Post by haffyfan on May 9, 2016 20:40:32 GMT
And what a glorious sunny and warm day it was, i have some rather strange tan lines (even for a rider)!
Pen is still hanging on to her winter coat a bit (as are the boys) but it was such a nice day forecast we decided to go a new (to me) venue, just over the border in Sheffield/Derbyshire.
After the sat nav took us an interesting route (through the land time forgot but should have dropped a bomb on) we suddenly realised where it roughly was taking us and how there was a much easier and straighter route to come home on. We arrived around 9.00am and thought uh oh as there was only a couple of boxes there but after us a steady stream started to arrive and it seems the jumping and ridden classes don't start until a little later than the first inhand classes.
It was slightly interesting parking, in very rutted cow fields on seriously long grass, not helped by the grass being very wet from the dew and no 4 wheel drive but we got ten ton tess out and my oh was then able to get it going again and maneuver into a spot and we avoided having to be towed out for home (as some had to be) by not loading her until my oh got it back on the path at the end of the day. I am wondering if i should swop my beloved volvo for a 4x4 but can't afford an xc60
It'll cost a fortune, in comparison, to run one all the time too i should imagine.
I was debating doing the novice ridden class (if they'd have let me bitless that is) but the rings were also quite rutted with equally long grass and on a slight slope, the ridden being the flattest. Canter is very much a work in progress and i don't think we could have cantered a circle in the ridden ring to save our lives in honesty. I feel like i keep wimping out on doing a ridden class with her but i will in the right circumstances...a big flat ring where she can establish canter on a corner with a decent long side to get it going and balanced before we have to turn or attempt a circle.
So we stuck to the inhand, we won a decent sized mixed M & M class and were third in a massive coloured class which filled the ring. I think about 70% of the horses competing (in all rings) were true coloureds with a fair few alternatives as well.
I almost left the ring in the coloured as we were literally nose to nose to tail around the ring with two very bolshy ones and a kicker around us (typical). I really thought it was going to be carnage but the judge and steward very quickly took the bolshy ones into the centre, (quite literally one as the teen handling was in a world of her own) out of harms way, whilst they split the rest of us to create some space and then sent the bolshy ones to stand in 'safer' corners whilst the individual pieces were done, then swapped us over. It was actually good practice for bigger shows as it felt like we stood in line for eternity, thank fully by then she had gorged herself on grass outside the ring and unlike in the M & M wasn't trying to get her head down. I have to say I was quite surprised we placed, as non of the other alternatives did and there were some really lovely horses in the class.
The judge was very complimentary about Pen, and is an experienced panel judge so it was nice to have her feedback. On the basis of which we are planning on going to the Derbyshire Highland, Dales and Fell show next month and will have a look at what other suitably dated shows have highland or large breed, excluding welsh, classes within a reasonable distance. The bug bear being most are on weekdays
Sorry about the length, wine and nibbles for anyone who managed to read even half of it!
Pen is still hanging on to her winter coat a bit (as are the boys) but it was such a nice day forecast we decided to go a new (to me) venue, just over the border in Sheffield/Derbyshire.
After the sat nav took us an interesting route (through the land time forgot but should have dropped a bomb on) we suddenly realised where it roughly was taking us and how there was a much easier and straighter route to come home on. We arrived around 9.00am and thought uh oh as there was only a couple of boxes there but after us a steady stream started to arrive and it seems the jumping and ridden classes don't start until a little later than the first inhand classes.
It was slightly interesting parking, in very rutted cow fields on seriously long grass, not helped by the grass being very wet from the dew and no 4 wheel drive but we got ten ton tess out and my oh was then able to get it going again and maneuver into a spot and we avoided having to be towed out for home (as some had to be) by not loading her until my oh got it back on the path at the end of the day. I am wondering if i should swop my beloved volvo for a 4x4 but can't afford an xc60
It'll cost a fortune, in comparison, to run one all the time too i should imagine.I was debating doing the novice ridden class (if they'd have let me bitless that is) but the rings were also quite rutted with equally long grass and on a slight slope, the ridden being the flattest. Canter is very much a work in progress and i don't think we could have cantered a circle in the ridden ring to save our lives in honesty. I feel like i keep wimping out on doing a ridden class with her but i will in the right circumstances...a big flat ring where she can establish canter on a corner with a decent long side to get it going and balanced before we have to turn or attempt a circle.
So we stuck to the inhand, we won a decent sized mixed M & M class and were third in a massive coloured class which filled the ring. I think about 70% of the horses competing (in all rings) were true coloureds with a fair few alternatives as well.
I almost left the ring in the coloured as we were literally nose to nose to tail around the ring with two very bolshy ones and a kicker around us (typical). I really thought it was going to be carnage but the judge and steward very quickly took the bolshy ones into the centre, (quite literally one as the teen handling was in a world of her own) out of harms way, whilst they split the rest of us to create some space and then sent the bolshy ones to stand in 'safer' corners whilst the individual pieces were done, then swapped us over. It was actually good practice for bigger shows as it felt like we stood in line for eternity, thank fully by then she had gorged herself on grass outside the ring and unlike in the M & M wasn't trying to get her head down. I have to say I was quite surprised we placed, as non of the other alternatives did and there were some really lovely horses in the class.
The judge was very complimentary about Pen, and is an experienced panel judge so it was nice to have her feedback. On the basis of which we are planning on going to the Derbyshire Highland, Dales and Fell show next month and will have a look at what other suitably dated shows have highland or large breed, excluding welsh, classes within a reasonable distance. The bug bear being most are on weekdays
Sorry about the length, wine and nibbles for anyone who managed to read even half of it!
Attachments:
It is a minefield here as the regs are quite severe (I really do not know if it is also the case in the UK). I imagine your volvo is well up the job but down here you see a lot of people towing double trailers with small saloon cars, which is not only illegal but dangerous. A lot of people pay no attention to towing ratios but will come unstuck one day - or fall foul of the gendarmes. I confess I am often grateful to have a 4x4 and I absolutely adore my Hilux but a pick up does not suit everyone.
It's fine on the roads etc and usually okay on grass unless it's very wet/hilly/muddy and then it's not so great. Better if pen's out as my oh doesn't have to drive so carefully and of course it's a good half a ton lighter, hence if it's tricky we try to leave loading until it's on firm ground. 
for so much hard work we thank ye!!