Post by laura on Aug 9, 2008 12:05:00 GMT -1
I had a fantastic few days at the NPS Champs this week. I was originally meant to be going on my own but my friend Claire came to the rescue and drove me plus 2 ponies down from Sheffield to the Champs - so grateful to her as she was sooo helpful to me over the few days, honestly wouldn't have coped without her!!
Arrived at about 3 on Tuesday afternoon, it was pouring with rain which was really not great!! Went and found my stables to be met with a huge puddle in front of them both...at which point I was wondering if I would ever be able to keep Bobbie clean for the following 3 days!! Thankfully the stables themselves were ok and not too muddy, so we shoved masses of straw in and hoped for the best!
The NPS had asked me to take part in the Young Judges competition as an exhibit, so I had to hastily tack up Sonny and hot foot it to the ring... had to trot him up about 10 times for the Young judges and he was a good boy and gave him a chance to have a leg stretch!
Finally got him in his stable after the competition and settled both boys down for the night. This show was the first time I'd ever stabled away at a show actually so I was really pleased with how well both lads settled straight into their stables with no problems at all!!
Wednesday I had the NFU Open Dales Ridden class with Bobbie. Bob had to have a full bath in the morning but was super-blingy by the time we'd finished! Finally got in the ring at about 4.30pm and Bob was really good. I've recently put him into a double and it has made an enormous difference to his way of going - he's still a bit whizzy in canter but we're slowly getting there! There were 12 in the class and I was really pleased to be pulled in 8th. The class was chock full of producers too so I was very pleased with my pull in! Bobbie did a good show and I was delighted to stay 8th. Got a rosette too which was I was thrilled with!!! ;D
Some pics before we went into the NFU - note new jods, they are extremely yellow but I'm hoping they will fade a bit after a couple of washes!!
On Thursday I had the Ridden Geldings class with Sonny - 41 entered this
and it seemed like nearly all of them came forward!! Really pleased with Sonny in the class but didn't get placed....but the main event of Thursday anyway, was the pairs class my friend's Fell pony!
We managed to have about a 2 minute practice before the class went in, and hurriedly threw on blue jackets, stocks, and gold accessories!! Let Fuzzy and Sonny meet each other - Sonny at first decided he had to squeal and make faces at poor Fuzzy, but then decided that actually he quite liked him and stuck to him like glue
The class went so well and I was so pleased with Sonny, he really rose up to the challenge and we had a great time giggling round the ring chanting "trot, trot, trot, trot, canter, canter, canter, canter," We put ourselves quite far down the line to give us time to plan the show. When we came out to stand up for the judges Sonny decided he had to near enough stand ON Fuzzy and stood so close both mine and Suzy's legs were totally squashed!! However our individual went really well!
After the class I dashed back to our lorry to shove on my blue jacket, downed a mug of Cava and then dashed off to Suzy's lorry where her family very kindly gave me some food and helped me clean Sonny up a bit!!
Went down to the ring and Sonny flipped a bit at the atmosphere - it was the first time he'd ever done anything like an evening performance and it was SUCH a buzzy atmosphere - lots of cheering, spotlights and speakers.... After spinning round a bit and reversing at high speeds, with Suzy's help we managed to get Sonny walking almost sensibly, and went into the collecting ring just before our class went in. A loudspeaker freaked him out a bit but as soon as we went in the ring he really strutted his stuff!! I have a blurry memory of Sonny piaffing down the crowd side, and then trotting out wonderfully with Fuzzy - he felt like a little stallion going round there, he really arched his neck and pinged his way round - my nerves soon went on going in the arena and we thoroughly enjoyed going round.
When they announced the rosettes in reverse order, we really weren't expecting anything, so to be pulled forward 5th was just amazing, it was the best moment ever!! Our lap of honour was just fantastic, as everyone cheered us I felt like I'd won HOYS or something, it was absolutely brilliant!!!!!
After that excitement I managed to get to sleep eventually and was up really early yesterday to sort Bobbie out again for the Home produced class. He went round really well but wasn't placed, really pleased with his improvement in his way of going though, I think we are slowly improving!
I had such a fantastic few days and was so pleased to get a rosette with each of my ponies - at the NPS Champs I wasn't really expecting to come away with anything so was delighted to get one for each of them!
Sorry, hugely long post, but was such a great experience!Will post pairs pics when I get them!
Arrived at about 3 on Tuesday afternoon, it was pouring with rain which was really not great!! Went and found my stables to be met with a huge puddle in front of them both...at which point I was wondering if I would ever be able to keep Bobbie clean for the following 3 days!! Thankfully the stables themselves were ok and not too muddy, so we shoved masses of straw in and hoped for the best!
The NPS had asked me to take part in the Young Judges competition as an exhibit, so I had to hastily tack up Sonny and hot foot it to the ring... had to trot him up about 10 times for the Young judges and he was a good boy and gave him a chance to have a leg stretch!
Finally got him in his stable after the competition and settled both boys down for the night. This show was the first time I'd ever stabled away at a show actually so I was really pleased with how well both lads settled straight into their stables with no problems at all!!
Wednesday I had the NFU Open Dales Ridden class with Bobbie. Bob had to have a full bath in the morning but was super-blingy by the time we'd finished! Finally got in the ring at about 4.30pm and Bob was really good. I've recently put him into a double and it has made an enormous difference to his way of going - he's still a bit whizzy in canter but we're slowly getting there! There were 12 in the class and I was really pleased to be pulled in 8th. The class was chock full of producers too so I was very pleased with my pull in! Bobbie did a good show and I was delighted to stay 8th. Got a rosette too which was I was thrilled with!!! ;D
Some pics before we went into the NFU - note new jods, they are extremely yellow but I'm hoping they will fade a bit after a couple of washes!!
On Thursday I had the Ridden Geldings class with Sonny - 41 entered this
and it seemed like nearly all of them came forward!! Really pleased with Sonny in the class but didn't get placed....but the main event of Thursday anyway, was the pairs class my friend's Fell pony!We managed to have about a 2 minute practice before the class went in, and hurriedly threw on blue jackets, stocks, and gold accessories!! Let Fuzzy and Sonny meet each other - Sonny at first decided he had to squeal and make faces at poor Fuzzy, but then decided that actually he quite liked him and stuck to him like glue
The class went so well and I was so pleased with Sonny, he really rose up to the challenge and we had a great time giggling round the ring chanting "trot, trot, trot, trot, canter, canter, canter, canter,"
We put ourselves quite far down the line to give us time to plan the show. When we came out to stand up for the judges Sonny decided he had to near enough stand ON Fuzzy and stood so close both mine and Suzy's legs were totally squashed!! However our individual went really well! After the class I dashed back to our lorry to shove on my blue jacket, downed a mug of Cava and then dashed off to Suzy's lorry where her family very kindly gave me some food and helped me clean Sonny up a bit!!
Went down to the ring and Sonny flipped a bit at the atmosphere - it was the first time he'd ever done anything like an evening performance and it was SUCH a buzzy atmosphere - lots of cheering, spotlights and speakers.... After spinning round a bit and reversing at high speeds, with Suzy's help we managed to get Sonny walking almost sensibly, and went into the collecting ring just before our class went in. A loudspeaker freaked him out a bit but as soon as we went in the ring he really strutted his stuff!! I have a blurry memory of Sonny piaffing down the crowd side, and then trotting out wonderfully with Fuzzy - he felt like a little stallion going round there, he really arched his neck and pinged his way round - my nerves soon went on going in the arena and we thoroughly enjoyed going round.
When they announced the rosettes in reverse order, we really weren't expecting anything, so to be pulled forward 5th was just amazing, it was the best moment ever!! Our lap of honour was just fantastic, as everyone cheered us I felt like I'd won HOYS or something, it was absolutely brilliant!!!!!
After that excitement I managed to get to sleep eventually and was up really early yesterday to sort Bobbie out again for the Home produced class. He went round really well but wasn't placed, really pleased with his improvement in his way of going though, I think we are slowly improving!
I had such a fantastic few days and was so pleased to get a rosette with each of my ponies - at the NPS Champs I wasn't really expecting to come away with anything so was delighted to get one for each of them!
Sorry, hugely long post, but was such a great experience!Will post pairs pics when I get them!
You all look fantastic and what great results. No wonder you are pleased. 
