Novice day!! Potentially exciting as we try to crack the Novice, potentially not knowing it’s always a huge class of quality and succesful horses. Looking at the catalogue E was potentially in with a chance of a place, which doesn’t really help as then I know it’s really got to go to plan! Catalogue was closed Tuesday night and Show Mum told not to read it aloud!!
E had a short ride out on the main arena at 6am, short was it was freezing!!! Thankyou to my gorgeous friend who gave me a woolen quarter sheet, I think without it E would have refused to move. He worked well and felt great, not worrying about big screens, wayward ponies, flower pots or the towering plywood 100 for the Centenary of Canberra.
Wash time and then some plaits, I left the plaiting til the morning as I had plenty of time. Falsie in, legs done, saddle on, quartermarks on, tail brushed & chopped, bridle on then makeup. Show Mum approves of browband & holds horse whilst I get into more proper attire! Least having the speedway to walk on means that boots don’t get dirty, beats walking through mud. A few final touches and more clear makeup and E is ready to go.
Into marshalling, the warmup area is filled with huge woodchips which I’m a bit dubious about trotting on so do two naughty quick trots in the laneways and walk around…catch up on some interesting gossip and off we go!
E works super on the ring and gets a call, again makes the final cut to line up in 4th from memory. I restrain myself not to do 1 million circles out the back before he works, which generally annoys the crap out of him…instead a quick trot/canter then halt and wait with the steward. One or two before him have a bit of stage fright at various flower pots and blades of grass. There is a bit of an impending curse as it becomes E’s turn…will he continue the naughty horse chain or cut it? He works well and I’m happy with him, no lengthens – from memory workout was trot out, half circle either way and canter back to judge trot/walk/halt. Go E!
Some judges like to lineup you up in placings as they go along, which does generally annoy me because if you are called in as part of the 2nd heat it is very hard to work up the line, even though which heat you are in is just numbers (well depending on how you juggle it going out….first heat is the best, but sometimes they work from a different end or one heat is all quality and the other maybe a tad easier). I digress, this judge intelligently remembers what he likes, gets everyone to walk on a circle and moves horses around from here over to lineup in placings….and E is called in 2nd! Go E! Red ribbon, didn’t crack the Novice…but the horse that did was a very quality type and deserved it so very happy to be in 2nd!
Rest of the day, E gets carrots and some licorice for being a good horse. J’s turn to be worked, we have a bit of a practice sidesaddle but he needs a bit more work to settle..
Swap a few bits of bridle around, get the led outfit ready for tommorow….8am led class…joy!
Gallops & Garlands 