October 21, 2021

Heartland Regional: Disco

I am slammed with work, but I can't wait any longer to get at least THIS post out. I can't stop thinking about Disco after last weekend.

(Also, I'm not the only one experiencing issues with photos not showing up in RSS feeds, so if you want to see a pile of cute Disco pictures, you'll need to click through to the post. Sorry for the inconvenience!)

Almost all photos in this post courtesy of Leah

He was absolutely amazing.

Ponies screaming on every side of him, and this is his reaction

 

It was my first time really getting to spend a lot of time with him, and my first chance to get extended 1:1 time with him, and I could not have been more impressed. His attitude toward new things is "Sure!" I mean look how chill he was in the first moments he was ever in a show ring:

"They're looking at me? Neat."

I only saw him spook once the whole weekend despite this being his first time off the property. Really, it's not even fair to call it a spook, he just startled at a trailer driving by as we gave him a bath in the dark.

Leah holding Disco for his bath. In the dark. At a new place. With a thunderstorm on the horizon.
 

When you're showing babies at breed shows, it's always a crapshoot what will happen. Sometimes they don't trot in-hand. Sometimes they go up on their hind legs. Sometimes they get "over it" quickly and won't stand still the rest of the day. Sometimes they get loose.

Disco? Disco was just perfect. Honestly all three babies we brought this year were almost perfect.

Waiting at the in-gate with his momma

He led all around the complex and trotted in-hand like a pro. The only bobble we had was when we he mis-read my intentions on going around the judge's table and as Leah put it, he zigged when he should've zagged.


He ended up being in the ring for probably a total of 5 or 6 classes over a couple of hours between him, his mom, and the Get of Sire and Produce of Dam classes. The first class he got judged in was a stout 2 and under Section C/D colts class, with three of Lisa's ponies plus a couple other nice ponies in it. 

Like, I know this colt is really nice, but up until this show I wasn't sure if I was being a homer about it or not. But under both judges he won his 2 and under class. And then he won the Section C/D championship (all ages/all sexes but just Section C/D Welsh) under both judges as well.

As we were walking out of that class, one of the judges said, "I breed Section D's, that is a VERY nice colt."

That made him eligible for the Supreme Championship, which takes the top two winners from the Section A, B, C/D Championships and crowns the best quality breedingstock pony (geldings aren't eligible) of the entire show.

And.

My total childlike delight after he won the C/D Championship. I just could not believe he kept winning like that, especially with a total amateur handler like me.

 

He won. OMG. I was just in literal shock when they called my number.

Judge: "Will he be okay with this neck ribbon?" Felt good to confidently reply "Oh yeah he'll be fine"

He tried to eat it, that's about it.

Supreme was double judged as well, and the way they ran it, one judge walked through all the ponies and made her decision, and then the other judge did. 

 

The second judge had noticed Disco, who was closest to the judge's table, was getting fussy. She looked me in the eye and said, "I can see we're wearing his patience thin, I'm going to start judging at the other end." Subtext, as I understood it: "I like this colt, and I'm going to give you every opportunity to show him well that I can, so see if you can get him settled before I get to you."

Me trying to distract him in a different class

I'll never know if she thought the other pony was actually better or if it just showed better than my fussy baby, but she ended up pinning him Reserve, for Disco's only "loss" of the day. Hardly a loss though, since we got a second neck ribbon out of it!

"For me?!"

I asked Leah to take a picture with him and the judges, and while we were standing there they chatted with me. One said that is an incredibly nice colt, and said "We don't often pin weanlings for supreme," and the other asked his registered name, saying "I want to keep an eye on this guy."


If I wasn't thrilled enough about how he showed and placed, all the other little things meant so much. Seeing him stand in weird places while his mom got measured, get groomed, and hop on the trailer like he's been doing it his whole life just cemented the fact that this is the kind of brain I want.


Standing in the picnic area while mom gets measured like nbd


When he loaded up to go home on Friday night, I definitely felt a little bit sad. I enjoyed spending time with him so much, and really can't wait to have him at home. Sounds like he'll be coming home the first weekend of November!

37 comments:

  1. Such a great brain on this guy!!! I cannot wait to see what the two of you achieve together on the future, he is so special.

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  2. Wow! What a show for you and Disco!! But that being said...does this indicate he might remain in tact for future breedingstock??

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    1. It doesn't really indicate anything, that's been on the table since he was born. But it will all depend on how well-behaved he is, since I do board at a co-op.

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    2. Ha, that's what we said. And you have one of the long term results.

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  3. Welcome to the wonderful Cob baby owner group! So happy for you. Like you, I am glad to know my awe of him was justified and not just because he is related to all my boys. Congrats

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  4. So well deserved! I can't wait to see more of him when he finally comes to your barn!

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    1. Me toooooo. I think it'll be the first Friday in November.

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  5. Such a good baby pony at his first outing! Can't wait to see more of him :-D

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    1. This blog is going to be almost entirely Disco in November and December, so you're going to get your wish!

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  6. In my area, North Forks Brenin Cardi (Cardi) was the big name in dressage Cobs. I've seen him in a clinic with Steffen Peters and in shows, and so far I like Disco better!

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    1. That's a tough comparison to make, lol. Cardi is nationally famous after winning the GP Freestyle in 2014, in a snaffle no less, and part of what makes him great is his attitude. If Disco ends up half as nice or half as accomplished as Cardi, I'll be happy!

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  7. Congratulations! Just remember this horse is still underneath there when he's going through his rebellious teenager period in a few years X)

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    1. Hahaha yes, that's a good thought to keep in the back of my mind, especially if I don't geld him for a while.

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  8. SO happy for you. It's going to be really fun watching Disco grow up!

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    1. Thank you! He's definitely going to be a nice addition to the blog, that's for sure.

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  9. I'm just so happy for you. What a fantastic baby!

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  10. congrats on all the fanfare you deserve it with such a stunnning (and smart) baby!! So excited to watch him grow up with you!

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  11. Congratulations! I've shown lots of weanlings and yearlings (Quarter Horses mostly) and Disco looks FANTASTIC!!!!

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  12. He's amazing. I've loved him since his first photos. Congratulations!

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    1. Thank you, it is definitely fitting for the star of a blog that his entire life has been documented from the moment his toe poked out of his mom, lol.

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  13. What a great brain on him! And he's so beautiful. I'm so excited to follow along on your journey with him. First week of november is so SOON! Eek! So exciting!!

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    1. I know! I'm mostly excited but a little nervous too. Sometimes I'm like ahhhhhh wtf am I doing with a baby horse, lol.

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  14. Wow, Disco is such a cool baby. I’m sure ponies like him are crazy expensive but you definitely make me want a cob! Congratulations!

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    1. Everyone needs a Cob! And they're really not as expensive as you'd think.

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  15. Congratulations! As you can imagine, I've been creeping on my blogger feed waiting for this post to hit. :) He's incredible and I see great things ahead for the two of you.

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  16. Wow. Looks like the breeding world is welcoming him.
    He does look super balanced and well proportioned. Amazing.

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    1. He's a nice colt to be sure, but we also got lucky that he does look well-balanced right now. Who knows how long that will last, babies!

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  17. So... is Disco going to get to keep his bits?
    Honestly, no one needs that hassle in their lives, but I'm sure a lot of Welshy people wouldn't mind seeing him stay a stallion! What a great boy he is! HUGE congrats!

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    1. I'm not sure at this point, I'm taking it one day at a time with that decision. I'd like to keep him a stallion at least until age 2, but I won't put my co-op-mates at risk if he ends up being hard to handle for any reason.

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  18. OMG!!! So excited for you!!! That's amazing!!!!

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