FMM
Well-Known Member
This is going to be all over the place - I didn't do all 5 days, but it felt like it!
I really enjoy HOYS - it is such a good chance to sit down and talk to people who you usually only chat to in passing - there is much more time for having a drink (or two or three ...)
Wednesday was a day trip for me - the hunters all went really well, with Blarney coming 5th in the MWs and Boots 3rd in the HWs.
I missed Thursday altogether as I had to go to work - the yard ended up with a 2nd in the Recycled Racehorses with Shahzan House and the same horse was 4th in the Large Hacks (or 3rd - memory failure!)
A friend very kindly came over to mine on Thursday evening - she had offered to take Toby to school for me on Friday morning so rather than come over at 5.30am I thought that it would be easier to come over on Thursday night! Toby refused to go to bed until she arrived but eventually we got him into bed and managed to get a glass of wine and something to eat - final relaxing evening before the fun started ...
Got to the show quite quickly and met up with everyone before our first coloured was in. Andy Pandy (Red Andes) went brilliantly in the coloureds and looked stunning. Having said that, we had absolutely no idea that he had won and we all screamed when he was called forward in a most unbecoming manner. His owner burst into tears (she said that it was because she had seen the price of the champagne ...)
Then the hairy ponies, then Dinger came in. I have to say that he did not put a foot wrong - he smiled at the judge at the right time, gave a perfect ride and was simply superb. He actually got the highest overall score of all the coloureds on Friday (was second highest score last year). Yet again, it was cobs in the top 9 and the hairies didn't get a look in - it doesn't seem terribly fair on them at all. Anyway - they did their countdown and Dinger was called in first - he seemed quite pleased about it and then galloped around the arena with Jayne with both of them smiling broadly!
Couple of hours to consume the champagne, then it was time to find some clothes as I was allowed to ride in the championship. I've never been in a HOYS championship before, and had never expected to! As it was Dinger, there was no need for any nerves as I knew he would be as pleased as I was to be in the main ring and would show off beautifully. We had to negotiate all the scurry ponies coming out, then in we went. It was over far too quickly - I could have gone round loads more. It was very disconcerting to have the sky TV crew running along the track taking pics of us but the horses were OK about it. Dinger stopped dead in his tracks once when one of the corner cameras dropped like a stone in front of him for a close up shot, but was OK next time round.
The judges had a good look at him and the pony, then called Andy and the pony in as champion and reserve. So we almost got the reserve I think - but what an amazing opportunity. Jayne said last year that she was going to try to get both through so that I could get a championship ride (my jackets have been in the championship 3 times now without me!), but admitted that she hadn't thought it would be this year!!!
We were all exhausted by the end of Friday so had an early night - how boring!!
Cobs on Saturday - enjoyed watching the classes and thought that all our boys went really well. Eric (Keystone Cob) was 7th and Chad (Incobnito) was 3rd. Anton (StrictlyCobDancing) was ridden by his new owner quite beautifully but did not make it to the final line up.
Wandered around the shops and then back to the hotel. We sat in reception for a while and sipped cocktails (well, not really sipping - it was more like gulping!) then several of us met up for dinner in the restaurant by the international arena. Had a lovely meal then realised that the Puissance was due to start so thought we ought to get going. We then realised that the Whittaker Family (about 12 of them) were on the table next to us - two were in riding clothes with very full plates. Obviously a full tummy doesn't help with the Puissance as it was a non eating Whittaker that won the class. :unknw: Personally, I would have been sick half way over the wall if it had been me.
Interestingly, we talked to one of the riders the next day who had competed in the Puissance for the first time. She said that going over the wall was like cantering up to a house and expecting to jump it. She said it was fantastic fun
and very exhilerating. And she looked really normal ...
Sunday was a lay in as we had no small riding horse - saw the end of the class, then Phil (The Philanderer) was in. He was called in the top half and gave a lovely smooth and educated ride. She must have liked him as they called him forward in 1st - he behaved well at the presentation. More champagne and met Phil's breeders which was lovely. Then the championship - Phil was amazing and I think really deserved his championship.
Slight panic then to find a rider for Andy Pandy - I suggested Jordan but no one seemed to think it was one of my better ideas.
I then decided that Toby could come up - he was at the time in Hemel Hempstead with his father. I called him and explained that if he was good he could come and watch. I thought he would jump at the chance as he had been bugging me all week to come. He said (exact words) "Hmm, let me think about it - I'll call you back in a few minutes" and put the phone down on me!!! He called back shortly and said he would like to come, so off I drove to collect him. Three hours later, back just in time to get down to the Caldene and watch the pre judging. The ponies all did individuals, some of which went on and on and on. Then the horses came in, but they had run out of time, so there were no individuals - which was a great shame.
Back to the main arena for final judging. We watched the final of the private driving - a 16 year old won - lovely pony which went beautifully for her. Then the pony supreme. I thought the lead rein would win which it duly did - gorgeous pony. We then watched the heavy horse drive. Toby had never seen this before and didn't stop asking questions about them - he was fascinated. Then the horse supreme - as we thought, Guy got it with the lovely LW hunter, Finn McCool, although they did spend some time looking at Phil as well, so I think he had been in with a shout. Loved the hunting horn that someone in the exhibitor area was blowing whilst Guy was doing his (several) laps of honour - very exciting to watch!
Toby then wanted to stay a bit longer so we saw the household cavalry (he loved that - very good display), Pony Club (the team from our area won, so he was excited about that as well) then he wanted to stay for the show jumping. I managed to persuade him that watching them in the collecting ring was far more exciting, so we did that for 15 minutes, then we went home. He was quite tired, but it is half term at the end of this week, so he hasn't got to last too long.
Had a great couple of days and looking forward to next year now.
Not everything went according to plan - my sister was "accidentally" charged £4,000 on her credit card by the hotel (and this was the day BEFORE she had checked out) - they said something along the lines of "oh dear, this happened to someone else a few weeks ago ...)
I really enjoy HOYS - it is such a good chance to sit down and talk to people who you usually only chat to in passing - there is much more time for having a drink (or two or three ...)
Wednesday was a day trip for me - the hunters all went really well, with Blarney coming 5th in the MWs and Boots 3rd in the HWs.
I missed Thursday altogether as I had to go to work - the yard ended up with a 2nd in the Recycled Racehorses with Shahzan House and the same horse was 4th in the Large Hacks (or 3rd - memory failure!)
A friend very kindly came over to mine on Thursday evening - she had offered to take Toby to school for me on Friday morning so rather than come over at 5.30am I thought that it would be easier to come over on Thursday night! Toby refused to go to bed until she arrived but eventually we got him into bed and managed to get a glass of wine and something to eat - final relaxing evening before the fun started ...
Got to the show quite quickly and met up with everyone before our first coloured was in. Andy Pandy (Red Andes) went brilliantly in the coloureds and looked stunning. Having said that, we had absolutely no idea that he had won and we all screamed when he was called forward in a most unbecoming manner. His owner burst into tears (she said that it was because she had seen the price of the champagne ...)
Then the hairy ponies, then Dinger came in. I have to say that he did not put a foot wrong - he smiled at the judge at the right time, gave a perfect ride and was simply superb. He actually got the highest overall score of all the coloureds on Friday (was second highest score last year). Yet again, it was cobs in the top 9 and the hairies didn't get a look in - it doesn't seem terribly fair on them at all. Anyway - they did their countdown and Dinger was called in first - he seemed quite pleased about it and then galloped around the arena with Jayne with both of them smiling broadly!
Couple of hours to consume the champagne, then it was time to find some clothes as I was allowed to ride in the championship. I've never been in a HOYS championship before, and had never expected to! As it was Dinger, there was no need for any nerves as I knew he would be as pleased as I was to be in the main ring and would show off beautifully. We had to negotiate all the scurry ponies coming out, then in we went. It was over far too quickly - I could have gone round loads more. It was very disconcerting to have the sky TV crew running along the track taking pics of us but the horses were OK about it. Dinger stopped dead in his tracks once when one of the corner cameras dropped like a stone in front of him for a close up shot, but was OK next time round.
The judges had a good look at him and the pony, then called Andy and the pony in as champion and reserve. So we almost got the reserve I think - but what an amazing opportunity. Jayne said last year that she was going to try to get both through so that I could get a championship ride (my jackets have been in the championship 3 times now without me!), but admitted that she hadn't thought it would be this year!!!
We were all exhausted by the end of Friday so had an early night - how boring!!
Cobs on Saturday - enjoyed watching the classes and thought that all our boys went really well. Eric (Keystone Cob) was 7th and Chad (Incobnito) was 3rd. Anton (StrictlyCobDancing) was ridden by his new owner quite beautifully but did not make it to the final line up.
Wandered around the shops and then back to the hotel. We sat in reception for a while and sipped cocktails (well, not really sipping - it was more like gulping!) then several of us met up for dinner in the restaurant by the international arena. Had a lovely meal then realised that the Puissance was due to start so thought we ought to get going. We then realised that the Whittaker Family (about 12 of them) were on the table next to us - two were in riding clothes with very full plates. Obviously a full tummy doesn't help with the Puissance as it was a non eating Whittaker that won the class. :unknw: Personally, I would have been sick half way over the wall if it had been me.
Interestingly, we talked to one of the riders the next day who had competed in the Puissance for the first time. She said that going over the wall was like cantering up to a house and expecting to jump it. She said it was fantastic fun
Sunday was a lay in as we had no small riding horse - saw the end of the class, then Phil (The Philanderer) was in. He was called in the top half and gave a lovely smooth and educated ride. She must have liked him as they called him forward in 1st - he behaved well at the presentation. More champagne and met Phil's breeders which was lovely. Then the championship - Phil was amazing and I think really deserved his championship.
Slight panic then to find a rider for Andy Pandy - I suggested Jordan but no one seemed to think it was one of my better ideas.
I then decided that Toby could come up - he was at the time in Hemel Hempstead with his father. I called him and explained that if he was good he could come and watch. I thought he would jump at the chance as he had been bugging me all week to come. He said (exact words) "Hmm, let me think about it - I'll call you back in a few minutes" and put the phone down on me!!! He called back shortly and said he would like to come, so off I drove to collect him. Three hours later, back just in time to get down to the Caldene and watch the pre judging. The ponies all did individuals, some of which went on and on and on. Then the horses came in, but they had run out of time, so there were no individuals - which was a great shame.
Back to the main arena for final judging. We watched the final of the private driving - a 16 year old won - lovely pony which went beautifully for her. Then the pony supreme. I thought the lead rein would win which it duly did - gorgeous pony. We then watched the heavy horse drive. Toby had never seen this before and didn't stop asking questions about them - he was fascinated. Then the horse supreme - as we thought, Guy got it with the lovely LW hunter, Finn McCool, although they did spend some time looking at Phil as well, so I think he had been in with a shout. Loved the hunting horn that someone in the exhibitor area was blowing whilst Guy was doing his (several) laps of honour - very exciting to watch!
Toby then wanted to stay a bit longer so we saw the household cavalry (he loved that - very good display), Pony Club (the team from our area won, so he was excited about that as well) then he wanted to stay for the show jumping. I managed to persuade him that watching them in the collecting ring was far more exciting, so we did that for 15 minutes, then we went home. He was quite tired, but it is half term at the end of this week, so he hasn't got to last too long.
Had a great couple of days and looking forward to next year now.
Not everything went according to plan - my sister was "accidentally" charged £4,000 on her credit card by the hotel (and this was the day BEFORE she had checked out) - they said something along the lines of "oh dear, this happened to someone else a few weeks ago ...)
