I realised I haven't really mentioned Django for some time. Sometimes it can be hard to think of things to write when he spends about 90% of his life sleeping, but in reality we have been doing lots.
I have been walking him in hand around the fields and village to try and desensitise him to the world, as well taking him to a little show. We went out to Silver Leys In Hand Showing and the classes were quite big. He pulled a respectable 3rd place in all three classes, despite being incredibly bum high, and going through the dreadful youngster stage. However he stood much better in the line up than previous shows, especially as the big classes meant long waits, with no pawing the ground or nipping this time, so for me it was a nice improvement to see. Village walks are also coming on in leaps and bounds, from being spooky at different coloured tarmac and cars to not paying attention to anything, including the odd fast car! He even decided to sniff a few wheelie bins so hopefully the age old frustration of horses spooking at bins won't be an issue for us.
We have still been having monthly lessons with Sovereign Quarter Horses, and are learning so much, as the task of breaking him lures ever closer, with me still feeling very green as a western rider.
We are aiming for the American Quarter Horse Association National Championships and the Sovereign Quarter Horse All Breed Extravaganza, both in September. We will enter a few classes, but will be staying the whole weekend so he can get used to overnight stays and I can sit and watch the Pro's! I learnt so much last time about the different disciplines at the last championship show, but as a first timer, I found the whole thing very overwhelming, so I am hoping this time I will feel more relaxed with less nerves and hopefully learn even more.
Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.