Royal International Horse Show

Well done!! Super result! Any pics?

I've never bothered with RI quals, i can't afford to do everything and the dream is HOYS, so those are the quals i do :D
 
Crackerz said:
Well done!! Super result! Any pics?

I've never bothered with RI quals, i can't afford to do everything and the dream is HOYS, so those are the quals i do :D
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Sorry not got any pics at the moment. I've only just started showing the little rascal so have plumped for the RI classes as they have an amateur section, unlike HOYS. thought I might stand a better chance.
 
I think its Friday Pinkvboots and thank you JennBags.

I know I will probably be making up the numbers as I am aware that a lot of the horses, whilst ridden by amateurs, are actually produced on a day to day basis by the professionals and I will be there on my little home produced Irish Draught. But, we'll give it a go. :)
 
Make sure you post about it closer to the time, I will almost certainly be there as Hickstead is local, so I will come and cheer you on.
 
KautoStar1 said:
Sorry not got any pics at the moment. I've only just started showing the little rascal so have plumped for the RI classes as they have an amateur section, unlike HOYS. thought I might stand a better chance.
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Well done! With regard to HOYS classes have you thought of Search for a Star? Not sure if your RI qualification will allow you to compete but may be worth checking out?
 
Well done.

The facts -

The stabling is not great if you are staying overnight, and very expensive. I stabled off site in a nice private yard, that was expensive but clean and safe. The parking is on a hill and the walk from the lorry to the arena, (you won't be in the main arena) is absolutely miles, you will need to take everything with you in one go. Popping back to the lorry is an expedition that needs oxygen and the fitness of Paula Radcliffe, it is uphill going back.

There will be 35 in your class, the grass arena's are large but with that amount of horses cantering on it is a cavalry charge. There will be no sportsmanship and just getting your horse in a gap to be seen is an art form. The class will take a good while to get through and the very rare sight of two lines of hunters will be seen. If your horse is not used to a really busy ring I would advise you get him out for more experience. The whole place is very busy,

The going might be watered, it wasn't when we were there and it was rock hard. If the weather is hot the entire place is a dust bowl. If it is wet the ground is a bog.

Lots of shopping and things to see. I would go back as a spectator but wouldn't take another horse unless it was a certainty to be in the first three.

I thought I had some pictures of the hunters in the ring, but the only one I can find is this one taken after our class. It was over 90 degrees, the ground was concrete and we had all lost the will to live ! We managed 7th in open and the amateur but what was meant to be a fun four day show was a bit of an expensive nightmare to be honest.

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There are more and more rings having surface added to them now. I know one showing ring has a surface around the edge for when the ground is concrete.

My old yard round the corner often have stables available for the RI to hire, its 5 ins from Hickstead and almost definately half the price! So PM me nearer the time if you are interested.

Will have to come and cheer you on!
 
Hannahgb said:
There are more and more rings having surface added to them now. I know one showing ring has a surface around the edge for when the ground is concrete.

My old yard round the corner often have stables available for the RI to hire, its 5 ins from Hickstead and almost definately half the price! So PM me nearer the time if you are interested.

Will have to come and cheer you on!
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I will make sure the OP has seen this. I was hoping someone might have stables near the ground.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Well done.

The facts -

The stabling is not great if you are staying overnight, and very expensive. I stabled off site in a nice private yard, that was expensive but clean and safe. The parking is on a hill and the walk from the lorry to the arena, (you won't be in the main arena) is absolutely miles, you will need to take everything with you in one go. Popping back to the lorry is an expedition that needs oxygen and the fitness of Paula Radcliffe, it is uphill going back.

There will be 35 in your class, the grass arena's are large but with that amount of horses cantering on it is a cavalry charge. There will be no sportsmanship and just getting your horse in a gap to be seen is an art form. The class will take a good while to get through and the very rare sight of two lines of hunters will be seen. If your horse is not used to a really busy ring I would advise you get him out for more experience. The whole place is very busy,

The going might be watered, it wasn't when we were there and it was rock hard. If the weather is hot the entire place is a dust bowl. If it is wet the ground is a bog.

Lots of shopping and things to see. I would go back as a spectator but wouldn't take another horse unless it was a certainty to be in the first three.

I thought I had some pictures of the hunters in the ring, but the only one I can find is this one taken after our class. It was over 90 degrees, the ground was concrete and we had all lost the will to live ! We managed 7th in open and the amateur but what was meant to be a fun four day show was a bit of an expensive nightmare to be honest.
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This is about my YO's experience, she has qualified for HOYS many times, Olympia & RI. RI is her least fave. She still does the qualifiers though, it's great for a horses 'CV' :D

I think it's really good to be aware of what it's really like to go to these big events - the more prepared you are, the better!
I'm sure OP will have a fantastic time :D
 
Certainly not a pointless post! Congratulations on qualifying, I hope you have an enjoyable day when it comes and with a placing as the cherry on top. Would love to see pictures of the big day
 
minesadouble said:
Well done! With regard to HOYS classes have you thought of Search for a Star? Not sure if your RI qualification will allow you to compete but may be worth checking out?
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I did a SFAS qualifier earlier this year and was 8 out of 32 so not bad, but not enough to qualify. The rest of the qualifying rounds are not within easy distance and they are very expensive to enter too. I could do both in the same year if I qualified for both, but I wont be able to do SFAS next year having qualified for RI this year. essentially once you competed at either you can't do SFAS.
I wish HOYS did more home produced classes.
 
I am now toying with the idea of staying off site. I suppose by being on site, you get the chance to soak up the atmosphere too, which is all part of the fun I guess. I need to have a bit of a think.
I will also need to hire a lorry as current transport is a car and trailer. I think trailering all the way to Hickstead from Cheshire is too much for the horse - its 240 miles which would be at least 5 hours with a trailer. I know it wouldn't really be any faster in a lorry, but more comfortable for the horse, which is the priority.
And then we have something to live in rather than trying to find B&B. I don't do camping and I doubt my friend does either, LOL.

I will be working hard on his fitness over the next 3 months as I think cantering round (& round) those big rings is quite a challenge.

Hopefully it wont rain, but being on the cold side wont be a problem for us. Mildly warm would be fine, with just a little cut in the ground.

thank you everyone for your kind comments too.
 
I'm suprised by the comments, I have qualified and been to the RI for the last 3 years with a coloured, as a total amateur. I absolutely loved it. Not sure which ring the amateur hunters is in? Ring 5 has the all weather all the way around and is huge! Galloping my eventer up the long side of that was an absolute highlight! I have a feeling the amateur hunters is a slightly smaller flattish ring. Treated it like a holiday, stabled on site, stayed for several days (from Shropshire it is a fair trek - took me 7 hours to get home last year). I show jumped on the other days. Never been to HOYS but there you are parked in a car park in the middle of Birmingham and it's a long way from the ring :/ Lots to see at the RI, loved the eventers grand prix, and the pimms. Got one chance to qualify this year, but will probably just go for the show jumping anyway!

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We have generally stabled off site - at a lovely small riding school about 5 miles down the road. It is just so much quieter than the show ground although staying on the showground is an experience probably not to be missed. We have been there when it has been a dust bowl and a quagmire - one year our class finished at 5pm, we got towed out at 9.30 at night.... but still awesome place. For the RIHS you can do one night's stabling on site whereas for the Derby meeting is the week or nothing. It is quite a hard work place for your helpers as a lot of walking (one year OH had to run back to the lorry park to get something just before I went in the ring - think he would have given both Usain Bolt and Mo Farah a run for their money that day) but yeah it's living the dream - one year coming out of the main arena I got asked for my autograph!!!
 
KautoStar1 said:
I think its Friday Pinkvboots and thank you JennBags.

I know I will probably be making up the numbers as I am aware that a lot of the horses, whilst ridden by amateurs, are actually produced on a day to day basis by the professionals and I will be there on my little home produced Irish Draught. But, we'll give it a go. :)
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I don't know which day we are going yet but if I am there Friday I will be cheering you on:)
 
Take some ear plugs! We had a great time last year but I forgot my ear plugs for bed time and they were partying all night in the "Boomshack" it was some ones birthday :)
 
Well it's come round quickly. Final couple of days of preparation. He's been on the water treadmill & vita floor, hack today, lesson tomorrow & hydro spa. Plenty of scrubbing over the next couple of days & then leaving Thursday morning.

I've got no chance really but horse is always impeccabley behaved so as long as he gives me a good ride I will be happy. Wish me luck.
 
Massive good luck, hope you have a great show!
We qualified a coloured plaited pony last year, he was sold two months ago and his new owners were delighted with him today he did a foot perfect show unfortunately no placing, but we are delighted that he got the chance to go and behave beautifully! We live in the North of Scotland so not great for us in terms of getting to these big shows, so glad he is down south doing so well!
 
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