ANyone else going to a Show tomorrow?

[seeker]

I know my place. I am Picnic Provider and Lost Bits Of Kit Finder with special responsibility for Bits of Bailer Twine to tie ponies to the car with.

What's your role?

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

I'm going to get one of those hoodies with 'unpaid groom' written on the back! I am officially the stayer upper till two am freezing squash and ironing shirts and polishing tack. I am the get up at six and go titivate the pony whilst the jockey has her beauty sleep person. I'm the person who Pays the entry fees and supplies the burgers! .....
Thankfully I am no longer the lead rein Mum who slips on the cowpat in the ring and ends up in an undignified heap in front of everyone covered in shit, so actually, I'm quite happy with my current role!...

[seeker]

Wow - I dontt do the titivating of the pony! That is most certainly the jockey's job. Unfortunatley someone has to get up to drive her to the yard, but once I get there I sit in the car and drink coffee whil the leg washing panic takes place!

But I think my jockey is older than yours.

[marialuisa]

Yes, although DD has ridden poor pony to death this week an the ground is so hard here that I'm starting to worry about splints!

Pony was bathed last week for a show but despite luxuriant mane and tail has filthy face, tummy and legs so will be doing another 2 hour wash (why did we get a grey!). DD's show jodhpurs have mud splashes from doing a ODE in torrential rain on Monday and I can't get the stains out.....

But we'll have a good time!

[Butkin]

We're off to Rutland County tomorrow. My jobs are packing the car to leave by 6am, driving us there, helping dress jockey and videoing her class.

Luckily producer is taking pony and titivating him.

Entries closed early but I was also in charge of making entry and paying for them. DD insists that she keeps any prizemoney but I say that is fine as long as she pays for entries (she is ony 8!).

Last chance for our Royal International ticket but in truth we just want her to enjoy the day.

[Mirage]

Butkin,we are going to Rutland tomorrow too.We don't have our pony yet,and luckily only live 20 minutes away,so will be making a later start than you!

I'm going to be playing close attention to the lead rein and first ridden classes,to see what is worn and what you have to do.

Hopefully the dds will be making their debut at Blaston show on the 26th June.

[Butkin]

DD was 4th in the RIHS M&M FR at Rutland. Seemed to go well enough but judge didn't quite mark us high enough (41 for show and 40 for confirmation).

We decided that he'd gone well enough so didn't take him back in PUK qualifer later in the afternoon.

I can recommend Rutland to anybody. Probably the most equine friendly of all the County shows with lovely flat rings and in gorgeous, quiet location.

We were mightly surprised how many people were pouring in as we were leaving at 2pm - they must be late risers in Rutland!

[seeker]

Dd got 3 thirds, a fourth and a second!

(there were only 2 entries in the class where she came second, but we will gloss over that!)

[Mirage]

Butkin,we queued for an hour to get in,and the stewards said it was a case of one car out,one car in.My friend was riding in the WH class and got up at 4.15 am to get ready,and she only lives 8 miles away.We missed seeing all the little classes due to the huge traffic queues.

Well done to your and Seeker's dds.

[seeker]

Yes - well done to everyone!

Dd's second was funny - it was in a Ridden Arab class. 2 entries - dd and the other one, who looked like dd's pony after several years of cosmetic surgery - tail a bit higher, face a bit more dished, eyes a bit darker, neck a bit more arched, coat a bit whiter....

[Butkin]

That was a shame Mirage - we were astonished by how little space they had given over to parking - especially given how much land we got to work in. I'm sure they will have to rethink things next year. It is a lovely setting but it isn't really big enough to be a "county" showground and everybody has to do a one way in - one way out routine which can be a nightmare in bad weather as we had 2 years ago there.

We got there at 7.15am and most of the quality classes were finished by 1pm although there were plenty of other classes going on late into the afternoon.

[Mirage]

Yes,it did seem very badly organised.Most of Leicestershire must have been there,as well as Rutland.The school playground yesterday was full of mothers complaining about it.Perhaps things will be improved for next year?

It is a lovely place.The MFH of the Quorn used to own it.Reputedly he sold it for £6 million,the guy who bought it went bust,so the MFH bought it back again for 1.5 million.I've no idea who owns it now,it looked a bit empty.

[mummydoc]

anyone going anywhere this weekend ?
I have beenoff mumsnet for while , so quick update on pony...for anyone who rememberes we had nutty noddy the sooper stressy welshie, well he has lost weight, continued to calm down and is mostly lovely, and i have bought a trailer, and re equipped dd with stuff for show season, as grown out of all last yrs ( GULP at cost) and we were off today . I was very nervous as only pulled trailer twice andi alos have role of pretty much doing everything ! but poor nods has sore feet , due to no farrier for 10 weeks , farrier on holiday, am very cross with yard manager for not sorting. he is sitting back on front heels and looking a little sore. so have had to console very disappointed 6 yr old with rash promises of trip to "fun" swimming pool and lots of sweets.

[Butkin]

That is a shame mummydoc - let us know when you're next planning to be out. We are having a weekend off due to DD going to a friend's party. Next show will be NPS 14 when we do our first HOYS FR qualifer. May also put him in open class (to be ridden by older girl) as is looking so well at the moment.

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

We are off to our local show tomorrow. I've spent days bathing, trimming, pulling, singeing and polishing black Dpony, I've spent all evening polishing tack and boots, and I'm happy! (anally retentive about turnout!)
DD is fast asleep. I have everything on the extensive list ready, and the clothes are ironed!
My lovely horsey friend showed a sponge to her grey pony this afternoon, soaped her tack and went in for tea!
It's only a fun show really, but it's our first since DD found her confidence and started to really enjoy her pony.
We are really looking forward to it!

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Update: Dpony looks AMAZING! people keep telling us she looks great. They have just come second out of about ten in the riding club pony class. Only missed first by a couple of points. :-)

[MitchiestInge]

Well done! Was in AWE of your plaiting speed and neatness the other day.

Are they doing any other classes?

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Thank you. It was lovely to see you. They just came second in the veteran too!

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

SQUEE!!! and first in family pony!!!

[MitchiestInge]

Ooooh! Very very well done all round! LOVE those red rosettes, did you cry? (I burst into tears when we won the veterans )

[olderyetwider]

Been to fun show today; GD came first in 2' show jumping! First time she's won a SJ class, and only the second time she's managed double clear (she usually gets an attack of nerves at the first, picks up 4 faults for a refusal, then sails round because the pressure's off, so a real breakthrough, I hope). She was going to enter 2'6, but it was far too cold and wet so managed to persuade her to come home instead

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Off home now. They came first in ridden family pony, then third in in hand best condition and third in the blacks bays and chestnuts!

[Butkin]

Well done to DD and Dpony - nothing better than red rosette!

[Butkin]

And well done to Older's GD as well - great that she's now jumping more confidently.