FMM
Well-Known Member
Had a very long (and quite exciting) weekend.
Saturday was lovely in the Hickstead sunshine - just watching classes and grooming in the ring as we only had liveries riding.
Sunday was cob day. Set off about 6.30am with my mum and Toby in the car as we were going straight home afterwards. Got there at 7.30am, and went to watch the class. Lots of cobs and all the top contenders were there. Initial pull in was Dinger in top - amazing! Then Hallmark, Tommy Tucker, (not sure of the order but roughly Cassanova, Barneebus, Chad - all the usual "suspects!)
Dinger was the first ride of the day for the ride judge and he rode extremely well - he gave every horse a fantastic ride and was not scared when he asked for gallop - one of the few judges that comes off the corner and doesn't try to pull up after the first 3 strides! The cobs loved him!!!
We had no idea what the final placings would be as pretty much every horse went well for him.
Ended up with the judges standing at the front of the line (no final walk round) and the steward standing at the back - she called Dinger, Tommy Tucker and Hallmark forward - but we were not sure initially whether these were final placings or for the judge to have a closer look. Then the rest were called out and we knew that Dinger had won! Although he has had many wins county level, this is his first national title in cobs - which is fantastic! He stood like a rock for prize giving (despite wiggles from two or three of the others as they don't like standing quietly in line!)
Then Dinger went back to the lorry and it was Eric's (The Keystone Cob) turn. He also went very well - initial line up was So Smart, Eric, Tapestry, Lynx, Waterford.
Again, most went well for the judge, but Eric was moved to the top of the line after the final judging, with So Smart second. Another amazing result.
Back to the lorry to help put the horses away before celebration time. I had assumed that Jayne would ride Dinger and Mark be on Eric (Mark adores Eric!) but Jayne told me to get changed and get on Dinger for the championship - wonderful news (apart from I had no top hat with me). Off for a quick Pimms or two, then off to get changed. Suddenly realised I only had half an hour to get changed and back to the main ring, and that I desperately needed the loo - had to ask 10 people if they minded if I pushed in front of them as I was in a bit of a rush (they were very kind and let me in) and then back to lorry, cleaned boots and got on Dinger. Jayne and I went off to the main ring avoiding puddles and were soon in the main arena. Loads of people watching - Dinger loved it and was strutting his stuff as usual, there was a TINY gap between the jump next to members and members itself and the gallop through it was very tight. Eric was very good when 4 paper plates flew off the side of members and hit him on the nose! We flew up the arena in gallop, back to the middle, then sat there whilst the judges decided what to do. I thought maybe Eric, then So Smart, so was astonished when they called Eric Champion and Dinger Reserve. Fortunately both of them stand beautifully (providing there is an audience!) - stood for HOURS waiting for Eric to put his ears forward for photographers, then off for the lap of honour where Dinger thought it would be a good idea to try to overtake Eric (he didn't!). Outside, ready to get off to lead Dinger in for Jayne to ride in the Supreme, when she said that I was going to be riding!
Oh well - what the hell :blink: Dinger was taught reinback last week - you raise your hands and make kissing noises. I tried it, and it worked. :unknw:
So - back into the main ring, I was the first one in, and the first one to do the show. Strange how the 3 amateurs did their show first, followed by the 3 professionals ... :acute:
It was fairly horrible going first in that I had no idea where to try to fit in my show and how much of the ring to use. In the end I kept it in front of the members stand, managed a 3 loop canter serpentine with a halt, rein back and walk to canter followed by a gallop in front of the stand. As I haven't ridden him since the beginning of June I was reasonably happy with the show - but got 17 which was the lowest mark
Guy on the hunter galloped up and down twice and got 28 (it looked very impressive, but if I had done that I would probably have got 3 out of 30!), Charles rode beautifully on the hack to get 27 and Eric and Jayne managed a lovely show but presumably not quite elegant enough to end up with 26 - arab got 18 and Sirius 23. Lots of people told me I had been hard done by - I didn't care - was exciting to be there and Dinger was never going to win so I just had a lovely time. Fortunately I don't get nervous or worried when I am in the ring so was able to savour every moment of it!
After the presentations, we all had to parade around the main ring, - Guy galloped and disappeared behind the Derby Bank - I was absolutely positive he was going to suddenly appear at the top and gallop down it, but fortunately he didn't!!!
More Pimms, then off to groom for for another horse and then 4 hours driving to get home.
So - Dinger has now won HOYS coloureds, Supreme at RIHS and LW cobs and reserve at RIHS. What an amazing horse and how lucky are we to own him.
Saturday was lovely in the Hickstead sunshine - just watching classes and grooming in the ring as we only had liveries riding.
Sunday was cob day. Set off about 6.30am with my mum and Toby in the car as we were going straight home afterwards. Got there at 7.30am, and went to watch the class. Lots of cobs and all the top contenders were there. Initial pull in was Dinger in top - amazing! Then Hallmark, Tommy Tucker, (not sure of the order but roughly Cassanova, Barneebus, Chad - all the usual "suspects!)
Dinger was the first ride of the day for the ride judge and he rode extremely well - he gave every horse a fantastic ride and was not scared when he asked for gallop - one of the few judges that comes off the corner and doesn't try to pull up after the first 3 strides! The cobs loved him!!!
We had no idea what the final placings would be as pretty much every horse went well for him.
Ended up with the judges standing at the front of the line (no final walk round) and the steward standing at the back - she called Dinger, Tommy Tucker and Hallmark forward - but we were not sure initially whether these were final placings or for the judge to have a closer look. Then the rest were called out and we knew that Dinger had won! Although he has had many wins county level, this is his first national title in cobs - which is fantastic! He stood like a rock for prize giving (despite wiggles from two or three of the others as they don't like standing quietly in line!)
Then Dinger went back to the lorry and it was Eric's (The Keystone Cob) turn. He also went very well - initial line up was So Smart, Eric, Tapestry, Lynx, Waterford.
Again, most went well for the judge, but Eric was moved to the top of the line after the final judging, with So Smart second. Another amazing result.
Back to the lorry to help put the horses away before celebration time. I had assumed that Jayne would ride Dinger and Mark be on Eric (Mark adores Eric!) but Jayne told me to get changed and get on Dinger for the championship - wonderful news (apart from I had no top hat with me). Off for a quick Pimms or two, then off to get changed. Suddenly realised I only had half an hour to get changed and back to the main ring, and that I desperately needed the loo - had to ask 10 people if they minded if I pushed in front of them as I was in a bit of a rush (they were very kind and let me in) and then back to lorry, cleaned boots and got on Dinger. Jayne and I went off to the main ring avoiding puddles and were soon in the main arena. Loads of people watching - Dinger loved it and was strutting his stuff as usual, there was a TINY gap between the jump next to members and members itself and the gallop through it was very tight. Eric was very good when 4 paper plates flew off the side of members and hit him on the nose! We flew up the arena in gallop, back to the middle, then sat there whilst the judges decided what to do. I thought maybe Eric, then So Smart, so was astonished when they called Eric Champion and Dinger Reserve. Fortunately both of them stand beautifully (providing there is an audience!) - stood for HOURS waiting for Eric to put his ears forward for photographers, then off for the lap of honour where Dinger thought it would be a good idea to try to overtake Eric (he didn't!). Outside, ready to get off to lead Dinger in for Jayne to ride in the Supreme, when she said that I was going to be riding!
Oh well - what the hell :blink: Dinger was taught reinback last week - you raise your hands and make kissing noises. I tried it, and it worked. :unknw:
So - back into the main ring, I was the first one in, and the first one to do the show. Strange how the 3 amateurs did their show first, followed by the 3 professionals ... :acute:
It was fairly horrible going first in that I had no idea where to try to fit in my show and how much of the ring to use. In the end I kept it in front of the members stand, managed a 3 loop canter serpentine with a halt, rein back and walk to canter followed by a gallop in front of the stand. As I haven't ridden him since the beginning of June I was reasonably happy with the show - but got 17 which was the lowest mark
Guy on the hunter galloped up and down twice and got 28 (it looked very impressive, but if I had done that I would probably have got 3 out of 30!), Charles rode beautifully on the hack to get 27 and Eric and Jayne managed a lovely show but presumably not quite elegant enough to end up with 26 - arab got 18 and Sirius 23. Lots of people told me I had been hard done by - I didn't care - was exciting to be there and Dinger was never going to win so I just had a lovely time. Fortunately I don't get nervous or worried when I am in the ring so was able to savour every moment of it!
After the presentations, we all had to parade around the main ring, - Guy galloped and disappeared behind the Derby Bank - I was absolutely positive he was going to suddenly appear at the top and gallop down it, but fortunately he didn't!!!
More Pimms, then off to groom for for another horse and then 4 hours driving to get home.
So - Dinger has now won HOYS coloureds, Supreme at RIHS and LW cobs and reserve at RIHS. What an amazing horse and how lucky are we to own him.
