This Article was first printed in the Canadian Morgan Magazine, Jan 1991
Loony Day
What is Loony Day? Well its when a lot of people and horses get together for a day of fun showing and good times. My stallion, Boogie Beam and I decided we just had to join in the fun so I collected a bunch of loonies (Canadian coin dollars) and cleaned him up and away we went. We did everything including English, Western, pole bending, trail and many more classes. In fact I don't think we missed a class all day!
Each class cost a loony to enter (post entries accepted with no additional cost). The first 3 placings got a bag of horse treats and all entries got a carrot. Boogie sure loved that judge after a few carrots!
We were quite a sight in the costume class as the Grim Reaper with a slightly bent sickle. I had my hood draped over my head so I could only see Boogie's ears. I had to depend on him to make the circle around the ring and not run into or over anyone! We got a bag of treats for this effort!
In the trail class with no prior experience at doing anything like this we really showed them what a sensible Morgan can do! Picked up the rain slicker, walked over the covered bridge, backed up through an L shape and plowed our way through a bunch of twigs and branches (this we have done). For his great effort we came in second which meant another bag of treats! He was really getting to like going over to the judge!
Pole Bending was another first for us. This is when there is about 7 or 8 poles spaced equally apart down the middle of the ring. You have to weave in and out and run back to cross the finish line. Well we managed a fast trot all the way around (you are supposed to go faster but it was enough for us to figure out what to do) and Boogie got another carrot for our effort.
Barrel racing was also fun and although we didn't have quite the quick turns around them we did manage to do the pattern!
The most exciting event was the hot dog race. Start at one end facing the fence spin around when you hear the starter yell go and race down to the other end, jump off, grab a hot dog and eat it (me not Boogie) and get back on and race back. I was a little nervous about this one as I was riding a young stallion and had never galloped flat out with other horses around before. I decided he had been well mannered all day and I would give him a chance to prove himself . He didn't let me down and he ran as fast as he could in a straight line for the person at the other end (he probably thought the guy had another carrot!). I jumped off but unfortunately the reins got caught over the saddle horn and that made Boogie start backing up. By the time I got my hot-dog and got back on we were last. But Boogie didn't care he just went right over for his carrot as he knew what was the most important thing!
I had many compliments on Boogie's calm and gentle manners all day. He would be surrounded by kids and mares and never twitched an ear. I had a great time going in all the classes and just trying everything. After we were done with the show there was a big pot luck supper.
I think these fun shows are just the best!
Sandy & Richard Berge
box 43
Hagen, Saskatchewan, Canada SoJ 1B0
30749-2513
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