Another Goodbye, Another Good Time

Once again I find myself forlorn with the fact that yet another faire has come to a close. Minnesota was more fun than I could of ever imagined, and I am so thankful for the opportunities that were presented to me here, as well as the memories that I made and the friends that I met. It has been quite the memorable experience here, but as sad as I may be to leave, I am also excited for the adventures that Louisiana holds in wait for me.

Our last weekend here ended up being a three day weekend, as the festival was open on Friday as well as the usual Saturday and Sunday. Two day weekends typically tire us out pretty effectively, so having to make it through a three day weekend was something none of us were really looking forward to. Thankfully, Friday ended up being a slower day, so Shelby and I actually got a chance to walk around the faire a bit and get some shopping done. Minnesota’s fair is a lot larger than Sterling, so there was quite a bit to see, and the shops are quite more numerous and varied. After working there 7 weeks, it was nice to be able to peruse the grounds and enjoy a nice break.

Daisy and I

However, the best part about the weekend was the fact that I got to ride Daisy the Destroyer for my passes! Daisy is pretty much once of the best jousting horses the company owns, she knows her job and will take care of you in the lyst. Plus she’s an adorable teddy bear, as well as the fiercest war horse who will paw the ground in anticipation of the run. Everyone loves Daisy, and I was absolutely thrilled that I got the privilege to ride her. After my tough last weekend with Abe, it was decided that I should ride Daisy to boost back my confidence, as she would give me nice clean runs so I could focus on my lance control and seat.

Sir William and I preparing to enter the field

Daisy did not disappoint! She ran like a champ, and gave me some wonderful runs. Friday Dave took me out the last pass when we both collided, Saturday I made it through all the passes without meeting the dirt, and Sunday I was once again blasted into the ground. Even though I was unhorsed a few times, I still had an amazing weekend, and felt like I was in such better control of my universe during passes. Having a reliable horse under you makes it so much easier to get the job done, and I am so thankful for Daisy. I felt like my aim was better, and I was able to deliver some solid blows and even break a few lances! I know the things I need to improve on, mostly riding through the hit and driving me and my horse forward, but I feel like I’m making strides in the right direction.

As we head into the next faire, I am excited for what the future hold for me. I will be more integrated into the show in Louisiana, participating in both the Baston Course as well as the ground fight. I’m very excited, but know that it will be a lot of work and leave me aching and sore. But the best part is that I love what I do, so the aches aren’t too bad and the pain ebbs away. After Saturday’s show, I dismounted Daisy and skipped to the center to meet Dave, a grin from ear to ear. And even after Friday and Sunday’s falls, I was back on my feet talking with my audience with a smile on my face telling them I was okay and that I loved it.

Anatomy of a Blowout

Anatomy of a Blowout

Anatomy of a Blowout

Anatomy of a Blowout

Having a supportive crowd makes what I do so much more amazing as well. I love talking with my audience afterwards, and getting to meet the people who were cheering me on during my passes. Some of my favorite interactions this faire were a grandma who wanted to take a picture with me and a family with 3 boys. The grandma took a picture and told me she was going to send it to her granddaughter and tell her she could be anything she wanted to, and told me she was proud of my accomplishments. The family was adorable when the mom told me all the boys were so worried when I came off and wanted to make sure I was ok. I had to reassure them that I was alright, and they were all amazed and in awe of my armor and my riding. There were so many people who came up and told me how awesome it was to see a woman on the field, and I love that I am able to inspire others and leave people pleased with the performance they saw.

No caption needed. Thank you Daisy!

This job is not easy. There is little financial gain in it, and I find myself in a constant state of discomfort in one small way or another. We work hard. We play hard. There’s constant struggles to overcome, and I will always have to be striving to do better than my best. But it’s worth it. It’s worth living in a tent and making very little. To wake up every day and get to work with amazing people and amazing horses, it’s worth it. To go to bed every night with a smile on my face and laughter in my heart, it’s worth it. A lot of people questioned my decision to do this, and to this day I still face criticism for my decision, but I am so very glad that I did. The memories I’m making and the experiences that I’m gaining are worth all the heartache and pain I have to overcome for this job.

Tomorrow the wheels hit the road and I will be headed down south for more adventures, and I am more than ready to face what’s in store for me.  Since the faire doesn’t actually start until November, I will be sure to take some time to introduce more of the crew and horses here and spend time talking about our technique rides with the horses. Stay tuned my faithful followers, and wish me luck on my travels!

Much love to you all!

XoXo