I have been putting off writing a blog. Why? Because it’s easy when you can write about how much you have won. Not so easy when your in a frustrating patch of second-place rosettes.
I feel for my daughter Alice with her 133cm working hunter pony (WHP) Lemington Nougat as she has never been in this territory before and it’s frustrating and hurts. With four seconds now in Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) qualifiers and a few rounds with one pole down she is beginning to wonder if she will get there.
Having qualified first time out every year since I can remember this is tough for her. My husband Tom and I were discussing it though and saying how good it will be for her and indeed myself.
We show ponies for many reasons but one is certainly to make a great person out of your child and the highs and lows of competition are a fabulous learning curve in life. I sincerely hope she gets there as this combination have been so successful it would be a shame in her last year on him not to.
Windsor is her next stop; hardly a show to be confident of winning! You can be sure everything will be crossed.
The 143cm show hunter pony Romano Romany Gypsy has been enjoying a wonderful season though so that has been a nice tonic from the WHP frustrations. This combination will too be at Windsor next week. We can’t wait to be at one of our favourite shows of the year. We are lucky enough to be going to the Saturday evening performance too and I am certain in true Windsor style it will be amazing. The weather forecast is even good.
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My son Harry (pictured) has started riding out for National Hunt trainer Charlie Longsdon. He has made Harry so welcome and he is now completely hooked on the racing game.
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Harry on the gallops (back right)
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One horse he has been schooling won last Friday which delighted him but not me as he had not given me the tip. I could have been rubbing my hands! He does look very at home on a racehorse as he has a wonderful relaxed style of riding and is extremely laidback. Dad is now looking for a point-to-pointer for him to ride next season. I was not exactly a star point-to-point jockey so I hope Harry will give the family lots of fun. He already wants to ride a winner younger than his grandfather did. I have warned him against trying to follow in his rather large footsteps!
Harry on the gallops
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I have very little judging this year after quite a few shows last year. It’s a shame as I really enjoy it and as I have written before it is so good for you.
I enjoyed the intermediate classes at the BSPS area 2a show. The champion pony was delightful. The small show riding type (SRT) class was very interesting with young ponies, and when you’re judging on your own with marks you have to think hard to get it right on paper rather than judging in horse classes when you can simply decide for yourself on the final walk round.
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We have a new 143cm pony to do WHP. He is called Golden Pat and is also a Connemara so will do some M&M WHP classes too. We are extremely excited about him and look forward to several good years with him. He is only a novice six-year-old but will take the pressure off our beautiful Comberton Coda (pictured top) who is only four and has started the season in tremendous style. She gave me a great thrill jumping clear and the BSPS winter championships to finish third.
It’s chaos at home with the builders starting work. We have walls knocked down and windows boarded up. We have had floods in the house when the roof was off during all that rain so housework for now us completely out of the window! It seemed forever to get here with endless planning but now it’s really starting to take shape and is very exciting.
We have sold a few of our baby ponies and horses to wonderful new homes and the reports coming back are so super to hear. Good luck to you all.
Loraine
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