Mornings were the time for working the horses. One particular morning, this mom wanted to take the pressure off of her son and let him sleep in so she got up to go work the horse. While I was out to feed, I sent her out the door to lunge the horse, with a borrowed lunge line. She trodded back inside, horse in tow, and I told her that she needed to go back out and lunge more. Unbeknownst to me, it was pouring down rain. Well, off she went to lunge in the rain.. without a rain coat since she couldn't find it.. Half an hour later they came back looking like drowned rats. Off to the wash stall they go. A little bit later, I come upon her and the horse walking around with a bright yellow cooler with a huge tie-dyed peace sign in the middle of it. Of course she could find that..
This weekend at States was definitely a great one. There was plenty of food, laughs, and friends. And as for the show, we came home with numerous State and Top Ten champions. The placings were great, but the love that was felt for each other that weekend is irreplaceable.
One last thing.. When we got home and were unloading and unpacking, this prepared mom was just about to leave for home when that abyss of a van that she could not see out of, backed right into the wheel well of my six horse trailer. The minivan had minimal damage.. My trailer, however, needed a whole new fender. She then blamed her son for not watching where SHE was backing up to. To this day, I still love them both dearly.
I look back on these times and miss the bonds that were shown between students and families. We were one big family. And we still strive to be one big family.