On October 25th, 'Shining Eye Lynda' became the 2006 World Champion Percheron Pleasure Driving mare !!

"If that class is judged correctly- Lynna and I could win it" 

 Thats' what I jokingly told my husband when he read the class list for this huge show. It was called " Pleasure Driving- Cart ( Breast Plate harness only)".  He took me at my word, much to my surprise.

We went to the World Percheron Congress in Lexington, VA to compete in One class only. Due to no longer wanting to compete successfully against the big showy hitch horses or halter horses, we entered that one class and hoped for the best.

I was so nervous about competing at a show of that caliber that I just didn't want to go, I was that worried.  I didn't want to leave Petey or any of the horses- they might get hurt or something worse. We had to stay for the whole show- just not drive down, show and return home the next day- no, it was for a Week.We had a great 'horse sitter' who was willing to take on the huge job of caring for the horses, and it turns out that things went perfectly for her - THANKS KATHY !!

Wednesday night was show night : our one chance. Would it be judged properly or treated like another 'hitch' class? It was called a 'Pleasure Driving Class', so Glenn n' I both hoped it would be judged as one. We had our new Gig all shined up, the new harness glowed, too. Lynn was pure white and I had my show clothes all set to go. Since it was an evening class, we added some 'glitz" .We hitched Lynn to the cart, did some final adjustments and off we went. Glenn was looking great in his show clothes too. He came into the ring after the driving was over, to 'head' my mare. He really didn't need to as Lynn is so well trained, but it was all a part of "The Look" for the biggest show I had Ever competed in ! See what you think from the pix below.  :) 
   
We warmed up in the exercise ring, and I thought how very dark it had become outside. Thank goodness for good lighting. The class went Great- Lynn was performing perfectly and I knew we'd had a wonderful drive.  But, was it good enough though ?

The class was over.... Now to see who placed where. The winners were called in reverse- with last place being announce first, the winner to be announced Last. We were not excused, and the announcer didn't call out our number for the lower placings... I was thinking it was all a big mistake -that we had been forgotten somehow. The announcer kept calling out numbers belonging to any horse but mine. I realized that there were only TWO horses left in the ring- Lynn and another Percheron at the other end of the ring.The announcer said " And then there were Two...." When the announcer called out HIS number for second place, I thought,  "OH MY GOD, WE WON !!!"  

I was in tears when I drove to pick up our first place ribbon. Everyone back at our barn there in Virginia seemed either 100% surprised or cheered when they heard of our win.

It was a wonderful evening and a great week at the World Percheron Congress, made PERFECT by our win- one we won't forget.

We have a World Champion Percheron Mare in our barn !

in the line up...

omg , WE WON !

leaving to go pick up our winning ribbon