Newark Heritage Rare Breed Show

[harveydales]

What a weekend! I've never done anything like this before but Saturday and Sunday were spent running the DPS stand at the Newark Heritage and Rare Breed Show. I went down on the Friday to start setting up the stand. Then Saturday was a 4.30am start to get all the ponies done at home and then take Harvey to Newark for 8.15. The stand and Harvey in his pen:





Sunday wasn't quite such an early start as I didn't have to bring Harvey. The Kesteven RDA kindly offered to bring Rio (Lemonsholme Prince) for the day as they thought it would be good for his education -he is only 5.

Both ponies were amazingly well behaved and thoroughly enjoyed the day. We were in a huge shed with Native ponies at our end, then sheep followed by ducks and chickens and then cattle. At one point on the Sunday a bull broke loose and went clattering through some stands not too far from us but Rio wasn't a bit bothered.

Once each day the ponies all had to parade round the ring while a commentator talked about the various breeds. Again, both ponies behaved perfectly despite all the hustle and bustle. They were perfect ambassadors for the breed. Suprisingly, despite the bad weather, there were a lot of visitors and both Rio and Harvey enjoyed all the fuss and attention.

Rio during the parade:


Harvey:


I was totally exhausted by the end of it. Huge thanks to Ali who came along with me to help and all the Kesteven RDA people.

[dalesnfellfan]

Wow, that sounds an exciting weekend if exhausting, well done Harvey and Rio really good experience for a young pony. Connie could do with some exposure all those different animals, can't imagine what she would have done with the loose bull!

Well done Pam for promoting the breed

[colmworthdales]

Well done Pam - and ponies. It gives you such a buzz when you see the ponies enjoying all the fuss from members of the public. Stand looked great at well. Hope you got lots of people thinking and talking about our special breed.

Preparing for an event like this is hard work - and must be worse in November with such a horrid early start in the dark. Trust you have recovered by now, and Harvey is back to his normal grumpy self!

[harveydales]

Nov 10, 2015 16:54:47 GMT -1 colmworthdales said:

Well done Pam - and ponies. It gives you such a buzz when you see the ponies enjoying all the fuss from members of the public. Stand looked great at well. Hope you got lots of people thinking and talking about our special breed.

Preparing for an event like this is hard work - and must be worse in November with such a horrid early start in the dark. Trust you have recovered by now, and Harvey is back to his normal grumpy self!

Yes, Kate, I'm finally recovered! I didn't appreciate how exhausting it would be and, as you say, doing it in November with dark mornings and evenings doesn't help. But it was worth it! I was surprised at how many people came. I thought the weather would put them off but it didn't and it was nice to see such interest in the breed.

Thanks for all your advice; it was a great help knowing what to expect.

[Fi]

Wow, Harvey looks fab. Well done to all 3 of you. Glad to hear it was a busy show, though.

[knight1]

Well done Pam & Harvey, Rio and his people too, for making the effort to let more people learn about the breed. Rio looks to be both handsome and wonderfully calm. Harvey looks really fabulous. Great that you had alot of visitors.

[5natives]

Would have loved to have popped along, it looked like a good day, and well done to the ponies for taking it in their stride.