showpony
Well-Known Member
Well Ive just about recovered from the weekend to post a report..
So off we went to the RDS on Friday Morning, in the space of 12mths we have both changed so so much & really its been an epic journey for us both and one Im very proud of as only back in the saddle 16mths after giving up for 12yrs.
Was up at stupid o clock on the friday morning & of course things were going so smoothly until horse decided 7am was TOO early to be leaving the yard & refused to load as she wanted to munch the bush beside the horse box, 20 mins later with a bucket of feed we got her in..
Arrived at the showground & was glad we decided to go in early as the unloading area was nice & quiet - got her settled in and she was very content with her haylage which was great as at 5 yrs old I thought this type of a showground would hype her up alot...
Tacked her up & my instructor rode her first in the HUGE Sand arena & then I hopped up , wow she worked in really really lovely - then I rode her back to stable block which en route to is alot to take in & nothing phased her ( appart from the scary road sweeper but thankfully they turned the engine off until we went past )
My class on the Friday was on late afternoon so alot of hanging around and nerves started to kick in.... and I just about managed to eat a small bit of lunch....
It was a big enough class & she just behaved so so well, she has never ever been in that big of an environment before & we had a bit of a " moment" when massive cheers from main stand which was just behind our ring but that was it... She was a bit tense & didn't relax as much as she usually would be she took it all in her stride & I was thrilled. Didn't stand a chance, she looked pony like compared to rest of class & too trim ( however I really prefer her fit not fat ) .... plus the majority of the other horses were much older & had much more milage under their belts.
No decent pics from the class of me riding BUT here is a stunning head shot of her. Doesn't she look mature for 5yrs old
Onto Saturday & she was a bit more reved up - exercised her in the morning & put her on alot of circles and figures of eights to help her relax down , she didn't work in as nice as she had done the day previous & was a bit more looky at things but bless her she didn't spook etc at anything & that warm up is manic at times with alot of riders with no spatial awareness so I was a bit on edge which didn't help.
Class on late again so got lots of shopping done, bought loads more stuff I didn't need lol.... had to hide the recipets
We had a couple of hairy moments in the collecting ring with other horses going mental but we survived!!
Onto the class & OMG - she gave me the ride of my life.. She was so much more round in her outline & literally gave me 110% - have never ever felt that good on her before - she was foot perfect & looking at her go around there is no way you would think she is just 5... We got some wonderful extentions down the long side & her canters were a dream - gallop definately better that the day previous... Dont' think Ive ever grinned so much during a class, I enjoyed every single moment of it...
Unfortunatly again even though a lightweight class some of the horses were huge & I fail to understand how an obviously medium/heavyweight horse is eligable to compete in a lightweight class but hey thats showing for you.
Wasn't expecting her to go as well & despite being eh nowhere near the frillies I am utterly pround of what we have both achieved....
So moving on she and I have a week off & then will be going back jumping, hoping to get her over a few derby tracks & will also do some dressage during the winter. Plan for next year is to slowly introduce her to the world of baby eventing -
Pics below ( all taken by brother in law so NO button pushers please) - Hope you enjoy them
So off we went to the RDS on Friday Morning, in the space of 12mths we have both changed so so much & really its been an epic journey for us both and one Im very proud of as only back in the saddle 16mths after giving up for 12yrs.
Was up at stupid o clock on the friday morning & of course things were going so smoothly until horse decided 7am was TOO early to be leaving the yard & refused to load as she wanted to munch the bush beside the horse box, 20 mins later with a bucket of feed we got her in..
Arrived at the showground & was glad we decided to go in early as the unloading area was nice & quiet - got her settled in and she was very content with her haylage which was great as at 5 yrs old I thought this type of a showground would hype her up alot...
Tacked her up & my instructor rode her first in the HUGE Sand arena & then I hopped up , wow she worked in really really lovely - then I rode her back to stable block which en route to is alot to take in & nothing phased her ( appart from the scary road sweeper but thankfully they turned the engine off until we went past )
My class on the Friday was on late afternoon so alot of hanging around and nerves started to kick in.... and I just about managed to eat a small bit of lunch....
It was a big enough class & she just behaved so so well, she has never ever been in that big of an environment before & we had a bit of a " moment" when massive cheers from main stand which was just behind our ring but that was it... She was a bit tense & didn't relax as much as she usually would be she took it all in her stride & I was thrilled. Didn't stand a chance, she looked pony like compared to rest of class & too trim ( however I really prefer her fit not fat ) .... plus the majority of the other horses were much older & had much more milage under their belts.
No decent pics from the class of me riding BUT here is a stunning head shot of her. Doesn't she look mature for 5yrs old
Onto Saturday & she was a bit more reved up - exercised her in the morning & put her on alot of circles and figures of eights to help her relax down , she didn't work in as nice as she had done the day previous & was a bit more looky at things but bless her she didn't spook etc at anything & that warm up is manic at times with alot of riders with no spatial awareness so I was a bit on edge which didn't help.
Class on late again so got lots of shopping done, bought loads more stuff I didn't need lol.... had to hide the recipets
We had a couple of hairy moments in the collecting ring with other horses going mental but we survived!!
Onto the class & OMG - she gave me the ride of my life.. She was so much more round in her outline & literally gave me 110% - have never ever felt that good on her before - she was foot perfect & looking at her go around there is no way you would think she is just 5... We got some wonderful extentions down the long side & her canters were a dream - gallop definately better that the day previous... Dont' think Ive ever grinned so much during a class, I enjoyed every single moment of it...
Unfortunatly again even though a lightweight class some of the horses were huge & I fail to understand how an obviously medium/heavyweight horse is eligable to compete in a lightweight class but hey thats showing for you.
Wasn't expecting her to go as well & despite being eh nowhere near the frillies I am utterly pround of what we have both achieved....
So moving on she and I have a week off & then will be going back jumping, hoping to get her over a few derby tracks & will also do some dressage during the winter. Plan for next year is to slowly introduce her to the world of baby eventing -
Pics below ( all taken by brother in law so NO button pushers please) - Hope you enjoy them
