jnb
Well-Known Member
On Sunday, with a lot of nerves and trepidation, I took my cob to his first ever proper show class, we have previously done 2 Green Horse classes which don't have a go around with canter in, or don't require canter at all. I have been having problems getting right lead canter - we went to a BSHA Showing clinic and took about 10 attempts but I've had some lessons and in my last lesson we got the right lead and then Saturday out hacking we had 3 right lead canters sooo....6.30am on Sunday saw us bathing and wrapping 680kg of HW Show Cob and praying, off we went and the show was fabulously organised, no spectators, lorries parked 2m apart, only 4 in the warmup and 4 in the class.
My cob has outgrown his saddle so I am riding in a borrowed (fitted to him) Fylde Marjorie which for a rubbish rider like me is a challenge especially as I'm hardly sylph like (the Marjorie was designed for Hack riders & I'm more.....*cough* HW Cob), very nervous and unfit - I'm working on it all.
Anyway. Ruari strode into the ring & went "Right - I'm here, anyone want my space? No...thought not" - it was a mixed Coloured class and he was twice the size of everyone else (hum so was I
)
He was a bit tense looking at the Cafe, the jumps, more dive bombing pigeons, the open door at the other end of the arena (it was indoors) but I settled him and off into trot we went, me huffing, him flicking his toes as much as a HW Cob can. The call to canter came, I panicked and asked too early and got it wrong (my fault) however sat back (for once), asked again and off we went, I could have cried I was so happy - in fact I think a tear might have escaped! and we cantered about 3 laps of a 35m x 60m arena, I think the most I have managed before is a lap of a 40m x 20m! Back to trot, I was knackered Ruari was like: "Bring it on! what's next Mum" - across the diagonal, into canter again, correct lead & I felt like I'd won the Lottery
We were called into line no order, I snuck onto the end because I needed oxygen.
Everyone did perfect shows then it was our turn. I can't believe it but we did the best show I have ever ridden, I am rubbish at them because with my old cob we always had a ride judge & he gave a superb ride. My cob even tried to gallop for me - he's never even been asked before but he as the greenest 6 yo ever - TRIED - and that is worth everything to me.
We came last but honestly I don't care, mixed classes the judge will like either plaited types or natives/trads or show cobs. I went for experience, and we got that in spades.
Pics - I know I look like a bag of spanners but I had lost nearly 5 stone and was starting to get my balance but lock down has caused me to pile on a stone & the change in saddle is doing me no favours, grateful I can ride though tbh! Saddler finally coming next week to sort new saddle.
My cob has outgrown his saddle so I am riding in a borrowed (fitted to him) Fylde Marjorie which for a rubbish rider like me is a challenge especially as I'm hardly sylph like (the Marjorie was designed for Hack riders & I'm more.....*cough* HW Cob), very nervous and unfit - I'm working on it all.
Anyway. Ruari strode into the ring & went "Right - I'm here, anyone want my space? No...thought not" - it was a mixed Coloured class and he was twice the size of everyone else (hum so was I
)He was a bit tense looking at the Cafe, the jumps, more dive bombing pigeons, the open door at the other end of the arena (it was indoors) but I settled him and off into trot we went, me huffing, him flicking his toes as much as a HW Cob can. The call to canter came, I panicked and asked too early and got it wrong (my fault) however sat back (for once), asked again and off we went, I could have cried I was so happy - in fact I think a tear might have escaped! and we cantered about 3 laps of a 35m x 60m arena, I think the most I have managed before is a lap of a 40m x 20m! Back to trot, I was knackered Ruari was like: "Bring it on! what's next Mum" - across the diagonal, into canter again, correct lead & I felt like I'd won the Lottery
We were called into line no order, I snuck onto the end because I needed oxygen.
Everyone did perfect shows then it was our turn. I can't believe it but we did the best show I have ever ridden, I am rubbish at them because with my old cob we always had a ride judge & he gave a superb ride. My cob even tried to gallop for me - he's never even been asked before but he as the greenest 6 yo ever - TRIED - and that is worth everything to me.
We came last but honestly I don't care, mixed classes the judge will like either plaited types or natives/trads or show cobs. I went for experience, and we got that in spades.
Pics - I know I look like a bag of spanners but I had lost nearly 5 stone and was starting to get my balance but lock down has caused me to pile on a stone & the change in saddle is doing me no favours, grateful I can ride though tbh! Saddler finally coming next week to sort new saddle.
