Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Region 7 AQHA show






   We went up to Reno for the Region 7 AQHA show this weekend. On the way we stopped at Cabela's new store at the border. I had never been in a Cabela's store- only shopped from catalog- and it was amazing. There are all theses stuffed animals in diorama's and hanging from the ceiling and the walls. This is only a fraction of what is there. Grandpa took Jr. all over the store, pointing to the fish and the animals. He loved it! 











We stayed at the Peppermill this year. Usually when we go we stay at the El Dorado, but the Peppermill had really nice rooms. Here is a picture of Lil Mama feeding the Littlest Cowboy his breakfast. 





I intended to take pictures at the Region 7 show as well, but it was such a big disappointment that I didn't even drag out the camera. 
I know times are tough and AQHA is doing all it can to make these shows good. The awards are wonderful- three beautiful saddles as well as class prizes of saddle blankets and stuff. But the amount of people showing was grim, to say the least. We saw all the same folks we show against here in California. The promised Vendors Ally was just three vendors and the AQHA booth. I didn't see anyone giving clinics, or free rides on an AQHA ( like they advertise). I hope that the participants at least felt they got their moneys worth. I suppose if I hauled all the way up the mountain (3 hours) to show in the one class I would have qualified for, I might have been encouraged by the lack of competition, but I wouldn't have even gotten half a point if I had won the darn class. Although I did get some new thoughts for my practice trail courses, and new stuff to try. I can only hope that the economy will turn around and the show will be better next year-even though it will be too far for me to go- Hurricane, Utah- to just show in one class.