We decided to take Cleo ( WA Outrageous) to the Nationals this year as the location site of the Nationals was going to be changing in a couple of years (Oklahoma) and New Mexico was a bit easier for us in terms of driving distance. We had also started showing our new Half Arab Hunter and both he and Cleo had been doing consistently well in the Class “A” and Regional classes that we had shown them in. The Half Arab, Bonphire SA, had only been shown 4 times and was just a 4 year old so we were a bit apprehensive about taking him. One of the National Western judges had judged Cleo before and had seemed to like her but the other two judges were an “ unknown”. At any rate, we made our reservations and sent in our entries. Cleo was entered in Western Pleasure AAOTR 36-54 and Western Sidesaddle with my daughter, Lori Hart, riding. I was entered in Western Pleasure AAOTR 55 & Over. We entered the Half Arab in Hunter Pleasure AAOTR 18-39 with Lori riding him.

When I say this is a “Family Affair”, I really mean it. We packed both horses in the two horse trailer and most of the rest of us crammed ourselves into the Expedition. There were 3 adults and 1 seven month old baby plus all the necessary and unnecessary “stuff” that automatically goes along. (Grandma and the 7yr. old flew in later.) It was a sixteen hour drive and we intended to drive straight though, trading drivers as one wore out. We left shortly after midnight and drove almost the entire sixteen hours in pouring rain, lightning and wind. When we arrived in Albuquerque the weather, fortunately, made a change for the better and remained good the entire length of the show. It was sunny and pleasant during the day and cold at night.

We were stabled in an inside barn which made it nice. We took up three stalls (one used as a tack room). We don’t have drapes so with the necessary toys for the 7 year old, the seven month old baby, stroler, etc. we kind of looked like the “Beverly Hillbillies”. Here we were a “middle class house” amongst “mansions”. We were kind of understated, but never the less, “we had arrived”! Cleo wasn’t noticed much prior to her first class as there were a number of beautiful pinto half Arabians in the work rings. When she showed up for her first class, all decked out in her show attire, and there were only purebred classes being shown that afternoon, people really began to sit up and take notice. There were more than a few people that became a bit anxious as Cleo jogged into her class. People REALLY noticed when she made her cut and then also made her cut in Western Sidesaddle and again in my Western Pleasure class. Our Half Arab, Bonphire SA also made his cuts in his two elimination classes. Cleo (WA Outrageous) became one of the major topics of conversation during the entire course of the show. She looked great and most all of the comments were very positive. Cleo went on to win Top Ten Western Pleasure AAOTR 36-54 and again Top Ten Western Pleasure AAOTR 55 & Over. She just missed going Top Ten in the Sidesaddle Class by one placement. We were really thrilled as there were over 1,900 horses at the show and our little Sabino purebred just BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER!! Well known judge, Peter Cameron, was in the stands and seemed to get a real kick out of seeing her in her purebred classes. At one point, during the awards presentation, he yelled, “Way to go Pinto Horse”! It was really a thrill and the culmination of a lot of work. I give most of the credit to my daughter who does a wonderful job presenting her. Our Half Arab, Bonphire SA was awarded the National Champion Hunter Pleasure AAOTR 18-39 Championship with Lori riding him. It was the largest amateur class of the show.

Meanwhile back at the barn, our three stalls had all kinds of ribbons hanging on the front panels. Five Finalist ribbons, three Top Ten Ribbons, and one National Champion ribbon and garland, three Top Ten Plaques and one National Championship Trophy. It more than made up for our lack of drapery. Cleo handled the trip and stay at the show grounds like a veteran. She drank, ate, slept and relaxed. We, on the other hand, didn’t eat, we worried, we fretted, and we couldn’t sleep well at night. ---- BUT boy, were we ever happy!!
Marla Melloway and Kelly Damaj, owners of Khartoon Khlassic, were in the stands to cheer us along. We are very grateful for their friendship and strong support. Marla was at Cleo’s first show and it was particularly nice that she was at the Nationals to see her compete and win at the National level. Cleo now has her Supreme Legion of Honor.
The trip home was safe and uneventful. About a month after we were home we heard a banging in Cleo’s stall late in the evening. It was close to midnight. I went out to check on her expecting to find her cast in her stall. When I turned the light on and looked in, Cleo was standing, shaking and dripping wet. She was in intense pain. We immediately called our vet and fortunately he was on call that evening. We forced her to walk until the vet arrived. He sedated her and put a tube into her stomach. It relieved the gas and then her stomach was pumped. As soon as the tube was removed the gas began to collect again. She had an intestinal blockage and we were very worried her stomach would rupture. At the advice of our vet we called Alamo Pintado ( a very highly regarded clinic and a three hour drive from us.) Our vet re-inserted the stomach tube and we immediately loaded her into the trailer for the trip to the clinic. We arrived at about 3:00 a.m. and were met by two vets and an assistant. The clinic is something like the Mayo Clinic for horses. They have all of the latest equipment and a fabulous staff. Re-inserting the stomach tube for the trip saved her life as it kept the gas from re-collecting and rupturing her stomach. The doctors were able to remedy the situation with medication and luckily did not have to resort to surgery. We brought her home in a couple of days. We had changed feed prior to her becoming ill and all of the medical opinions pointed to the change in feed as to the cause. We have since made the appropriate changes. However, we were to take her back in a couple of weeks to repair a tendon injury. We were aware of the tendon injury prior to the Nationals but since she had not been lame we opted to show her at the Nationals. Luck was on our side and she was fine at the Nationals but we knew we had to address the issue when we got home. The tendon surgery went fine and she is now getting a well deserved rest. We expect to be able to start riding her in three to four more months, depending upon the results of her ultra sound. Cleo is not limping at all and the leg looks good. We’re looking forward to the 2006 show season so we can again show our highly colored, and now well known, purebred Pinto Arabian. We appreciate all of the encouragement and support given us over the past few years by so many people. Because of Cleo we have made many new friends. We also now have a web site: www.waoutrageous.net . It is a new site that a friend has set up for us and hopefully I will be able to learn to maintain.

We would like to encourage others that have a Sabino Arabian, to join us in the show ring. We have found that if you have a quality animal that is well conditioned and well presented it will be competitive and you will take home your share of the ribbons. Kelly and Marla are now showing a yearling full brother to WA Outrageous in Sport Horse in Hand and doing exceptionally well. Join the fun! Show a Sabino!