Speedgate

Speedgate Open Show – Sunday 22nd July 2007

Saturday: Quick ride up the common, lots of lovely canters as the group was lovely because of the amount of rain we’ve had. Boys in the field. Trip to the local tack shop, then of course, the pub for a quick (yes we were only there an hour this time!) lunch, then armed with a bowl of carrot peelings from chef which is now a weekly present for the boys, we headed back to the yard, got the lorry ready, got the boys in from the field and started the painstaking process of plaiting and fluffing ready for the Showing Show at Speedgate.

Stop Press……………. We set off on time! 8:30am and we were on the road, and arrived at 9:30am after a really easy journey.

Our first class was at 11am, the show started at 9am and by the time we arrived the showground was packed and we thought about turning around and going straight home - Oh my god how posh was this do?! I don't think we saw a smile on anyones face all day they were so serious. Anyway...

We both entered the Open Riding class at 11am and both came bottom of the pack, I managed to squeeze a rosette but to be honest the other riders should have been at Olympia or Hickstead so we were just happy to have sensible horses who did their best.

Next, we split up. Coy for the Cob class and me for the Ridden Hunter class. It started going a bit wrong when the boys wouldn't stop yelling at each other across the show ground but chilled out as we are we just thought it was funny. I have a feeling some of the other riders considered the behaviour rather rude but they can stuff off :-D

The boys went really well in both their classes with Coy picking up the rosette this time and Herbs and I coming 7th and 3rd from last in the Ridden Hunter.

I was very pleased with Herbs on the day, he didn't misbehave at any time and certainly didn't buck in the show ring unlike one of the others that got placed ahead of us.

Go figure....