Gunning Royal

I made myself useful by plaiting a tail before we left, it was also good to get some practice in before I do E’s later this week. Or at least plait at royal standard.

Gunning show ground isn’t that far off the federal highway and in between was a huge paddock with some very friendly horses. (Encore had friends!)!
We has definitely brought the rain with us as the show ground and surrounds looked very wet.

I usually don’t work E beforehand but seeing as how he had a big trip the day before I tacked him up in the lunge gear and we had a wander around for a while. The show turned out to be running quite slowly or at least a long wait as lots of other classes were on. Also a dilemma as the tones ambulance was called to an accident so everyone was off their horses until it was back. Fair enough because the sporting was fast and furious. I took a video of which I will upload later but I have never seen anything like it!

Our ridden Arabian derivative came up first and he worked perfectly and won it. In the Champion workout one of the flag races started which majorly startled Encore (5th spook in his life!). The judges called out for us to stop as she thought it was very unfair and didn’t want to give him a fright (her words). That was quite lovely of her as he isn’t one to behave like that and so she allowed him to run through his workout again which was foot perfect. The other horse worked very nicely and didn’t have any races mid workout but it was nice of the rider to be understanding enough of the situation that she didn’t seem annoyed. So he went Ch & Supreme Ridden Arab Deriv.

Another long wait I thought what the heck I will do my rider class. Actually turned out to be lots of people in it and the judge worked out about 12 people! E nailed the Champion workout for me which includes a sitting extension and extended canter…nothing terribly hard but he let me look pretty. Amusing thing was my phone rang mid workout (and not on silent!) so we had a nice bit if hunting themed music to ride to!

As we started the Galloway classes it absolutely pelted down, reins became hard to hold and my boots filled with water. The judge very kindly combined a lot of classes and judged then on the circle in an effort to run through things. Encore worked flawlessly considering the conditions and scored himself another tri colour. Some very nice horses in the class however I think being from the North Coast we are used to riding in torrential rain!

Seeing as how we were already soaked we stayed for the Ansa classes. I rode not very nicely as I was bloody frozen but Encore kept things together for me. He scored a new ANSA saddlecloth for his efforts.

Last was Supreme hack, days like this he is such a angel of a horse and it was pouring with rain harder than before. Horse land voucher in the bag! Woohoo!

I dropped the ramp and put him on the float saddle, ribbon and all and untacked him in there. I have never been so wet & cold, if if known it was going to rain like that I think we would have just left!

We were both surely grateful for hot showers & warm clothes!!! A good last show before the royal though.