Fiona
Well-Known Member
Hi folks
Readers of the weekend plans thread might remember that we were going to our first ever stay away show on the last weekend in June.
The weather was 25+ the few days beforehand, and I panicked enough to arrange alternative board and lodging for lily the Lakeland with my dad she she could stay at home.
I packed for two solid days, and we finally pulled out of the yard at 5.30 on the Friday evening. The 2 and a half hour journey went well, and we arrived and were allocated our temp stables with no issues.
Daisy the welsh A settled as if she had been doing it all her life, Fionn the connie was a bit more concerned, but he settle quickly to his hay and was very good all weekend.
We caught up with our friends parked nearby, unpacked our bedding and turned in.
I was glad to have brought my earplugs as the site was busy from 6am the next morning.
First up was F and Daisy in the first year cradle stakes WH. I was grateful to see they were only about 45cm, as the ring was huge and v spooky. He jumped round clear, but steering and stopping were an issue so he ended up at the bottom but still pleased with his jumping.
Next up was me and Fionn in the M&M WH under 138cm, and here the judges made a major error. In the pocket I was told that the 128 class was over and the 138 class was next, so while noting that the fences were huge, I went in, introduced myself to ring steward, stated I was 138 class and was sent off to jump.
Fionn jumped amazingly round a 75-80cm course with a spooky filler at every fence. He did put on his spectacles to look at a box filler covered in artificial grass and a dog shaped one, but on the whole jumped brilliantly over a course far bigger than he has ever jumped before.
However when I cam out, I was told the course had been set at an incorrect height, the others in the class jumped around about 60cm with no fillers, and so we were placed at the bottom. This was obviously infuriating, but I was so pleased with his jumping I shook it off.
I got an amazing pic......
Next up was F and Daisy in M&M FR, and they did amazingly to be third. I'd changed her bit from a snaffle to a wilkie and she was much easier to ride.
Fionn missed his flat class because he'd been out for 2 and a half hours in the morning...
We had a super evening then BBQing with friends.
Sunday started not quite so early with M&M FR on grass for F and Daisy, and even though a minor spook in her canter meant she was 4th, we were still very pleased indeed.
Then he headed over to WH which was a bit of a disaster, as the first fence was a white spread at the far end of arena, and she was sooo spooky F didn't manage to get her within 10 yards of it so he came out.
Next up was Fionns M&M WH class, and I was pleased to see that the fences were much smaller, and with fewer fillers.
However he felt completely dead after the previous days exertions and in the heat, and though we got some good jumps, he had a couple of poles too. Still got placed and got a sash though
Big highlight
Missed his flat class again, as there was so much hanging around he had lost the ability to stand still so didn't take him in.
We just had lunch, packed up and trucked home for some very well deserves showers.
................
A couple of days to chill out and unpack at home, and we headed off to PC junior camp.
F and Daisy were in an all boys ride for the first time, which he very much enjoyed but as the abilities were very mixed, and he was at the top rather than the bottom, I felt it didn't push him very much.
However highlights were jumping a full course in control in the big sand arena, and their xc session even though they didn't jump much (I had to promise him to book him in next week to go back to the XC venue).
Fionn had a few days off, and then a couple of hacks.
I'm hoping that the rain today has made our arena less dusty so I can school him for Sat which is our most local big show.
We are doing a flat class each, as the ground is far too hard to jump.
Fingers crossed it goes well.
I have loads of pics to add off my phone, so I'll save this now and edit the pics into it in a wee minute.
Sorry for the absolute essay, we have had a great though tiring 10 days.
Fiona
Readers of the weekend plans thread might remember that we were going to our first ever stay away show on the last weekend in June.
The weather was 25+ the few days beforehand, and I panicked enough to arrange alternative board and lodging for lily the Lakeland with my dad she she could stay at home.
I packed for two solid days, and we finally pulled out of the yard at 5.30 on the Friday evening. The 2 and a half hour journey went well, and we arrived and were allocated our temp stables with no issues.
Daisy the welsh A settled as if she had been doing it all her life, Fionn the connie was a bit more concerned, but he settle quickly to his hay and was very good all weekend.
We caught up with our friends parked nearby, unpacked our bedding and turned in.
I was glad to have brought my earplugs as the site was busy from 6am the next morning.
First up was F and Daisy in the first year cradle stakes WH. I was grateful to see they were only about 45cm, as the ring was huge and v spooky. He jumped round clear, but steering and stopping were an issue so he ended up at the bottom but still pleased with his jumping.
Next up was me and Fionn in the M&M WH under 138cm, and here the judges made a major error. In the pocket I was told that the 128 class was over and the 138 class was next, so while noting that the fences were huge, I went in, introduced myself to ring steward, stated I was 138 class and was sent off to jump.
Fionn jumped amazingly round a 75-80cm course with a spooky filler at every fence. He did put on his spectacles to look at a box filler covered in artificial grass and a dog shaped one, but on the whole jumped brilliantly over a course far bigger than he has ever jumped before.
However when I cam out, I was told the course had been set at an incorrect height, the others in the class jumped around about 60cm with no fillers, and so we were placed at the bottom. This was obviously infuriating, but I was so pleased with his jumping I shook it off.
I got an amazing pic......
Next up was F and Daisy in M&M FR, and they did amazingly to be third. I'd changed her bit from a snaffle to a wilkie and she was much easier to ride.
Fionn missed his flat class because he'd been out for 2 and a half hours in the morning...
We had a super evening then BBQing with friends.
Sunday started not quite so early with M&M FR on grass for F and Daisy, and even though a minor spook in her canter meant she was 4th, we were still very pleased indeed.
Then he headed over to WH which was a bit of a disaster, as the first fence was a white spread at the far end of arena, and she was sooo spooky F didn't manage to get her within 10 yards of it so he came out.
Next up was Fionns M&M WH class, and I was pleased to see that the fences were much smaller, and with fewer fillers.
However he felt completely dead after the previous days exertions and in the heat, and though we got some good jumps, he had a couple of poles too. Still got placed and got a sash though
Big highlight Missed his flat class again, as there was so much hanging around he had lost the ability to stand still so didn't take him in.
We just had lunch, packed up and trucked home for some very well deserves showers.
................
A couple of days to chill out and unpack at home, and we headed off to PC junior camp.
F and Daisy were in an all boys ride for the first time, which he very much enjoyed but as the abilities were very mixed, and he was at the top rather than the bottom, I felt it didn't push him very much.
However highlights were jumping a full course in control in the big sand arena, and their xc session even though they didn't jump much (I had to promise him to book him in next week to go back to the XC venue).
Fionn had a few days off, and then a couple of hacks.
I'm hoping that the rain today has made our arena less dusty so I can school him for Sat which is our most local big show.
We are doing a flat class each, as the ground is far too hard to jump.
Fingers crossed it goes well.
I have loads of pics to add off my phone, so I'll save this now and edit the pics into it in a wee minute.
Sorry for the absolute essay, we have had a great though tiring 10 days.
Fiona
I'm mad aren't I.....
