09/07/2026
✨ 2026 RMHA International recap for Three T Rockies ✨
It was a LONG, HOT week and this recap is probably going to be just as long. 🤣
First and foremost, THANK YOU to our parents (and brother) for absolutely everything they did this week — groceries, cooking, babysitting, late nights, holding horses, cleaning stalls, and everything in between.
In 14 years of showing Mountain Horses, this was by far the most prepared and smooth-running International we’ve ever had. We cannot thank you guys enough for taking off work and spending over a week — and a HOT one at that — helping us do what we love. It truly takes a village, and we have a pretty dang good one. 🩷
Now, onto the horses… because this International was interesting, to say the least. 🤣 Regardless of ribbons, placings, or a few bumps along the way, we came home beyond proud of every horse we unloaded from that trailer.
💕 TTR’S ENVY
Day 1 was a little rough for Envy and me. Our first class, we were entirely too slow and our halt was definitely not pretty. She didn’t walk, but “wiggly” might be putting it nicely. 🤣 In her defense, the music, flashing lights, and people were a LOT for an old girl to take in. We got the gate, and it was fully expected and deserved.
But we regrouped.
We came back for AOT Mares & Geldings ready to redeem ourselves and placed 2nd out of 12! 🥈
Next came probably our most anticipated class — Amateur Western — where we placed 5th out of 10 in Envy’s very first western class! With Envy’s SLL, she can get pretty stiff through the front end, which has made teaching her that 360° spin a little challenging. Still, I couldn’t be prouder of what she gave me, and I’m already looking forward to next year.
Her last class ended up being one of my favorites of the entire week.
For the FIRST TIME EVER in Kentucky, Will and I got to show against each other — on Envy and Jr., who are half siblings! Envy finished 4th and Jr. finished 5th out of 9. Definitely one of those little moments I’ll remember. 🩷🖤
🖤 TTR’S LABONHEIR
Jr. had himself a pretty dang good International!
He started the week with a 4th and a 2nd in his first two classes. 🥈
For whatever reason, at the Horse Park he likes to drop his head behind the vertical. I normally hate swapping bits around in the middle of a show, but we decided to change him into something a little lighter. He came back in AOT Country Trail against Envy and placed 5th.
I honestly think he might have given Envy a run for her money, but unfortunately some people on the front row were messing around and scared him a little. That’s horses and horse shows for you.
Jr. also reminded us this week that underneath the stallion exterior, he is, in fact, a giant spoiled baby. 🤦🏼♀️
He decided he absolutely WOULD NOT eat his grain unless someone stood there and held his feed pan or bucket for him.
Some people may remember that when Jr. was weaned, he HATED the corner feeders we had, so every morning and every evening I had to stand there and hold his feed while he ate.
Apparently some things never change. 🤣
👑 SILVER’S METEOR SHOWER
My pride and joy. The Queen. The horse I love ALMOST as much as my child. 🤣🖤
Mimi and I decided to do something a little different this year. She showed in BOTH AOT Trail Pleasure and AOT Show Pleasure because apparently after all these years we’re still indecisive and can’t figure out which one we like better. 🤷🏼♀️🤣
We started in Amateur Conformation and got the gate. Not sure why, it is what it is, but we were SO proud to see her half brother take the Amateur Conformation win!
Then it was time to ride.
AOT Mares & Geldings — 4th out of 8.
Her first under-saddle class is always a little hit or miss because she comes in WIRED, but she gave me a great ride.
AOT Mares & Geldings Show Pleasure — 4th out of 6.
Another great ride from my girl.
We gave her Friday night off after she cut her eyelid. I wanted to let her rest and give the swelling some time to go down. By Saturday, her eye looked tremendously better…
So back to Championships we went. 👑
In the AOT Trail Grand Championship, Mimi gave me another good ride and we came out RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION! 🥈🏆
That Reserve Championship was exactly what we needed. It pulled us out of the discouraged mindset we’d gotten ourselves into and completely changed how we approached our last class.
We went into the AOT Show Pleasure Grand Championship with exactly TWO goals:
Have a good ride and HAVE FUN.
We surpassed both.
Mimi gave me the best ride she’s given me all year, and I think we had more fun in that class than we’ve ever had together.
Like I said last night — hearing people cheer for her, seeing people love her like we do, and knowing that at the end of the night she gets to come home and live in OUR barn will always mean more to me than any ribbon ever could.
Some days I still can’t believe that when she was born, I looked at her and thought she’d never make a show horse.
My Mamaw knew better.
She had all the faith in the world in Mimi.
Turns out, she was right. 🖤
🎀 LEXI & ENVY
And then there was quite possibly the cutest debut of International…
Lexi and Envy made their Leadline debut! 🥹🩷
Obviously I’m biased, but I’m pretty sure they were the cutest pair I’ve ever seen.
Lexi smiled, waved at everyone, talked her way around the arena, and had the absolute time of her life. She got a little bashful when it came time to talk to the judges, but she had SO much fun showing her pony alongside her friends.
I have a serious love/hate relationship with how fast time moves.
Part of me wants her to stay this little forever.
But another part of me absolutely cannot wait for the day I get to stand on the rail and watch Envy and Lexi walk into that ring all by themselves. 🥹
Our show friends that are more like family that we’re so grateful for.
A huge thank you to our family at LHV for everything they do for us. From getting our International stalls, keeping our horses shod right, to literally picking us up on the side of the road in 108° heat, Henry and Makayla are some of the best friends you could ask for.
I don’t think there’s anyone who works harder — except MAYBE Sylvia, who is basically the glue holding everything together at the shows. 🤣 Even through all the stress and chaos that comes with horse showing, we somehow always manage to have a great time.
Thank you to everyone with Stoner Ridge for being such great neighbors. We LOVE being stalled beside good people!
Thank you to the RMHA, ISC, and everyone working behind the scenes to make International happen. We definitely don’t envy the job you guys have, but please know that the work you put into this show is beyond appreciated.
Thank you to the judges — standing in that arena for hours in that heat had to be absolutely unbearable, and we appreciate you.
And last, but CERTAINLY not least, thank you to Jessica for holding the entire funny farm together back home while we were gone. 🤣❤️
We came home tired, sweaty, maybe a little sunburnt, with some ribbons, some lessons learned, a few stories we’ll probably tell for years, and a whole lot of appreciation for these horses and the people who make this crazy life possible.
Another RMHA International is officially in the books. 🩷🖤
Horses bred, solely trained, shown, and loved dearly by Three T Rockies — William, Allison & Lexington Jones
📍 Loogootee, Indiana
