Kallibear
Well-Known Member
Horses are frustrating!
Took Kalli to a show today. Did Novice Showing with her young owner. Behaved fine although A did the most appaling show piece EVER (went from 4th in the first line up to last!) due to lack paying attention and common sense!
Next class was ridden hunter and Kalli just decided she didn't want to play anymore. Had numerous tantrums in the warm up ring with A and eventually I got on and rode her. Tried to chuck me off a couple of times before settling, so decided to go into the class. Such a big class they did it in two halfs. Stood nicely waiting for her half, only to refuse to trot properly, bronc when asked to canter, (which she NEVER does
) wouldn't go into one corner, no steering at all and generally being a right pain. Decided retiring her was the best option! (would have been rather embarrasing if she's thrown the judge off!).
Left her to graze for an hour waiting for the next class, which was Potential RDA horse. Hummed and harred to decide if good idea but little girl was so excited and looking forwards to it, and Kalli has chilled, that we decided to go for it, esp as it was lead.
Small child is only 7yrs old and therefore TINY on Kalli (all 16.3 of HW hunter). And won the damn class. For the bestest behaved horsey there. Trotted like an angel for the tiny girl (who's legs didn't even come past the saddle flap). Stopped, started and steered all by herself. Picked up a ball from a barrel 3ft below her reach (had to be lifted
) and dropped it with a big bang on the next barrel. Perfect.
Then spend the next hour being totally unable to stand still. Fidgetted all over the place and got in the way and annoyed everyone.
Entered the clear round and she FLEW round it. She's always loved jumping, but usually she's steady and sensible. Not today. Just being able to steer, and aim her at the right jump (she wanted tojump them all, from any direction) was an acheivement!
But no bucking or napping, so went ahead with the Novice Working Hunter.
Again FLEW the course. Big scary jumps and a tight course. Not a single hesitation, powered into each jump, actually allowed me to steer this time. She's always an honest jumper, but she likes to look first before jumping (even if it means stopping to have a sniff before jumping from a stand still
) Not this time - didn't care what was under them (inc plastic ducks, braches, ferns, reeds and such), she wanted to jump them, and NOW.
Unfortunautly she clipped a plank and knocked it down (big jump on a tight corner, down a hill, she wasn't expecting it to be that height) Since she had a knock-down I assumed we were out (were first to go) so went off to show jump instead.
SJ exactly the same. Flew round course, steering even worse, powered over them all without so much as looking (apparently the plastic flowers that so terrified her at the last show were no longer scary) and went clear. Bit steadier this time so managed to take the course at ridiculous angles and spin-on-the-spot turns. She's a big lumbering horse and therefore can't compete well against nippy little TB types but we still came 6th
Wandered back over to the WH to watch, only to be told I was meant to be in there! Very few clear rounds so 4faults did the show too.
Having managed to miss the entire showpeice part we snuck in (lovely judge!) just in time for the judge to ride.
After spend most the day either tearing about or bucking, she gave the judge a lovely if slow ride.
And came 4th! Judge said she was a little behind the leg (which she is if you don't have a stick) but felt so safe and steady she's actually take her hunting anyday!
So the tally for the day way : last in Novice showing cos the rider messed up and Kalli wasn't helping. Retired from the Ridden Hunter because she was so badly behaved. FIRST in the Potential RDA horse because she was so WELL behaved. Clear in the clear round because she jumping them all, with or without me. Ditto for the SJ, where she came 6th. And 4th in the WH depsite a knock down and no show piece because she's so safe and sensible.
Idiotic animal.
And some pictures are reward for reading it all:
Usually I'm pretty camera happy but only ended up with a couple as A went home at lunch (for a family meal) leaving me with the horse.
Bit of a donkey. A shiney clean donkey, but still a donkey.
Being a good girl and standing quietly in the Novice Showing class
And getting a pat for being fairly good, depsite A's appaling riding!
Took Kalli to a show today. Did Novice Showing with her young owner. Behaved fine although A did the most appaling show piece EVER (went from 4th in the first line up to last!) due to lack paying attention and common sense!
Next class was ridden hunter and Kalli just decided she didn't want to play anymore. Had numerous tantrums in the warm up ring with A and eventually I got on and rode her. Tried to chuck me off a couple of times before settling, so decided to go into the class. Such a big class they did it in two halfs. Stood nicely waiting for her half, only to refuse to trot properly, bronc when asked to canter, (which she NEVER does
Left her to graze for an hour waiting for the next class, which was Potential RDA horse. Hummed and harred to decide if good idea but little girl was so excited and looking forwards to it, and Kalli has chilled, that we decided to go for it, esp as it was lead.
Small child is only 7yrs old and therefore TINY on Kalli (all 16.3 of HW hunter). And won the damn class. For the bestest behaved horsey there. Trotted like an angel for the tiny girl (who's legs didn't even come past the saddle flap). Stopped, started and steered all by herself. Picked up a ball from a barrel 3ft below her reach (had to be lifted
Then spend the next hour being totally unable to stand still. Fidgetted all over the place and got in the way and annoyed everyone.
Entered the clear round and she FLEW round it. She's always loved jumping, but usually she's steady and sensible. Not today. Just being able to steer, and aim her at the right jump (she wanted tojump them all, from any direction) was an acheivement!
But no bucking or napping, so went ahead with the Novice Working Hunter.
Again FLEW the course. Big scary jumps and a tight course. Not a single hesitation, powered into each jump, actually allowed me to steer this time. She's always an honest jumper, but she likes to look first before jumping (even if it means stopping to have a sniff before jumping from a stand still
Unfortunautly she clipped a plank and knocked it down (big jump on a tight corner, down a hill, she wasn't expecting it to be that height) Since she had a knock-down I assumed we were out (were first to go) so went off to show jump instead.
SJ exactly the same. Flew round course, steering even worse, powered over them all without so much as looking (apparently the plastic flowers that so terrified her at the last show were no longer scary) and went clear. Bit steadier this time so managed to take the course at ridiculous angles and spin-on-the-spot turns. She's a big lumbering horse and therefore can't compete well against nippy little TB types but we still came 6th
Wandered back over to the WH to watch, only to be told I was meant to be in there! Very few clear rounds so 4faults did the show too.
Having managed to miss the entire showpeice part we snuck in (lovely judge!) just in time for the judge to ride.
And came 4th! Judge said she was a little behind the leg (which she is if you don't have a stick) but felt so safe and steady she's actually take her hunting anyday!
So the tally for the day way : last in Novice showing cos the rider messed up and Kalli wasn't helping. Retired from the Ridden Hunter because she was so badly behaved. FIRST in the Potential RDA horse because she was so WELL behaved. Clear in the clear round because she jumping them all, with or without me. Ditto for the SJ, where she came 6th. And 4th in the WH depsite a knock down and no show piece because she's so safe and sensible.
Idiotic animal.
And some pictures are reward for reading it all:
Usually I'm pretty camera happy but only ended up with a couple as A went home at lunch (for a family meal) leaving me with the horse.
Bit of a donkey. A shiney clean donkey, but still a donkey.
Being a good girl and standing quietly in the Novice Showing class
And getting a pat for being fairly good, depsite A's appaling riding!
