03/10/2026
This past weekend was such a whirlwind of emotion, it was full of lessons, learning curves, and self reflection!
I was offered the opportunity to show this magnificent being named Magnum, 13yr old Gypsy Vanner who stands at a whopping 17h he’s massive but so sweet he makes your teeth hurt when you touch him! Mag spent most his life as a stud and was gelded and started under saddle only a year ago! When he was at my brothers to start his riding career, I swore I would never swing a leg over him, I barely wanted to lead him anywhere……needless to say I was terrified of him and the sound the ground made when he walked!
Well, here I am, showing him in his first show ever and sharing the excitement of his presence! He was a rockstar, nothing bothered him, except a fold up chair moving in the wind! He listened and paid attention to every request I asked of him! He rode in group classes as well as alone classes! I now know what things we will need to work on for the next show but I couldn’t have been prouder of us both! Thank you to his owners Tammi and Pete from Ocotillo Ridge Ranch for giving me this great opportunity to learn!
My girl Pearl Snap really surprised me with how she did! She was quiet, and very willing to figure herself out. We showed and placed 4th in Showmanship and 5th in horsemanship…..now granted there was only 6 riders in each class! 😂 I decided to scratch us out of the last two classes due to her feeling overwhelmed with the amount of other riders. Ranch on the rail ended up having 19riders and she just couldn’t control her worries with horses riding up behind her. Overall for her first show under saddle I couldn’t have been prouder of her! So lots of leap frog games and riding away from her friends are our preparation for next month!
This process is really opening my eyes on little changes I need to be making in my training program, things you wouldn’t even think of if you don’t know! Mostly, I’m so beyond glad I am able to learn and experience all of this along side my best friend, who pushes me way beyond my comfort zone, comforts me with tough love, inspires me with her abilities and believes in me even tho I don’t believe in myself! Jordan Battistone
