Anyone heard from FMM?

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tinker512

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As above says, wondering how she got on at HOYS!!

Girl from my yard watched small hunters and said they were absolutly fantastic and got my wondering how she did!
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Good and bad!!!
Just got back after a busy couple of days. Sneaked out of work at 4pm on Friday and arrived at the show about 6ish. It was pretty difficult to find the horses as I had only just got there and had no idea which stables were ours. Also, as the horses were wearing their babygros, they were pretty hard to identify.
Pimms was amazing. You would never have believed she was only 5, at her first HOYS and that I had never ridden her at a show before. We went into the Caldene arena to work in on the Friday evening and she did not bat an eyelid. She glared at a few horses who were rude enough to barge into her, but went very well. Had to ride through the middle of the Household Cavalry who were practicing in the collecting ring to get back to the stables but she was not too bothered and we made it back safely.

Back to the hotel for a bite to eat and finally made it to bed around 11pmish.

Anyway - I digress. Next morning up early to greet the cobs who had arrived at 5am. A friend of mine hopped on Bob. He was only allowed to walk before his class in the main arena as his coat was long and we were trying to stop him sweating. I rode Pimms in the international arena and again she was amazingly well behaved. Did about half an hour with her, then she went back to her stable and I went to get changed.

Went into the cobs and Bob (who if you remember had only walked round to warm up) then had his first trot of the day in the class. He was extremely good in both trot and canter. We anticipated gallop a little and set off about 30 yards before we needed to, but he managed to keep going nicely. Robo was a little brighter than required in the go round, but held it together well. He no longer looks worried on the go round and seems to be enjoying himself which is great.

Bob was the second horse the judge rode in the HWs. He jogged out of line and took the poor judge straight into canter. Judge managed to get some trot and then cantered round. Did the change of rein by walking a small circle of about 3 metres, then asked all horses for walk to canter. Unfortunately he used more leg than Bob needed, so the walk to canter was more of a walk, 2 strides of canter then straight into gallop. The judge was great - slowed him down, then finally asked for gallop on the long side. The judge was a great rider - nice to see someone who was fit enough and confident enough to give ALL the cobs a good ride.

Anyway - that was really the end of Bob's HOYS! Robo was unsettled in walk with the judge, but was OK for the rest of his ride. Ended up 3rd which was fine as he did not deserve to win this year!

It was slightly sad that Bob was naughty with the judge, as 4 of the placed horses had been beaten by Bob several times this year so if he had managed to be a little more mannerly then who knows!

I left the arena and had to hop over the barrier to get to the ladies in order to do the quick change into tweed/shirt/tie/beaglers from the top hat/stock/navy jacket gear. Very glamourous getting changed in the toilets.

Pimms was great. Walked around the scarey collecting ring tent which she didn't think was scarey at all. Watched the championship of the intermediates with loads of clapping and cheering which she again found perfectly acceptable (and she wasn't wearing any ear plugs). Finally went in for our class. She was great - managed to get her toe pointy trot going well (the judges pointed her out as a "very good moving horse" which was nice). Did a great gallop and was really pleased with her - one of the few horses in the arena not to take offence at anything.

Lined up and was 4th for the judge to ride. I was looking forward to him riding Pimms, as he is a great rider and really likes the horses to be forward with him. Anyway - he got on and Pimms seemed unsettled which was not like her. He walked for 3 strides, then trotted for 3 strides, then walked again, then trotted again, then walked again, then trotted again (all for about 3 strides or so). Then came back to line and said she didn't feel right in walk and that he would happily ride her if the vet said she was sound! We were all flabbergasted (particularly as they had already commented on how well she moved!). No point in getting the vet out as he obviously wouldn't like the ride, so we came out of the ring. My first ever hunter class and I didn't even get to finish the class and Pimms get her first ever HOYS rosette. Trotted her up outside and she was dead sound - must have just not liked something when he got on and goosestepped a bit too much. She really has very flicky action and perhaps it felt odd to him. She was a bit pissed off with the continuous walk/trot transititions, so that wouldn't have helped.

So - that was it - my 2006 HOYS experience!

Sorry for the long post (but you did ask!).

So - summary of our results

LW hunter won and was resevr champion (Luke Sharpe)
MW hunter was second (Lowmoor Edward)
HW hunter was second (Silverstream)
Small Hack was 3rd (Tewsley Tribute)
HW Cob was 3rd (Robocob)

Not a bad week really
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Thanks for the update - how maddening for the judge to say that about Pimms - still it seemed that you took it in good grace : I think I would have fallen to the ground in a fit of temper/frustration/disappointment.......time for a rest now before next season?
 
The judge was really nice and was terribly sorry. Had a lovely Irish accent which helped. It was just about the only thing I hadn't been worried about before the class and she had been so good - oh well, I just smiled, thanked him and left the ring.

Pimms is going to do a little more before her hols - some dressage and maybe some jumping. I need to get her out a little to get used to her some more!
 
Saw you (i think!) in the collecting ring for the HW cobs as I was in there attempting to kidnap my old 12h2!! (ok I was cuddling him etc as there was no chance could kidnap him!)

But as you were obviously rather busy and also wasn't 100% was you I didn't come say hi!

Also HUGE well done! Robo looked fabulous, we only saw the initial ride round as then went in search of pony but he looked great. The two coloureds that were 1,2 were rather lovely as well especially 1st place, in the Champs I picked him out as my winner before it was announced.
 
Oh FMM what a bittersweet report - Cant think why you enjoy showing at all TBH when this sort of thing happens - I would be on the floor crying too LOL!!!

Cannot wait to see some piccies please!
 
I couldn't force my way through the crowds to see the photos at the show, but they promise they will be on their website in a week, so hopefully there will be a few nice ones on there!
 
The Small Hunter judge was George Mernagh and he is lovely. One of the nicest judges on the circuit. Sorry that you did not have a good experince with him in the Smalls, but as we all know showing in quite subjective.

Very well done with all the other horses. I know Kieran and Mariead Ryan well, who had Silverstream in Dublin last year.

Davina
 
I have no problem with the judge as he made Boots champion hunter at RIHS this year! He is a really good rider, but just could not ride Pimms (who is really easy otherwise I wouldn't be able to ride her!) WHo knows what the problem was - we'll never know.
 
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