Lollysmum
Well-Known Member
Well, I posted last week about what to expect from an Area Festival and said I would report back - so here goes...
We set out with no expectations whatsoever this weekend, BD has been consistent but not sparkly recently and I always try to play things down as L puts a lot of pressure on herself to do well. Anyway they were on in the warm up class at 8.45 and then the Festival Prelim at 9.15 so it meant a silly o'clock start. Warmed up well, all was very quiet when we arrived (the benefit of an early time) and the warm up class went well. Minor panic about remembering the test for the P19, but got over that and picked him up again ready for the main event. All went well until the second canter when I think L must have relaxed a fraction too much and he broke, but she recovered well and picked it up again - blink and you would have missed it - to finish with a grin (phew!)
So we were all done by 9.30, pony on box munching and bacon frying in the living
Nipped off to check her scores... 73% in the warm up and 72% in the Festival Class! Key overjoyed 13 year old and lots of pats and polos for the pony. So then we had to wait until midday to see how she had done, with me certain she would be pipped at the post! Well I'm happy to say I was wrong and she won both classes. Everyone was just made up, we took some wonderful photos in the mounted prize giving - if L smiled anymore her face would have cracked. So we pootled off home chuffed to bits and looking forward to the Novice on Sunday.
Cue another early morning as she had exactly the same times again for the Novice. God it was cold - I won't go into detail as this could be v v long, but the warm up class again went well until she didn't hear me call to halt at X and nearly made it to G before she stopped Nerves then got the better of L and she almost had melt down as she couldn't remember the Novice test for the Festival Class. After some soothing words from me (not how I felt really!) she said the test to me and managed to get herself together. Lots of 'it really doesn't matter, just have fun' type comments kept coming out of my mouth which really didn't help as it winds L up as 'it matters to me' don't you know, but I couldn't help myself So in she went and did a lovely test - well lovely for her, I'm sure there are many that can do better.
Once again all done and dusted by 9.30, more bacon butties, checking official photos and waiting around. She got 64% in the warm up and 68% in the Festival test. To cut this short (even I'm getting bored and I'm the gushy mother) she won the Novice too!!!! How shocked, delighted, proud and excited can one family be Cue lovely photo from prize giving and one delighted child
All photos courtesy of a v proud Dad.
A massive thanks to everyone at Pachesham for such a lovely weekend, it helped we did so well, but the show was still very well run, friendly etc which must be hard work when it is so busy
Sorry if it's long and gushy - O and she got interviewed by H&H
We set out with no expectations whatsoever this weekend, BD has been consistent but not sparkly recently and I always try to play things down as L puts a lot of pressure on herself to do well. Anyway they were on in the warm up class at 8.45 and then the Festival Prelim at 9.15 so it meant a silly o'clock start. Warmed up well, all was very quiet when we arrived (the benefit of an early time) and the warm up class went well. Minor panic about remembering the test for the P19, but got over that and picked him up again ready for the main event. All went well until the second canter when I think L must have relaxed a fraction too much and he broke, but she recovered well and picked it up again - blink and you would have missed it - to finish with a grin (phew!)
So we were all done by 9.30, pony on box munching and bacon frying in the living
Nipped off to check her scores... 73% in the warm up and 72% in the Festival Class! Key overjoyed 13 year old and lots of pats and polos for the pony. So then we had to wait until midday to see how she had done, with me certain she would be pipped at the post! Well I'm happy to say I was wrong and she won both classes. Everyone was just made up, we took some wonderful photos in the mounted prize giving - if L smiled anymore her face would have cracked. So we pootled off home chuffed to bits and looking forward to the Novice on Sunday.Cue another early morning as she had exactly the same times again for the Novice. God it was cold - I won't go into detail as this could be v v long, but the warm up class again went well until she didn't hear me call to halt at X and nearly made it to G before she stopped
Nerves then got the better of L and she almost had melt down as she couldn't remember the Novice test for the Festival Class. After some soothing words from me (not how I felt really!) she said the test to me and managed to get herself together. Lots of 'it really doesn't matter, just have fun' type comments kept coming out of my mouth which really didn't help as it winds L up as 'it matters to me' don't you know, but I couldn't help myself So in she went and did a lovely test - well lovely for her, I'm sure there are many that can do better.Once again all done and dusted by 9.30, more bacon butties, checking official photos and waiting around. She got 64% in the warm up and 68% in the Festival test. To cut this short (even I'm getting bored and I'm the gushy mother) she won the Novice too!!!!
How shocked, delighted, proud and excited can one family be Cue lovely photo from prize giving and one delighted childAll photos courtesy of a v proud Dad.
A massive thanks to everyone at Pachesham for such a lovely weekend, it helped we did so well, but the show was still very well run, friendly etc which must be hard work when it is so busy
Sorry if it's long and gushy - O and she got interviewed by H&H
