Congress 2009! Showy Halters!

Montgomery took this photo of some of the many lovely show halters you could purchase for your equine companion. You could really outfit your horse with the finest of leather and silver goods. But the thing that I would have bought for my herd was three little black halters decorated with candy corn for the Halloween season!! They were cute and absolutely adorable!

Congress 2009! Competitors for Queen!

Montgomery took these photos of some of the contestants for Quarter Horse Congress Queen! You cannot imagine how lovely and detailed and artistic these outfits are and how accomplished these young women are. We watched their horsemanship class and some rode their patterns flawlessly and some ahd mounts that balked or caused trouble. But in either case, these sharp women kept their poise and calm!

Congress 2009! 9889

Okay, here's just a single example of the beautiful elegant show creatures at Congress. This grey calm gorgeaus steed is probably on his way to win a pleasure class or perhaps horsemanship class!

Congress 2009! Elaborate Stable Fronts!

So, Congress has many show barns where the performance horses reside during this 3 week long event. And in some of the show barns for the bigger training, breeding and showing facilities, they have these elaborate over-the-top fronts decorated with flowers and many other extravagances -- some to look like entire Western towns or farms. They use these fronts as a way to keep visitors out from the back stage of preparing these wonderful show horses and letting them rest away from their fans!

Congress 2009! Mini-Ponies!

So, Barbie and Tom were stationed close to a herd of miniature horses at Congress, so she showed us where they would take the horses near a tack shop in order to sell. Here is a small group of the many, many possible ponies, looking for new homes!

Congress 2009! Me, My Hat and Jacket!

So, I treated myself a little too well at Congress. I purchased a cowgirl hat from Shorty's out of Oklahoma City and then this beautiful jean jacket. I am working on releasing my inner cowgirl!

Congress 2009! The Best Group!

Here we are at Congress, relaxing and enjoying a fun day -- cold and windy, yes, but filled with friendship, bourbon chicken, shopping, and beautiful horses. We had a really nice time.

Congress 2009! Cassy in Showmanship!

On Friday evening, Jessica and Dorene and I stayed in a luxury hotel room, watching a romantic comedy, eating treats and sleeping in a king-size bed. Then the next morning, we got up early and went quickly to Congress to watch Cassy show Sophie in showmanship. She did a lovely job and her mother had made her the most beautiful white show suit.

Congress 2009! My New Hairstyle

So, my first entry about Congress will end with a story about my hair. I went to this year's Congress with Jessica and Dorene and we stayed in this really nice suite at a hotel just minutes from the Fairgrounds. It was such a fun girly evening. Jessica decided that I might benefit from a new hairstyle and Dorene thought it might be nice to set me up with a nice fellow. So, this is the hair that Jessica gave me just a short week after Congress and on the day that I went on a group blind date to BW3 with Dorene, Tim, Denise, her fiance and child, Jessica, Barbie, Roger, Carl and Jenny. It's been a really fun unusual week of horses, fashion, and new friends.