***Daughter and Dolly - show report and an update***

[redmone]

Got all teary reading that - often think back to your first panicky posts and now look at all of you - winning qualifiers no less! very WELL DONE!

Thanks!!! I keep thinking exactly the same!! Seems only 5 minutes ago I was a nervous wreck about the monster I'd bought my precious (bubble wrapped) little girl!!!!

Now I'm a nervous wreck watching her at these shows and wondering how far away the next one is going to be!!!

 

[redmone]

Just to say a huge well done, D + D look VERY smart!

I'm in the same camp as go to a county show, get the jist of the standard before heading to London. At this rate they will be plenty more qualifiers to win!! It also sounds like, because you are doubting the cost of membership and fuel/distance then your heart isn't in it completely. Go to more local shows, spend the money on an extra lesson or three, and next year.... D+D will be unbeatable!!
Again, brilliant, well done team Redmone.

Aww thank you!!! I'm quite chuffed because my plaits are FINALLY starting to look a tiny bit respectable! I've learnt how to sew them in so these ones managed to stay in overnight, bottom ones were a bit fluffy but not as bad as other times

In all honesty, my heart isn't completely in it. It's a lot of money and effort for something I feel we're only on the very outskirts of being up to. I know daughter would handle coming home empty handed from a show no problem, but I don't see the point in pushing too fast too soon.

I think I'll definately take her to see some of these shows though, give her something to aim for.

And definately re the extra lessons!!!

 

[dafthoss]

Aww thanks DH!!! The fact that Equifest is not far from you makes it seem even further away from us!!!

But I would LOVE you to come see us one day!!! Mini RM would love to meet you and the yellow one!!!!!

JFTD is coming down as well so she could meet both of us , I dont have a clue how far it is from you but its just over 30 mins away from me without traffic.

Even if you dont take dolly its free to go in and watch so you should come down any way then mini RM can come do pony rides on knobberts after .

 

[redmone]

How fabulous - I have read your posts over the past months and they just get better and better!

Re doing BSPS etc. You need to be aware that for hunter pony classes the turnout is always tweed jackets for the rider with brown or oxblood jod boots and the pony must be in a plain bridle with a plain leather browband. If doing novice, then a snaffle is fine, but in an open class at BSPS they would expect a double/pelham bridle.

For Royal London the turnout should be the same, but the are probably less strict about the bridle. Personally, I would not bother with BSPS and just do ROyal London and try to perhaps qualify for Equifest (in August) where there will be 3 or four classes a day for 4 days that you would be able to do. Be aware that most of the stabling has already been allocated so if you are thinking of that, then you need to get a move on!

Local shows can be far more fun - you have 3 or 4 classes that you can do and maybe add some jumping in as well. At a BSPS show you will probably only have one class that you can do most of the time and it is horrendously expensive to join you, your daughter and the pony. I have decided that despite having a pony that has previously done well in top level showing, I am not prepared to spend in excess of £100 in registration fees to do a couple of classes.

So - my recommendation is find an equifest qualifier and do that. There are plenty of classes at Equifest you don't have to qualify for, and they also have loads of home produced classes where the pro ponies cannot compete.

Best of luck - whatever you do, make sure you have lots of fun!

THANK YOU!!! This is a massive help.

Incidentally, it wasn't a Brightstars competition, so everything you say is correct!

I completely agree regarding the registration costs of BSPS. I just can't justify spending all of that for one class!!!

Tweed jacket is a problem!!! Daughter seriously dislikes tweed, and I'm yet to find a colour of tweed that she likes! Still looking......

We have a lovely plain hunter browband which came with the bridle in the photo, however despite the advice of a HHO member (who was a massive help to us in preparation!) Daughter would not remove her blingy V browband!!! She basically said, it makes Dolly's head pretty. Take us as we are, or don't give me a rossette, but I'm wearing my "V"! LOL

I'm surprised that they'd want her in a pelham! We spent a year getting out of the pelham! Why don't their wear snaffles for these classes???

Again, massive thanks for your advice, its everything we needed to know.

And we've decided, we leaving these big shows and going to local ones instead. We've not really starting on the jumping, so D & D can have fun with that instead!

 

[redmone]

Echo what FMM has aid really and wanted to add if she has qualified for BSPS 'Bright Stars' then don't think you need to register to do these classes at the Champs - not 100% certain of that but worth checking out.

Big well done to your daughter

Thank you!

It wasn't a Bright Stars qualifier, and I think we've decided to leave it now.

Been nice having to mull it over though, what a lovely decision to have to make, whether to take them to such large shows! Maybe next year eh

 

[redmone]

JFTD is coming down as well so she could meet both of us , I dont have a clue how far it is from you but its just over 30 mins away from me without traffic.

Even if you dont take dolly its free to go in and watch so you should come down any way then mini RM can come do pony rides on knobberts after .

OK. You're going to have to tell me where abouts you are! We're in Manchester and Mini RM would LOVE pony rides!!!

 

[FMM]

As much as I admire your daughter for her independent stance, showing is a very traditional sport, and wearing a diamonte browband for a show hunter pony class is like her wearing a feather boa with her school uniform! There are HUNDREDS of tweeds and they are fab as they are much easier to keep clean than a navy jacket - all the spit from the pony just disappears into the fabric and the hair does not show. A well fitting tweed will look lovely on her. I would also try to either give her one single plait, or plait her hair so that is sits behind her shoulders and not in front if you see what I mean?

Also you need to crouch down a bit when you plait the forelock as it is sticking up quite a bit and could do with being flat to her head if possible. You may find that a tail plait will be neater if you can do those on it. Usually they stick up when you are standing too high above the pony.

Finally, please get her some thin elastic (brown to blend in with the tweed!) for her number. Tie a loop at either end and you can use it over and over again - it looks way smarter and is much easier to escape from at the end of the day. You may need to go to John Lewis to find one of the right sort of size. Showing is about how things look as well as how nicely your pony goes, and it is easy to look good without spending much money - you have bought most of the expensive items!

 

[redmone]

As much as I admire your daughter for her independent stance, showing is a very traditional sport, and wearing a diamonte browband for a show hunter pony class is like her wearing a feather boa with her school uniform! There are HUNDREDS of tweeds and they are fab as they are much easier to keep clean than a navy jacket - all the spit from the pony just disappears into the fabric and the hair does not show. A well fitting tweed will look lovely on her. I would also try to either give her one single plait, or plait her hair so that is sits behind her shoulders and not in front if you see what I mean?

Also you need to crouch down a bit when you plait the forelock as it is sticking up quite a bit and could do with being flat to her head if possible. You may find that a tail plait will be neater if you can do those on it. Usually they stick up when you are standing too high above the pony.

Finally, please get her some thin elastic (brown to blend in with the tweed!) for her number. Tie a loop at either end and you can use it over and over again - it looks way smarter and is much easier to escape from at the end of the day. You may need to go to John Lewis to find one of the right sort of size. Showing is about how things look as well as how nicely your pony goes, and it is easy to look good without spending much money - you have bought most of the expensive items!

Thank you very much for this advice.

I completely agree. I do let her find her own way in terms of style, but I also believe that riding is a discipline and that there is a time and place to be a trailblazer for style! And the show ring is probably not it!!!

Daughter hasn't done much showing - indeed we didn't consider it something Dolly "could" do! That's why we're so surprised with her success last weekend. She does quite a bit of dressage (where she wears a hairnet/bun etc...) and tends to do well at equitation (which I think might be because it's less focused on Dolly's lack of outline wish there was a giraffe icon to post here to emphasis my point )!

The tweed, we'll keep on looking. I'm thinking she might like a grey tweed, but perhaps something more green or orange would have suited Dolly better.

I've been looking for one of those disks for Dolly's bridle to hold her competitor number. Are those generally acceptable in showing?

Daughter is working quite hard to get Dolly to bend more and her instructors have been helping her to work on bringing Dolly's head a little lower. But it looks like the absolute worst thing to teach a child, or Dolly pony!!! Stupid question, I know, but does it put her at a big disadvantage, having a giraffe for a pony!

 

[zoelouisem]

Ah well done!!! Saw the pics on Facebook too!!
Out of the 2 I would go for the royal London show, it's aimed for amateurs and grass roots people so there is restrictions on what the ponies have done in the past. Also once qualified you can pick which class you enter doesn't have to be the same class you got the qualification so you can pick a class you don't need to register in!!!

Re the schooling of the ponies completely know where your coming from when we went to royal Windsor L was the only child to warm up her pony!!!
Any advice showing turnout ect message me on Facebook I may either have stuff to borrow or can help with turnout ect.

Well done again!
Zoe

 

[FMM]

Being giraffe like definitely doesn't help, but they are working on it together and I am sure the bend will come!

And definitely No to the dressage number on the bridle for showing. That is acceptable in veteran classes to show the age of the pony and special throatlast versions are provided at HOYS so that the horse and rider both have numbers. Apart from that, the rider always wears the number and the elastic is the easiest method of wearing it!

A green tweed with an orange over check may look very smart - here is my son on his orange pony

You can usually pick them up for around £50 or so on ebay or horsegossip. Mrs Candy, Designer Brownbands are the usual showing makes. About £100 for a brand new one. You can buy cheaper ones brand new, but they are not cut that well and as your daughter is slim she will look lovely in a well cut tweed. You need one that fits rather than one that she can grow into - if you buy second hand a look after it, you will always get your money back!

 

[redmone]

Ah well done!!! Saw the pics on Facebook too!!
Out of the 2 I would go for the royal London show, it's aimed for amateurs and grass roots people so there is restrictions on what the ponies have done in the past. Also once qualified you can pick which class you enter doesn't have to be the same class you got the qualification so you can pick a class you don't need to register in!!!

Re the schooling of the ponies completely know where your coming from when we went to royal Windsor L was the only child to warm up her pony!!!
Any advice showing turnout ect message me on Facebook I may either have stuff to borrow or can help with turnout ect.

Well done again!
Zoe

Thanks Zoe!! Congrats to you too! I've been looking at all your pictures and daughter marvels at her (virtually) knowing someone riding at your level! She wants to got to Olympia and meet you and L!

I think the Royal London show is nearer to us than the BSPS one. Perhaps I'll keep it in mind if it's not got a massive membership fee necessary. And it sounds a bit more do-able from an ability point of view.

I did see some sights at weekend I'd rather forget. I suppose we've been a bit cocooned in the past. Daughter wouldn't consider herself a rider if she didn't get Dolly prepared. She was bending round cones laid out in the car park, before the warm up ring was available!

Lovely to hear from you! Will message you on FB soon! x x x

 

[redmone]

Being giraffe like definitely doesn't help, but they are working on it together and I am sure the bend will come!

And definitely No to the dressage number on the bridle for showing. That is acceptable in veteran classes to show the age of the pony and special throatlast versions are provided at HOYS so that the horse and rider both have numbers. Apart from that, the rider always wears the number and the elastic is the easiest method of wearing it!

A green tweed with an orange over check may look very smart - here is my son on his orange pony

You can usually pick them up for around £50 or so on ebay or horsegossip. Mrs Candy, Designer Brownbands are the usual showing makes. About £100 for a brand new one. You can buy cheaper ones brand new, but they are not cut that well and as your daughter is slim she will look lovely in a well cut tweed. You need one that fits rather than one that she can grow into - if you buy second hand a look after it, you will always get your money back!

Aww beautiful picture! Both son and pony look amazing! And you're right, plain brow band is very smart.

Will look around for an (acceptable to daughter!) tweed and thanks re the advice on the number disk thingy!!!

 

[Lolo]

Tweed is really cool because you can get awesome stuff done with it. One little girl we know who is the same sort of size as miniRM has a very dark green tweed with navy running through it and navy velvet collar and piping that looks very smart on the outside. But her lining is bright bright pink Can only tell in flashes- it was a b'day pressie and she loves it!

 

[zoelouisem]

Thanks Zoe!! Congrats to you too! I've been looking at all your pictures and daughter marvels at her (virtually) knowing someone riding at your level! She wants to got to Olympia and meet you and L!

I think the Royal London show is nearer to us than the BSPS one. Perhaps I'll keep it in mind if it's not got a massive membership fee necessary. And it sounds a bit more do-able from an ability point of view.

I did see some sights at weekend I'd rather forget. I suppose we've been a bit cocooned in the past. Daughter wouldn't consider herself a rider if she didn't get Dolly prepared. She was bending round cones laid out in the car park, before the warm up ring was available!

Lovely to hear from you! Will message you on FB soon! x x x

Thankyou!!! Still hasnt sunk in TBH i knew the class was a qualifier but never ever thought id get the ticket!!!! i think you can tell by my face in the pics how shocked i was and i shed a tear too!!!! Ah you should come, i need all the support possible, i will be a bag of nerves there. Although i know by boy will look after me bless him!

Yer i had this last year and i did pay the membership but i found to produce a pony to the higher levels it was hard to mix that to be a kids pony too. He had to be ridden in some contraption permantly (i didnt) and she couldnt do the fun PC stuff as much. I decided to he was a kids pony first and a show pony second and went to the slightly smaller stuff where he used to clean up on the rosettes.
We went to some champioships but there were the cheaper unaffiliated championships!! And she even got in the Chiltern and Thames magazine!!
The top showing ponies are at producers yards with adults riding permantly.

Re the tweed, you can get some very dark blue tweeds so officially its a tweed but its closer to the navy, might be easier to peusuade then. I must admit i do like L in her tweed. But her new pony is more jumping and shes very excited shes going to get to wear her navy one again, new pony isnt really as much as a showing type. She jumps big and my nerves are in bits!!!!!

Yer if you need any help advice ect get in touch, ive just been to my friends for plaiting practice and help her with showing too, i said im going to have to write an A-Z in showing prep!! hehe

ZOe xx

 

[rhino]

I love your updates usually, but you're putting the rest of us to shame now

Well done Dolly, redmone and mini-redmone!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

What a lovely post!

I'm always interested to read about Dolly and daughter and marvel at their progress (and yours!). I laughed when I read that Dolly was on her toes. What would you have said if she had been when you first got her?
Well done to all of you!

 

[redmone]

Tweed is really cool because you can get awesome stuff done with it. One little girl we know who is the same sort of size as miniRM has a very dark green tweed with navy running through it and navy velvet collar and piping that looks very smart on the outside. But her lining is bright bright pink Can only tell in flashes- it was a b'day pressie and she loves it!

oooo that sounds lovely!!!

Stupid question, but you can get custom tweeds made? I thought you'd be able to get them tailored to fit nicely, but didn't consider we could get one made in a colour/fabric daughter would like.

Think you might have just cost me a fortune!!!!

 

[redmone]

Thankyou!!! Still hasnt sunk in TBH i knew the class was a qualifier but never ever thought id get the ticket!!!! i think you can tell by my face in the pics how shocked i was and i shed a tear too!!!! Ah you should come, i need all the support possible, i will be a bag of nerves there. Although i know by boy will look after me bless him!

Yer i had this last year and i did pay the membership but i found to produce a pony to the higher levels it was hard to mix that to be a kids pony too. He had to be ridden in some contraption permantly (i didnt) and she couldnt do the fun PC stuff as much. I decided to he was a kids pony first and a show pony second and went to the slightly smaller stuff where he used to clean up on the rosettes.
We went to some champioships but there were the cheaper unaffiliated championships!! And she even got in the Chiltern and Thames magazine!!
The top showing ponies are at producers yards with adults riding permantly.

Re the tweed, you can get some very dark blue tweeds so officially its a tweed but its closer to the navy, might be easier to peusuade then. I must admit i do like L in her tweed. But her new pony is more jumping and shes very excited shes going to get to wear her navy one again, new pony isnt really as much as a showing type. She jumps big and my nerves are in bits!!!!!

Yer if you need any help advice ect get in touch, ive just been to my friends for plaiting practice and help her with showing too, i said im going to have to write an A-Z in showing prep!! hehe

ZOe xx

We're definately going to try to get to Olympia this year. Daughter wants too see (actually she wants to be in!) the shetland grand national too!!!

We're so proud of you!!! I loved the photos, especially the ones with L in them!! HOW PROUD OF YOU IS SHE!!!!

A navy tweed is also a good idea. Daughter wants a red show jacket now!!! She's going as far in the opposite direction of tweed as possible!

I think it's really sad when these little ponies are, well, just not a kids pony. I don't really understand it well enough to be too critical, but what I saw at weekend was enough. I think this is part of why we're going to leave the BSPS stuff. It sounds like a lovely show, lovely place and lovely people (who have been emailing me about membership etc...) but if what you've described is what it takes to "compete" then we'll stick to local level. In any case, Daughter isn't "cleaning up" on rossettes at local shows. She tends to get placed (which is fantastic and amazing!!!) but it does vary on the day, and obviouisly the judge!

I've learnt that some judges seem to take an instant dislike to chestnut mares!!! Dolly seems to have a knack of sussing out who likes her and who doesn't! It's uncanny actually. If a judge likes her, she's all ears forward and nuzzling. If they don't, she's ears back like she's going to bite them!!! For some reason as well, male judges seem to like her better. Don't understand that!!!

Your new pony sounds lovely! We did look at a few of your pics a while ago, but Daughter was a bit upset that Hokey has gone I bet L misses him doesn't she.

You definately need to write a guide book for novice mums!!!! I'd buy it!!!

 

[redmone]

I love your updates usually, but you're putting the rest of us to shame now

Well done Dolly, redmone and mini-redmone!

Thanks Rhino!!

I was sooooooooooo proud of them!!

Daughter wants to go to another show this weekend, but I'm putting my foot down, being a very selfish mum, and having a blinking lie in!!!!! We've been out for the last few weekends, and I've not had two minutes to do anything, so I'm having a rest this weekend.

So no more "proud mum" posts for a couple of weeks at least!!

 

[LauraWheeler]

How lovely to read another happy report from you
Daughter and Dolly are looking fab and sound like they are going great guns I love daughters smile, She always looks so proud of what she has achieved even when it's not first place and to me this is what ridings all about
Good luck if you go to the bigger shows and I look forward to many more show reports over the summer. I can't get out there and compeat as I have no transport I'm doing lots of online showing, am about to do my first video classes
What site do you do the interdressage with? Would love to give that a go with Herbs

 

[redmone]

What a lovely post!

I'm always interested to read about Dolly and daughter and marvel at their progress (and yours!). I laughed when I read that Dolly was on her toes. What would you have said if she had been when you first got her?
Well done to all of you!

Thanks!!!

I can't even imagine what she'd have been like 12 months ago!!! Never mind on her toes, she'd have been hovering above the ground!!!!

The biggest obstacle we have is getting Dolly to relax at shows. The first few, daughter was told she was "too strong for her" or "not flexible/supple etc..." she was just so excited/nervous that she was really really well ridgid!!!!! We just try to get there early so she can just potter around even before warming up. Seems once she's checked somewhere out, she's much better!!

I've been thinking back a lot to when we first got her. I can't believe I'm now stressing about which shows to take them to, when in the early days we couldn't get her to trot!!!!! It's been a long road, but really really worth it!!

 

[redmone]

How lovely to read another happy report from you
Daughter and Dolly are looking fab and sound like they are going great guns I love daughters smile, She always looks so proud of what she has achieved even when it's not first place and to me this is what ridings all about
Good luck if you go to the bigger shows and I look forward to many more show reports over the summer. I can't get out there and compeat as I have no transport I'm doing lots of online showing, am about to do my first video classes
What site do you do the interdressage with? Would love to give that a go with Herbs

Hi!!

It's www.interdressage.com - and I can't recommend it enough. It's a fantastic site, and the feedback from judges - well I'd pay the entry fee just for that!!! They don't just comment - they offer advice and exercises to help with what they've commented on.

This last month, daughter received two red rossettes, two trophies and some prize money, and her feedback sheets. It was amazing!!!

And the list of classes is brilliant, something for everyone from inhand, showing, dressage to jumping. Youngsters and veteran classes sometimes too.

Thanks for your comments re D & D. I'm so proud of them. The interdressage really helped give us experience on show preparation too (not that you have to get dressed up for the majority of classes - but daughter always did) so now we're going out places, we're not as overwhelmed with preparing everything as we were!!!

Daughter is just happy doing the shows. Anything else is a bonus. I saw some real sights last weekend, which included some very ungrateful children. I'm really lucky to have daughter - she's such a nice person, apart from anything else!!

 

[LauraWheeler]

Thankyou I'll check them out. I have heard good things about them so will deff give them a try.
I know what you mean about spoilt childeren. I once got told I shouldn't pat my pony after a jumping round as she didn't go clear I told the little darling that if she knew ANYTHING about riding she would have seen the refusel was all my fault and I was lucky my mare jumped anything for me. (I get so nervous jumping I forget what my legs are for ) I was proud of Lucy for jumping for me and proud of myself for giving it ago.
I hope your daughter continues to do well she deserves it after sticking with Dolly like she did. I wish more children who rode where like her and not just wanting to win all the time Riding is about having fun and having a partnership with your horse/pony. Your daughter has both and a very proud mummy to boot

 

[FMM]

oooo that sounds lovely!!!

Stupid question, but you can get custom tweeds made? I thought you'd be able to get them tailored to fit nicely, but didn't consider we could get one made in a colour/fabric daughter would like.

Think you might have just cost me a fortune!!!!

Go to someone like Mrs Candy and she will let you choose from a number of swatches which tweed you want and then get it made for you. Probably cost in the region of £150 - £175. However, as I said, you will get around £50-£75 back for it when you come to sell.

Re the working in and being tense. I find that when I get to a show, I just hop straight on board my horse and work in - depending on how he feels, this may be working him properly or it may be wandering around for 45 minutes talking to people and letting him soak up the atmosphere. Then back to the lorry, get him ready/get changed and then hop on for the class - may have a quick trot round once, but usually straight into the ring so no hot sweaty horse and rider yet still worked in properly. Try it - usually people say "my pony always goes better in the second class/test" - but never actually work out that they can create the second class effect by getting on earlier ...

 

[redmone]

Thankyou I'll check them out. I have heard good things about them so will deff give them a try.
I know what you mean about spoilt childeren. I once got told I shouldn't pat my pony after a jumping round as she didn't go clear I told the little darling that if she knew ANYTHING about riding she would have seen the refusel was all my fault and I was lucky my mare jumped anything for me. (I get so nervous jumping I forget what my legs are for ) I was proud of Lucy for jumping for me and proud of myself for giving it ago.
I hope your daughter continues to do well she deserves it after sticking with Dolly like she did. I wish more children who rode where like her and not just wanting to win all the time Riding is about having fun and having a partnership with your horse/pony. Your daughter has both and a very proud mummy to boot

Awww thank you so much for this!!! I'm very proud of them both, and also very proud of having such a lovely well balanced little girl. I know, she's only 11, and a lot can change with children's personalities when they get a bit older but I do hope she continues to be such a nice person.

PS I would have hit the person with my whip, who said I couldn't pat my pony after refusing!!!!!!

 

[redmone]

Go to someone like Mrs Candy and she will let you choose from a number of swatches which tweed you want and then get it made for you. Probably cost in the region of £150 - £175. However, as I said, you will get around £50-£75 back for it when you come to sell.

Re the working in and being tense. I find that when I get to a show, I just hop straight on board my horse and work in - depending on how he feels, this may be working him properly or it may be wandering around for 45 minutes talking to people and letting him soak up the atmosphere. Then back to the lorry, get him ready/get changed and then hop on for the class - may have a quick trot round once, but usually straight into the ring so no hot sweaty horse and rider yet still worked in properly. Try it - usually people say "my pony always goes better in the second class/test" - but never actually work out that they can create the second class effect by getting on earlier ...

Many thanks for your advice.

Mrs Candy does have some better tweed colours - will show daughter and see if she likes any! Thank you!!!