I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it to the East Anglian Shetland Pony Group’s spring show. It was being held at the World Horse Welfare, Snetterton which is quite a drive from Rutland and I wasn’t keen on heading off for a long day on my own. Flora of course would be going with me but she isn’t any good at helping with the ponies!
Luckily my friend Sam was happy to come to help. I am not sure she knew just what she was letting herself in for with two Shetlands to help with as I picked up Melland Jackson Jive along the way. Diva (Melland Queen of Scots) was pleased to see Jackson and they did make me chuckle by each trying to eat from the other’s haynet.
We arrived in plenty of time, so checked that the ponies were okay and took Flora for a little walk before having a bit of lunch. Then the action started. The ponies were in consecutive classes and so Sam and I got both ready and led them over to the indoor school. I asked Sam to lead Diva as she is generally quieter than Jackson can be. Well, it wasn’t the case today. Sam was walking behind me and Jackson, and all I could hear was squeaks from Diva and chuckles from Sam.
Once in the indoor school, we found a little spot to claim as our own whilst we waited for the first class. Jackson caught sight of himself in the wall mirrors and spent a happy five minutes chatting himself up.
Our first class was Standard Mare so with Sam holding Jackson, in Diva and I went. She really does enjoy her showing and was very pleased to be back in the ring. I was delighted when she was pulled in first.
As soon as I was out of the ring I swapped the ponies over and took Jackson in the Standard Gelding Class. He was placed third, and we dashed out of the ring as Diva was in the Standard Championship straight after. Gosh, I really need to get fitter!!
It was a very strong championship with some lovely ponies forward. Diva performed well to be awarded Reserve Standard Champion.
She had one more class after this, which was the Intermediate class for ponies four to six years old. At five now (where has the time gone!), Diva is right in the middle of the age bracket and completed a double by being judged the winner.
It was a happy if tired team that headed home afterwards, and the plus side is we haven’t put Sam off so she will come to groom for us again!
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.