A Summer Show Season of Seconds

Hello everyone,

So over the summer season we’ve done quite a bit of showing but I haven’t really blogged about it and I think that’s because I’m a little frustrated by it, although I’m not sure how Georgie feels though.

We’ve been to many shows this year, our first main big show was Suffolk County but I’m not even going to write about this due to the shocking judging in the ROR/Tattersalls show series, but I will mention Georgie got a good 3rd place and qualified for the Challenge final at Windsor.

We then had our first experience with Royal Norfolk County Show, in which we actually had a really lovely time. We’d never been before and weren't really sure what to expect (seeing as Suffolk County was our first ever county show last year) and with it being a ‘Royal’ event it’s difficult to know what it would be like, although we were thoroughly pleased!

Way back at the end of June we were still experiencing a lot of rain and finding soft ground and flooding were a real problem! We didn’t attend Hickstead this year just for that reason that it was a polar opposite of 2015 where our ROR flat horse ring was rutty and rock solid and this year where the whole event was practically underwater and the ground very soft, and with Royal Norfolk just a few days after we picked the latter event seeing as last years Hickstead was a bit disappointing.

When we arrived at Norfolk Show ground we found ourselves stuck in a long queue waiting for tractors to tow lorries in. Unfortunately the adrenalin and anticipation got a bit much for B and with him getting very hot in the trailer we were given permission to unload in the queue and walk into the event. So with Georgie one side and me the other we walked Beanie into Royal Norfolk. Entering the lorry park it soon became apparent why people had had to be towed in by tractors, as it was very soft and muddy so tentatively we weaved our way through it and down to higher ground. Luckily with the weight of a horse no longer in the trailer Mum was able to drive straight in and right to us, only to park next to a ginormous article horse lorry which actually dwarfed us. We never did find out whos it was!

We’d got there in plenty of time so Beanie could walk around and have a good chill out so when it came time to go into the ring both B and Georgie were in a really good place mentally and it showed. He looked really fluid and happy in his movements and when we were pulled in second place just behind ROR winning machine Jack The Giant we were really pleased.

 The ride judge came to ride B and looked like a really nice judge; I’d done my research on him and seen he’d judged us before and was on a top showing association panel so we were hoping for a more impartial judging. When he kicked on out of the line B was responsive and happy. Me and Georgie huddled together to quietly whisper our thoughts on how it was going and see how the ridden judging was going. Now, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you’ll know that it’s the Queens 90th birthday this year and being at a royal event such as Royal Norfolk Show the display in the main ring went on with a ‘bang’. Or more accurately RAF parachute regiment parachuting into the main ring next door just as the judge asked for an extension in Beanie’s canter (Note, not a gallop but a faster extension in canter) and with men falling from the sky (as it were) B did a little hump in his back which may have signified a slight spook or resistance with his mind elsewhere. A little gutted Georgie and I waited until he was finished judging to find out how it had affected us.

Sadly, the judge took it into account and Georgie and B were moved down from second to third place for the final placings but overall we were very happy with how Beanie coped (he didn’t go full tilt at giant red, white and blue parachutes flapping just a few meters away) and we’d qualified for Hickstead 2017.

After a brief food refuel and a change of tack we headed back up to the ring for the ROR Challenge class. The ground in the ring was spot on, not too hard and not too soft and with the largest ring we’ve ever competing in, the fences and course had been expertly put together we silently hoped for a great result. They were big with some slightly spooky dressing in places but Georgie was confident after the course walk that B would jump well.

With Georgie being one of the last to go it was definitely nerve wracking to watch all the other competitors and hear the grandstand full of people ‘Ohh’ and ‘Ahh-ing’ with every fence.

I don’t know what came over me that day but as soon as Georgie was due to go into the ring I became a nervous wreck, and I mean shaking hands and feeling nauseous. Just call me the back seat rider!

But I wished Georgie luck and made my way to the side of the ring to watch. B trotted in with an air about him, it’s like he knew he was being watched by hundreds of people and he seemed to rise to the occasion. Georgie will be the first to admit that B does tend to think he knows best when it comes to jumping and can rush and fight her his head, so I silently prayed in my head to the equestrian gods for him to listen to Georgie and do a good round! Georgie kicked B into a nice steady canter and headed for the first fence, the next minute or so seemed to pass in a blur as I literally held my breath and tried to keep my hands steady to record her round. The second to last fence out you can hear some spectators quietly shout ‘Go onn!’ as they willed Georgie and B to jump a clear round, but alas as Georgie set Beanie up for the final fence, a large upright hanging rail B decided that he was right and started to rush just a bit too much, didn't get the height and with that the rail came down with an audible sigh of disappointment from the crowd watching. The course proved to be a difficult one as only one clear round was recorded, much to the interest of the crowd and competitors alike. 

With no time to spare Georgie was quickly ushered back into the ring for the show part of the class. Much like a working hunter, the challenge class consists of the jumping part in which the round is scored on points per jump jumped clear, as well as style while jumping, and later during the ridden show part (the rider does a short show showing off the horses paces in walk, trot and canter on both reigns as well as an 'extension' in the canter along one side *not a gallop) they're scored on manners and retrainabilty. Georgie opted to do a quiet simple show showing off Beanie's transitions and way of going. 

Well it seemed to pay off as Georgie was delighted to be pulled into second position and qualify a second time to Royal Windsor horse show 2017 for the ROR challenge final.

From reading the score sheet Georgie got higher marks on both jumping style and manners/suitability to be retrained but sadly that last fence knocked down meant there were just 5 marks difference that cost Georgie a first placing. Although it was the biggest and most challenging course of show jumps that Georgie and Beanie have ever faced and I know we were all thrilled with how he went so we definitely weren't disappointed. You can't say he didn't try!

After Royal Norfolk it all went rather quiet with shows around this area and with holidays and such Beanie had a bit of a break, but last weekend we headed to Wayland Show near Thetford for another ROR filled showing day. We've been to Wayland for the last 2 years and always had quiet a good time there for a smaller type of show. We qualified for the first time last year to Hickstead so we figured we'd return and see how we got on.

Not being very super groom I was not only late to get to the yard, I realised 2 miles out i'd forgotten my Beagler and needed to go back and get it, so the day didn't exactly start the way i'd have liked! But as a groom I am a real believer in looking smart in the ring; I know I'm not competing but it's respectful to the judge and I know many judges will agree. 

We arrived at around 8.15am to find the car park substantially quieter than in previous years so figured we had better get a wriggle on and get Beanie off the trainer. We took him for a short walk to let him see everything and relax, but with incessant bag pipes at 8.30am on a Sunday morning it was doing nothing to sooth B's adrenaline filled nerves. Before long it was time to head over to the ring for our class; the ROR/Tattersalls Show series, and Beanie was still very much a wound coil waiting to explode! Georgie did her best to settle him in the warm up arena but we'd just have to see how we go on.

The go around wasn't too bad and with the Scottish music now upgraded from only bagpipes (badpipes?) to then being a full on band including snare drumming; all very cool if not for it scaring the bejesus out of Beanie. From my assessment I don't think it was the fact Beanie didn't like the noise but struggled at not being able to see them and wondering what on earth they were. At Wayland Show the main ring is sectioned off from the smaller equine rings by a very large hedge that makes it impossible to see, much to the contrast of large county shows. And with Beanie being a very smart horse he likes to know exactly what is going on and where noises are coming from and doesn't settle until he does. 

Beanie was pulled into fifth or sixth place and I was a little disappointed, knowing he can do much better! Georgie and I waited for the ride judge and hoped he didn't disappoint. In no time at all the lovely lady rider came over and mounted ready for the ridden assessment. Luckily Beanie was feeling a bit more relaxed now the music had stopped and he didn't disappoint in giving the judge a lovely smooth paced ride. He was then returned and stripped of his saddle ready to be presented in front of Sue Rawding for conformation judging. B has very good conformation and does look very striking in hand so with the trot up he floated over the ground and went nicely.

Now just a wait to see how he fared in the judges standing. We were excited then to see that Beanie was pulled in, you guest it, another second place! Again qualifying for Hickstead 2017.

He did look absolutely lovely if I do say so myself! 

Overall a slightly frustrating season as we know that Beanie can do better. Each time there's been some frustrating situations that lost B his first place but we've got lots to work on and with one more show, Great Gransden show in September, we'll see if we can end the season with that elusive first place!