The show that wasn't....

DragonSlayer

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I knew the day wasn't going to go well when I got up this morning...

I'm not going to say alot as I'm not into gossiping about others, just that I'm disappointed and with my husbands horse, I need help loading him. He wouldn't load, OH was at work and helper just doesn't have the experience....

Most of our other horses load on their own but this chap scared himself a few years ago therefore can be a little difficult, but as I just said to OH, if I can't load him alone and have to rely on people, then there really is no point, as I really enjoy going to local shows alone sometimes, and meeting with people I know there, I hate having to be dependant on people.

So all that preparation, tack cleaning blah blah blah has gone down the drain. Still, I got through 5 years of no problems with the other horses so can't really grumble!

Could I take another horse? Well, I sold my mare to sis as she needs to take a slightly quieter life now and sis wanted a happy hacker, and working full-time, I can't keep 2 horses fit! One horse is retired, one is out on loan, and Toby isn't at show standard yet, HOWEVER he loads ok and i'm confident that this time next year, I can load him myself as I could with the others. :D

Ah well, at least my tack is sparkly.... :D
 
So when do you decide that is it and close the ramp? I'd be in bits n fuming, well done you for being so calm.

Then again, there's always a reason.;)

Next time.:)
 
So when do you decide that is it and close the ramp? I'd be in bits n fuming, well done you for being so calm.

Then again, there's always a reason.;)

Next time.:)

It was my helper who was getting annoyed, I tried to explain that cracking the lunge whip over and over whilst yelling just wasn't going to help, but they continued, it was then I decided that I was going to do this another day, with OH and no-one else around.

I could have gotten mad but what was the point? Horse had upset himself, but I am confident I'll sort him again in time. :D
 
That is so frustrating when that happens. I had a bad loader once and never again.

One of my Facebook friends was AT a show that didnt happen, shes miffed too, as she was overnighting there and heard it had been cancelled by a friend ringing her saying it had been on the news, people stabling at the show hadnt been told.


eta 'helper' sounds like a liability where loadings concerned :o
 
That is so frustrating when that happens. I had a bad loader once and never again.

One of my Facebook friends was AT a show that didnt happen, shes miffed too, as she was overnighting there and heard it had been cancelled by a friend ringing her saying it had been on the news, people stabling at the show hadnt been told.


eta 'helper' sounds like a liability where loadings concerned :o

Nightmare!

I've been so lucky for so long with good loaders, and I'm just fed-up this happened. If I can't load him alone, then this showing career is over before it starts, I just like my independance! ARGH!

I've just eaten a crumpet and feel much better :D
 
Arghh, they're so blummin frustrating at times.
It seems you just can't reason with one that doesn't want to load :(.
 
Well if you really wanted to you could go and watch the show. Our local agricultural show has just been cancelled because of the weather, so no-one can show anything, despite hours and hours of preparation - one friend has so many tea-loaves that she doesn't know what to do with them!

I agree though that a difficult loader is very frustrating - perhaps the next helper needs very clear briefing beforehand.
 
What a shame, all the work and no show. On the bright side it would probably have been a mud bath if your weather is anything like ours.

As for the loading, there is always hope. My oldie was a bad loader and now he's not. It only took 28 years and a new Ifor 510 to cure him :D

Your helper sounds like a nightmare, doesn't helper mean follow your instructions :confused:

Good luck for the next one, at least you have a clean shiny horse :D Go for hack and impress all the neighbours.
 
It was my helper who was getting annoyed, I tried to explain that cracking the lunge whip over and over whilst yelling just wasn't going to help, but they continued, it was then I decided that I was going to do this another day
:mad: Why do people think that bullying the horse is going to achieve anything worthwhile?!

Our local agricultural show has just been cancelled because of the weather, so no-one can show anything, despite hours and hours of preparation - one friend has so many tea-loaves that she doesn't know what to do with them!

This made me smile! Tea party at your friend's house then?! :D

Was it a county show? I'm a bit worried that more county shows are going to get rained off. I'm supposed to be at Cheshire and Norfolk this year, and have heard that Suffolk has been cancelled. I can see it being another summer of rain again this year.
 
I think you should have told your helper to go away immediately she brought out the lunge whip. The fact that you say the horse got a scare a while back would suggest he's genuinelly under confident about loading/travelling so have you practiced like mad at home using a gentle approach?
 
I think you should have told your helper to go away immediately she brought out the lunge whip. The fact that you say the horse got a scare a while back would suggest he's genuinelly under confident about loading/travelling so have you practiced like mad at home using a gentle approach?

He has been fine for quite a while, and I suddenly got to thinking about 15 minutes ago, he has been loaded everytime since his scare with OH in attendance, maybe he latched onto him for moral support? We have taken it easy on him everytime since his scare, this is the first time without OH.....as OH is at work. Tomorrow, OH is going to come and load him again with me, if he loads, OH gets a sweetie. :D

TBH, I'm not overly concerned, I know this is only a glitch, I think perhaps because someone new was there and we didn't do things in the order he is used to...

Bad me for breaking that routine, how dare I! ~gasps!~

:p
 
Was it a county show? I'm a bit worried that more county shows are going to get rained off. I'm supposed to be at Cheshire and Norfolk this year, and have heard that Suffolk has been cancelled. I can see it being another summer of rain again this year.

Me too, Ive got North Yorks coming up and I wont be happy if its cancelled. It was Suffolk my fb friend was at. Doubly peeved if youve spent all that money on diesel and stabling fees as well. I know it cant be helped but its not much consolation is it.
 
Me too, Ive got North Yorks coming up and I wont be happy if its cancelled. It was Suffolk my fb friend was at. Doubly peeved if youve spent all that money on diesel and stabling fees as well. I know it cant be helped but its not much consolation is it.

I'm hoping it cheers up for the Lincs show....!
 
Wishing you luck!

Im not doing many shows, had to pick and choose where we could go (time and money) so not got much wriggle room if things are cancelled as so many closing dates are past now. Best laid plans of mice and men, and all that...
 
I'm quite pacified now as I vented my frustration out at home on the study! (certainly not on the horse, though I'm no angel, I know I've growled and moaned at them in times past!) and now have a sparkling study! Now about to tackle the pile of junk that has assembled under the stairs....wish me luck, I maybe gone sometime...

:D
 
..oh, just want to mention that helper never touched horse with lunge whip, just cracked it lots! don't want you thinking she is a real meanie, she's a massive help with other stuff actually, and TBH, I've explained that this tactic isn't quite always the way, and she has learned by experience that maybe I'm right...

:D
 
Didn't enter the horse in our local agri show this year, as no transport :( So decided to enter the handicraft classes :D Cue getting a home spun hand knitted jacket finished to perfection :p and ensuring that the rag rug edges were all properly sewn, sorting out a display system for the jacket. I got up at 7 to collect a friend who is also handicrafting, only to discover that the show is cancelled :( Spending the day sulking at the rain :D
 
Didn't enter the horse in our local agri show this year, as no transport :( So decided to enter the handicraft classes :D Cue getting a home spun hand knitted jacket finished to perfection :p and ensuring that the rag rug edges were all properly sewn, sorting out a display system for the jacket. I got up at 7 to collect a friend who is also handicrafting, only to discover that the show is cancelled :( Spending the day sulking at the rain :D

Awwww noooooo! Worse than a horse that won't load I reckon....! Can we have a pic??
 
Awwww noooooo! Worse than a horse that won't load I reckon....! Can we have a pic??
I will give it a go! I too may be some time. :D
If I can persuade the friend with the tea loaves (and sloe gin and brandy) to come over, you are cordially invited to join us for an afternoon of cake and booze, if you volunteer to tidy our understairs cupboard:D
 
I will give it a go! I too may be some time. :D
If I can persuade the friend with the tea loaves (and sloe gin and brandy) to come over, you are cordially invited to join us for an afternoon of cake and booze, if you volunteer to tidy our understairs cupboard:D

Well, if you weren't quite so far away I might have taken you up on that offer! Under the stairs is now looking better, but the kitchen floor where I dumped it all isn't... :p
 
Having spent an age wrestling with photobucket, here are some pics of the jacket :D
IMG_0125.jpg

IMG_0127.jpg


I am very proud of this as I sheared our shearlings last year and the garment hasn't been off the property yet!

Our kitchen floor isn't looking too good either, but I am managing to ignore it :D
 
How awesome! :D

....and how is the eating/drinking frenzy going...? My study is spotless, along with under the stairs, and have arranged to take said horse on a long hack in the morning. :D Got to give him his due, a joy to hack out, best hunting horse ever.. :D
 
Thank you,
Sadly friend did not bring cake or booze :( Have spent afternoon on here and spinning for the next garment!
 
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