Updated
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This was a show that I had been looking forward to, but after my ups and downs last weekend I was a little worried that things would be snowballing and getting worse. Not sure why I felt so negative...and
We started off on Thursday with a group 3 in the Owner-Handled sporting group. Pretzel was showing really well for me today, so my confidence was coming back. I was feeling pretty excited about Friday. the group judge had given me a Group 1 earlier this year in Hamburg, NY back in January. Now I know there are a thousand different variables - different competition, different day, etc., but I know that since she really liked him 5 months ago she might still really like him (
Pretzel showed wonderfully in group, and she did award us a Group 1! I was so excited...I am glad she still thinks he is as nice of a dog as he was back in January.
We were the first group, so we had a long wait until best in show. The best in show judge was someone I had never shown to before (Dr. Carmen Battaglia), so I really didn't have any information as to what he liked or how he judged. We went into the ring, and the first thing I discovered is that he is
The next two days went well, but obviously nothing could top that! I got a Group 2 both days, which made my NOHS points skyrocket. By the end of the weekend, my point total reached 995. Way in the back of my mind I had this little goal to try to maybe hit a thousand points by the end of the qualifying season. Now it is totally doable. this year has been incredible for me so far, and I am so lucky!
Now we go home for a week and enjoy running on the 6 acres. I still need to pinch myself daily to believe that this is all really happening to me...to me and my best friend!
Pretzel and his winnings from Dunkirk
Pretzel has been becoming the bad boy of the neighborhood. He has been visiting neighbor dogs and luring them over to our property to play! While I don't mind the visitors, I do NOT like him sneaking out of our property when I am not looking. Looks like we will be getting quotes to have the entire 6 acres fenced in.
I rode Tango yesterday, and was really happy with how he is riding! He is getting ridden every day by an 11 year old girl at the barn, and he has really gotten in shape. He was always a horse that was awful (movement-wise) whenever he got out of shape or lost condition, and I had forgotten how cool he is when he is ridden regularly and is strong. Unfortunately, he is one of those horses that needs to be ridden and exercised a LOT in order to stay fit. Luckily I have help for this task!
Corky is looking good, and is so happy ruling her little band of horses out in the pasture. I never thought she would enjoy being outside all day because she always was such a prima donna, but she is loving it! the bonus of this is because she is outside on soft ground moving around all day, sh has stayed completely sound - very little sign of her usual stiffness she suffers from.
Virginia, you ask? Well, that's what happens when you chat with your friend from WEST Virginia about entering a show together, and you enter without really paying attention to what state it is in. So rather than a 2-3 hour drive, I had nearly a 7 hour drive to the mountains of Virginia for this weekend show.
Saturday started off with another
It was pretty cool, the OH Sporting Group judge was a judge I had shown Pretzel to back when he was a 6 month old puppy. he actually won his class and took reserve winners dog that day (at a Weimaraner specialty) and it was the first time we had ever actually beaten another dog. My how times have changed haha! Pretzel showed wonderful today,he was on fire....and the judge rewarded us with a
He was still on fire for Best in Show, and I was SO excited to be awarded
After the show, my friend and I took our Weims into Shenandoah National Park, which was only a few miles away. the scenery was breathtaking! we took a short hike on one of the trails. I am definitely
Sunday started off the same in the morning (we got best opposite sex and BOBOH both days). The owner-handled sporting group went vastly different. Although he showed great again, we got shut out of the placings. Kind of funny...win reserve best in show and then the next day not even making it out of group. Oh well, such are dog shows...some days you are the windshield. Today I was the bug.
This meant that I had more time for the next leg of my trip - driving 4 hours up to Johnstown, PA to meet up with Mark and visit his dad and brother. We sure are a travellin' pair, aren't we? I am so glad Pretzel loves to travel. This would be so difficult with a dog that hated car rides.
Back home we go, and a couple weeks off before our next show. Pretzel and I need some play time!
Pretzel got mail! I had no idea that when you earn a
Mark brought his two dogs over for a "test run" in our new dog kennels/runs. I think all 3 dogs liked being able to go in and out of the house, and be together yet separate. Oh the joys of 3 intact male dogs...they crave company, but not too close to each other LOL! Things are moving along in the rehabbing of my new house to make it fit for 3 (and in the future - 4) Weimaraners. My present is so bright, my future is so bright, I could NOT be happier!
Poop and crap. Got Tango all saddled up to ride, took him out to the arena, and he is dead
well, just heard from the barn owner and Tango is 100% sound today, go figure. Little brat. It was really hot yesterday, maybe he just didn't feel like working? Oh well, try try again on Monday.
The NOHS rankings were updated today through June 3rd. We took a
This weekend we were in Crown Point, Indiana. It was a
Fun times...I got to show a Pembroke welsh Corgi in the regular herding group! Woo-hoo! I have now shown 19 different breeds...several hundred more to go!