ecrozier
Well-Known Member
Don't usually do comp reports on here but had to share.
In May I broke my leg in 4 places whilst out competing. We also (the day before - excellent timing !) bought a new 3 year old unbacked gelding!!
Finally felt strong enough to get back out competing so booked in a local riding club show, for the 3 year old's first party! He had quite a weekend of it - first set of shoes on saturday, second ever bath, first ever trip in the lorry on Saturday (only been in trailer half a dozen times, never lorry) and then had to stand for plaits etc. Bless him he was a superstar, not bothered by any of it!
So off we todled to the show,(30 plaits in his mane - is so thick they could only be about half an inch wide or they were football sized!). Eyes on stalks for first half an hour, but we had entered him and my 'cool-as-a-cucumber' boy in the first class of the day, in hand condition and turn out. Friend showed my lad as I can't trot him up yet without resembling quasimodo, and OH showed the youngster. They were both v well behaved, pulled in third out of 3 in each section though (mine is arab so unplaited!). Judge said mine was a nice boy but too lean for showing really - which is fine as he is supposed to be fit not fat and is certainly not underweight!! Expected that tbh, and with youngster said he just needs to muscle up and mature - kind of fair but he is 3 so hardly likely to be very muscular yet but hey ho, there for the experience we said!
Youngster them amazed us all, stood by the lorry munching a haynet while we preened him for main class - youngstock. He'd totally chilled by now and was awesome, when the time came he walked away from J without a backward glance. 11 in the youngstock class so they split them, 1&2 year olds and 3 year olds. Friends entire arab colt walked the 1&2 year old section, but he is absolutely awesome and destined for proper arab in hand showing. Then the 3 year olds - he was amazing again, only one in whole class to behave perfectly throughout.....and he got pulled in second!! Judge said only thing dividing them was that he's got a few scabs and scratches, but thats fine, rather have him out in a herd being a proper horse and come second TBH! OH was happiest person on the planet with his rosette and trophy and impeccably behaved horse! He then walked him round whole showground (including round the clear round to look at the jumps!) while I did my dressage.
Test went fine, not sure if its that he's slightly stiff on the right rein having hardly been in school for 3 months, or that my less strong leg doesn't work as well, but still, was a milestone just to get out and about. I was first to go so we loaded them up (roo loaded like a star again!) and went home. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I went back to collect my sheet and found I'd not only won the class but scored 77.5% and had a 9!!! Amazing. Scores ranged from 54% upwards, were a few in the 60s and then one 71% and then me. Awesome. So sendng my BD membership off today and off to first one in a few weeks!!
Thanks for reading! Still grinning tbh so had to share especially thanks again to those who have offered advice when I have asked questions about the 3 year old!
In May I broke my leg in 4 places whilst out competing. We also (the day before - excellent timing !) bought a new 3 year old unbacked gelding!!
Finally felt strong enough to get back out competing so booked in a local riding club show, for the 3 year old's first party! He had quite a weekend of it - first set of shoes on saturday, second ever bath, first ever trip in the lorry on Saturday (only been in trailer half a dozen times, never lorry) and then had to stand for plaits etc. Bless him he was a superstar, not bothered by any of it!
So off we todled to the show,(30 plaits in his mane - is so thick they could only be about half an inch wide or they were football sized!). Eyes on stalks for first half an hour, but we had entered him and my 'cool-as-a-cucumber' boy in the first class of the day, in hand condition and turn out. Friend showed my lad as I can't trot him up yet without resembling quasimodo, and OH showed the youngster. They were both v well behaved, pulled in third out of 3 in each section though (mine is arab so unplaited!). Judge said mine was a nice boy but too lean for showing really - which is fine as he is supposed to be fit not fat and is certainly not underweight!! Expected that tbh, and with youngster said he just needs to muscle up and mature - kind of fair but he is 3 so hardly likely to be very muscular yet but hey ho, there for the experience we said!
Youngster them amazed us all, stood by the lorry munching a haynet while we preened him for main class - youngstock. He'd totally chilled by now and was awesome, when the time came he walked away from J without a backward glance. 11 in the youngstock class so they split them, 1&2 year olds and 3 year olds. Friends entire arab colt walked the 1&2 year old section, but he is absolutely awesome and destined for proper arab in hand showing. Then the 3 year olds - he was amazing again, only one in whole class to behave perfectly throughout.....and he got pulled in second!! Judge said only thing dividing them was that he's got a few scabs and scratches, but thats fine, rather have him out in a herd being a proper horse and come second TBH! OH was happiest person on the planet with his rosette and trophy and impeccably behaved horse! He then walked him round whole showground (including round the clear round to look at the jumps!) while I did my dressage.
Test went fine, not sure if its that he's slightly stiff on the right rein having hardly been in school for 3 months, or that my less strong leg doesn't work as well, but still, was a milestone just to get out and about. I was first to go so we loaded them up (roo loaded like a star again!) and went home. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I went back to collect my sheet and found I'd not only won the class but scored 77.5% and had a 9!!! Amazing. Scores ranged from 54% upwards, were a few in the 60s and then one 71% and then me. Awesome. So sendng my BD membership off today and off to first one in a few weeks!!
Thanks for reading! Still grinning tbh so had to share especially thanks again to those who have offered advice when I have asked questions about the 3 year old!
