2nd Fun Show

Carefree Farms and Desert Sport Horses hosted an FUN DAY, full of horse and horse-less games for “kids” of all ages on December 18, 2021 – a very cold and windy day.

Similar to last year, the format included an in-hand obstacle course, followed by team-oriented and individual oriented under-saddle contests, then non-horse activities. Whether the kids were racing their horses to put items in a bucket or trying to put the horn on a poster unicorn blindfolded, each “kid” gave it their all!  Some of the new games required a lot of thought so everyone tried their best.

The two most challenging tasks were hand-walking their horse with a trot pole longitudinally between their legs. The left front and left hind were on the left side of the pole, while the right front and right hind were on the right side of the pole. Most of the horses thought their humans were crazy.

The other difficult task was that a two horse and rider team, while under saddle, held a crepe paper ribbon from rider’s hand to the teammate rider’s hand and race their horses, turn and race back, without breaking the crepe paper. I think the spectators loved this one more than the riders. The end result were fairly uncoordinated teams.

Co-Managers, Heike Barrett, of Flagstaff, AZ and Michell Combs, owner of Dressage with Michell, LLC, feel that a morning of laughter is good for the soul. The event wouldn’t be possible without the support of Carefree Farms, Laura Borghesani, Alice Sarno, the young kids and young-at-heart “kids”, the top-notch volunteers, Susan and Ellen, the participants’ parents, our show photographer, Veleska Fleuchaus, and most of all, the horses and ponies that put up with our shenanigans!

I can’t wait to see what is in store for everyone in 2022!