The overall show was fun and friendly. Despite a nasty, rainy day, but hey, that just made it a better day to be doing something indoors. ;)

Pros:

-Decent attendance though small number...roughly 20 entrants give or take a few. But this was a very good thing since showhall was small and gave everyones models a better chance at awards.

-real ribbons and awards!

-NAN qualifier and Region 10 Regionals qualifier

-lots of friendly, fun people to meet and greet!

-yummy food...grilled hot dogs and hamburgers! even had breakfast available...muffins, etc.

-benefit for Cayuga County 4-H

Cons (these are MY personal opinions only):

-show dragged quite a bit--classes should've closed faster or had a time limit...including judging--performance actually moved FASTER than halter!

-CM had to show with AR--puts CM's at a serious disadvantage

-Minis had to show with Trads--puts Mini scales at a serious disadvantage

-only Top Tens awarded in Halter classes. No champs/reserves or overalls

-some of the classes were too 'general' so ended up huge due to so many breeds having to fit into them

-showhall a bit too small so tables were close and moving around tight and tricky

-location wasn't the greatest. would've been more suitable into a larger city with easier road access (less rural/country type travel)

Akela Farm RESULTS:

Overall, for most of the models I brought, it was their first time out in the live show ring. All have photo showed many times around. The irony in the results is that the ones that typically do well in photo shows for me, did poor in live showing and the ones that didn't do so well in photo shows, did very well at the live show. I was expecting the opposite! I brought 16 models with me. One was in a non-NAN fun class so he doesn't really count much. I came home with 20 flat ribbons of various placings for 16 models, 1 Top Ten in halter rosette, and 4 NAN cards (2 in breed, 2 in workmanship). Only three of my models were not pinned (placed) at all, one of which was in that 'fun' class. Another...my fault. He would've done better in a different class that was more suited to him. The last...no explanation other than it being a HUGE class. Depending on class sizes, placings were 1-10...less if class size was smaller than that.

Abydos: (pictured at right) CM Arabian cm'd & painted by Jennifer Read. His first time at a live show! 2nd in Arabian Breed (NAN'd). 6th in Workmanship. TOP TEN OVERALL in HALTER!

Khoisan: (pictured at left) AR Arabian Optime. sculpted & painted by Karen Gerhardt. 1st in Arabian breed (NAN'd), 2nd in Workmanship (NAN'd). He would've had a better chance at being pinned in the callback Top Ten if he didn't get stuck on an overflow table where the judge hardly looked. Oh well--my fault for not jumping up there as soon as the class was called. Still very proud of him and proves he hasn't lost his touch in the showring. He was a NAN Top Ten winner back in 2004. This makes 5 NAN cards for him so far...3 expired and 2 new ones. Veteran live shower. The previous owner I had purchased him from was in attendance at the show too! Turns out, she actually lives in same city I do and not far from me either! Small world indeed!

Excelsior: (pictured at right) AR Mini Haggis. Sculpted by Kitty Cantrell. Painted by Angelica Nelson of Elk Horn Stables/Studio. 4th in Breed (British Draft), 2nd in Workmanship (NAN'd). This was his first live show! and he had to face Trad. scale competition!

NOTABLES:

Whistlin Dixie:(pictured at left) CM TWH Mare cm'd & painted by Tammy Mayberry. 3rd Breed and 9th Workmanship. Class size was 14 and nearly all AR's. I think she was the only CM on the table in a sea of AR's! Poor girl had to face over 4 Traditional Independence artist resins and over 6 Mini Indy's...2 of which were mine (Pushing Tin was 5th in breed, Sheza Diva was 6th in workmanship). Only two Trad. scale Independence resins bested her and they were painted by big name artists Steph Michaud and Cindy Williams.

Mondial:(pictured below--left) AR Arabian Colt. Sculpted by Sheri Rhodes. Painted by Kathy McKenzie. Class was chock full of adorable AR foals! He held his own though and placed 3rd in Breed. 7th in Workmanship.

Moswen:(pictured below--right) Peter Stone OF Pebbles Mare. This little gal held her own in a HUGE OF Arabian class of 40 entrants. Not sure, but I think she was the only smaller scale Arab on the table against all Trads. She took 3rd in Breed! I wasn't expecting anything out of this class when I saw how large it was so this was a surprise!

Overall, I really enjoyed my first appearance at this show! I had tried to make this show two other times (first and second offerings) and something always got in the way...storms, work, etc. I do hope this show is offered again next year. If I'm still living in NY...I'll be sure to try to attend again!

It also taught me a few things about my showstring. Since I only brought a very small bit of my collection, I know who may not be going again, and who I might add in, and to make sure I have the model in the best possible breed classification and class for it. I strongly champion the case of CM's being shown in their own classes rather than lumped with the AR's. I feel the same about Mini scales. They should have their own classes and not have to try to compete against the Traditional/Classical scales where they struggle to get noticed.

end of report.