Amber Mael – Blog

Off to Dorset County tomorrow!
Four horses and hunt race for eddie again!!
It’s at 5.30 so come and support us!!
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Well, I knew that the weekend was going to be busy, but I didn’t anticipate quite HOW busy!

Friday night consisted of bathing three horses ready for the Dorset Charity Show at Homelands. Then plaiting. Miri and Grace were entered into the Working Hunter Class, as they were there for the showjumping anyway. Barney was entered for the ex-racehorse class, in-hand and ridden and managed to pull a shoe off too! Luckily my amazing farrier said he’ll be at the show and will pop it on for me there! Eddie was just doing Showjumping.

5.30 saturday morning we were all up, Crystal bathing Grace who had to stay out that night. I had to go and put my others at the second yard in. We then had to load everything and everyone (not forgetting the doggies!)

I was riding Monic Clapcott’s 6yr old, Silverwood Magic in the Hunters and the ID class. Last season we had trouble getting Magic to go in the showing classes, especially when the judge got on. Well, I think we have solved that one this year!! She was rather fresh on the initial trot and canter round, throwing in some pretty good bucks and leaps, and then becoming amazingly strong! I’m looking at this as a postive, she’s obviously feeling well and enjoying it! She was last as her behaviour was pretty bad! It was her first show of the season and I felt that she had finally grown into herself and was feeling happy and well after alot of bad luck this winter.

Meanwhile, In the In-hand ring, my Dad was showing Barney in the ex-racehorse class. And predicably the judge said he was too ‘ribby’. Which I still find crazy! Or course he’s ribby, he was on a racecourse, actually running 7 weeks ago!! I wish that the judging in these classes was a little more realistic. It is supposed to take into account how long they have been out of racing and judge on this fact as well as how fat they are! He behaved beautifully, stood alot better than he did at Wilton show. Never mind, rant over, he got 4th which was good. Even with 3 shoes! Keith put his shoe back on for me and we tacked him up for his ridden class! I was hoping just to get to the ring and that he didin’t explode when we all had to canter round together. In fact he was brilliant. A little strong but I couldn’t fault him. He let the young lady judge get on and she gave him a good ride. I did warn her that the was only three weeks in training with me and only 7 weeks off the track! He stood while we stripped him (thanks Terry O’Neill for grooming for me) and did a wonderful trot up. We kept our place at 4th! Very pleased and excellent judging (in my humble opinion!)

Bit of a break, time enough for my wonderful Mum to cook some hot dogs for us. Got Miri and Grace all shiney and ready for working Hunter. Both clear and stylish. All went back in and walked, trotted and cantered around and Crystal and Grace were pulled in 2nd and Miri and I were 3rd!! WOW! We also won a numnah each. Well, that was a surprise!

On to the jumping. This is where the day becomes long. Both the first classes were enourmous! at least 40 in each. We decided to go back and untack for a while. Gave it about 2 hours and went back over. They were still on the 2’3″! We asked Dad to take Barney home and stayed. Eventually our class started. Miri was clear, Eddie was clear and so was Grace. We took them through to the jump off and Crystal set a quick clear time. Grace jumped clear but not so quick, then a few others knocked Crystal down. It was then my turn on Miri! She was AMAZING jumped and turned so quickly we won by a good few seconds!