Hello to everyone back in the States! I have to admit that I am really excited to judge my first horse show abroad–in the Czech Republic no less. I wasn’t expecting my first assignment to be in a small eastern European town, but I visited Prague back in 2002 when I was studying abroad and doing my journalism internship at NBC London. It was a gorgeous city, and I am excited to be back in the country. I must admit I always wanted to be a travel writer and report from remote locations–who knew I would be able to do it involving horses!
David Avery, who is the director of International Affairs for AQHA, called me in March and asked if I would like to judge a show in the Czech Republic. I immediately jumped at the chance. What I did not know was that the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) funds part of our trip. I am also supposed to set up a meeting with the FAS Minister-Counselor, Michael Henney, who works at the American Embassy in the Office of Agricultural Affairs in Prague to discuss promoting horses in the Czech Republic. Also, while the FAS funds our plane ticket to the country, AQHA pays for our judge’s fee which is $500 a day plus expenses. I have to turn in an international report of my trip with receipts within 30 days and then I will be sent my check from AQHA. The international affiliate provides the transportation, housing, and meals during my stay. Find out more about my trip to the Czech Republic below.
Saturday and Sunday–June 4th and 5th, 2011–Hello everyone in the states! This was my first day to judge abroad, and I was looking forward to getting started. The show management had a nice spread of hot tea, sliced meats, cheese, sliced tomatoes and rolls for breakfast for everyone in the cafe. Our day started bright and early at 8 am, and the show manager, Martina, and my ring steward, Katerina Sadlikova was on the ball and very helpful. I became friends with Katerina on Facebook before I met her in person. She has a little boy that is two years-old named, Michael, so, we bonded over having boys. She speaks very good english and is a very good scribe. (pictured left Katerina with me)
The show was very private, and it felt like I was judging a show on someone’s private ranch–which in fact is what it is. It did not have the feel of a show that is held on fairgrounds or on county property. Even though this is my first show abroad, I have the feeling that the smaller shows that are held in more isolated countries are largely held on private properties.
I judged the regular halter, showmanship, hunter under saddle, equitation, western pleasure, horsemanship, reining, trail and western riding today. Everyone seemed to have a good time and there were quite a few people in the stands watching, taking pictures and filming. They handed out prizes, plagues, and ribbons to all the competitors. The Czech’s running the show took their jobs very serious, and I could tell they were trying to run the show in the most professional and smooth manner. They did a fantastic job. One interesting fact was that there are a lot of people interested in the Czech Quarter Horse Association that help out but who don’t actually show. They may have horses, but several of them did not compete. In the states, I would say that is a very rare occurrence. They played a lot of country music which coming from Tennessee made me feel like I was home–until they mixed in a little Czech heavy metal in between some of the country songs. I had schnitzel and orange juice mixed with water for lunch which are both very common in the Czech Republic. I also was treated to Sponge Bob Square Pants translated into the Czech language and the Czech version of American Idol on the television during lunch–I thought I could actually get away from Sponge Bob across the globe–not a chance. That annoying little animated sponge follows me everywhere.
Just a little background on the country–The Czech Republic is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest. It is about the size of the state of New York. With regards to the Czech language. Dobrý den is “Hello” in Czech. DÃky is “Thanks” and Zuby is “teeth”–which I quickly had to learn because of people having to show teeth in the halter mares and stallions. I also learned that Krok is “Walk”, Klus is “Trot”, Cval is “Canter” and Prosim is “Please” in the Czech language. I tried to call the gaits in Czech when I remembered. One funny thing that happened was that I woke up in the middle of the night remembering that in Europe they do their measurements in meters and not inches and that math was not my strong suit. So, I proceeded to get out of bed and look at the measurements for the trail and luckily the measurements for the trail distances has meter measurements in parentheses right next to the inches–so my worry of having to convert meters to inches was quickly abated. Thank you AQHA for putting that in the rulebook for us mathematically challenged individuals. (picture of church in Czech Republic countryside)
The largest classes at the show were the halter and reining. There were some nice reining horses as well as several impressive amateur and youth riders. This group of Czech’s are serious about their horses. Tomorrow we start at 9am with all the novice classes.
Before I sign off, another amusing thing that happened was when I went to go to the restroom in the cafe–the signs on the door said, “Muži ” and “Damy.” I stood there for awhile and finally the girl that works at the cafe told me that the girls bathroom was Damy….It made me think that maybe the owner of the ranch might think about putting male and female pictures on the doors for american judges–just saying! I had goulash and bread for dinner. I also met a new friend, Romana who works for the equine supplement company, Alltech. We took a walk down the cobblestone streets to the center of the village. All the way there, Romana was laughing at me because I was taking pictures of “ugly old buildings” but I love anything that has history behind it. Anyways, time to go to bed—looking forward to another day of judging!
June 5th–Sunday, Today started the Novice classes where a lady name Jitka took over from Martina who had to go take care of her three and a half month old son, Mark, who was adorable and slept attached to her while she managed the show yesterday. Many of the same competitors that showed on Saturday in the regular classes also showed in the novice classes. We got done around 4pm, and Jitka drove me back to Prague were I am staying three extra days to enjoy the city. Jitka and I hit it off really well–but as you know, a judge always gets questioned about why we placed a class a certain way. Well, it just so happened that I was judging her horse in several classes both days, but I did not realize it was her horse. Lucky for me, her horse did quite well in the all-around classes and it was a friendly a cheerful drive back to Prague. However, she did question me on why I placed this one horse over her mare in the Performance Halter Mares, and I told her that it was basically a toss up but that her mare was more gelding headed than the other mare and that was the considering factor in why I placed the class in that order. She understood my reasoning and accepted my answer–but I still don’t think she agreed. But, that is what is great about being a judge–we all have our own opinions. My first experience judging abroad was very enlightening, and I thank AQHA, and David Avery for giving me this amazing opportunity. And to think back–the love of horses and being involved in this industry was the catalyst that gave me the opportunity to have this amazing experience. Hope to see everyone back stateside! Check out my Facebook if anyone is interested in seeing pictures of my days in Prague. Chow! (picture of some of the show horses)
Prague and Krakovany, Czech Republic: June 2nd and 3rd–Hello Everyone back in the States! I left Nashville at 2:07 pm on June 2nd, and took a connecting flight to Atlanta, where, then, I took a direct flight from Atlanta to Prague. It was a 9 and a half hour trip. I arrived in Prague which is seven hours ahead of central time at around 9:30 am, June 3rd. A taxi driver named, Pavel, picked me up at the Prague airport and drove me about an hour to meet up with a gentleman named Ondrej Zalabak who looks like an amish cowboy with a flat brimmed black hat and knee high cowboy boots. Loved him already! He is a television producer/cattle breeder who seems to love his cattle and horses.
We finally arrived in the town of Krakovany which is about two hours south east of Prague–it is a quaint eastern European village with cobble stone streets and houses with red roofs. We turn into the ranch where the arena has a white dome like roof and the ranch is titled, “KR Happy Hour”. I meet Michal Petlan who is the president of the Czech Quarter Horse Association, and I am shown to my room on the ranch. All the rooms are named after famous reining stallions–I stayed in the Einstein Revolutions room with two single beds close to the floor, a television, and my own bathroom. Across the hall was the Hollywood Dun It room and down the hall you could find rooms named after Smart Chic Olena, Custom Chrome, Topsail Whiz and Wimpys Little Step. KR Happy Hour is owned by Mirka Dolezala who is obviously obsessed with reiners. He has posters of famous reining horses in his newly constructed barn. This property was only finished a few months ago with its still pristine barns, arena, and hotel/bunkhouse. They also have a nice bar and cafe within the hotel where everyone can hang out and have a drink and some food. Luckily, I bought some outlet adapters at the Atlanta airport that worked like a charm in my room. Also, straight downstairs from my room is a well stocked bar and it appears that is where everyone hangs out.
Since the Czech Republic is largely known for their beer, I tried the Gamrinus beer which I found quite tasty with the dumplings and gravy sauce that I had for lunch which is a common lunch staple in the Czech Republic. I haven’t figured out how to work the internet here, but I did figure out that one of the remotes controlled the wall air conditioning until which was a life saver because you know how Americans can’t live without their air conditioning. I also have a television in the room but unfortunately it only is in the Czech language which if you have ever tried to learn—is impossible! I guess I will have to go through television withdrawals while I’m here. Another interesting note is how the Czech’s haul their horses. All the trailers I have seen have been two horse bumper pulls, and most of them are pulled by SUVs not trucks– most common being the Volkswagen Taureg, Toyota Highlander, Mercedes, Audi, and Mitsubishi. I also had to figure out how to go to HorseShowPatterns.com and print out a Trail pattern. It was difficult because I had not yet figured out how to get the internet working on my computer, and I had to use a laptop and internet set to the Czech language. I didn’t realize I had to send a trail pattern, since at most shows, the show management does them. Finally, I got it to work! I also called my son, Hunter, on Skype which I think is the best invention–I couldn’t believe I was talking to my son on my computer and calling his father’s mobile phone in the United States–it was cheap too!
Well, it is almost 2am here on Saturday morning which is around 7pm central time on Friday night in the states. I have to get up to judge at 8am in the morning so I better head off to bed. More details tomorrow about judging my first show abroad and what it is like judging in the Czech Republic.
