Neerim Show

My job entails getting everything ready. Sabina just has to get up, get dressed, and eat her breakfast. Husband has to provide support. We depart 5 minutes ahead of time.

We arrive at Neerim showgrounds and the place is buzzing. Somehow we manage to get ready for our first class, and arrive in the ring cool, calm and collected. I can't say the same for one of the other children, who is on a much nicer pony, in much more fancy gear, but bursts out crying, and is reclaimed by the parent.

The competition is fierce to say the least. All the other ponies look fabulous, are the right weight, have shining coats and plaited manes and tails. The children are attired to perfection with fawn jodhpurs, navy jackets, and matching felt hats. The parents complete the picture with neat suits and matching hats. And then there is Sabina, in her pink jumper, pink and brown striped leggins, with her white helmet, on a very fat pinto pony, albeit clean, with mane bouncing freely.

In adition, it's obvious these kids can ride. They are holding the reins.

The judge asks us to line up, then each pony has to do a little work out one at a time. Just walk and trot. I gulp. We haven't done too much trotting. I smile at Sabina, point to the first pony as he trots and tell her "that's what we'll have to do. A trot. Do you think you can do that?". She looks seriously, then nods her head. I smile back. "Good stuff. Just hold onto your strap here, and lean back. You'll be fine." Miraculously, she is fine. Phew.

Of course we're outclassed here. There are four horses in the ring. Ribbons to third place. We walk away empty handed. Sabina's chin shakes. I give her a hug and tell her not to worry. We will just have to have another go. "We're bound to get a ribbon soon", I encourage.

In the next event, there are only two entries. We get second place. The red ribbon is tied around Tornado's neck and Sabina cannot believe her luck. As far as Sabina is concerned, she has just won the world championships. Her smile spreads from ear to ear.



We have a bit of time till the next event, but Sabina is keen to wander mounted between the rings.

"Mama, go faster", she asks.
"You mean trot?"
"Yeees!"

We trot up between the rings, then back to walk. The little girl is smiling. Another trot, and another, and another. Back and forth along the cricket pitch. We're having a ball. This is almost better than getting ribbons. Then a lady approaches us. Uh oh, I hope we're not braking some rule.

"Excuse me", she says politely.
"Hi!"
"We would like to give the little girl this", she holds up a bag with a colouring book, pencils and stickers. "It's from the organising committee." She smiles. "For sportsmanship, and just having fun."

Sabina eyes off the book with glee, but stays mounted and we do some more trotting. We do two more classes, where out of two competitors we come second. Sabina is delighted with the ribbons, but somewhat disappointed that they are all red. She was hoping to come home with a range of colours.

Never mind. She jumps in the car and pulls out her new colouring book, leaving me to pack up all the gear, and put Tornado on the float.

"Mama. Ribbons are for horses, and colouring books are for people, right?", she comments as we leave the showgrounds. I don't hear another word till we get home.