redmone
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,
Just a quick update, whilst I'm on my lunch at work! I promised it a while ago, but you know how time marches on!
Well it's been a busy month since I last updated. We were off to Somerford park when we last spoke!
Harley did fantastic at Somerford, really really loved it! He was a bit nappy to start with and didn't want to be first to jump anything and leave his friends behind. I walked the first mile, and took a few photos but apparently they had much more fun after I left them! Both Alice and Harley proved to be very brave, and jumped everything! The bigger the better! Harley wasn't too keen on the water - he was ok going in and out of it from a slope, but didn't like the steps. We didn't focus too much on that though - always another day, and this was their first dabble at cross country!
After that was our annual yard show on the August bank holiday. The morning is equitation and showing, and the afternoon it gets all exciting with the show jumping!
We decided to not enter Harley into the showing because quite frankly his flatwork is pants. We're working on that!
Dolly however went into the flat classes, with her loaner and won the trophy with 1st place for riding club pony, and came 2nd place in equitation! YESSSSS!!!
Soooo Alice and Harley decided to do the Intermediate jumping and Advanced jumping, and also the rider and groom relay race. Harley refused a jump in the Intermediate, taking a dislike to something in the crowd, but still managed to come 6th!
They then went into the Advanced class. Alice has never done this class before - it was well out of Dolly's league. It's set, I would say at about 80cm to a metre generally, but has a joker last fence - which is our big red and white solid wall. This year, for a "challenge" the wall had another 2 layers of bricks, AND a pole on top of that. It was HUUUUUUGE!
There wasn't many entrants to this class - and a couple were eliminated along the way. The very very best of our yard's riders were in this class, including ones who have been to Hickstead, RIHS etc....and who regularly compete BE/BSJA etc... anyway, they each had faults and poles down. And then came Alice and Harley, and they only went clear didn't they!! Winning the class and a massive cup trophy!!!!! Yes, I have to admit, I did cry.
After that, they had a bomb around the rider and groom class (rider rides the course, groom them jumps the course on foot!) and they came 4th in that too! Brilliant day!!
Our next jaunt out was to the North West Championships. Luck just wasn't on our side that day (including a fence blowing down, and Alice and Harley having to jump it from a virtual standstill!), but even so, they managed a 9th and 12th in quite competitive classes.
And lastly, we have NEWS!!! Alice and Harley (and me I suppose!) are now officially BSJA registered.
I took them out to their first affiliated show last Saturday for a go at the 70cm open and the 80cm Novice class, and they ended up with a double clear in the Novice, and then had a go at Discovery and went double clear with that too! The boy just keeps on giving.
The only negative I suppose is that Harley has taken a dislike to loading. Don't know why - nothing negative has happened. I'm going to spend some time working on it soon, but for now, he's getting the sweeping brush up his bum as he doesn't put up too much of a fight! (don't shoot me please!)
So happy days!!! I said this was going to be quick didn't I! Ooops! Well I lied!!! But at least it isn't waffling on about strange magnetic miracle bands and dodgy ebay saddles!
Here's some photos....
Somerford...
Bank holiday show
Shame you can't see how high the wall was on that one ^^^^
Pretty pair in purple!
Prizes! (and Harley doesn't look too bothered really!)
North west champs...
Pony love
Pepsi max and jelly worms for all!!!!
Best wishes
RM xxx
Just a quick update, whilst I'm on my lunch at work! I promised it a while ago, but you know how time marches on!
Well it's been a busy month since I last updated. We were off to Somerford park when we last spoke!
Harley did fantastic at Somerford, really really loved it! He was a bit nappy to start with and didn't want to be first to jump anything and leave his friends behind. I walked the first mile, and took a few photos but apparently they had much more fun after I left them! Both Alice and Harley proved to be very brave, and jumped everything! The bigger the better! Harley wasn't too keen on the water - he was ok going in and out of it from a slope, but didn't like the steps. We didn't focus too much on that though - always another day, and this was their first dabble at cross country!
After that was our annual yard show on the August bank holiday. The morning is equitation and showing, and the afternoon it gets all exciting with the show jumping!
We decided to not enter Harley into the showing because quite frankly his flatwork is pants. We're working on that!
Dolly however went into the flat classes, with her loaner and won the trophy with 1st place for riding club pony, and came 2nd place in equitation! YESSSSS!!!
Soooo Alice and Harley decided to do the Intermediate jumping and Advanced jumping, and also the rider and groom relay race. Harley refused a jump in the Intermediate, taking a dislike to something in the crowd, but still managed to come 6th!
They then went into the Advanced class. Alice has never done this class before - it was well out of Dolly's league. It's set, I would say at about 80cm to a metre generally, but has a joker last fence - which is our big red and white solid wall. This year, for a "challenge" the wall had another 2 layers of bricks, AND a pole on top of that. It was HUUUUUUGE!
There wasn't many entrants to this class - and a couple were eliminated along the way. The very very best of our yard's riders were in this class, including ones who have been to Hickstead, RIHS etc....and who regularly compete BE/BSJA etc... anyway, they each had faults and poles down. And then came Alice and Harley, and they only went clear didn't they!! Winning the class and a massive cup trophy!!!!! Yes, I have to admit, I did cry.
After that, they had a bomb around the rider and groom class (rider rides the course, groom them jumps the course on foot!) and they came 4th in that too! Brilliant day!!
Our next jaunt out was to the North West Championships. Luck just wasn't on our side that day (including a fence blowing down, and Alice and Harley having to jump it from a virtual standstill!), but even so, they managed a 9th and 12th in quite competitive classes.
And lastly, we have NEWS!!! Alice and Harley (and me I suppose!) are now officially BSJA registered.
I took them out to their first affiliated show last Saturday for a go at the 70cm open and the 80cm Novice class, and they ended up with a double clear in the Novice, and then had a go at Discovery and went double clear with that too! The boy just keeps on giving.
The only negative I suppose is that Harley has taken a dislike to loading. Don't know why - nothing negative has happened. I'm going to spend some time working on it soon, but for now, he's getting the sweeping brush up his bum as he doesn't put up too much of a fight! (don't shoot me please!)
So happy days!!! I said this was going to be quick didn't I! Ooops! Well I lied!!! But at least it isn't waffling on about strange magnetic miracle bands and dodgy ebay saddles!
Here's some photos....
Somerford...
Bank holiday show
Shame you can't see how high the wall was on that one ^^^^
Pretty pair in purple!
Prizes! (and Harley doesn't look too bothered really!)
North west champs...
Pony love
Pepsi max and jelly worms for all!!!!
Best wishes
RM xxx
