|
New Series of Articles : ‘How it all started’
In the run up to the start of the show season we will be publishing a series of Members articles relating their experiences on how they got started and hooked with ‘showing’, their trials, their tribulations and their successes. If you would like to contribute an article please email your story and a photo if you would like to include one to either
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Here is the first in the series contributed by Avril Bartolomy from Nutley, East Sussex.
Miss Minni by Avril Bartolomy
I moved from Scotland to England 15 years ago. I was to bring my old rescued cob pony with me but  sadly at 28 years old she took ill and had to be put down. I then decided I wanted a dapple grey cob to hack out in Ashdown Forest, I looked in the local paper - ‘Friday Ad’, low and behold there was just the right one.
I had always ridden in Scotland but my knowledge of riding consisted of the very basic rules: knees in, heels down, toes up and look between your horse’s ears. I therefore decided that as I was in my late 40’s it was about time I had a ‘proper’ lesson. I went to Ali Remmen for my first lesson and when she saw Minnie she said ‘that would make a nice show cob’. My immediate question was a bewildered ‘and just what is a show cob’? (photo: Avril at RIHS 2009 on Marble Arch)
And that was when it all started...first the measuring, Minnie had to keep her head up to make sure she measured big enough (how times have changed!) then she had to be named, registered, mane off, feathers trimmed and most importantly I had to be able to ride! Then the real expense started, a show saddle had to be bought along with a double bridle, not to mention all my riding gear!
Ali worked on both of us and soon it was time for our first show at the South of England Spring show at Ardingly. The day before we bathed, trimmed and wrapped Minnie up and I think I stayed up all night to make sure she stayed clean (I had a brandy for my nerves). Off we went in our 21 year old Leyland lorry, heart pounding and poor Minnie not knowing what had or indeed what was about to hit her! We were 5th and you would have thought I had won Horse of the Year Show by the look on my face - (there were probably only 6 in the class!).
Minnie and I continued to go round the shows gaining valuable experience and we managed to qualify for The Royal International horse show at Hickstead, which was just amazing. Our next challenge was to qualify for The National Championship Show which we did and that first Championship Show brought more excitement and new experiences. But nightmares for my husband, Robin and Ali as Minnie was picked as one of the final 9 in the HW Open Cob to go through to the evening performance, I was reduced to a complete and utter wreck at the mere thought of going in the ring in the evening and of course was not prepared to do so and I had to beg, steal and borrow all the evening gear! I think Ali went to Annie Blaker who got me an outfit from somewhere, which we found out later belonged to the judge who was judging me that evening and who had no idea that I had it!!
After a good few stiff drinks I got in the ring and was placed 9th. It would not have mattered where I was placed as I was so proud of Minnie and with tears of pride streaming down my cheeks I then had the immense thrill of cantering round on my beloved horse Miss Minnie to the tune of Simply the Best and for us she was just that!
Minnie has since retired from the show ring and has produced three foals, one, Robert the Bruce who is coming out as a Novice Maxi this year, All Bar One, who Linda Saunters has and Simply the Best (aka Tina!) who is 7 months old and we hope will be a big coloured traditional or maybe even another cob.
Robin and I now have 8 cobs, of all sizes and colours, we must be mad but what fun we have had and are still having. Avril Bartolomy
|
