On October 25th, 'Shining Eye Lynda' became the

 2006 World Champion Percheron Pleasure Driving mare !!

With what began as a flippant, joking remark from me when Glenn read the class list for that particular show,we went to the World Percheron Congress in Lexington, VA to compete in One class only. Due to not being able 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 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. 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.  :)
   

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. I realized that there were only TWO horses left in the ring- Lynn and another Percheron at the other end of the ring. When the announcer called out HIS number for second place, I realized  "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