Bernster
Well-Known Member
The sun didn't make much of an appearance but that didn't put a dampener on things (apart from setting off on a very wet Friday, with the M25 closed due to flooding).
I had some great tips on here, thank you, they really paid off, especially about allowing extra time for everything. Really pleased we did the training show on Friday. A great chance to see all the hullabaloo. Got some handy tips and changed our indiv show to allow for the set up of the arena. Left F all tucked in and went to crash at the local Premier Inn (I don't do camping!).
Day 2. An early morning call to tell me F was kicking up a fuss - he was worried no-one was going to feed him. Lesson learned, leave hay out for the morning and get there super early to feed. Joined by supergroom no. 1 for the 4 hour marathon of cleaning and preening. A bit fresh in the warm up but he settled after I actually started to ride and we did some proper working in. Eventful times though, with horses slipping over and one that decided it was all too much and laid down in the line up for about 10 minutes! All ok though.
Into the novice ridden horse, 12 in the class, mixed types. Amazingly, he went the best he's ever gone. What a great time to pull that out of the bag! We had some fab moments of being light, forward and into the contact, instead of the usual tense and choppy. Did a decent show and, for the first time, strip and trot up. V thankful again for the training show as the judge talked us through that. F does have slightly wonky front legs, bless him, but not much we can do about that! Judge commented how nice he went in a snaffle. So I liked her.
Had one of those fantastic moments when you can't stop smiling, as we stood in the line up and I thought "I'm at Hickstead!!". Would have been happy with that but to top it off, we got called in 3rd! Absolutely thrilled and so pleased he'd gone so well in a championship class. Not bad for our 4th ever show.
Another early night and even earlier start for Day 3, ridden hunter. Serious (non-novice) class this time, 21 entries. I was expecting to be massively outclassed (and we were). Pretty much everyone in a double, looking super smart. Class was too big for us to get into a rhythm, so we reverted to being a bit tense and choppy but he behaved perfectly. Not surprisingly we didn't get called into the top 10 line up. There were some cracking horses in there.
No indiv show, which I hadn't realised, but lawks a-lordy, the judge rode instead. Had not prepared for that! Unbelievably chuffed when she came back, thanked me and said how well schooled he was. A ride judge. At a championship show. About my horse!!! So I liked her. As if things weren't fabulous enough, got complimented on supergroom's plaits by the confo judge. I decided I liked her too.
Another cheesy grin moment of realisation that we were at Hickstead and that F was being a total superstar with all this new stuff. And an even bigger grin, with a comedy (but genuine) double-take, as we got bumped up the line and into the placings for an 8th place!! AAAAAAAMAZING. Ride judge said he gave her a really nice ride, which is what had brought him up the line.
My goals had been to get there in one piece, have fun, get some experience of a big show and, if he went nicely, *ideally* not to come last. What I hadn't banked on was my fabulous horse being a dude at his first major show. Plus supergroom turning out to a high standard. I tend to be critical of our slow progress and my rubbish riding but maybe, just maybe, we're doing ok.
Will add pro pics when they're ready.
Video - Day 2 novice ridden
Third place and a lovely frilly to go with it
Groom with the goody bag for 3rd place
Day 3 - off we go again! Two grooms in tow this time
Video - ridden hunter
What a fab weekend!
I had some great tips on here, thank you, they really paid off, especially about allowing extra time for everything. Really pleased we did the training show on Friday. A great chance to see all the hullabaloo. Got some handy tips and changed our indiv show to allow for the set up of the arena. Left F all tucked in and went to crash at the local Premier Inn (I don't do camping!).
Day 2. An early morning call to tell me F was kicking up a fuss - he was worried no-one was going to feed him. Lesson learned, leave hay out for the morning and get there super early to feed. Joined by supergroom no. 1 for the 4 hour marathon of cleaning and preening. A bit fresh in the warm up but he settled after I actually started to ride and we did some proper working in. Eventful times though, with horses slipping over and one that decided it was all too much and laid down in the line up for about 10 minutes! All ok though.
Into the novice ridden horse, 12 in the class, mixed types. Amazingly, he went the best he's ever gone. What a great time to pull that out of the bag! We had some fab moments of being light, forward and into the contact, instead of the usual tense and choppy. Did a decent show and, for the first time, strip and trot up. V thankful again for the training show as the judge talked us through that. F does have slightly wonky front legs, bless him, but not much we can do about that! Judge commented how nice he went in a snaffle. So I liked her.
Had one of those fantastic moments when you can't stop smiling, as we stood in the line up and I thought "I'm at Hickstead!!". Would have been happy with that but to top it off, we got called in 3rd! Absolutely thrilled and so pleased he'd gone so well in a championship class. Not bad for our 4th ever show.
Another early night and even earlier start for Day 3, ridden hunter. Serious (non-novice) class this time, 21 entries. I was expecting to be massively outclassed (and we were). Pretty much everyone in a double, looking super smart. Class was too big for us to get into a rhythm, so we reverted to being a bit tense and choppy but he behaved perfectly. Not surprisingly we didn't get called into the top 10 line up. There were some cracking horses in there.
No indiv show, which I hadn't realised, but lawks a-lordy, the judge rode instead. Had not prepared for that! Unbelievably chuffed when she came back, thanked me and said how well schooled he was. A ride judge. At a championship show. About my horse!!! So I liked her. As if things weren't fabulous enough, got complimented on supergroom's plaits by the confo judge. I decided I liked her too.
Another cheesy grin moment of realisation that we were at Hickstead and that F was being a total superstar with all this new stuff. And an even bigger grin, with a comedy (but genuine) double-take, as we got bumped up the line and into the placings for an 8th place!! AAAAAAAMAZING. Ride judge said he gave her a really nice ride, which is what had brought him up the line.
My goals had been to get there in one piece, have fun, get some experience of a big show and, if he went nicely, *ideally* not to come last. What I hadn't banked on was my fabulous horse being a dude at his first major show. Plus supergroom turning out to a high standard. I tend to be critical of our slow progress and my rubbish riding but maybe, just maybe, we're doing ok.
Will add pro pics when they're ready.
Video - Day 2 novice ridden
Third place and a lovely frilly to go with it
Groom with the goody bag for 3rd place
Day 3 - off we go again! Two grooms in tow this time
Video - ridden hunter
What a fab weekend!
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