September 2008

This was June's final diary after a year of giving us all such a fantastic insight into the showing world. All of her monthly installments are here to view, including her final diary with some hints and tips. If you want to keep up to date with June's progress, please visit http://www.hawkleyponies.com/

Sadly, from my point of view, this is my last showing diary - but you may all be relieved!

This has been a rather up and down year - but the last month has been an up - so it's good to end on a high as I started on one.

Firstly the New Forest Show - and a very enjoyable time - first day was just spectating and meeting people.  Second day we took Bobbie (section B) and did the Competition Pony in-hand.  This is a class he loves - it is often judged "on a triangle" in which he excels, but this time was just a normal in-hand class - but he went so well and came 2^nd!  He was all plaited up and he just loved the atmosphere.  Caroline was so thrilled with him.

Next day I did the HOYS LR with Tiggy.  Bearing in mind that she has done so few shows she was a little superstar.  She didn't turn a hair at the crowds, heavy horses, man flying overhead with large birds.  She wasn't perfect and decided she HAD to cough in our show, and keeping her still was a mammoth effort but at the end of the day we all got a rosette (all 40 odd of us!!) and we checked our marks in the afternoon and we were a LONG way from the bottom!!

Next adventure was the NPS Championships at Malvern, and just took one pony - Folly - for the Novice M&M Working Hunter final.  She jumped superbly - didn't hesitate at all - and the look of delight when she got called forward to 7^th place overall from over 30 competitors made it all worth while!  As she is home bred and home produced it was really something

She did the Intermediate qualifier in the afternoon which was much tougher but she got round and though in the final 12 wasn't placed

They really let their hair down in the evening doing the Adult/Child pairs with a friend and even survived the evening performance - only danger I think was falling off as they were laughing so much.  So many of our "internet" friends were there it was like a huge party!!

Final show was the Welsh Medal show -very low key, but Ellie - our baby section B came a creditable 2^nd in her class and Tiggy was 5^th in the LR.

So back to the schooling and working hard over the winter ready to start again next year

Thank you for reading these diaries and hope I have given you some entertainment, and an insight into the hard work of showing.

STOP PRESS - at the last minute we took both the Bs to the Wimborne & District RC Open In-Hand Show - both of them plaited up and not shown as M&MS.  Ellie came 1^st in the Youngstock Hunter Pony and the Riding Pony classes, Bobbie won the Competition pony and ended up as Members Champion, winning the trophy I presented some years ago in memory of our lovely pony - Ceralass - so a lovely end to the year.

Goodbye - and thank you!!

Showing Hints

I have been asked to add a few tips - so here goes

Do your homework - find out what is involved in your class by watching some beforehand

School your ponies and yourselves - wrong legs, wrong bends etc will lose you places

Always turn yourself and your horse out as well as you can - and make sure the turnout for you and your mount is correct for that class

Make use of e-bay etc for buying the best quality equipment you can - make sure your jackets etc fit properly - there's always a market in second hand ones so you shouldn't lose out

The judge may not always be right (in your eyes) but they are usually experienced people and you should always be polite to them.  You can ask why you are placed where you are (unless of course you are first!)   Usually judges are neither blind nor stupid!!

If you do ask their opinion do it quietly and politely! And even if you don't agree say thank you!  Twice this year I have seen competitors or their families shouting at judges - this is not polite!!

Think of your horse/pony - do not do 10 classes at one show on a blazing hot day

If things don't go right ask yourself why - if for instance you always get eliminated in Working Hunter classes - is there a problem with the horse - or is it your riding/approach

Take advantage of clinics etc, and if a professional gives you advice don't go away and say they are talking rubbish!  It may make the difference between being last and first