sunday's results

[Mehitabel]

we took petal and matt, her half brother who is rising 5.

petal was 2nd in the inhand, and the winner of our class went on to get the m&m championship. we were pulled in 3rd and went up, she said to me 'she has a lovely walk dear, will she be going in foal again this year or will you start riding her?' well, she is a bit fat, but...
so i said 'i started riding her last year, but she's been out in the field on holiday since she went to olympia, so that's why she's a bit out of shape' which is a lie, she's just fat and hairy.

matt (her half brother, 5 years old) was pulled in 2nd but went down to 5th. she said he was a lovely type of pony, but a bit immature and not enough and that with a bit more work he would do very well in the future. so nice and constructive, and fair comment - he has been out all winter, and looks it.

and matt did his first ever ridden class with louise, who owns him (she is head girl at the yard, broke him in and fell in love - coudn't bear to see him sold, so bought him herself) and he behaved really well. he was the only one in the class (ponies never to have been in the ring under saddle before) which was unfortunate as she was watching him all the time, and with nobody to follow he was a bit sticky, but he did well and he did deserve his rosette.

so it was a really good day, lovely weather, ponies behaved themselves and the photos went ot be developed this morning! very good start to the season.

[joy70]

Well done, sounds like you had a fab day!! :)

My 1st show will be the first weekend in April, jumping, im petrified! :eek: will let you know how we went, still struggling to find a freelance instructor to give me some help with my confidence, ho hum!!

[galadriel]

Is Petal ever going to slim down at all? :)

I don't understand your descriptions of your placings. What does "pulled in" mean?

[joy70]

I think pulled in means when the judge intends to place them or have a better look at them, i.e. pulled into the line up for places 1 to 4 etc., not sure though!

[Mehitabel]

she isn't *that* fat! well, ok, she's pretty hefty. she's been out with a big round haylage bale and not doing a lot of work for the last few weeks, which is why the gut is truly in evidence at the minute. there isn't anyone else who can school her or take her on fast hacks at the yard apart from fiona, who has 4 of her own to ride, so she doesn't do much unless i'm there. she'll always be an easy keeper and we'll always struggle with the gut!

in an inhand class, once you've all gone round in walk together and trotted one by one to the rear of the lineup, you get brought in (pulled in) in a provisional lineup - so i was brought in provisionally 3rd, and matt came in provisionally 2nd. then the judge has a good closeup look at each horse and watches them walk and trot again, and then sends everyone out again and brings us all in for the final placing, often swapping around - so on closer examination she liked petal more, and moved us up to 2nd.
pulling in is just the usual name for the provisional placing.

i was pleased with her - that judge does a lot in our area so it's nice to know she likes us.

[galadriel]

I see :) now.

Congrats on your placings :) Got any pictures?

[Mehitabel]

cheers! photos went to be developed this morning, should be ready tomorrow, so i will get scanning tomorrow evening!

[floppy]

well done :D

winning isnt everything but when you dont win something or get placed good it is fantastic

Im disencourgaed by my riding instructor to take my horse to competitions as even though we have been palced in our first competitions together (1st & 2nd in the first competition and a 3rd and a 4th int he second) she always says i can take one of her proper horses and actually win something.

but what she doesnt get is that for me winning isnt everything like it is for her. (if she comes in no better than 4th horse is packed and she is away she only hangs around for the first 3 places)

Also how can one possibly ride a horse effectively like i have to try and do after the horse arriving at the yard a week or two before the comeptition and then only being allowed to ride it 4 times or so??

I would actually like to see her ride a horse in such short notice and win something

[joy70]

Ignore your instructor, like you say you compete to ejoy yourself, some people become so blinkered about winning, its not the be all and end all. Im going back to competing after 5 years break and starting with really small fences, but i will be competing against myself, not the others there!

You have to decided whats important to you - which i think you already have!

What does your instructor mean by proper horses???? not another snooty nosed so & so who thinks ponies dont count I hope?

[Esther.D]

Congratulations Es - a really successful weekend:)

[floppy]

my instructor means anything other than my horse.

[joy70]

Take no notice, of course your horse is a proper horse! get out there and enjoy yourself :D

People say i dont have a proper horse he's a 13.2" Connemara X, but hes brilliant