UHA Relay Practice #1

We are hosting The United Horseman's Association relay practice here at Westwood in preparation for the annual Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. UHA enters all-male, all-female, and mixed-gender relay teams each year in hopes of bringing home the jackpot. Last year, the all-female team did just that, earning over $600 for the riding club!!! Last year we joined our friends to watch from the stands...THIS year, I plan on being a part of the ACTION! Here's a mug shot of our super charismatic and slightly unbalanced (you had to be there...LOL) leader, UHA President Mansfield Montague.



Jesse is letting me borrow the use of his finest horse, Lil' Bit. Martin is still battling an abscess and Fancy is still leased out to a 4-H family until October....



...after all the riders had arrived, we got some great guidance from the most experienced in the club....





...and then it was time to GO! In the picture below, I am receiving the baton from team member, Tanya....nice and smooth!



...and I let Lil' Bit go....she really wanted to run, but I didn't let her go full out. I could tell she was going to have a few more gears to kick in when we get to the competition pen...

...we did knock down a couple barrels, which means I am going to to have to take these turns a little more wide in the future....fortunately, they were plastic barrels, so no permanent harm was done to my shins....THIS time.



As we round the final barrel we come back around to the handoff zone...think High School Track 4x4 relay team....now put the runners on horses....now you got it!



Handoff complete...nice and smooth...just in time....perfect!



We are going to run through the motions once more next weekend and probably see a few more riders to add to the mix....good times!

Thanks for 'Ashley with the Cool Boots' for manning the camera for me! See you next Sunday!



Happy Trails!
Leah