Have dipped toe in showing water... :-o

Noodlejaffa

Noodlejaffa

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www.ailsamactaggart.co.uk
Well, we have survived. How I am still awake having been up at 4am I do not know, but hey ho.

Took my mare to her (and mine) first ever showing class at a local agricultural show. More about getting some experience for her - she does super flatwork and jumps the moon, but she's still getting to grips with the going something that isn't a dressage show. She's six, but can still throw almighty wobblers when her brain is overloaded with things.

Anyway, just entered the ridden hunter class as everything else had jumps. Class had 24 of us in it and was being judged by Beanie Sturgis. Poor Amber just didn't quite know what to think of things. Managed to negotiate our way to the warm up arena (passing the noisy vintage tractors, ice-cream vans and shetland pony fancy dress!) and warmed up in baking hot weather. She was feeling rather perky! Entered arena and could literally feel her brain doing overtime - still, she coped with the walk, trot and the canter. I probably didn't open her up enough, but I had visions of her throwing in one of her corkscrew exclamations so I was pleased she remained calm and controlled! She even managed to contain herself when there was a child wrestling a large poodle on the ground as we cantered past!

Given it was our first time, I'm afraid to say we didn't have the double bridle, brown tack, sewn in plaits or quarter marks, but I still enjoyed it and came out with a smile on my face (and we weren't last!!). A few pics to bore you...

trotup-3.jpg


head-1.jpg


canter-3.jpg
 
Familiar face - whose her sire?

I also tried showing for the first time the other week, but made him so shiney I kept slipping off down his side (chose the wrong momwent to change the girth I was using as well), went off on the wrong leg in canter, which put me last.
 
Well done :)

I thinkshowing is a good way of getting them used to things not of the eventing genre :)

Good for them to have a backround in everything :D Be warned it can get addictive!!! I am having withdrawal having not shown in over 6 months due to one thing and another ;) Your both looking fine to me in those pics :D
 
Lovely mare! She was probably thinking "How very rude of these other horses to be in the ring at the same time as me - and where are my white boards???" :D

I have just the opposite "problem". I'm taking an ex-show horse and turning him in to a dressage horse. He sometimes wants to join his pals OUTside the boards. :p
 
She is a beautiful looking girl!
I think showing is great for young horses, teaches them manners about galloping round with others politely, standing still and then leaving the group, even if it is mind numbingly boring!
It looks lovely weather for you as well, an enjoyable day :).
 
She is lovely.
If you want to do more you could go for pretty velvet browband and do large riding horse.
As she also jumps WH would give more of a challenge.
Its all good experience for them ,the busy shows have so much going on.
 
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