Diva and Jackson have travelled to shows together several times but, as we try to enter Jackson for gelding-only classes rather than mixed mare and gelding ones, they had never competed in the same class. However, we made an exception last weekend and travelled to the Newark Showground for the NCPA show.
We arrived in plenty of time and strolled over to see how the ring was getting on. It was much further on in the schedule than we had thought and so we checked re class numbers with the secretary. Having been told there were very few in the classes before ours, we dashed off and got the ponies ready. When we got to the ring, things seemed to slow down and so we waited for much longer than we expected.
Finally, it was our class. Diva strode around the ring boldly and stood well for the judge. Jackson had been stung by a horse fly just as he went into the ring, poor fella, and had a great big lump come up on his side. Despite this, and having not been in the show ring for two years, he showed himself well.
Diva was awarded second place, behind the same pony as at the previous show (now a multi-champion), and Jackson was fourth. At the end of the section of classes, several championships took place. Diva wasn’t in the ribbons, but Jackson was Champion Gelding. He is such a star.
Unless we find another show in the meantime, our next one will be the Shetland Pony Studbook Society Breed Show at the end of August. It was great fun to have both ponies out and both did really well.
It was Diva’s fourth birthday on the 13th of July. I can’t believe she is four already. After being off the good grass for a while to keep her weight under control, I decided she could have a couple of hours in the long grass as a treat. Its stalky nature means it is better than the lush short grass at this time of year. She really enjoyed having a gallop and buck as she went to the bottom of the field with granny Mabel in pursuit. Soon the pair of them had their heads down, munching away.
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.