09/28/2026
What great fun at the show in Groesbeck, Tx last weekend! Our best performance was doing the teams driving! I was worried about it because i have very little practice behind the reins with teams, and the boys haven't been hooked up as a team for months. Also, Rocky can be very strong headed and I was worried he might take off and we would wreck. However, we have our "ace in the hole" in trainer and mentor Bobbie Ferraro and they already know what to do, even being so young and green.
The judge just gushed over them. She didn't have to say anything. But she thanked me for bringing them because they were such a joy to watch! She said she'd judged many teams and the way these boys handled and traveled together in sync was just beautiful. She said it absolutely made her day and the travels worth it. I told her that the boys were both only 4 years old, and first year to show, and that I was a green handler as well, and that we all learned from Bobbie. Her eyes widened in big surprise and she that woman works miracles, and I said, "I know!"
She said I would have a great team to enjoy for many years to come. Just a fabulous feeling to have performed so well. We did 3 events in teams: pleasure driving, reinsmanship, and obstacle driving. I don't think there was any faults on the obstacle course... like I possibly could have scored a 100?! Last event of the day so a great high note to end on.
We came sliding in from North Dakota from a weekend watching grandsons play HS football, just in time to load donkeys and head to south Texas. I had not spent the time needed to prepare due to health and heat, but off we went anyway! Small show but fabulous experience for both me and the donkeys. I get better at a few more little things every time... even just having all the equipment and supplies better organized and available helps stress levels.
Rocky and Max both were not soft handling with halter classes. But they figured it out and handled better with each class. Since the boys are in the same classes, Bobbie offered to show Max all day and I could just show Rocky instead of having one ready outside the gate while I went in and out of the ring with each one. That also made it much easier.
Other highlights: Max and Rocky not only got first and second in their gelding class age group, but also went on to get Grand and Reserve Champion competing against all ages and sexes! Max won highpoint for the day, and Rocky got reserve highpoint!
So thankful my husband also graciously went with me and drove the pickup all the way there and back! He could have been doing farm stuff so I am very appreciative that he chose to help. I could not have done all that driving on my own. I told him to take lots of pictures. Not possible to take too many. This is the sum total of pics taken. Not even a choice of 2 of the same thing lol.
He did take video of some driving classes which I will post tomorrow. Right now I am at hospital getting two bags of fluids through IV. Nothing serious, just needed more hydration.
Also thanks to the Harralson Donkey Hollow for breeding these boys and allowing me to purchase and enjoy them. I love them so much.
