| Have you ever been to a horse show and seen the | | | | Thoroughbred collect himself and go up and over a |
| sleek, shiny horses of every size and color performing | | | | four-foot stone wall with the ease and grace of a |
| at the peak of their splendor? If not, you don't know | | | | dancer. |
| what you're missing. Come along now on a trip to the | | | | Pounding away in the distance will be the rhythmic |
| country and the wonderful world of the show. | | | | beat of the black-smith's hammer, the ringing clang of |
| As soon as you start to bump along the old dirt road | | | | iron on iron as he shapes a shoe. When the shoe is |
| that leads to the show grounds, you'll feel excitement | | | | properly formed, the clanging will stop only to be |
| in the air. It's a kind of excitement like a light fever, | | | | replaced by the softer thud of a small hammer driving |
| horse fever. Anyone who likes animals loves horses, | | | | the nails through the shoe and into the horse's hoof. |
| and almost everywhere you look you'll see horses - | | | | But don't worry about the horse being hurt. His hooves |
| some being ridden in an easy, relaxed manner by | | | | are like your fingernails. No pain is felt around the |
| seasoned professional riders; some being held by | | | | edges where the shoe is tacked on, any more than |
| proud, smiling grandmothers; some acting frisky in the | | | | you feel pain when your nails are filed. Only if a nail is |
| crisp morning air as soft-voiced grooms do their best | | | | hammered too near the center of the hoof will a horse |
| to quiet down the snorting animals ; some standing | | | | feel any discomfort. |
| peacefully, gently nuzzling their affectionate owners. | | | | As you keep moving along the dirt road, you'll see |
| Young riders will be scurrying in every direction, hunting | | | | horse vans and trailers, which transport the animals |
| for the proper number to wear on their backs so the | | | | and equipment to and from their home stables. In the |
| judges can identify them easily, searching for their hunt | | | | background, you'll see the barns where each owner is |
| caps or derbies before the next class begins, or | | | | assigned stalls for his horses and, if the show is a large |
| maybe just plain trying to find mother. Other riders may | | | | one, there will even be huge tents put up to stable the |
| be out for some early morning practice, putting the | | | | hundreds of horses that will be on hand to compete in |
| high-stepping Saddle Horses through a walk, trot, and | | | | the sport of kings. |
| canter. | | | | But these days is it the sport of kings only? Not on |
| Or you may see a well-dressed rider in black boots | | | | your life! In fact, if you'll buy yourself a program and |
| and canary-yellow riding breeches taking a big, rangy | | | | step right up to the rail of the big riding ring where the |
| hunter over the outside hunt course where the jumps | | | | various events (each of which is called a 'class') take |
| are like the actual jumps a rider would meet on a real | | | | place, you'll discover for yourself that riding horses is |
| hunt. You'll hold your breath the first time you see that | | | | truly becoming the sport of kids. |