The Inaugural Happy Trails Toilet Paper Races

Throughout the show, the materials for the toilet paper racing sat enticingly close to the raffle items, sunlight glinting off the loving cup so generously donated by Shannon Rodgers.

Well, not really, but you get the idea! Having them out and displayed did create a lot of interest and anticipation, though!

We set two tables up together and got started. Racing was harder than it looked.

Your model could fall over, but if it was still on the toilet paper, then it wasn't out yet.

Pat Reed and Liisa Etrita raced first with Lisa winning the first heat.

Leslie stepped up next with Breyer's Halloween Stablemate, Cornelious. She'd borrowed him from my collection so we were an owner/jockey pair. LOL

Kelsey Kramer raced Kamie Fenwick. 

Kelsey's Donovan raced on all fours for stability. It worked!

She beat Kammie and then lost to Leslie in her next race.

Leslie and Shannon's heat.

Brooke and Michele Evans. (Brooke borrowed my Torlinie so we were another owner/jockey pair.)

Finally, there were just two people undefeated - Leslie and Brooke.

The three of us realized after the show that we'd had the current Feast director facing off with the past one. Go figure!

It was a tight race, but Brooke's Torlinie was taken down by the folding crack in the table and Cop an Attitude and Leslie won the silver cup!

Cop an Attitude/Cornelius is back home and on my shelf and the cup is at Leslie's home. I let Brooke keep Torlinie for next time.

If you are having any kind of model horse gathering, I highly recommend having toilet paper races as part of the day. Not only were they fun, but they were a great mixer that brought us all together. We did a lot of laughing and cheering each other on.

That wraps up coverage of the 2025 Happy Trails/Dan Patch Show. I'm already thinking of next year and holding it again in Oxford. Maybe moving the date to June. or September.

Stay 'tooned!

Happy Trails V/The Dan Patch Show is Almost Here

The Dan Patch Show is only one week away! And I have been very busy with final preparations for it.

So have Brooke and Tom - the Prairie Victorian/Dan Messner building (left) is really starting to sparkle! (Photo by Brooke.)

The swag bags have been filled. I wish I could show you what's in them, but some folks who are coming also read Horsiemama and I want them to be surprised. (I did take a photo; maybe I'll show it after the show is over.)

This is a fun show so the classlist is not your usual live show set of classes. I'm judging and I told folks that for the most part, I would look for the piece that best describes the title of the class. The judging will probably be tricky as a result.

I have a big bag of rosettes that someone gave me a while back and I was delighted to find four complete sets of champ and reserves for the show.

Between leftover ribbons from past shows, donations, and adding in ribbons I've won myself in live shows, I have plenty to cover the classes.

I purchased these Collecta by Breyer pieces as prizes for the two divisions of the show,

but then I ended up creating four divisions. At this point, I am undecided as to how I will use them.

There are lots of donations for the raffle.

All proceeds from the raffle will be given to Brooke and Tom to use as they continue their work on restoring the historic building.

The show also features a swap meet, a brief talk by Brooke about the building's history and connection to Dan Patch, and a Toilet Paper Derby!

Craig, Mila, Emily, and Lukie in our family Toilet Paper Derby last summer. I learned a lot by watching the one we did at home - roll the paper, don't pull it, no lifting the paper off the table, and have a well balanced Stablemate!

I am so excited about this show and can hardly wait for next Saturday!