qualified at first attempt

[harveydales]

No not for HOYs or anything fancy but for the Veteran Horse Society/British Dressage veteran championships in the autumn - both me and Harvey. Harvey for the Golden Oldies (over 20) class and me for the veteran riders class.

You only have to get over 60% at 2 British Dressage classes so not a huge feat but I haven't competed Harvey at BD for many years now so was thrilled to get through at our first attempt. We came 4th in both classes on 61% and 65%. Harvs was a star, despite his decrepid rider. He is never going to have the spring and athletisism of the young warmbloods but, as far as I'm concerned, he is the best!

Afterwards we were chatting with the judge over lunch. She didn't realise I was Harvey's rider and went on to ask if we'd seen the amazing Dales Pony with the long Chinese plait! He made quite an impression on her. Harvey's best bit of the day was when I shared some Danish pastries with him afterwards - his favourite is the cinnamon whorl!




My friend Ruth also qualified for the veteran riders championship and very well deserved. Half way through her test during a canter movement, her bridle number came loose and started to irritate her horse. Without disrupting the canter, she managed to stretch forward up his long Friesian neck, remove the number, throw it away, staying in canter all the while! She did fall to pieces after the movement and I'm not surprised!

[dalesnfellfan]

Very well done to you both, you must have been even more chuffed about the comments from the judge over lunch. Of course he's better than all those warmbloods, and much more of a character.

Well done Ruth for coping with number incident, I think I would have needed to pull up and sort it out.

Harvey's looking wonderful, you'd never guess his age from his photos, must be all care you give him and maybe the odd Danish pastry here and there.

[yanny]

Aww that's amazing!!! I bet you're thrilled!
Yeah forget warmbloods (or dumbloods!) Dales ponies are way more fun. And a lot less loopy I bet he stands out a lot more too.

[Debbie]

How very well deserved for you and Harvey!!!!

Isn't wonderful to get acknowledgement that you both are still THAT GOOD even after time away I especially loved your chat with the judge. Since she didn't realize you are Harvey's rider, that's a glowing endorsement!

And kudos to your friend for being able to remove that bridle number like that cripes, even in my younger years I'm not sure I could have achieved all that while remaining in canter. She should get a special ribbon just for that feat alone.

[valerie n scout]

Yey congratulations Pam what a clever a beautiful boy Harvey is xxx that's a lovely comment from the judge x

[Fi]

Fab news, well done both of you. You must be so proud, rightly so.

[jaycee]

Super well done to you both. You must be very proud. X

[nedales]

Fabulous tale--what are the specifications for veteran horse and rider in UK? Chinese plait!

[Tynedale]

Well done.

[harveydales]

nedales - British dressage (the organisation which oversees all affiliated dressage competitions and training in the UK) has combined with the Veteran Horse Society to run a series of championships for the first time this year. The one for riders is for people 55 or over on any aged horse. Then there are 2 championships for veteran horses - one for horses 15 years and over and one for horses 20 years and over, all run under BD rules and you have to achieve at least 2 results of over 60% in BD affiliated competitions to qualify.

Debbie - I think the judge was transfixed by Harvey's plait which was perhaps no bad thing.

[Debbie]

I admit, I'm transfixed, what does this Chinese plait look like?

I've seen photos where people do this macrame affect with their Friesian's mane. It probably takes a little less time to do than the traditional plaits, but it looks stunning! I love the originality too, so now I'm intrigued by Harvey's 'updo'

...editing for the worst typo ever ~ d'oh!

[harveydales]

Mar 13, 2015 18:05:04 GMT -1 Debbie said:

I admit, I'm transfixed, what does this Chinese plait look like?

I've seen photos where people do this macrame affect with their Friesian's mane. It probably takes a little less time to do than the traditional plaits, but it looks stunning! I love the originality too, so now I'm intrigued by Harvey's 'updo'

...editing for the worst typo ever ~ d'oh!

Debbie,
nothing to get excited about, a Chinese plait is just ne long, plain plait.

[harveydales]

Mar 13, 2015 18:05:04 GMT -1 Debbie said:

I admit, I'm transfixed, what does this Chinese plait look like?

I've seen photos where people do this macrame affect with their Friesian's mane. It probably takes a little less time to do than the traditional plaits, but it looks stunning! I love the originality too, so now I'm intrigued by Harvey's 'updo'

...editing for the worst typo ever ~ d'oh!

Debbie,sadly nothing to get excited about, a Chinese plait is just one long, plain plait.

[NFK Dumpling]

Go Team Harvey!

I'm not sure we've ever got over 60%......

[yanny]

Doing my first dressage competition on Easter Sunday! Got to admit I'm nervous, I don't really know what to expect
I wondered what the plait looked like too. Is it like one of those running plaits that people do on Andalusians?