henryhorn
Well-Known Member
Lovely day for a show, and I started off well, with smiling kids and adults and the first class of the day Condition and Turn out. Three stood out as much cleaner than the rest so that was easy, one was immaculate, the next had a tiny bit of mud on a fetlock, and the third mud eslewhere, and so it went on. One had no noseband and a martingale that didn't fit, and even more scruffy plaits, so no problem judging there either. My winner was a welsh Cob who gleamed and had the cleanest tack ever.
Next up was Best Thelwell, which is self explanatory. My winner was a 34 year old miniature shetland, chesnut and white with a cute kid on top. The rosettes went down the line with tiny kids on fat ponies until the end one, a lean chesnut, who I felt awful placing at the bottom..
Then I got Best Veteran, and I put the winner a nice looking Tb who literally gleamed with health , he was 18 but looked about 5!
Best Family Pony was next, and the winner never put a hoof wrong. You could have sent Dad or the five year old child out on him, he was steady and obedient and loively balanced show.
I was finished then returning to judge the Championship with the judge of the best Combination and in hand showing classes.
She is a very experienced showing judge so I deferred to her greater knowledge, but we couldn't agree.. She loved the three year old coloured shetland I had only placed 6th in my best condition class, and liked a lead rein pony, I liked the lead rein but preferred the family pony.. She said my veteran was too lean, but to me he looked eventing fit..
Eventually we agreed to give the Champ to the lead Rein who we both liked, and the Reserve to probably the tattiest looking pony in the class. This was an old pony with Cushings who behaved perfectly and although heavy in the mouth, the rider gave such a lovely show every time she had won her best Combination class.
I could see total puzzlement on people on immaculately turned out well schooled horses, but it was the only one both of us could agree on..
I like judging but not sharing like that, it's really difficult as both of you are pussyfooting around for offending the other!
P took Jezebel for her first play, she hopped round the rustic clear round from trot, then did the 1' 9" with a stop at a yellow wall and a pole down, but next round at 2' 3" she just knocked two poles down. We find the babies are too busy looking round to jump clear first time out, but the next stop will be to do some Xc by hiring the local course, and she will then start to use hereslf and jump properly. Half way round you could see she twigged what she should do, and she jumped very nicely.
He hacked the two miles home and she will no doubt be in the field telling the rest about her day!
I won't be judging again this year thank goodness, I do prefer either best Rider or Working Hunter, I mean, my idea of a Thelwell might be no-one else's!!!
Next up was Best Thelwell, which is self explanatory. My winner was a 34 year old miniature shetland, chesnut and white with a cute kid on top. The rosettes went down the line with tiny kids on fat ponies until the end one, a lean chesnut, who I felt awful placing at the bottom..
Then I got Best Veteran, and I put the winner a nice looking Tb who literally gleamed with health , he was 18 but looked about 5!
Best Family Pony was next, and the winner never put a hoof wrong. You could have sent Dad or the five year old child out on him, he was steady and obedient and loively balanced show.
I was finished then returning to judge the Championship with the judge of the best Combination and in hand showing classes.
She is a very experienced showing judge so I deferred to her greater knowledge, but we couldn't agree.. She loved the three year old coloured shetland I had only placed 6th in my best condition class, and liked a lead rein pony, I liked the lead rein but preferred the family pony.. She said my veteran was too lean, but to me he looked eventing fit..
Eventually we agreed to give the Champ to the lead Rein who we both liked, and the Reserve to probably the tattiest looking pony in the class. This was an old pony with Cushings who behaved perfectly and although heavy in the mouth, the rider gave such a lovely show every time she had won her best Combination class.
I could see total puzzlement on people on immaculately turned out well schooled horses, but it was the only one both of us could agree on..
I like judging but not sharing like that, it's really difficult as both of you are pussyfooting around for offending the other!
P took Jezebel for her first play, she hopped round the rustic clear round from trot, then did the 1' 9" with a stop at a yellow wall and a pole down, but next round at 2' 3" she just knocked two poles down. We find the babies are too busy looking round to jump clear first time out, but the next stop will be to do some Xc by hiring the local course, and she will then start to use hereslf and jump properly. Half way round you could see she twigged what she should do, and she jumped very nicely.
He hacked the two miles home and she will no doubt be in the field telling the rest about her day!
I won't be judging again this year thank goodness, I do prefer either best Rider or Working Hunter, I mean, my idea of a Thelwell might be no-one else's!!!
