Royal Windsor Horse Show Report - Lots of pics

[flyingfeet]

Well we got there on time which is always such a relief - although the centre of Windsor was at a snails pace

When we arrived our neighbour erected a flag, so you knew you were in peggers territory!

At the allotted time we started to gather in car park so any oncoming showing folk looked slightly perturbed:

I'll admit I have uniform and accessories envy in my civilian get up

There was a bit of formation marching to the warm up, where I was expecting a lovely arena, but instead was either fetlock deep in very dark mud or rock hard. Big fail on the irrigation front!

The competition started in the surfaced frogmore arena and we all lined up ready to compete in quick succession

This is tentpegging where you salute :

Then run at your peg:

And hope you stop before the fence that looks very similar to a jump at the end of the arena!

My bay has a new career and hopefully I didn't totally let him down! Although our team when out for the practise run, well all carried the pegs (full marks) and then failed to do that again under pressure! However had enough carries and draws to end up 6th, but didn't qualify for the final!

In action all feet off the ground:

I did hit some pegs:

Big thank you to the lovely photographer at www.esphotography.co.uk for saying I could post pics here - he even commented how much fun the pegging was to photograph!!

If you read nothing else
I had a lovely time, we all chatted to each other and cheered each other on, tentpeggers will not walk past each other without saying hello. Such a friendly lovely group of people
I was smirking at the showing people warming up in silence standing in isolated groups and the showjumpers in their cliques, because even at high level they are not what you would call friendly!!

I put pony away so I could shop and watch the SLR and cheer on the final. Such a wonderful day for me!

 

[Jane_Lou]

Love the "flying" picture -it looks so much fun, if my grey boy was not out on loan I would seriously have a go as I think he would be good at it - if he could bother to shift his lazy fat backside that is

 

[measles]

Sounds like lots of fun and your photos are great. I had expected mounted games or trec clothing - is it hard to be totally flexible in a show jacket?

 

[TGM]

Love the photos - looks like great fun!

 

[PapaFrita]

Looks like great fun and a little bit tribal

 

[flyingfeet]

It is great fun and I think good value for the spectator as its quick and competitive


Measles - Yes usually we would be in polo shirts, I'm lucky I have an equesech showjacket with the flex vent system so I can move!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Not all show people are miserable - I'm not. As I rode down to the warm up loads of people were saying 'good luck' I thought thats kind until I turned around and saw a very shiny horse with a very shiny man and a very shiny red ribbon on his way to a championship. I said 'I thought they were wishing me luck' (tongue in cheek) and he said they were ! We had a very nice chat down to the warm up. Don't know who he was but obviously a professional.

I admire you for what you do. If I tried I'd impale the pole and catapault myself through the air - a new sport equine pole vaulting !

 

[miskettie]

Fantastic photos - I would love to give it a go sometime...But there just isn't enough hours in the day at the moment!

 

[Matafleur]

Brilliant, thanks for the report and pictures, it's really nice to hear about something different. Your bay horse looks fab, I thought you were using your little chestnut mare for tent pegging though?

I glad you had such a nice day and did so well. It looks like lots of fun although I suspect I'd be as bad (and possibly dangerous!) at it as I am at polo!

 

[Ammeretto]

Ah great photos! I went as well, supposed to be competing but was GUTTED, literally devastated, to have to withdraw after being kicked in the hand in the car park, not good! It was a great day all the same though! xxxx

 

[xxmariexx]

wow how nice to see these pics!! the couple i work for were competing friday in tentpegging, so im sure ill see more pics when i get to work in the morning!!

 

[humblepie]

We are another showing person who would have been friendly. At least Carefree Girl and I have now meet in person. Lovely photos.

 

[Kal]

I was wondering how you did. Was going to ask later. Well done, glad you had so much fun. Peer looks great

 

[nikkimariet]

Amazing pics. Looks like so much fun!!

 

[flyingfeet]

Matafleur - the ginger thing is for polocrosse, although she probably would do this, but hates guns!

Also I am not saying showing people are all unfriendly, but there is a huge difference between saying 'good luck' and actually engaging someone in a full conversation!

Most of them did look a bit miserable, whereas the tentpeggers are a cheery bunch!

 

[JenniferB]

How nice to see a report on something a bit different - never seen it done before! Sounds like you had a fab time and the pics are ace. THink Bonzo would have a pink fit if I tried to have a shot of that with him, my coloured cob would have been good but I suspect possibly not quick enough (I assume speed is of the essence!)x

 

[flyingfeet]

Actually speed is not a problem - its judged on "pace" so the horse should be going maximum effort

Therefore this is no reason why a heavy cob should not peg (plus pace is only worth 1-2 marks!)

 

[JenniferB]

Ah shows what I know lol! Monty was a lightweight cobby type (think he was prob bred as a jumping pony but got too big), wonder how he would feel about being dragged out of retirement to gallop about with me waving a scary pointy pole? Unfortunately my hand/eye coordination probably isn't good enough for that sort of thing, especially in a high pressure environment like at Royal Windsor!x

 

[humblepie]

I think you are probably right with the looking miserable - I know I do even when I am not.

First time I ever rode at Royal Windsor it was jumping in the Foxhunter and I was a bit overawed riding around the collecting ring, when Malcolm Pyrah rode up along side me and started chatting, which was rather exciting for a "weekend rider" with a horse kept at a truly basic DIY yard (think most canter work done round the field behind the local hotel).

its a lovely show isn't it - did anyone see Bruce Springsteen who apparently was there watching his daughter who has some good results in the jumping.

 

[only_me]

That looks like such fun!

 

[Stan Watts]

Jen,

Have you considered taking part in the World Voluntary Cavalry Championships taking place in Poznan, Poland next year? If you join one of the voluntary cavalry units you can wear a uniform too to ward off those civvie dress code blues.

The disciplines are more varied than just tentpegging and more assimilates those required of a cavalryman. Nonetheless, if you can 'Peg' then you should be ok.

There is a thread running at this very moment about the World Voluntary Cavalry Championships 2012. You can hunt it down in the search engine on here.