Post by Toaster on Jul 23, 2015 21:51:19 GMT
Sorry this is long and probably not very interesting!!
For three years I have enthusiastically watched shows from the sidelines
I bought a wreck of a horsebox and gradually got it on the road but lack of cash has prevented me getting out there and showing. Not to mention the fact that I am the wrong side of gigantic and not exactly ring-worthy but all the same we planned our debut at the local riding club show on Sunday where we would of course dazzle everyone and bring home a fluttery rosette
The first setback occurred when I had a card from Royal Mail lunchtime Saturday announcing helpfully that my super sonic iron clad sports bra was being held in custody awaiting my signature and telling me that I would need to run/lollop largely unsupported and possibly hilariously if I were to venture to a show before the requisite signature was provided.
undeterred I pressed on with preparations and after some swears and a smack with a hammer the horsebox interior was finished on Saturday and my husband shouted from his games console that I should give it a quick spin round the block to check all was well
Soo leaving my phone on the side (just going round the block you see....) I set off. Two miles later I was stood next to my steaming horsebox on the A5 trying to hitch a lift so I could get home and call for help. after a short wait very nice recovery man came out, frowned under the bonnet for a while, went in to the cab, frowned some more and asked if the temperature gauge was painted on as it didn't work. some humming and more frowning later he offered the obvious advice that the sellers of the horsebox must be thrilled to be shot of it but that luckily he could get the box to cough in to life again
My husband distanced himself from the purchase of the box by helpfully saying he had never liked 'the thing' which was only more fractionally helpful than the painted on temp gauge comment
We arrived home at 11:30pm too late to bathe pony and we went to bed in an irritable silence at 1am
Anyhooo Sunday morning dawned and I dropped the husband to work at 6am with the absolute promise that I wouldn't attempt to go showing
It got to 10am and I could not hold off any longer and dragged the poor pony from his paddock, hot clothed him and trotted him down the lane to the horsebox, he has only been out of his field four times so wore a look a cross between interest and trepidation but being both game and good tempered he was willing to humour me
the horsebox obviously was very interesting as he walked straight in, possibly on the promise of seeing a painted on temp gauge, he had a slight change of mind regarding the situation ten minutes in to the journey but his protests were luckily muffled by the rubber matting stolen from his stable that now lined the walls of the horsebox
Due to travelling at a stonking top speed of 35mph we arrived ten minutes before the class, I had a 'oh well lets just walk around' attitude but he seemed well up for some fun so his bridle was thrown on (you could so tell it was thrown on too) and off we went
A tired, hot, sweaty (the breakdown man had left the heater on full power after assuring me it was as useless as the temp gauge) twenty stone woman in incorrect clothes and with a gawping ginger moron on the end of a lead rein must have been quite a sight to behold, if there was an entrance fee the spectators certainly got their money's worth
Still, as my husband said later that evening 'you were still running faster than people sat on a couch' this seemed very sweet later that evening but I think I would have lamped him if he had been at the show and offered that little gem to my flustered self
Strangely a two year old gangly pony poorly turned out with an ill fitting bridle didn't win the judge over and we were placed fifth with a very forgiving and everso diplomatic 'needs a little more condition'
Amazingly we qualified for Royal London despite not even getting a rosette, I don't know how but as I gave the man handing me the ticket a paper cut by grabbing the ticket with both hands I didn't think I could ask him to explain!
Tightly clutching our precious purple ticket we stalked off to the shade and took in the atmosphere (the pony who had a neigh at every white pony he saw in case it was his field mate looked and sounded delirious when the adult section A's went in to the ring 'oh look mum a WHOLE class of Milos!')
eventually we started to get odd looks partly due to the neighing, partly due to our tatty appearance but probably mostly due to the ancient horsebox with the bonnet that doesn't quite close so we quit while we were ahead and packed up the box to go home
Pony walked off the box calm and chilled out at the other end and was grazing in his paddock ten minutes later probably wondering what the hell that was all about
He behaved very well considering it was his first real look at the outside world and all in all we had a fab time and I cant wait to do it again in a couple of weeks
Just a FEW tweaks to be made to our turnout I think lol
Onwards and upwards
(I just hope footage hasn't made it to Youtube!)
For three years I have enthusiastically watched shows from the sidelines
I bought a wreck of a horsebox and gradually got it on the road but lack of cash has prevented me getting out there and showing. Not to mention the fact that I am the wrong side of gigantic and not exactly ring-worthy but all the same we planned our debut at the local riding club show on Sunday where we would of course dazzle everyone and bring home a fluttery rosette
The first setback occurred when I had a card from Royal Mail lunchtime Saturday announcing helpfully that my super sonic iron clad sports bra was being held in custody awaiting my signature and telling me that I would need to run/lollop largely unsupported and possibly hilariously if I were to venture to a show before the requisite signature was provided.
undeterred I pressed on with preparations and after some swears and a smack with a hammer the horsebox interior was finished on Saturday and my husband shouted from his games console that I should give it a quick spin round the block to check all was well
Soo leaving my phone on the side (just going round the block you see....) I set off. Two miles later I was stood next to my steaming horsebox on the A5 trying to hitch a lift so I could get home and call for help. after a short wait very nice recovery man came out, frowned under the bonnet for a while, went in to the cab, frowned some more and asked if the temperature gauge was painted on as it didn't work. some humming and more frowning later he offered the obvious advice that the sellers of the horsebox must be thrilled to be shot of it but that luckily he could get the box to cough in to life again
My husband distanced himself from the purchase of the box by helpfully saying he had never liked 'the thing' which was only more fractionally helpful than the painted on temp gauge comment
We arrived home at 11:30pm too late to bathe pony and we went to bed in an irritable silence at 1am
Anyhooo Sunday morning dawned and I dropped the husband to work at 6am with the absolute promise that I wouldn't attempt to go showing
It got to 10am and I could not hold off any longer and dragged the poor pony from his paddock, hot clothed him and trotted him down the lane to the horsebox, he has only been out of his field four times so wore a look a cross between interest and trepidation but being both game and good tempered he was willing to humour me
the horsebox obviously was very interesting as he walked straight in, possibly on the promise of seeing a painted on temp gauge, he had a slight change of mind regarding the situation ten minutes in to the journey but his protests were luckily muffled by the rubber matting stolen from his stable that now lined the walls of the horsebox
Due to travelling at a stonking top speed of 35mph we arrived ten minutes before the class, I had a 'oh well lets just walk around' attitude but he seemed well up for some fun so his bridle was thrown on (you could so tell it was thrown on too) and off we went
A tired, hot, sweaty (the breakdown man had left the heater on full power after assuring me it was as useless as the temp gauge) twenty stone woman in incorrect clothes and with a gawping ginger moron on the end of a lead rein must have been quite a sight to behold, if there was an entrance fee the spectators certainly got their money's worth
Still, as my husband said later that evening 'you were still running faster than people sat on a couch' this seemed very sweet later that evening but I think I would have lamped him if he had been at the show and offered that little gem to my flustered self
Strangely a two year old gangly pony poorly turned out with an ill fitting bridle didn't win the judge over and we were placed fifth with a very forgiving and everso diplomatic 'needs a little more condition'
Amazingly we qualified for Royal London despite not even getting a rosette, I don't know how but as I gave the man handing me the ticket a paper cut by grabbing the ticket with both hands I didn't think I could ask him to explain!
Tightly clutching our precious purple ticket we stalked off to the shade and took in the atmosphere (the pony who had a neigh at every white pony he saw in case it was his field mate looked and sounded delirious when the adult section A's went in to the ring 'oh look mum a WHOLE class of Milos!')
eventually we started to get odd looks partly due to the neighing, partly due to our tatty appearance but probably mostly due to the ancient horsebox with the bonnet that doesn't quite close so we quit while we were ahead and packed up the box to go home
Pony walked off the box calm and chilled out at the other end and was grazing in his paddock ten minutes later probably wondering what the hell that was all about
He behaved very well considering it was his first real look at the outside world and all in all we had a fab time and I cant wait to do it again in a couple of weeks
Just a FEW tweaks to be made to our turnout I think lol
Onwards and upwards
(I just hope footage hasn't made it to Youtube!)