Have you ever taken:

• A 5-year-old to the playground
• A ten-year-old to a baseball game
• Any age child to Disneyland

In every case, you’d have an easier time controlling the weather than containing the excitement all these kids have when provided these opportunities.

That’s what it’s like taking Suzanne to a draft horse show and I had that opportunity this past week at the Illinois State Fair. There is no such thing as getting there too early; no chance for a bathroom break; finding something to eat or drink, and you’d better have a seat cushion cause you are going to be there awhile. Where you sit is important too, whenever possible, you sit with the rest of the ‘horse barn people’. These are the families that are currently showing, understand the show process, know all the current horse barn drama, and discuss what is going on behind the scenes as well as their perspective of the show.

I’ve shared with you before Suzanne’s love of horses, so today, I’m going to explain the love-hate relationship Suzanne has with the judges. It doesn’t take her long to tell me that she has figured out if the judge favors Percheron, Clydesdale, or Belgian’s. In my estimation, based on what Suzanne has to say, most of the judges are correct about 60 to 70 percent of the time in how they place the classes.

Some notable comments from my favorite grandstand judge are:

• “589 is the winner, not sure what’s taking the judge so long”
• “He didn’t get any of those right”
• “I think he and I are going to get along just fine tonight”
• “That judge finally got this one right”

Here’s a little context as to why Suzanne loves watching horse shows. Suzanne began riding ponies when she was three years old, showed in 4-H for eight years, and showed at countless regional, County & State Fairs with her parent’s show team “Crider Hitch Ponies” until 1982 when her parents retired from showing. After we were married, she bred, raised, and showed miniature horses until recently. Needless to say, horses are in her blood.

Often our weekend summer travels revolve around a horse show somewhere. Although I don’t get it, the fascination with horses and showing them, there are aspects of my interests that Suzanne doesn’t get either. Even so, going to a horse show is still always fun for me because I get to share more time with my wife. That’s what marriage is all about, the joining of two individuals whose different strengths, weaknesses, and even interests in life are combined to make for a more fulfilling life together.

I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

Zechariah 1:8