Tattersalls December Sales - My First Experience with Mares and Foals

I've been at the Tattersalls December sales for the last couple of weeks and I must say now, just how much I enjoyed it!

First was the foal sales - I've never really had any contact with foals before, except when I was a really young child and the mare we were looking after was pregnant and had her foal, Choco, while being stabled at ours. He wasn't like these foals though as was absolutely spoilt and was probably over handled and basically thought he was a dog! I was about 8 years old or younger and don't really remember it (that's probably due to falling off a lot when I was a kid).

So when I arrived at 6.30 on Tuesday I basically wasn't sure what to expect or what I had to do! Luckily I had some really lovely people show me, and for that I am incredibly grateful. They didn't shout at me and really beared with me while I learnt what I needed to do. As expected for little baby horses they're rather jumpy, need lot's of reassurance and everything done a lot more slowly and quietly.

I learned how to groom them, handle them and even show them off for the sales, although probably best I didn't actually show them as it would have been rather embarrassing if I'd messed up!

But I can say I now know how to bridle a baby foal, and how to handle one. I've also been very lucky that a lot of them were very cuddly and sleepy so I got lot's of cuddles and interaction with them.

I must also note that, and i'm not sure if this is because they're still quite young but the colts were actually a lot better behaved than the filly's. And I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting that at all..

The colts were the absolute stars, allowing anything to be done to them and happy to be taken out, brushed and groomed, and fine with you walking in their stables to top of hay and water while laying down.

The fillies on the other hand were so sassy! I nearly got bitten by a filly who did not want to be groomed, lucky I move quickly aye! They were also a bit anxious about being tacked up and walked out too but I suppose they all have different personalities. Maybe these quirky fillies will make excellent racehorses because of how they are? Or perhaps they'll grow out of it.. I'll never know, sadly!

Any way, here are lot's of photos that I took over the past two days and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Bloodstock Sales - 

A couple of days off after the foals sales I was back on my feet again on Saturday and Sunday for Tweenhills gaining some more experience and helping out on the yard and learning to show.

With the base being at the Terrace House yard and every single box being full it was was pretty full on. 

I awoke to a chilly Saturday to arrive at 6am to spin out and get learning. 

I walked about a couple of really nice fillies, Glass House and Bear Cheek who were very well behaved and gave me confidence.

The rest of the day was spent learning and getting ready for a busy Sunday.

To which it was extremely busy! Non stop basically, from 6am til 4.30pm.. 

I also like to keep busy and not sit around while I could be working so I regularly checked the horses for hay and water, fluffed beds and swept the yard. 

I also had the most amazing experience that, when grooming a very pregnant made, I put my hand in her belly and her foal must have felt it as it kicked and kicked away and being really active. It was really magical actually as I've felt a baby in my sisters womb, but never a baby horse growing in it's mums womb. It absolutely made my day!

I then had another couple of free days before I was back on Wednesay and Thursday for Eclipse Bloodstock  

It's been a really good experience handling and getting to know different types mares with different personalities. Some being sharper than others, while a couple just couldn't give two hoots.

I've also got to be more hands on with grooming and showing which has done me good for my confidence and my skills. 

How to properly show horses at Tatts Sales is different to normal show ring showing, where you'd stand your horse square at the front but have the offside hind stepping slightly in front so the judge can access. While at the sales you show by standing the horse with it's near side fore and the offside hind slightly in front of the other legs so the potential purchaser can see all of their legs from one side. 

The mares and fillies have all been so well behaved and I'm pleased with how I did. I even got to take two of the mares through the ring. The first being the gorgeous mare Go Glamorous which is in foal to Stimulator and second was Cypress Point who is in foal to Mazameer. It was a wonderful, if not slightly nerve wracking experience as I've so used to viewing the ring from the outside rather than the inside and you're very aware of all eyes are on you, the horse you're leading and what you're doing. 

I wanted to make sure I smiled while walking through rather than just being so focuses on what I was doing that I looked deadly serious. It also looks much nicer to smile! 

I must say thank you to Red at Eclipse Bloodstock for giving me the opportunity, to all the Eclipse staff who helped me and taught me what I needed to do, and to the new friends I've made.

Until next time,

Soph x

Show Ring Essentials - What I Have In My Basket

After reading showing mad mum Julia Gaukrogers post this week "What's in your basket? Baby wipes and gin" in Horse & Hound I thought I'd do a little blog post of my own about what show ring essentials I take into the ring with me in my basket when grooming for Georgie.

1) All my Smart Grooming products, obviously! -

As their brand ambassador and avid user of their products, of course my basket is going to contain these things! They're absolute life savers and however much prep you do leading up to them entering the ring, there will always be last minute smudges or brush over.

I'll use all of these in the run up. Coat shine to make him sleek, soft and shiny, leg and body whitener on his white socks, mane and tail detangler, perfect plaits - you name it!

2) Water -

A big essential item is water and lots of it. In summer showing its going to be sunny and hot (well, we hope!) so keeping the rider and yourself nice and hydrated is really important.You both sweat a hell of a lot in the ring so replenishing that with some nice cold water is a must. Don't want people feeling faint during their class now do we?

3) Brushes -

It wouldn't be a proper grooming kit without brushes. Both to wick dirt and dusty off but also to do quarter marks etc.

Make sure to give them a good washing after each use to stop them getting grubby and holding onto the dirt, oil and dust, otherwise you're just putting them back into the horses coat.

4) Hoof oil - 

Whether on grass or in an arena you always have to hoof oil your horse or pony. Things will stick to it and it will rub off a little but you must make sure you always do them before going into the ring. Shiny nice hooves make a final touch.

5) Baby products - 

I take in both baby oil and shampoo. You know the situation where you're just about to go into the ring and your horses gets a mark on its leg. You can't just leave it there so a quick dab of shampoo on a damp cloth and you can rub that mark off in no time at all. 

As well as highlighter I like to also have some baby oil to hand to just put a little on their noses before they go into the ring.

6) Cloths -

I do take more than 1, usually older tea towels for rubbing (a slightly damp) over the body with a little bit of super shine on to really make the coat gleam. As well as a dry towel for getting rid of Beanies slobbery saliva off his lips and chin, it's all about finishing touches.

7) Hair brush and hair wax. 

Usually to seal in stray hairs after plaiting we use styling wax, just helps get them looking neater.

Hair brush to run through a soft sleek tail to get rid of any tangles.

8) Plaiting equipment - 

Plaiting would obviously of been done long before entering the ring but it's always good to take to the ring side with you. You'd hate to be a bit stuck sprinting back to lorry to get your plaiting stuff cause you've got an unravelled plait 10 minutes before your about to go in! 

Honourable mentions are polos or treats to give your pony after they've been in the ring, no matter how they did. They've worked hard and should be rewarded.

Another mention is perhaps a sponge and saddle soap, you never know when you might need to rub it over your tack.

Everyone has different things they like to take with them but these are my essentials, what types of things do you use? Maybe I might pick up a new amazing product I didn't know about!

Hope to see some of you at Hickstead this weekend,

Sophie x

Red Ribbons - Francesca's first ever ridden show

After a lovely dry and sunny Saturday we unfortunately did not pick the best weather to take Frankie to her first ever show over at Cottenham Point to Point racecourse for the Cambridge & District Riding Club show.

We spent this week frantically searching for a tweed jacket small enough for Francesca. Luckily a lovely lady from eBay posted it to us and yesterday we were so pleased to see it had arrived.

Cute! 

I spent hours yesterday bathing Millie, so when I watched the weather forecast was dismayed to see it was going to rain, and rain hard all morning.

Well the met office got it right as low and behold I woke up at 6.30 to rain.

After loading the car, hosing off a very muddy Shetland and Thoroughbred we loaded everything up and set off.

We arrived about 9.45am and classes had begun in torrential rain. I'm not going to lie I did feel so sorry for those people in hand and ridden classes as it rained sideways!

Much to our relief the rain slowed and stopped just as we needed to get Frankie ready and onto her pony. I tacked Millie up as quick as possible and off we went.

We arrived perfectly timed as our class was about to start.

Millie was absolutely amazing and didn't put a foot wrong. Francesca's riding was equally as amazing and both did a lovely little show in trot. After a little walk round the ring we were so pleased and excited to be pulled into 1st place!

Then after a short wait we were back in the ring for the ridden Mountain and Moreland class. We were up against adults and horses! But Millie was an absolute star and behaved implacably and beat off a horse who wouldn't behaved to take another 1st place. 

For winning both her classes Francesca win a magic brush and a new flexi feed bowl for Millie, thank you so much to Equicentric 

I had a lovely time and really enjoyed myself.

Beanie was a really patent boy and waited while Millie showed so it was now his time to shine!

We tacked up B and went and warmed up. B seemed to have jets for legs and flew everything we out him over! 

We entered into the 90cm eventer challenge. What that entailed was going into the ring and having 2 judges look at your horses conformation, they then asked you to set off and jump a round of 13 fences which were a mix of cross country fences and show jumps. B flew round but annoyingly knocked a pole at a big upright. But the rest of the round was foot perfect! 

After a really long day, we made our way back to the trailer to unpack, tidy up and grab a well earned ice cream! 

Much to Georgies surprise Beanie was only 1 point off winning and came a well earned second. She even won a voucher for a group training session with Barry Meningen at Meadow Lane Equestrian. 

Someone is tired after her busy day, still wearing her shirt and jodhpurs!

ROR - Historical Giant at Burghley for CUDH meet

All these amazing photos are taken by Sam Pawley Photography 

Pre-show season prep!

Georgie and Beanie walking back from competing at Burghley SEIB Horse of the Year Show Qualifier 2014

Well, I don't know about other riders but I'm enjoying this warming weather and sunshine and it's well and truly got me in the spirit of summer. So with that I'm pre show season prepping.
With a lot of the county shows they release their schedules nice and far in advance, but with that means having to get entries in early to secure a place.
Any day now Suffolk County Show should be releasing their equine and livestock schedule, so i'm poised to get it as soon as it comes out to get our entries in.

They have released the list of judges so it's been good to investigate who is judging which classes and see the judges previous experience in what they're used to judging.

Also qualifiers! This year we have our aim firmly set on HOYS. Georgie was so close with just 2 places off qualifying last year in her first proper show season with B so keen to try again.

I love going to these events really. As i'm not usually competing I do get to see them from a different view to Georgie. As I usually groom being outside of the ring watching and ready to get in the ring to clean him up ready for his ride judge and then strip him for his conformation judging and trot up.

Plus this season we're aiming to go to shows we haven't attended before as well as attending our firm favourites.

Can't wait to see this handsome chap back in his summer coat and ready to hit the ring

Georgie and Beanie qualifying for Royal International Horse Show ROR Final at Hickstead. Wayland Show 2014

TARRA Champion at Great Gransden Show 2013 with TARRA founder and judge Michael Gunn 

I'm also really keen to try new products we haven't used before. E.g. coat shine, shampoos and conditioners, plating equipment etc. So if anyone has any recommendations then please let me know!!

The groom becomes the rider for the weekend

Well I'm sure you'll know from my post last weekend that I had a dressage test, so today was the day!

I got up at 6 to dress, and eat a quick breakfast and straight out to start grooming and plaiting.

Mum is great and had been out at 5 ish to let Beanie out to have his breakfast and go for a walk and stretch  before we got him in. So at 6.30 I went and got him in.. Well Beanie thought if he sticks his head in a bush and hides his face that I wouldn't see him.. 

Well sorry B, I can see you...your white socks give you away mate..!

We were first at Rosewood Stud, B was nice and chilled and was happy to walk about and have a quick munch of grass before getting tacked up.

I got dressed, and if I do say so myself, I'm looking alright for a rusty amateur! Plus I've lost a lot of weight since I wore that jacket last, so that's another plus!

Once tacked up I mounted up and went to warm up and let B see his sorroundings. He was a little spooky and eyes on stalks cause he's not been out much lately but he soon settled in and worked really well in the warm up arena

He was just such a good boy, he warmed up beautifully, and just was so sweet.

He was a bit jumpy in the test and a noise outside did make him spook but overall I'm pretty happy! 

For my first test in over 15 years I got 59.7% and got some really lovely comments from the judge.

And I came 6th!! Not bad really, could have been much worse!

I am so proud of B and how he tried for me! He made my return to stressage a positive one, and I even channeled my inner Dujardin and sat back and was not a sack of potatoes!

As soon as we got home and rugged Beanie up, it didn't take him long to undo all my hard sprucing this morning! Only a few steps into the field and he rolled and rolled! Covering himself in mud, but he deserves it so can't hold it against him!

I know I am going to be stiff in the morning, but no pain, no gain!!