Saddle up!

 It's fall in Kern County and that means it's fair time.  For three days Aubrey has been out at the fair participating in the equestrian events and keeping her horse, Ziggy, looking and feeling his very best.  Assisted by her "crew" she and Ziggy have done us all proud!  Aubrey placed in every event she entered and won highest total points for the English events.  Which means that she was awarded a very impressive silver belt buckle.   Carl and Heather deserve mention for their unflagging support.  Heather brings food for everyone in the horse area and supervises the important details--arranging  Ziggy's forelock before they compete, cleaning the dust off of Aubrey's boots after she saddles up and making sure Aubrey's many ribbons are well-displayed.  Carl rubs corn starch into Ziggy's white patches to make them really gleam,  polishes the silver on his saddle, and makes sure he stays well-fed.  Just a few of the many chores involved in showing a horse and competing.

Of course, the champion is Aubrey who is a first class rider and all-around horse woman.  She really knows her stuff!

In addition to her other accomplishments, Aubrey is also a TV star! She and her friend, Cara, the highest total point winner in Western, were featured in a fair segment on the channel 17 news last night.

 Congratulations, Aubrey!!!

Update***Carl just told me that today, in the final event, Aubrey took first place in halter!  Way to go, cowgirl!