This is a National Horse Show for Jumpers, Hunters, Dressage, and Grand Prix. We are seeing the Jumper Class.
A look at one of the jumping paths. Fence heights ranged from 4 to 5 feet in this Jumper Competition.
Once a horse and rider enters the ring, they have 45 seconds countdown until they must start jumping.
This horse has just begun the clock countdown as it prepares to start the circuit.
The horses look so beautiful as they prepared to and recovered their jumps. In this event getting cleanly over the jumps was the goal and not jumping for style.
Coming off a jump.
Moving toward the next jump. Time is also important so they speed up to get near the jump, but must slow down for a controlled jump.
Rider and horse must move as one. The horse must not hesitate or refuse.
Sizing up the next jump.
It seems that all the horse handlers are from Mexico.
Our seating in the VIP tent. There just weren't enough VIPs to fill all the seats so we just had to sit under the shade as faux VIP.
The man in the pink shirt is an owner from Nashville, TN and was nice enough to narrate for us telling us how points are won or lost, timing, and all else we needed to figure out what was going on.
This is our narrators horse. The horse cleared all jumps on the first round in acceptable time. Unfortunately in the final round this horse knocked down one bar losing time and points. No win today for Nashville.
This horse has a beautiful gait.
Clearing the
jump.
Heading towards its final jump.
Tennessee owner with his horse after it successfully completed its
qualifying round.
Beautiful landscape of Northwest Michigan.
A view of the jumping ring.
Clearing a jump.
Preparing for next jump.
Flying high.
Focusing on next jump.
Announcing the next participant.
Clearing the jump and
preparing for the next jump.
One of the highest jumps at 5 feet.
Clearing the jump and
on to next jump.
A practice ring. The landscape surrounding this complex is quite beautiful.
Posting the winners of the Jumper Event.
Handler assisting rider after the qualifying round. This horse went on to win the event.
First place with 2
nd and 3rd place horses in the background. This horse won the qualifying round and then the final round.
The Winner.
Mabel's famous diner is providing the food for the event and offering
Moomers Ice Cream.
Moomers just won the Best Regional Ice Cream award from Good Morning America. It really is good!
While we enjoy our ice cream, we have a wonderful surround view and a view of other show rings.
In the distance, a Spa Resort building rises. Our RV Park is mid-way between this deck and that building. It is behind the distant tree line.
On the way home from the horse show. We are only 2 miles for Traverse Bay RV Resort--an easy ride.
Nice warm bed. Oops, I just launched a few applications.
Alden, a small town, with lots of character. Plants, flowers, and friendly shop owners are so appealing.
One of many lovely shops in Alden.
The town has about 4 blocks where shops and restaurants abound.
Higgins General Store has been around for a very long time and still sells of little of everything.
This building, now a shop, was built in 1858.
Just outside a Kitchen Store with a sense of humor. Another sign read, If you have a kitchen, get in here!
The most reliable weather predictor in the area.
We had lunch at this delightful outdoor cafe
Near the cafe were these old fashioned flowers that my mother used to grow in the yard where I grew up. Don't see these lovely flowers too often anymore.
Torch Lake with the reputation as one of the most beautiful lakes in the U.S.
This is the public dock that shows how clear this cold water lake is.
The color in this lake varies for aqua green, emerald green, green-blue, blue to darkest blue.
A few stats.
Across the lake to the opposite shore are rolling hills and those beautiful northern trees.
Homes along the shore with their docks and boats.
Tributary of Torch Lake
Puffy clouds beginning to float over the lake.
