A double Show report..

Fiona

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Such a long time since I did a comp report, and now I've got two within five days lol..... Probably last one until 2017 too ;)

On Monday evening we headed off to an RC show, and entered the under 5 lead rein...

F had an absolutely fab time, I think the judge liked him as he chatted away and answered all his questions, and H pony was so good..



It was very warm, so I took the easy option and didn't put my jacket on, even so I was baked :(



After that, we did two rounds of jumping inside (so no pics :( ) and he went round by himself (apart from the first couple of fences) :)

Great evening, and cooled down with lollipops to finish....

Today, we had a big one..... If in England, I guess it would be called a county show, so we decided to enter the family pony lead rein in the afternoon rather than the posh show hunter lead rein in the morning... Unfortunately this meant hubby had a lazy fit, and didn't want to go in the morning too, so we didn't get to jump in the unaff SJ :( as it was too high by the time we got there..

Unfortunately everyone must have decided family pony was a good idea, there were 18 in the class on a baking hot afternoon :(

This is us in the ring... Jacket well and truly on this time, and v warm it was too ;)



We were first to do the set show, and remembered it fine, but pony was a bit strong in one of the trots which isn't good in any LR class :( so from then, didn't expect to be placed.. Did get to stand under a tree though, which was slightly cooler, as the other 17 followed suit.

She did place the fattest shetland in the world first though, which was bizarre as there were half a dozen ponies who looked ready for bigger and better things, and another half dozen who were workmanlike and competent.....

There were only rosettes to 3rd, but everyone else got a Placed one and a wee medal which pleased all the tinies :)

Here we are...



Then (v different from eventing with the hubby where we chatted in friends lorries or caught up on sleep) we headed off to the funfair and the icecream van, where 4yo enjoyed whizzing down the inflatable slide, and covering his face with goo... Couldn't persuade hubby to try the bucking bull (due to his bad hip :( ) and I didn't fancy being embarrassed by falling off in a few seconds ;) so we made tracks for home to get pony out for a few hours in his paddock :)

Little jockey now crashed out in bed, and I'm drinking tea, and sorting all 120 pics we managed to take :(

I think we may well do jumping rather than showing the next time we head out for an outing though :)

Fiona
 
We definitely had fun AH.. Not sure I'm really a showing person, but even so it's enjoyable occasionally. .

F got to take his red rosette from Monday into school, so he was all chuffed with that :)

Meant to add this pic earlier. It's from our v first show three years ago when he was only two..



Fiona
 
Aww how adorable is that pic! I loved showing my oldie despite it never 'quite' being my thing, but when the sun shone it was always a lovely day out and if we got a rosette then that was a bonus :D.

Looking forward to maybe a few more reports than one every couple of years now ;).
 
Very smart pony and jockey! I must admit I only did showing until me son was old enough to do other things as it wasn't really my thing either but it did get him used to going to the atmosphere of show which was no bad thing.
 
Thanks rosie owner and ah :)

Yes that might well be the case for us too eventing mum. He's off lead at home and at pc now, so fingers crossed by next year he will be doing more sj and the odd wh competition ..

Fiona
 
Such cute pics and well done. I have to say it, though, but your pony looks to be carrying a fair bit of extra weight - is he/she ok?
 
Just a bit :eek3: as a fellow welshie owner I would seriously be looking at this pony's regime and/or testing for EMS and IR.
 
I remember why I gave up on hho sometimes :(

Its funny I happened to meet my vet on the showground yesterday, who complimented me on ponys weight, and how we keep him. Due to recent hacking out on the lead, he is the slimest he has ever been, his ribs can be felt (and seen from the right angle) and he is more than happy. .

The pony who won was morbidly obese, it could hardly trot and had a huge solid crest and belly.. A much more important issue..

Fiona
 
The crest doesn't worry you? Or make you think he may have EMS if otherwise fit and well? They might be alright now but it is the case that always having a crest like that does set them up to develop EMS if they don't already have it.

If you don't want to worry about it that's fine, I would be and won't pass a thread by if I think a pony is being put at a health risk.

What won the class doesn't really matter as wasn't posted on here, there will always be ponies that are worse but it isn't really relevant. I don't think you can be surprised that it was questioned, I would worry about the forum if it wasn't given that most of us are interested in the health of horses and many deal with natives. I figured you were either aware and wouldn't mind it being mentioned or you were living in blissful ignorance in which case it should be mentioned.
 
Congrats! Lovely pics, looks very smart :) I also spot LP in the background lol.

Plus it was definitely a county show - so just wait, soon it'll be balmoral & RDS ;)

I love the fact that Armagh always gets a fantastic day, plus it's such a friendly show!
 
Little bit OTT Esther .... pony doesnt need any more weight on and could do with maybe shedding a few lbs but as Esther's is by the look of it a D and yours is an A they are completely different breeds! I'd like to add though ... scrub those socks and put a paste of chalk powder on and bandage = sparkly white socks the at the show the next day and a discrete brown or no numnah - ditch the white dressage one. x
 
Little bit OTT Esther .... pony doesnt need any more weight on and could do with maybe shedding a few lbs but as Esther's is by the look of it a D and yours is an A they are completely different breeds! I'd like to add though ... scrub those socks and put a paste of chalk powder on and bandage = sparkly white socks the at the show the next day and a discrete brown or no numnah - ditch the white dressage one. x

Thanks mcnaughty... Very helpful :)

Did socks look any cleaner in the last head on pic, as I did wash them for the big show on Saturday. . Will get paste next time though. Any recommendations?

A brown numnah was also purchased for Saturday. Last couple of pics. It looks much better I totally agree..

Fiona
 
Little bit OTT Esther .... pony doesnt need any more weight on and could do with maybe shedding a few lbs but as Esther's is by the look of it a D and yours is an A they are completely different breeds! I'd like to add though ... scrub those socks and put a paste of chalk powder on and bandage = sparkly white socks the at the show the next day and a discrete brown or no numnah - ditch the white dressage one. x

I am quite used to seeing As too and don't see many healthy ones with crests like that I'm afraid. But if Fiona isn't worried and obviously sees him in real life that's fine. I only mentioned that I own a welsh to point out I am not used to TBs or breeds without necks. We know a lot more about metabolic issues in recent years and why some animals will load weight in certain places, I kind of think we should take advantage of that if it makes them healthier long term. Some might think it OTT but in the interest of pony health I don't really see the harm in mentioning them when half the horse owning population is not that genned up on EMS/IR yet.

BTW sheep white seems to be highly recommended :)
 
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The pony is absolutely gorgeous and I love the pics.

I agree with Ester though - he is hugely overweight and I'm :confused3: at the vet who said he's OK.
 
Lovely photos and glad you had a good day. Have to agree with the others about the weight of your pony, looks like he could do with shedding a few pounds, only a few though :)

Get some original fairy liquid on those socks, it works wonders (obviously test a small patch first to make sure no allergic reaction!), and a bit of white chalk and it will make all the difference! :)
 
Ladies I'm totally offended by the suggestion that his socks aren't white enough :( I'll have you know they were washed with v expensive horse health wessex purple shampoo ;) ;) What on earth is sheep white?

Vet and myself are fine with ponys condition at the moment. What remains of his crest is soft and ribs visible. He will get plenty of hacking and riding over the summer hols...

Fiona
 
I actually linked to a shop you have, that's :D.
If you start googling show stuff for sheep and cattle it makes the horse world look tame!
 
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