This weekend was the PNER convention in Portland, OR. Sinwaan was fortunate enough to be awarded the Rookie Senior Horse of the Year for completing three consecutive rides. I imagine in past years the competition for this award has been tougher but I was really thrilled by both the acknowledgement and the actual award. 
Carlene Bensen is the sponsor for this award and personally called me before convention to ask me about color preferences (red of course) and if I would be there to receive it. At the time I was not planning on going but since she called me and I had an award, I got the plan in motion to go. Matt and Levi and even mother joined me in driving over Friday after work. We always look forward to a chance to spend time with brother Wes and wife Joanie.
Saturday morning I attended the seminar about the Top Ten Mistakes Endurance Riders Make and I found it to be very informative. Afterwards I ran into Candy Schrader and had a very nice visit with her and talked a little with Ernie also as he came and went from the table.
Saturday night Matt and Levi and mother and I attended the awards banquet and I went up to receive the award from Carlene. They displayed a large photo of me on Sinwaan on the projector screen. I thought it was neat how they did this for most people, and during dinner there was also a slideshow of ride photos.
At our table were three ladies I did not know and had never heard their names before, and Laura Applegate and friend Robert. It was nice to meet Laura after so many months of e-mail correspondence.It would have been fun to stick around and dance and listen to the DJ afterwards but Levi was not very agreeable to sitting still through the awards so Matt had to take him out to the lobby and chase him around for a couple of hours.
Thank you to PNER, Carlene, and my family and friends for their support in attaining this award.
