Round Four: 21 Jump Street

I was really ambitious in 2019. I built an entire jump just for Candyland Live...

and filled it with literally hundreds of tiny candy packets.

I didn't have the time or energy for anything like that this year, but fortunately, I didn't need it. This jump still looks good as new.

Better in fact, because this time it had jump cups that actually fit the poles!

My entry for the fourth class, 21 Jump Street, was a straightforward jump set-up.

Olive wore her dropped noseband English sidepull and a candy themed saddle pad by StudioMaire that I won in 2019.

Other entries included a pair of Western horses from Anna,

a diving horse maybe by Karin...

and Thelma and Mule-ise, definitely by Karin.

Heh.

My Candyland jump was second best in 2019. This year it helped Olive claim the top spot.

Thank you, ambitious 2019 Jennifer. You made that class an easy one in 2024!

Round Three: The English Patient

The name of the third performance class at Candyland Live was The English Patient. 

Clearly, this was meant to be a catchall English performance event, but immediately, my mind started running with the word "patient".

When used as a noun, patient refers to a person receiving, or registered to receive, medical treatment. The same word used as an adjective describes an ability to accept or tolerate delays, problems or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

"Hmmm," I thought. "Perhaps a patient English patient?"

Then I remembered exactly how impatient I felt when I was waiting for my broken collarbone to heal. My friend, Kristina, was also recovering from a horse related injury, and the two of us spent a lot of time at the barn, watching other people ride and wishing that was us.

Just like that, the Impatient English Patient was born.

Here's how it looked on the table.

photo by Anne Field

There was a horse in this entry.

But really, the important stuff was on the other side of the wall.

Let me tell you, this girl can not wait to get out of that cast and back in the saddle!

The other entries were pretty much what you would expect for a catchall English class.

photo by Anne Field

I think the stablemate belongs to Karin and the Troubadour is Anna's.

photo by Anne Field

I didn't expect this entry to do well - the horse is naked! - and it did not. In fact, it placed last. I agreed with the judging, but also, no regrets. I really liked this one, and honestly, I would totally set it up again. Except... next time, hopefully, I would not forget the crutches!

Round Two: Once Upon a Time in The West

The second performance class at last Saturday's Candyland Live show was called Once Upon a Time in the West. I had originally planned to set up a Reined Cowhorse entry, because that feels super Western to me. Unfortunately, when I actually got around to putting the pieces together, I didn't like the way model Olive looked with this particular cow.  

It was back to the drawing board - and my prop box - to see if I could find anything I liked better. After a couple false starts, I landed on the gravity defying tarp. Real Olive has a history with tarps, so this seemed right.

I didn't have to try this one out beforehand. It's a basic, "normal" set-up I've shown many times.

I knew it would work, and it did.

Other entries included this big Grand Canyon diorama by Karin Hullatti...

I love this so much!

...and a pair of nice pattern class horses shown by Anna Miller.

Gravity eventually had its way with my tarp, but not before it claimed the first place blue coin.

Olive was two for two in the performance division, but I wasn't feeling cocky yet. My next entry was silly even by my standards, and I had a feeling our winning streak was about to come to an end.

Round One: License to Drive

I took a lot of pictures at Candyland Live, but I know everyone wants to see the performance pictures the most, so we'll start there.

The first class - Heather refers to them as "rounds" in the show packet - was License to Drive. I chose to build an entry around my golf cart. This was partly because I love showing it, but also because there's some significant real Olive history with golf carts. Here's my documentation.

I don't usually show my performance horses in halter, but the first class in the Stone ring was OOAK - Realistic Color. Since Olive only needed to wear a halter in License to Drive, I was pretty sure I could make it work. I walked across the very long hall and plunked her down on the Stone table.

Then I made the return journey, sat down at my table and started dressing the golf cart.

I loaded it with tack and props I planned to use later in the day, plus some fun extras.

Why is there an extra pair of jeans? I don't know. It seemed like a good thing to have just in case.

I also set up my little ATV, again with a couple fun extras.

At this point everything was ready. I just needed my horse.

There were three other entries on the table, all belonging to Karin Hullatti.

Two were "normal".

One was very, very "fun".

Here's the reference.

After what seemed like an eternity but was probably only ten minutes, Olive's halter class was judged.

I raced her back across the hall, tacked her up and finished my entry.

I held my breath a little as the judge made her selections. Would "normal" rule the day or was "fun" going to have a chance? She put the blue coin next to Olive.

And just like that, I knew it was going to be a good day.

Endings

In keeping with long-standing tradition, a big group of showers and judges rolled out of the hall Saturday evening and into BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse. I couldn't find a picture with all of us in it, so I made a collage. Clockwise from top, that's Heather and Travis, Alicia and Jackie, Jennifer and Regan, Jaime, Tiffany and Stephanie, Tiffany pretending to be Heather and Travis, Anne, Jennifer and Regan.

As soon as we sat down, I ordered my usual flight of margaritas without consulting the menu.

That turned out to be a serious error. Look at the drink Jackie got.

It came in a 1:9 scale bathtub. Amazing.

We had the best time, and let me say, if you ever have a chance to sit across a table from Jaime and Tiffany, do it. You probably won't get a word in edgewise, but you will have the best time anyway.

That was ending number one.

photo by Heather Malone

On Sunday, a group of out-of-towners and Fabian found there way to my barn for a meet and greet with Olive.

Travis and Anne Field, Cheryl Ellison, Tiffany Purdy, Jennifer Buxton, Christina Harrington and Fabian Rodriguez

Anne,

Christina and...

Tiffany took Olive for a spin.

I love this picture. It's so ridiculous.

Travis...

and Cheryl chose to keep their feet on the ground, but still got some quality time with Olive.

I doubt this was planned, but I love how Cheryl and Olive are all matchy-matchy.

Cheryl had to catch a plane, but everyone else and best barn buddy, Karen headed over to the Frontier for lunch. It was another fun group meal, that I wanted to last forever. 

photo by Fabian Rodriguez

Unfortunately, Tiffany had to catch a plane. I drove her to the airport, and we said our goodbyes. That was ending number two.

We didn't take a photo, so here's one from Friday

This morning, Jaime Castleman stopped in for a short visit on her way out of town.

She met Olive...

and also Nutmeg, who completely stole the show.

photo by Jaime Castleman

After that, I met Fabian, Travis and Anne for a quick last meal.

Then I followed Anne and Travis to the bad rental car place and took them to the airport. We snapped one last selfie and said our goodbyes

Ending number three is the last ending. The real life part of Candyland Live is now officially over.

Fortunately, here in blogland, things have a different time table. Expect more Candyland coverage for at least another week or two.