Pony showing debut....

Fiona

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I've had my new 5yo 13.2 Connemara Fionn for 2 months now, but apart from one showing clinic and a trip to pony club he has been coughing most of the time (flu vacc reactivated a virus he had had before we got him) so all we have really done is hack, and have missed all the local friendly shows we could have tried in May :(

However my entries for the local county show had been in for ages (more in hope than certainty I must admit) and when he started to feel much better over the last 10 days I decided 'what the heck' and to go for it...

Especially as hubby and I were in Borough Market last Sat about 4 hrs before the terrorist attack, and it scared the life of me, and made me realise you only live once :o

We were 6th class in the native ring (ridden connie) starting at 9.30, so arrived on the showground at 9.45 expecting to be in plenty of time, but hastily discovering that all the shetty classes had 1-2 entries and mine was next on :o

Never dressed or tacked up as fast, and we were last into the arena without any warmup or even a step of trot :(

He was absolutely amazing, and did me proud. Didn't spook at any of the spectators/balloons/airbourne black plastic bags, stood in line perfectly, and did a very controllable if uneducated show..

He then stood on the lorry for 3 hours eating without complaint, and pulled out just as calm for the second class (large breed M&M). We did get a lovely warm up this time, and he showed just as nicely (apart from one unfortunate break from canter to trot (sadly in front of the judge)) and did another sweet show.

He's out in the field now with his best friend (hubbys mare), and I'm sure hes making her jealous telling her all about his adventures...

What a little star, he's going to make such a fantastic kid's pony in a couple of years...

Pics in reply as they're on my phone (fb)..

Thank you for reading.

Fiona
 


Cheeky brat.







My sticking out elbows are dreadful :( and I need a more discrete numnah as it covers his shoulder

Any other tips?

Fiona
 
Glad you got out and about! Didn't have a great day there myself, filly was very lethargic so placed last. But then i did roll out of bed at 9AM and drag her in and onto the box to leave for 9.10AM as i had decided i was not going then suddenly took the notion! I was not going to go, cause i am not very well and very tired from foal watch lol but hey ho, good turn out in general.
 
Probably! If you saw someone dragging their yearling, that was me hahah

I did get to take a friends mare into the championship tho. Was not prepared, and had no hat!
 
They're all so titchy I'm not sure I'd know the difference between a yearling and an adult miniature lol....

Poor Fionn was exhausted by his exciting day out, he was flat out in the field this morning. ..

Fiona
 
Looks like you had an enjoyable day, you said you are going to get a smaller numnah, that will make a huge difference, a smaller straighter cut saddle would also help but perhaps you don't want to splash out on one if you are only doing a few shows.

Re the miniatures, lots of them here in NZ of all different colours, at some shows it is the section that has the most entries. I would have no idea how to judge them though. Apparently according to gossip showing them is quite "cut throat" and very competitive! They are very cute though.
 
A new numnah is a definite, its far too big and forward cut, even though I think its cob size which should be OK on a 16" saddle.

I don't think a new saddle would be on the cards though, if I were getting a new one it would probably be more forward cut rather than less lol, but I could see from some of the other ponies how a specialist showing saddle sat nicer behind the shoulder...

Thank you :)

Fiona
 
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