Xoe is only 8-10 months old, but she keeps her cool more than many older horses I've worked with. At the Fremont County Fair, they were giving kids rides in a fire truck and an ambulance. Periodically the driver would turn on the sirens and flashing lights. Xoe just gazed on curiously, very relaxed and totally unfazed.
She stood quietly tied to the trailer all day at the horse show. After the trail class ended, we snuck into the arena and Kid 3 walked her through obstacles she had never seen before. She hadn't even seen any other horses on the course since she was tied up on the far side of the trailer across the parking lot while the class was being held. She has never crossed a bridge before, but had no fear--in fact, on the video you can see that she stops and nibbles on a few leaves that were caught on top of the bridge. No problem whatsoever!
Last night was Kid 3's assigned demonstration speech time for the 4-H fair. We had to take Valentine since her talk was on "How to Groom a Horse", so we loaded up Xoe too. The ranch rodeo just happened to be at the same time, same place. It was really good, because at an adjacent trailer, some kids and their dad were practicing roping dummy cows. Xoe just stood and watched.
If I wasn't maxed out on the number of horses we already have, I'd be really tempted to bid for her myself. Someone is going to get a terrific animal!
Come watch Xoe and Kid 3 strut their stuff tomorrow, August 14 @ 4pm at the In-hand Competition at the Madison County Fairgrounds. The auction will be held this Saturday, August 16 at 2:30 pm, same place. See you there!