kim Marbo
Michelle Stemerick
Judy Ballenger
Angela Huston
Jim & Kathy Spring
Darlene Stevensen
AND............Of course my husband Bob who has encouraged me and bragged about me thru this all wonderful experience, and our grandson Tyler who has fed when I needed him to, put Sierra in and out at times and helps with ANYTHING we ask of him.