Blue Ribbon Winners

A few months passed since I had finalized the purchase of Eclipse, and in those short months, my confidence and knowledge of horsemanship had grown tremendously. I was learning and experiencing things that I never dreamed possible. Eclipse and I were trotting pole patterns, figure eights, dressage patterns, and diagonals at both sit and posting trot; I spent every moment I could in the saddle practicing my balance and strengthening my core and leg muscles. I believe Eclipse knew I was determined to gain as much mobility as possible, because he worked just as hard, if not harder, than I did to complete his job and carry me safely through each ride. 

 Before I knew it, fall had passed and the spring show season was coming up. I had never been big on horse shows, simply because I tended to get very nervous when people were watching me ride, and even though I knew we are all there to encourage and support one another, I still had some insecurities. Dayna knew of my fears, but also knew how proud I was of Eclipse; she knew of my potential as a rider, wanted to boost my confidence, so she suggested that we take it slow and just do one class for fun.

“How about the costume class?” she suggested. “It’s only a few people, and it would be great practice to prepare you and Eclipse for future shows if you are ever interested. I will even walk beside you if that would make you more comfortable,” she said with a smile.

 I thought about it for a few minutes and then said, “Why not! Horseback riding is all about having fun and trying new things. I am in!”  I really wanted to face my fears, but even more than, I was ready to show off my big, handsome gelding.  

 Dayna gave me a tremendous hug and said, “You guys are going to be great!”

 Now that I had committed to competing in the class, I had to come up with a costume idea. I pondered a few ideas, bounced some around, but nothing struck me as the perfect choice.  My mom called while out shopping one day and said, “What if you and Eclipse were Mickey and Minnie Mouse?” She had found a Minnie Mouse outfit for me and offered to make the ears and buy some red and yellow fabric to make the Mickey costume for Eclipse. I thought this was the perfect choice, as Eclipse and I were already becoming as close a team as Mickey and Minnie. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to see the finish products, watching closely as my mom configured patterns and details, clipped and snipped and glued with delicacy as she shaped his ears and outfit into a masterpiece of a mouse suit fit for a horse.

The night before the show, mom stayed up until the wee hours of the morning putting the finishing touches on the costumes. The next day, we went to the barn early to try the attire on Eclipse, as we were a little timid about how he would react to wearing his first set of clothes. Much to my surprise, he was as cool and calm as a cucumber as we dressed him and looked absolutely precious in his Mickey ears. I turned to tell my mom it was perfect when I heard her say, “uh- oh.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked her in disappointment.

“I cut too big of a hole in the fabric for his head to go through. I think I ruined it,” she cried.

 “That’s OK,” I said, “”We can do it another time. Don’t worry about it.”

 I knew she was disappointed that all her hard work seemed to be ruined, but just as I was about to call it quits, two of my friends turned the corner and said with a laugh, “ You are  not getting out of this…just let us take care of Eclipse! Don’t worry—we’ll  get you ready for the show.!”

With slight hesitation, I turned the costume over to them and they hurried off to work. I was astounded by their creativity. They were sewing fabric and buttons, measuring and working from head to hoof, cutting and pinning pieces together as if they were professional tailors. While all of this was taking place, Eclipse just quietly and patiently stood there as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. He did not flinch or shy away one time as they were sewing pants on him, adjusting buttons and suspenders, or tying a ribbon to his tail. In fact, he seemed to enjoy his wardrobe fitting and seemed willing and ready to go out and be the best Mickey he could be. 

When he was finally fully dressed in his mouse suit, I led him to an empty stall so he could rest while I watched some of the events. I came back later in the day to check on him, and to my dismay, his stall was empty. I panicked as I raced up and down the barn aisle, peering into each stall, searching frantically for him, looking for his head to appear over the edge of a different stall. I thought at first that someone had needed his stall and had moved him, maybe even out to the pasture to await his turn in the arena.  I called for Dayna and some of my friends to help me look for him, and after a few minutes heard a voice call, “He’s down here! I found him!”

I rushed back to his original stall where several people stood in front of the open door. I had not been able to see him with the door closed, but he had been there the whole time, curled up on the soft hay, perfectly relaxed and content in his red flannel “pajamas.” I called the vet over to check him out, to make sure he was not suffering from colic or distressed in some way from his morning tailoring session, but she quickly reassured me that he was “healthy as a horse” and obviously enjoying his comfy new clothes.  

When it was finally our turn to compete, I was unsure as we walked into the arena how we would compare to the other cute costumes. There was some tough competition and some original ideas, but as soon as the judge starting humming the Mickey Mouse theme song, I was pretty sure we were going to place and place high.

I was overwhelmed that day with the support my friends and family gave to “Team Mickey”. Each one of them wore “Mickey” ears and cheered wildly for us as we claimed our first blue ribbon. As I walked my horse around the arena, his gigantic mouse ears bouncing in the breeze and his first place  ribbon proudly pinned to his bridle, I could not help but once again thank God. He was continually revealing His plan for my life and opening my eyes to the beauty that could bloom from challenges, if only I would trust him to carry me through.  With a smile on my face, I exited the arena, humming “who’s the leader of the pack that’s made for you and me,” knowing in my heart that could only be Eclipse, the best Mickey Horse ever seen, and who had the blue ribbon to prove it.