Florida Miniature Zebu Association Extravaganza

This past weekend was the annual FMZA Zebu Extravaganza! It's an annual event for Florida zebu owners to get together and show/sell cattle and socialize too. The venue this year was a real treat. It was held at Black Prong Equestrian. I was in horse heaven when I arrived. Even though I didn't see a single horse while we were there (this is their off-season), I could see all the potential that place has. Their specialty seemed to be carriage racing, but they also had dressage facilites and tons of trails. The apartments we stayed in were great. Each aparment had an attached barn with stalls and tack room. I was seriously bummed that I did not have my horse there with me. The apartments were nice and had a loft for the girls to sleep in.

Saturday started with a showmanship clinic and then we got started with the show after lunchtime. Brooke got in the ring with Gator and did a great job. Steve showed the other zebu we brought and won Grand Champion Steer with Duke!

Sunday was the youth show and Brooke was entered to show Gator in the bull class. She did a great job and was not intimidated by Gator and his occasional stubbornness and headbutts. One of the other moms commented that she was surprised how well Brooke did in the ring. She was used to "quiet and shy" Brooke, not "persistent and confident" Brooke! My favorite part of the weekend was the costume class. I guess it was not well advertised because Brooke was the only child entered. Everyone loved the costumes! Gator was less-than-pleased that his manhood was being robbed and replaced with a grass skirt and coconut bra.

Some of the other highlights from our weekend...

The girls with an albino kangaroo. One of the other zebu owners has a farm of exotics.

Ali helps her daddy walk the zebu around the ring for practice.

Brooke with her two ribbons and a new friend, Raza (details to come).

Me and my little cowgirls