For starters, I’m still contemplating how I’m going to move to Kentucky. Y’ALL, every single time we visit this beautiful state I fall in love all over again. The Wild Journey was coming to an end and the mustangs went from being undomesticated to gentled, willing, and beautiful in 112 days. If you missed the previous posts, you’ll definitely need to catch up here. We went to Kentucky a few days early to give the horses time to settle and for us to enjoy the town. A sweet, dear friend let us stay at her farm. Her hospitality was overflowing as soon as we pulled in the long driveway. This farm was glorious. The greenest, most lush grass everywhere. The barn was the perfect setup anddd she had a covered arena to escape the heat of summer. I could go on, but I’ll save you the time. Our stay there was wonderful. Horses, dogs, and humans happy.
The first day we ate lunch at our favorite local spot, Wallace Station, {it’s tradition}! So delicious. I highly recommend the ETR Fish Sandwich and potato salad. Then we explored downtown Midway: unique boutiques, handmade shops, local finds, and the railway goes straight through town. We ventured to the visitor center at The Kentucky Horse Park. The gardens and grounds are so nice there. When we got back to the farm they got the horses out to stretch a leg. We found ourselves eating dinner at Mezzo – Italian Cafe. It was a great day sightseeing and takin’ it easy.
The next day was rainy and cloudy. I had already calculated how far we were from The Ark Encounter. I had been wanting to go there since they opened. And…so, we went. The experience was incredible, amazing, informative, and fun! Also, I rode a camel, so what more do you need? We were thankful to have the extra time to enjoy ourselves before the heat of the competition started. We would move to The Kentucky Horse Park the next day.
The Kentucky Extreme Mustang Makeover Competition consisted of three preliminary classes over the span of three days. They combine scores and announce The Top 10 Finalists. Then the Top 10 have a compulsory class and a freestyle class which combine to determine winners. Let’s just say, the three days were a roller coaster. We had very little time to eat, sleep, or relax. In some ways it felt like three weeks and others, like three minutes.
The experiences and lessons learned over the past 3 months paid off when the competition began. They both ended up Top 10 Finalist {hallelujah}! BUT, they didn’t stop there! Erik and Partner placed 8th overall and my sister, Kirsten, and Tux won the Kentucky Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion! My heart almost burst from excitement and an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness! What a journey.
Speaking of journey…the past three months has definitely been one heck of a ride. These mustangs went from wild to mild in 112 days. The process consisted of a whole lotta patience, willingness, sacrifice, long days, sleepless nights, working together, and laughing so we didn’t cry. These two mustangs have left a mark on our lives and Kirsten + Erik’s horsemanship. They wouldn’t be where they are today without Tux and Partner. It was a wild journey, but worth it, no doubt.
Love,
A Cowboy’s Tired, Proud Wife
