They're BACK!!

Got a few more things ticked off on my "to do" list. I've just about caught up at work, and now I'm hoping to get my list going on the house. I'm feeling better about things now. Otherwise, the week is going on pretty much as normal. That is UNTIL I drive back home, into Shelbyville. Yes folks, it's horseshow time in Shelbyville. For those of you unfamiliar with southern middle Tennessee let me explain the tradition. Every year, during the last 10 days of August, Shelbyville hosts The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. This event is recognized world wide by walking horse lovers, and it seems that Shelbyville is its Mecca. Now, here's why this event makes Shelbyville so crazy. See, Shelbyville's city population is around 14,000. Every year 50,000 visitors come into town to attend the celebration. Anyone see any problems forming here? Our sleepy little town is NOT designed to handle that kind of traffic or overwhelming flood of people. This event is so big and so many make their living in the horse industry in Shelbyville, that school is shut down for the whole 10 days. During horseshow time, it's such a pain to drive across town, go out to eat, grocery shop (although they do have price wars and you can get 2 litter Cokes for 39 cents!!!), etc. Town is completely choked with people. Since I love cities, it usually doesn't bother me all that much, except when I drive back into town. There's only one way in from each direction. All routes, except one, are 2 lane roads. Let a caravan of horse trailers get in front of you, and you might as well take a lunch and a book. We also have a city square. There are signs posted all over that say, right turns only. Every year, there is ALWAYS someone driving around it backwards. Not only frustrating, but dangerous as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for our visitors, because without this event the town would shrivel up and die. But crimeny folks, pay attention to driving rules and street signs!!

Now, about the walking horses themselves. They are absolutely beautiful creatures. Granted there are disagreements in certain treatments and training of these horses, they are a beautiful thing to behold. Guidelines have pretty much wiped abuse out over the years, but there are still cases reported. They have a very smooth gait. That is mainly what they are judged upon. Even the most inexperienced rider will usually be able to ride an English saddle on a Tennessee Walker. The whole point is for a clean, smooth gait with no motion for the rider. They are trained to hit one front foot directly in front of the other creating the smooth gait, and they are shod on their front feet on tall platforms. This causes the horse's haunches to squat low thus creating the smooth gait. They were originally trained in the days of cotton plantations used as work horses. Plantation owners trained them with their special "walk" to walk between the rows of cotton without trampling them. To illustrate my point, here are a couple of pictures from the publication The Walking Horse Report.

Anway, just a little share of Shelbyville culture for you all.

Also, after we got home yesterday, after making a cricket run at Aquatic Critter, I took Bear out for his nightly walk. As we were headed out, my across the street neighbor came out with her Chihuahua and her little Pug, Angel. Well, Angel and Bear have hit it off, and spent some time playing and chasing each other. It was just so funny, that little Pug running around barking and chasing Bear. Maybe in the next couple of days, I can get pictures of them playing, and get them posted on here. Well, that's about it for today...TAH!