National Western Stock Show, Jan, 2005
Denver, Colorado

This 15 day event was long, but wonderful to be a part of!

Babydoll offers her services on the flat-cart.  Those are police officers from the Denver Mounted Patrol that Babydoll is giving a ride to.   Usually, the "cops" are chasing the gypsies, not riding along with them!   

The Stock Show has a downtown parade in Denver which we were invited to participate in.  Babydoll (under saddle) and Dinah (on the wagon) were the gypsy horse representatives. 

Jeff (on Babydoll), Gary Smith (driving wagon), and "officer Thomas" in the door of the wagon head out to the parade.  Thomas was an honerary Denver Mounted Patrol member for the week!  As a note, Gary is the only other American allowed to drive the wagon.  He was with Jeff on the trip in England, so "earned his wings" on the wagon before it came to the USA. 

Parades are all about waiting around.  Here we are just waiting and waiting for the parade to begin.  I thought B'doll was looking cute and fuzzy though! 

The gypsy camp display.  This educational display about gypsies, their horses, and their traditions is available for hire in some circumstances.  It's a huge hit with the public, and the literature provided always invites questions and understanding of the unique gypsy people. 

In the above pictures, the cart was out being used on a horse.  I put this picture in now that it's back. 

Our boy Thomas (an honorary member of the Denver Mounted Patrol), tends his turtle soup and water for tea at the campfire.  Anyone for a steaming bowl of turtle soup and a hot cup of English tea?  Don't worry turtle-lovers, the turtle is fake!

Something you don't see every day!  Babydoll and Gary Smith entered and showed in the draft horse men's cart class.  They didn't win, but the judge did give them the honorary "best hair" award :>)  The crowd loved her out there with the "big boys"!