May 2008 - Posts
Despite this being almost a week ago, I have been so busy this week that I have not yet had a chance to write up a full report. Well, here goes;
I had never been to the Hadleigh before - I had heard a lot of bad press about it, and been warned not to bother going, but I am glad that I did. The carparking was a bit farcical though - with lots of stewards in bowler hats stood on the side of the road, but no one actually helping to park - so we just kept driving and driving until we were almost out the other side of the showground! Then they had the great idea of parking the mares with foals as far away from the rings as possible. This would have been a good idea if the area was quiet - but no, we were parked right next to a rowdy stallion (and its owner). At one point I actually thought they were coming through the wall of the horsebox! Needless to say that Evy was quite wound up by all of this, so when we did arrive at the collecting ring for our class, she was jumpy and on her toes. This was not helped by the stallions being shown in the next ring, and resulted in some rather impressive airs above the ground as they were led past.
However, she behaved herself in the ring, and won her class, which was fantastic. Next stop the Suffolk show - so keep those fingers crossed!
After settling the horses back in the box with hay and water, we had a wander round the show. It strikes me that the Hadleigh is a very good rural event, with lots of stands appealing to those from various walks of life. The countryside ring was used to display things such as birds of prey, ferrets (not at the same time I hasten to add) sheepdog displays and so forth. There was a fabulous display put on by the local poultry club, with numerous pedigree birds on display for people to see and get advice about. I was particularly taken with the booted bantams, but was rapidly told that I was not allowed any - typical.
The livestock classes were very well attended, with some fantastic examples of pedigree breeding. One in particular that stuck in my mind was a rather spectacular longhorn bull (picture on my gallery page). The other half thought it would be hilariously funny to stand me next to a rather portly Charolais and see whose backside was bigger. One was not amused.
All in all (apart from the carparking fiasco, and the dodgey single tracked roads on which the showground was entered and departed via) the show was very well run. Check out the pictures on the gallery pages.
What a superb show! I had never been to the South Suffolk before, but I have to compliment them on the way that it was run. The signposting was excellent - very little chance of getting lost, with big yellow signs lining the roads from 15 miles away, and the lorry park was run very well, with big enough gaps being left between vehicles, and stewards to make sure animals were being properly looked after.
When we arrived we asked the steward to park us as near to the ring as possible, as having a mare and foal, we didn't want to stress them out any more than necessary leading them through the throngs of vehicles and animals. The steward was very helpful, informed us of a ring change, and directed us to a parking spot just three rows back from the ring. A mass panic ensued, trying to get the horses unloaded, brushed off and ready for the ring, as well as changing into showing clobber ourselves. However, the announcements over the loudpseaker informed us how things were running, and we arrived in the collecting ring with plenty of time to spare.
Our class (sporthorse broodmare) was a particularly strong one, with some very nice mares and foals coming forward for the judging. The judging was a little hit and miss, mainly due to it not being a sporthorse judge (the horses were not trotted up properly, and many were turned out incorrectly). She did not seem interested in the horses, she simply said good morning, and then thanks for coming when she presented the rosettes at the end. A little more feedback would have been nice.
However, we managed to come second, which I am very pleased with, especially as Evy did not want to stand still for the judge! It was a brilliant warm up show, and hopefully we will do even better on Saturday at the Hadleigh Show.
The rest of the show was put together well, with a good mixture of stands and displays. It was a little too hot to be walking around for long, and I desperately wished for my sunglasses! The motorbike display team made me come out in goosebumps as they jumped 35ft ramps! They are either very brave or completely crazy - or perhaps both! I have to say, shame on the local YFC as the stand was a little lacklustre, and not awfully inspiring. Perhaps something to entice the younger members would have been better?
We spent some time watching the livestock rings, notably the pig ring (is there a techincal term for this??). We watched as the four female pigs took their owners roung the ring, and for the first time I was glad to be showing horses and not other animals - crikey they looked like hard work! Knowing absolutely nothing about pigs, and judging solely on how they looked against horse criteria (i.e. slope of shoulder, straight back, rounded quaters, etc) I picked out who I would have placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Well, I'd be damed if the judge didn't agree with me - perhaps I should go into judging rather than showing!!
All in all, it was a fantastic day out, and thoroughly well organised.
What a busy week I've just had! Work is flat out at the moment, and I seem to spend most of the day with my phone glued to my ear! Occasionally I manage to get out of the office and onto farm, and wow - the relief! Today was a major treat for me, as the farm that I was going to visit was none other than.... The Godolphin Estate!! I can hand on heart say that there is more security in that place than there are police working in Newmarket! The whole establishment is tigther than Fort Knox!! And to think that the horses I was watching trot round the warm up ring are worth millions - well, it made me wonder if the Sheik realised just how lucky he really is...
I was glad to be back at work on Tuesday - I'd just about had enough of the endless streams of tourists and campers trawling through the village. I foolishly decided to ride my young horse out on his first hack - he is a bit of a stress head, and natually inclined to worry - forgetting that the bank holiday would guarentee idiots on the road. Having said that, it was fairly uneventful, with just a few BMW X5's and Porsche Cayenne's flying past doing 60 (on a single track road) unaware of the horses trying to kill their riders on the verge. Why is it, that when we do get back to the yard, and I need to drive somewhere, I then get stuck behind the old couple doing 15mph through the "pretty little village" - having to slam my brakes on when they suddenly decide to stop and take some pictures. Don't you just love Bank Holidays.
The other half took some new seasons to market last week, and received top price for his super lights. The others all sold well, some over 200p/kg - things are starting to look up a bit perhaps...? The Ewes are out stuffing themselves with spring grass - the horses have been kicked out and the stable beds swept back, the dairy down the road has kicked all their cows out - dare I say that Summer is around the corner??
Just four days now until the South Suffolk Show - our first show of the season! We had a dress rehersal on Monday - it took just four hours to get the mare ready... Seeing as our class is at 8.30am and we have to leave the yard at 7.30am that would mean a 3am start.... Oh dear....