Merci La France! (long)

[louisem]

So,here we are ,back from our little trip to SUNNY france.
After a night trip in the sexy 'Theault' - kids and blonde dog sleeping soundly,we arrived in the busy city of Vichy.
Great permanent stables and warm welcome from the organisors.

Three days of top jumping from some top riders!
Sad to say,only had 2 prizes all weekend...but...the horsies jumped very well in some pretty boggy ground and Manneken (bless him) jumped the derby (nearly cross country?) with only one down.I was very proud,even though it was nearly dark by the time we finished

Amaretto had a deserved 11th in the 1.50 on saturday but possibly used too much energy in the deep ground and toed 2 out in the grand prix on Sunday (he is only 8)

OH left for home on Sunday night and the kids, BD (Blonde dog) and I chilled in Vichy (quatorze juillet) on monday and made our lonesome way to Royan on tuesday.
Check out those maps......720kms!!!!!!!
Thank god for mobile dvd players and 'Angelina Ballerina' dvds!!!
What can I say about Royan?
Perhaps the best show in the world!
a)Next to the seaside
b)Unbelievable reception and friendly organisors
c)Top weather
d)Lovely arena,stables etc
e)Next to the seaside!!!
Apart from having something to do every day from the organisation (lunch in the casino,trip to the zoo etc ) I can honestly say that I have never seen quite such high courses in my whole life.....
Again, pathetic lack of rosettes,but my god did my boys jump!
Manneken,who is just 1.55m was 8th on friday and then jumped the big class on saturday (1.50m!) Okay,he stopped once at the open water(never done it before) and had one down, but lets face it ,he could have gone under most of the course!!!

Amaretto had one down on friday in the 1.50 and then in the

1.60 two down. I was a little dissappointed in myself as they were two rider faults, but he did a line of ...double (verticle - oxer) uphill to a triple bar and then downhill to spindely planks, really well, where there were lots of faults,so he got lots of polos anyway!!!
It was an amazing experience at a fantastic show and we escaped the cr*ppy weather!
I'll try and get some photos together for the PG,how can I get them from my camera to photobucket without going through kodak? Anyone?

 

[Weezy]

Yes, in car DVD players were sent by the Gods

Sounds like you have had a great trip and hell, some rosettes are better than none at all! To jump a 155cms round a 1.5m course is bloody brave!

Yes you can upload photos without going through kodak - just upload them onto your computer (plug in the USB cable and choose a generic programme) and then go onto photobucket and click away to upload (that sounds too simple I think I hear you say...)

 

[louisem]

mmmm

I hate it when people say things like 'generic programme' and expect idiots like me will know what the **** they are talking about!

 

[hotellie]

wow jumping a 155cm horse round a 150cm course is absolutely amazing!
well done for your cracking results over what i consider blooming massive!

 

[Bubblegum]

Awesome.... well done you. What a fab report....can't wait for pics...

 

[Baydale]

That sounds like you had a fantastic time and your ponies jumped their little socks off. Find a geeky person to get the photos sorted as we'd love to see them.

 

[Weezy]

OK, I will try and do this simply...

Turn camera on and in view mode and pop the USB cable in the computer

You will get a pop up window with a choice of programs to use to upload the pics - choose the top one.

When it prompts you as to where to upload the pics I suggest you make a new folder (a little folder with a red starry thing next to it on the top of the box) entitle it FRANCE or similar and click to open

Select the pics you want to upload and away you go.

Once uploaded go to Photobucket and press upload

Go to the folder you have created and click on the photos you want to host, using the CTRL key to upload more than one at a time (just hold the CTRL key every time you click on a pic)

The pics will now upload

See, clear as mud

 

[sachak]

hehe sounds like you had a lovely time and your boys jumped mega

they do build strong in france don't they!!!

 

[louisem]

Thanks everyone!
Gonna try the uploady thing now......see you next week?
Weezy, top woman,might take a while, but I will crack it ,I promise....

 

[sachak]

best of luck with the pictures, im sure you will emerge from the depths unscathed!!!

 

[PapaFrita]

1.50m! *gulp*

Looking forward to seeing your photos!

 

[Rambo]

Well done to you and the horses

I don't think you're brave....I think you're mad...jumping little more than a pony round a 1.50m

I did follow your progress at Vichy via their very good website, but forgot you were travelling on to Royan afterwards...oops

Was expecting to see you in results of the 6 Bar at Vichy too....did you decide that dismounting from 2m once was enough lol!

 

[meardsall_millie]

Excellent stuff - big congrats to you.

Lol when I saw you 'then jumped the 'big' class' - at 1.50. That is not 'big' it's f*****g huge - 1.10 is 'big'!!!

 

[tigers_eye]

Well done! Are you doing some big shows here this season? Would be nice to watch some proper jumping. Yesterday was the first day the sun shined for 2 weeks here, you timed your trip very well!

 

[JCWHITE]

Thank you for a lovely story. I can quite believe what you found about the hospitality etc. We are always welcomed by all the French, it is very humbling. Will put Royan on our TO DO list for 2009. Spent a few days at Blaye, CSI one star last weekend. Sounds like a good show for you.They have a website, its held in the Citadelle, and isnt that far from Bordeaux.

 

[Gamebird]

What a fab trip! Mega respect to you and you ponies for jumping those fences at all, let alone being competitive. And another helping of respect for taking the kids!

 

[louisem]

Oooooo!
I went last year to Blaye,Fab show!

Amaretto won the six bar and at one of my first international shows ever I remember vividly the feeling of clearing the last round under the spotlights at midnight and the crowd going wild!

Hearing 'God save the Queen' - it don't get much better than that!!!!

Horsies have a few weeks rest now while I entertain my parents for 11 days then off we go again!
Thanks for the support everyone, I'll keep you posted!

 

[JCWHITE]

Hi, glad you went to Blaye and enjoyed it, I believe JM Nicolas won the Sixbar this year.The crowd really join in, they were very enthusiastic for all the classes esp the Handisport(para jumping), and a childrens class, as well as the big stuff as you rightly say.
God save the Queen was played recently for my horse, yes, it certainly doesnt get any better.
Let us know if you are competing in France again soon.
JC

 

[flohelf]

Good for you and your horses !!!
Must say, most shows in France (whether eventing or SJ) really know how to make you feel welcome + plenty to drink, great parties, etc....

Looking forward to seeing your pics... No excuse after Weezy's brilliant "How to upload pics for dummies" bit

 

[Fiona]

Can't wait to see pics. Sounds like an enjoyable trip - sun, sea and showjumping. Better than a holiday!!

Fiona