Lang Lang Show Fun Ring

Last year I took Sabina to a show.  I put her in with the professionals, and let her have a go.  She came back with a few ribbons, but when we got home, she commented that she was kind of hoping for more ribbons, and some different colours.  Not just white.

So this year I attacked the whole thing from a different perspective, and took her into the fun ring at the Lang Lang Show.  I kind of expected 6 other ponies in the ring, with a couple of dirty kids, and an opportunity for Sabina to "clean up".

To make sure we really had the best chance, we washed and scrubbed Tornado till he was sparkling, then wrapped him up in cotton rugs from head to toe.

Upon arrival to the show we had our first "show stopper".  The show was so packed, that we pretty much couldn't find a parking spot.  I had never envisaged this, and so we missed our first class.

Finally, with unbreakable smiles on our faces we rocked up to the fun ring.  Show stopper number two ... so much for the 6 grubby ponies.  There were about 20 immaculately turned out ponies, scrubbed squeeky clean, with manicured tails, and riders to match.  Fawn jodhpurs, long sleeved shirts, stocks, matching vests, jackets, you name it.  And, there was Sabina in her pony club uniform.

Never mind.  We held our heads high and proud and joined in the "fun".  In the end Sabina competed in 5 classes, and she got four different coloured ribbons.  After class number 5, she cracked it, as in her opinion Tornado had the longest tail but the judge seemed to fail to notice this fact.  So we called it a day.

When we got home, my husband enthusiastically asked "So, how was it?  Did you have fun?"

"No!", Sabina replied flatly.  "It was just walk and trot.  We didn't get to gallop.  It was no fun at all!"  And she stormed off towards the house.

You see, the problem was that just a mere day or two before the show she was riding Tornado in the top arena.  The seven acre haying paddock.  And he took off on her.  Full gallop, and pretty much as fast as a mini can go.  I sat there, on my horse, and just screamed at her "Look up and hold on.  And look UP!".

The next thing I heard was ecstatic giggles, as the pony finally pulled up to a stop at the gate.

"Ok, just walk him back", I instructed.

But no.  I saw a distinct kick (from Sabina), and the pony was back in full gallop, Sabina giggling all the way to the next gate.  Needless to say, this went on for some time.

Like mother, like daughter.  Eventing, here we come.

Warragul Show

The massive toothache wakes me up at 4am. I drink some water and go back to bed. On the one hand I realise that I should get up at 5am and plait up Dingo. On the other hand, I cannot fathom how I will plait him up in the dark.

I compromise and get up at 5:30. It's dark. I pack the rest of the car. Then I get the ponies and plait up Dingo. It's just light enough. I put the ponies back in the paddock, have breakfast, then run out again with Sabina.

We're on the road. The day looks beautiful. Windstill and not a cloud in the sky. By the time we get to Warragul it's not windstill any more.

The experiences of yesterday leave Sabina more focussed, and today when I say "get dressed", she does. Yay! I saddle up Tornado, and we run over to ring 2, just in time for smartest on parade. Sabina rides into her class. Is she paying attention to the judge? Ummm ... no. She comes third (out of three), and looks at me. "Mama, I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing." I smile. "Well, you need to listen to the judge. She will tell you what to do. And if you don't understand, then you need to ask", I say patiently.

We run back to the float, where hastily, in the wind, I finish Dingo's preparation. That includes sawing the plaits into rosettes. I busy myself with the needle, while Dingo keeps getting distracted by floats and horses. Do I prick myself? Yes. And there are bits of blood running down my fingers. Lucky that Dingo is a chestnut and it doesn't show.

Once Dingo is ready we rush back to the ring. I ride into my class with Sabina running behind me. I stop and gently say "hey, why don't you go and sit down on one of those chairs?", as I point to the chair next to the penciller. Luckily, the penciller is kind. Phew! It's not like that at all shows.

Finally, I can relax though, and enjoy my class. In fact, from here on, I enjoy the rest of the day. Sabina and I even find the time to ride around the outside of all the show rings, and take in the atmosphere. On our well groomed, clean ponies, in our jackets, we cut quite a picture.

It's all worth it.

All plaited up and nowhere to go

Yesterday, we spent all afternoon washing and plaiting our ponies. Sabina - Tornado; me - Dingo. Sabina didn't have much to plait as minatures are shown "natural". But I was busy plaiting Dingo and doing rosettes. It took me ages, as I lack experience - especially with needle and thread. Not to mention there is a real art in getting the width of the plaits right. I got them too wide ... this time.

Just as I completed the last rosette, I got an sms from a friend that the Lang Lang Show has been cancelled. I ran home and double checked on my own computer. Yep - cancelled due to rain. Well, I don't blame them. It has rained a lot, and Lang Lang is in a low lying flood-type plain. I am the last one that wants to rock up with car and trailer only to get bogged.

Still, that leaves us all plaited up this lovely morning, with nowhere to go.

But I can't really complain. The practice run has been fabulous.

Neerim Show

The Neerim Agricultural Show is our closest show, so off we go to give Sabina some showing experience. I have just had chemo a week ago, and the effects are at it's peak - I have got such aches and pains that most of the time I can barely move. My husband has been suffering from a stomach bug, so he is feeling worse for wear.

We try to make the experience "fun" rather than "serious". This has Sabina riding around with a huge smile on her face, although some of the time she doesn't get it all right, she cuts corners, and kind of just lets her pony take her where he will. Tornado is so reliable, that he doesn't take her anywhere much, other than cutting off the said corners.

In the end we end up with about 4 third places, and one second. Sabina gazes at the white ribbons, and bemuses that she really would have liked a range of colours. Initially we try to explain why she came third, but we soon realise that the message is just not getting through, yet. *sigh*

In fact, the highlight of the show seems to be meeting some friends from pony club, and talking about the next pony club rally.  Oh, and the bling browband Tornado is wearing.

Warragul Show

The alarm goes off and I sit on the edge of my bed. "Make food, get dressed, pack car, get Tornado, dress and feed Sabina", I think. "What first? Get dressed, then make food, then ... so, what was I going to do first?". I am going around in circles, clearly, not quite awake.

Finally I move it, and the show is on the road. But, we are half an hour late, and no matter of brilliant organisation saves us from missing our first class.

Lesson number 1: allow at least 1 hour of extra time. Half an hour is not enough.

I look around. "And in ring three we have class 17", the speaker blares. "Fantastic", I say to Sabina. "We want to compete in class 23. We will just hang around here."

We mill around watching. Unlike Neerim Show, there really isn't much room here to ride around, so we really are stuck in the one spot.

I never washed Tornado before the Warragul Show (ran out of time), but I've made him look pretty neat and tidy by brushing. When Sabina gives him a nice pat on the backside, clouds of dust rise swiftly around us. "Someone needs a bath", quipps a passing lady with mild disgust. I smile gallantly and proceed to brush him down for the umpteenth time with my glove.

Eventually, almost 2 hours later, I edge Sabina and Tornado into the led class we've been waiting for. I spy a nice older gentleman with a well behaved chestnut pony. "Just follow that gentleman", I say to her. And she does, parading around the ring. Every time she passes me I give words of encouragement, telling her how well she is doing, while the judge is facing the opposite direction, hugging an old acquaintance, and showing off her engagement ring. (The judge appears to be well over 55!)

The judge returns her attention to the job at hand, and I rest any previous evil thoughts when I see how patient and caring she is with Sabina. After all, this is a led pony class, and Sabina is up against adults. In the end Sabina and Tornado come in equal fourth, and she gets a ribbon. Her smile spreads from ear to ear, and all of a sudden she thinks it was all worth it.

Nevertheless, Lesson number 2: The bigger the show, the more dignified the judges, and hence classes take a long time to judge. Each judge is different, so take a sample time of each judge, and multiply it out. And don't forget to factor in time for Championship classes!

Collorary to lesson number 2: Bring a bucket with touch up materials, and touch up the pony just before his class.

We stroll back to the float. I am just about over it, and Sabina rips off her jodhpurs with joy. We grab her lollypop from last night,

and enjoy the atmosphere of the show.

We return to the float, and I realise that we've got enough time to make our next class. The jodhpurs go back on, Tornado gets saddled, and we're back in the ring.

The judge asks for both sitting and rising trot. I explain to Sabina what rising trot is, she practices a few times at standstill, then we do our workout. On the way back she has the most natural, most happy smile. It's a pity we don't get judged on that smile alone. The class is actually quite big, and we come in fifth. Another ribbon. Sabina is overjoyed.

We return to the float, and finally I take a well earned break. I fiddle around with Tornado, brushing him and thinning his mane, just for the fun of it. Sabina joins me, and we have one of those special mother-daughter moments.

"Sabina, what would have been better? To have done the rides last night, like we did, or to have skipped the rides, got early to bed, and got early to the show?", I ask.

"Go early to bed", she responds. That's my girl!

Later we go for another show ride.

Lesson number 3: It seems that when you're five, nothing beats riding a horse on a merry-go-round.

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.

'Twas the day before the show ...

Our local horse show is on tomorrow, and we're going.

No, not Gally and I. Sabina and Tornado. Yes, off to the show to have a go at competing and seeing what it's all about.

So we bring Tornado in, and out comes the hose. Sabina does a great job in getting the pony wet. We only suffer a passing shower.

Then it's onto shampoo and sponge as she takles the body, while I scrub the mane and tail.

She leaves the hosing off to me. Then we squeegee him, dry off with towel, and wrap him in rugs.