Starquest Spectacular and Woodhall Spa Country Show

Photo by Aggie Moore

Well what a weekend we've just had!  It's Friday today and I only just about feel recovered!!  Last Friday afternoon, Tinker, Casper, Monty (the dog) and myself set off Northwards again, heading for Wetherby Racecourse ready to perform at Starquest Spectacular on Saturday.  As the show was in Yorkshire we would be meeting Helen on site, and it felt very peculiar to be washing horses, loading up and leaving without her - I had a strange feeling the whole journey that I'd forgotten something very important!

The journey was very slow and it took me five hours to make the 160 mile trip - good old M1 traffic.  On arrival we set everything up and marked out the arena, but didn't have time to practise as it was starting to get dark, we'd have to have an early morning rehearsal instead.  Sophie was due to come in the morning to help, so even with Helen and myself we still felt like we were a man down!

Morning came and as we were due on at 10am with Casper we were up early to have a practise with him.  He went really nicely and I had high hopes for him.  The event itself was the centenary celebrations for all the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in the North East of England, and although it wasn't a public event they had sold 11,500 tickets - we were in for a busy day!  It was gloriously sunny and as we were setting up the arena became surrounded by girls - I don't think I've ever seen so many all at once!  Casper and I were walking around chatting to them, he was saying yes and no to their jokes, counting out his age for them and generally being lovely, when all of a sudden an ENORMOUS crane went up over the far side of the field.  I can't really describe it but it was for an aerial act, so had lots of silks draped from it which were floating in the breeze.  Something in Casper just clicked and he started jiggling about.  I knew then I'd be in for a difficult show but didn't realise quite how difficult!  On the music came and off we went - like a speeding bullet!  It's a good job I'm used to him, but I had to do the entire show hanging on as he whizzed about broncing - not ideal!  I still managed all the moves, but they definitely weren't that pretty.  He did his dance very nicely so I was proud of him for that, but he completely messed up all his dog agility - I don't think he's ever done it so badly, he just wasn't concentrating at all which is beyond frustrating.  He redeemed himself with the maths and walk freestyle, and was much nicer to vault on at the end, but I was very glad when the show was over!

We had our little shop set up and within minutes we were absolutely inundated!  I have never ever been so busy with selling posters, keyrings, horseshoes and DVDs, we literally didn't stop.  I left it until the very last minute before we had to go and get Tinker ready for his show, and it was a welcome relief to have a breather.  Not much of one though as we only had forty-five minutes to change costume, redo hair and make up, and tack and warm Tinker up - phew!  We were back in the arena and the audience this time was even bigger!  The girls were amazing, as I was cantering round to open the show they were waving the posters they'd just bought from us and clapping and cheering like I've never heard - and they didn't let up!  They were easily the most responsive audience I've ever had.  Helen and my favourite part of the whole day was just before Tinker's skipping.  Helen says 'Can we get a drum roll please!', meaning for the music to start, but as she said it all the girls starting banging their legs and feet on the ground and slapping their thighs - we had a mega drum roll!  Tinker was superb throughout his whole performance - I really don't know what I would do without him, he more than makes up for Casper!

Following the show we went back to the shop and were inundated once more!  We were there for ages and had to get a queueing system set up where the girls bought the posters from Helen then came to me to get them signed.  It's a good job I'd bought a new pen as I was writing constantly for hours!  First to go were the horse shoes, then we completely sold out of posters.  Before long all the DVDs had gone and soon after the keyrings ran out too.  I could barely believe it but we had totally sold out of everything!  I had thought we'd have enough stock to see us until about the end of June, but I hadn't reckoned on 11,500 brownies!  All stock gone in just one day!!

It was a beautiful sunny day, and so hot it really felt like summer.  Despite Casper being naughty we had a fantastic day, but it wasn't over yet!  We had to pack up and drive one hundred miles down to Lincolnshire, where we would be performing at Woodhall Spa Country Show on Sunday.  Helen went ahead in the car, whist Sophie came in the lorry with me and the boys.  Nearly four hours (!) later we arrived at Woodhall Spa.  The arena looked absolutely perfect size for us and was round which we always love.  We were also in our own little fenced off area, which meant we could have the horses and Monty loose as there was no means of escape for them.  The boys were loving the long grass; there's very little in their paddock at home so they were making the most of it and stuffing themselves!  Once we were all set up Helen and I set off to mark out the arena.  Where's the lungeline? (Vital for marking out the correct size circle).  It's still attached to the arena gateway at Wetherby of course.  Ooops.  Not to worry, we very quickly fashioned a new one out of string - very high tech we are!  Once we were done and fed it was a very tired and quite sun burnt team which eventually fell into bed.

It was another early start as I wanted to work Casper in the arena prior to the show opening at 9.30am.  Helen and Sophie dragged the trolley up to the arena when disaster struck!  The wheel fell off!!  This happened before at Garstang Show last year, but not until we were on our way home.  For it to happen in the morning with two performances to go was awful.  Luckily we were soon joined in the arena by Helen, the organiser and a couple of stewards.  One of them, John, looked like a very handy chap, and I asked him if he would be able to have a look at it.  Luckily, the wheel hadn't sheared off as before, just that it's bolts had jiggled out over time.  Off John went with it, and was back before we knew it with the trolley as good as new!  Hooray!!

Casper was lovely in rehearsal, even doing his fetch despite the long grass.  I could barely see his toys for the grass, which was really lush - and Casper was far more interested in the grass than his toys.  He behaved perfectly though and did everything just as I asked.  Before long it was show time and in we went.  Once again Casper was perfect!  I was so happy with him, he was lovely to vault on and did all his dancing and games spot on.  What a complete turnaround from the day before.  Just goes to show that whatever happens one day doesn't influence the next with horses!

Tinker was perfect for his show once again, especially for the bridleless work.  It doesn't seem to make any difference to him whether he wears his bridle or not, he still trundles around at his set pace regardless!  We had a brilliant crowd for both performances, they all clapped and cheered in all the right places, so thank you if you were there!  Even though we didn't have any stock to sell, we spent ages chatting to lots of different people which is always lovely.  Everybody was very complimentary, one elderly lady even told me we were the best act she'd ever seen 'in all her years'!

It was another gorgeous summer day, and we had a fantastic time.  We were beautifully looked after from start to finish throughout the day, and the show ran really well - hopefully we'll be invited back one year!  Once we'd packed up Helen and Sophie set off in the car back up North, whilst the boys and I headed down South in the lorry - it still feels very strange travelling with just horses and the dog, none of them are very good at passing me food or making conversation!

We've the bank holiday weekend off (which is unheard of!), but then on Tuesday we're off down to Somerset for the Royal Bath and West Show.  It's a four day show and we'll be on at 2pm and 5.30pm every day from Wednesday to Saturday.  I'm very excited but have got lots to do before then - mainly restocking the shop!  I'll let you know how we get on, but in the meantime have a look at some of this weekend's photos by clicking here.

Love Rosie x

Lambourn Open Day

Photos by Geraldine Smith

Friday morning found myself, Helen, Tinker, Casper and new girl Imogen heading off for our first show of the season - Lambourn Open Day.  I had been slowly preparing for our first show, thinking it to be 17th May, when this booking came in - with only eight days notice!  They had been let down by another act, and needed a replacement pronto.  Obviously I said yes - and then started panicking!  We'd agreed to do the forty-five minute double act, and needless to say I hadn't done as much Roman riding practise over the winter as planned.  And am not nearly as fit as I need to be for the forty-five minute show.  Nor are the horses.  Hey ho!  Helen came down from Yorkshire on Wednesday morning, and we launched into a two day frenzy of rehearsing, lorry packing, costume fittings, tack cleaning and more rehearsing.  I could hardly believe how quickly show day came around, and before we knew it we were on site and setting up!  As we weren't due on until about 2.30pm, we travelled down in the morning and just set up the boys' stables so no tent to mess around with.  The arena was pretty big, but nice and flat and we soon got it all marked out before having a little practise with Casper.  I was anticipating naughtiness and I wasn't disappointed!  We were piaffing down the long side of the arena at one point, and although it was by no means intentional according to Helen and Imogen it looked really impressive!  He did settle down eventually (after A LOT of cantering!) and we managed to do both freestyles through in canter as well as all his games and tricks.  Even though the show field wasn't officially open there was quite a crowd gathered by the time we'd finished - enough for a good round of applause!

It was soon time to get ready and don the old fake eyelashes - for the first time in 2014!  Then horses were tacked up and we set off up the hill to warm up.  Due on before us was the Household Cavalry, and they had come out in force with twenty-six horses and riders.  We'd not long been warming up (Helen on Tinker, me on Casper) when they came marching past us two by two on their way to the arena.  Tinker and Casper were both boggle eyed at them, even Tinker who doesn't bat an eyelid at anything was quivering with excitement!  After a while we looked down onto the arena, and couldn't believe the crowd!  The whole ringside was absolutely packed, it must have been at least fifteen/twenty people deep all the way around - I don't think you could have squeezed another person in if you'd tried!  And then it was our turn...

In we went and I was so worried about filling the arena following the Household Cavalry that I didn't really think about anything else.  The girls set up very quickly then in Tink and I went!  He was absolutely brilliant, and was lovely to vault on.  I was very out of breath to start with though, so apologies to anyone listening for my huffing and puffing down the mic!  Next up was Casper, and despite my qualms he was brilliant!  Vaulting and games went well, although he did decide to go for one lap of honour on his own - we're getting so used to this now we've got commentary to cover it!  Helen did a brilliant ad lib as Casper was charging around at breakneck speed, something along the lines of 'Casper's just having a go at being a racehorse himself!' - which looked pretty accurate!  Unfortunately halfway through the show we were interrupted by an announcement to say that the race horse schooling sessions would be beginning in five minutes on the opposite side of the show field.  I was expecting the majority of the audience to leave, given that this is why many people go to the open day, and although some did leave we kept the huge majority!  I was so happy about this, and hope they thought it worth their while.  Next up was the dreaded Roman riding, which I'd had a few problems with last year.  Nothing disastrous, but usually if it isn't Casper being naughty it's Tinker.  We'd done quite a bit of practise over the past couple of days, and I'd also walked them around and around Roman riding whilst warming up.  Something worked though, as they were beautiful!  They were really well in time, and I managed to do lots of one leg then the other, then jump, which always goes down well.  I also stepped across onto Tinker and was dancing away on him, just getting really into it when I realised the music was coming to an end - oops!  Cue emergency brake and salute!  We finished with the bridleless vaulting on Tink, and he was brilliant.  So before we knew it the show was over!  We headed back to the lorry, put the horses in their stables and opened the shop.  Far more people than I anticipated followed us back, and we were selling posters, keyrings, horse shoes and DVDs like hot cakes!  Everybody was very complimentary of the show, so I couldn't have been happier.  The boys got endless pats and strokes, and even a packet of polos from someone!

We had a lovely day, made even better by the fact that we saw some familiar faces I've not seen in years.  Particularly Mike, who helps with the Fuller's Dray horses and who I've been bumping into at shows for years - although haven't for at least three!  It was lovely to see him again, and the horses always remember that he has treats in his pocket!  I also met another old acquaintance in Geraldine, a lady who had one of my old horses on loan for a few years.  Again, I can't have seen her for about four or five years, so it was lovely to catch up with her.  Geraldine had a fancy looking camera, and I spotted her at the side of the arena taking endless photos, some of which you can see by clicking here.

We've not got another show for nearly a month, when we'll be heading up to Wetherby Racecourse on 17th May for Star Quest Spectacular, followed by a quick one hundred mile trip down the road to Woodhall Spa Country Show on Sunday 18th May.  I'll be busy between now and then though, as I've got plenty of props to repaint and tidy up, horseshoes to clean and spray, costume to organise, lorry to fix (the exhaust dropped off on the way home!), new tent to collect and practise erecting, stables to maintain, horses to train, fitness to achieve(!!) etc etc - the list is endless!  It feels so good to have started the season though, I cannot wait to get into it properly.  I'll let you know how our first mini tour weekend goes when we get back!

Love Rosie x

Stapleford Carnival

 Photos by Helen Gilbertson

Well it was a while ago now, but our last show of the 2013 season took us down near Nottingham, for Stapleford Carnival. We arrived to an empty field but were assured that by 11am in the morning it would be packed, and they weren't wrong!  It always amazes me how quickly small shows can be built up, and this one was no exception.

Once the arena had been set up in the morning we were straight in there with Casper for some practice. We'd almost finished and were just about to go back to the lorry when we were approached by a lady with a parrot. Gizmo is apparently a very famous parrot, having appeared at events all over the country, met royalty and even ridden a motorbike at speed.  Candie was wondering whether he'd be allowed a ride on the horse. Why not?!  To start with I had Gizmo riding on me as we cantered around the circle.  He was supposed to be sitting on my shoulder but almost immediately he climbed up on top of my head - not very comfortable I can assure you!  So there I am, cantering around on Casper with a parrot on my head.  As you do.  Next we decided to let Gizmo ride Casper on his own.  It was going really well, Casper was cantering around beautifully, when Gizmo squawked and put his wings out.  At this point Casper actually realised what was on his back!  Luckily he is very used to big birds, as he has lived with thirty odd birds of prey for the past two years, but it was still a bit of a shock to him.  And at the point that he sped up and refused to slow down I realised what an idiot I was!  Poor Casper, not the best way to settle him down before a show!!  He soon stopped and we rescued Gizmo and Casper from one another.  They were both fine really, and Candie was convinced Gizmo had really enjoyed himself!  Helen got some photos and video footage, so you can see our funny warm up for yourself:


 
Once we'd finished rehearsal we were joined by one of our biggest fans, Alice.  We met Alice back in 2012 at Ibstock Country Fair, and saw her there again in 2013, just a few weeks previously.  She stayed with us throughout the day, and was very helpful holding spare horses, keeping folk safely out of the way whilst we were warming the horses up, etc etc.  We're very self-sufficient but it's always nice to have an extra pair of hands!

We did have a minor disaster just before the first show.  Helen managed to stand in some dog poo and walk it right through the lorry - yuk!  I really didn't want to go and do the show and let it settle in, so I was there on my hands and knees scrubbing away with marigolds on whilst in my stripey playsuit.  Not ideal! 

Both the shows went through beautifully, and we had a lovely day at Stapleford.  Robert and Katharine, the organisers, looked after us really well and the sun shone all day which always makes for a good show!  The carnival got some really good publicity, and Robert and Katharine were kind enough to send me through copies of all the newspapers we'd been in.  You can have a look at these, along with a few photos from the day by clicking here.

I can't believe we've reached the end of another season.  2013 has been busier than I ever hoped for - I was aiming for twenty show days and we've ended up doing twenty-six!  I'm so happy with how everything has gone, everyone has helped so much, but especially Helen who is now more than critical to any Galloping Acrobatics outing!  I also couldn't do anything without either of my wonderful horses.  Both Tinker and Casper are so kind and generous, despite all the crazy things I ask off them.  I love them both so much, and owe them everything - thank you boys.

Onwards to 2014!  At the time of writing our first show of the season is only three days away!  EEEEK!!  It came in as a last minute booking five days ago, so not much notice!  We're off to Lambourn Open Day, and will be performing our double act display.  Nothing like being thrown in at the deep end!  I was thinking our first show was 17th May, so still a while away yet, but they had been let down by someone so needed a gap in the arena programme filling.  I'm very much looking forward to it, although to say I'm panicking slightly would be putting it mildly!  I'll let you know how it goes - if we all survive!!

Love Rosie x

Stockton Summer Show

Photo Copyright Stockton Council

August bank holiday and once again I found myself at Preston Hall Park for Stockton Summer Show.  Back in 2012 I had performed at the show as part of the Devil's Horsemen, so it was great to bring Galloping Acrobatics instead.  On arrival we found a perfect fenced off enclosure specially for us, and having set everything up we went about the showground to see who else was about.  The first person we bumped into was Stuart from the Sheep Show which was lovely as we haven't seen him for a little while.  One of the things I most enjoy about the shows and the life we lead is meeting up with people and meeting new people every weekend - you never quite know who you're going to bump into!

The weekend was due to be hot and lovely, and Sunday certainly didn't disappoint.  We were joined in the morning by Ben with his Eagle and Vulture Team, although as the event is so close to home he hadn't had too much of an early start.  This also meant that there were a number of friends and relatives who came to see us all perform - no pressure then!  Thankfully there was lots of space for warming up, and I made sure Casper had a really good session given his performance last week at Ibstock County Fair!  It paid off as he went into the arena and after a slightly excitable entrance he was foot perfect for the vaulting.  He did have a couple of naughty moments during the chasing sections, namely chasing me then charging off on his own for an undeserved lap of honour - rude!

Tinker did a brilliant show in the afternoon, I think it was possibly his best one of the entire season - he actually seemed to put a lot of oomph into it!  It would be so helpful if I could somehow mix my two horses up together to combine their enthusiasm and confidence.  Tinker is so confident I would 100% take him absolutely anywhere, safe in the knowledge that he would perform without problem, but he is never very enthusiastic about it.  On the other hand, Casper absolutely loves his job, and is so enthusiastic for everything he is a joy to work with.  But (and this is a big but) he lacks confidence and can get upset quite easily, which can make for a difficult show on occasion.  So, if there was a way of combining the two it would be amazing!  I wouldn't swap either of them for the world though, despite their foibles!!

Sunday evening and there was a treat in store for us.  There was a concert in the park, and a particularly good Beatles tribute act called Beatlemania were playing.  Anyone who has ever seen our shows will realise my taste in music is quite vintage (it's what I grew up listening to thanks to my parents), so I was able to sing along to virtually every word!  We were having a run through with Casper in the arena, so as the crowd were filing in we had a bit of an audience and a live sound track - what more could you ask for?!  After we'd finished with Casper we had some supper (Helen makes beautiful 'nomelettes'), and joined Stu for drinks whilst watching the main act of the evening, a local band called the Wildcats of Kilkenny.  They were very good and we all had a little dance, it really was a very fun evening!

The next morning was lovely and sunny again, and today we were joined by Benji with the Interesting and Unusual Team.  At least the weather was better than Benji had had at his last show with us, when we were up in Scotland at Sanquhar and it had poured with rain.  Given Casper's practise the previous evening I had high hopes for his show and I wasn't wrong - he was brilliant from start to finish!  I was especially thankful for this as once again there were quite a few familiar faces in the audience.  Tinker was a fantastic thing as well, and we managed to film the whole thing too ready to put our showreel together (watch the finished showreel here!).  Following Tink's show we were doing the meet and greet when a giant giraffe came over to say hello - Tinker was most bemused by it!  It was obviously the mascot for somebody, but I'm afraid I've forgotten who!  Tinker's face was a picture though!!  We've a few images from the weekend, just click here to see them.

We're nearly at the end of our season, with only one more event left.  Saturday 7th September will see us down near Nottingham for Stapleford Carnival - I'll let you know how we get on! 

Love Rosie x

Sanquhar Riding of the Marches and Ibstock Country Fair

Photos by Minty Price

Our last road trip of the season involved a trip up to Scotland on the Friday, for Sanquhar Riding of the Marches.  Luckily it wasn't too far into Scotland, and it didn't actually take us overly long to get there.  However, when we arrived it was a bit like Hampsthwaite Feast - the entrance gate was absolutely tiny!  We had to really squeeze our way in, but at least it was daylight, unlike when we arrived at Hampsthwaite!  The showfield itself was actually a football pitch, which I always love as they're always dead flat and beautifully kept.  There was absolutely nothing else on site though, so it felt a bit eerie setting up with nothing else around us!

None of us had ever heard of a Riding of the Marches before, but apparently it is quite a tradition in Scotland, especially in the border towns.  Historically each towns leader would ride their borders in order to protect their common lands from surrounding clans.  Today the rides are merely commemorative - but they get a very impressive turn out!  All morning there was a parade of horses going along the roads surrounding our site - which Tinker and Casper thought was brilliant!

Before long the show started to build up around us, and it wasn't long before we were joined by Benji with the Interesting and Unusual Team.  There was another bird of prey stand there too, who had mostly owls, including a very sweet baby great grey owl which spent a lot of time doing a very good fluffy pudding impression.  Unfortunately the weather was not so nice, the rain was horrible and we were dreading going out in it.

Following the parade in town there was a good crowd for the first show, and luckily there was a patch of blue sky overhead as we took to the arena.  Unluckily however, the music system wasn't the best and we struggled to hear any of the tracks and ended up with one microphone between us!  Casper was very good though, despite the roundabout right next to the arena, so I was ever so pleased with him.

Benji wasn't as lucky with the weather as we were, and it absolutely poured with rain during his flying display which was a real shame - the birds don't really like getting wet!  We were not looking forward to our second show, as the weather was getting worse and worse, and we were convinced we were all going to get drenched.  The day was running quite behind schedule, and there were other events due to take place up in the town centre, so by the time we got into the arena with Tinker there was very little audience left.  However, the few who remained did a sterling job of clapping and cheering, so if that was you thank you!  We also got asked to cut the show short as the PA system was needed up in the town, so we raced through the rest of the performance as best we could - Tinker was flying by the end!

The whole show packed up as quickly as it had arrived, and by the time we were ready to go it was once again an empty football pitch - although admittedly it did look slightly worse for wear!  We managed to squeeze our way back out of the gate and bid farewell to Scotland for another year, before trucking down south for a return visit to Ibstock.  

The drive was a very long one, but ever so easy, I just trucked on down the motorway.  I was slightly dreading the entrance to Ibstock Country Fair, as both Helen and I remembered it as being very tight, we also have a much bigger lorry now, and I knew we'd be getting there in the dark.  However, we needn't have worried as it was actually incredibly spacious in comparison to some of the gaps I've got the lorry through this year!  On arrival we were greeted by Stuart the organiser, and others, who had stayed to meet us and had been sampling the delights of the bar whilst waiting for us - so we had a very jolly reception!  We shoved the horses out in the arena and went about setting everything up.  Helen, Sophie and myself have honed the set up into a fine process now, so within forty-five minutes we were done.  The horses were bedded down in their stables and we were bedded down in the lorry!

It wasn't a particularly early start the next day, so we all managed to get a good nights sleep - Helen and I aided by our anti-Sophie-snoring earplugs!  Ibstock is the closest show we do to Oxfordshire and where I used to live, so we were due a couple of visitors.  Before long both Mark and Richard had arrived and we were entertaining guests!  It's always lovely to see familiar faces, so they were both very welcome - especially as Richard bought donuts!  There were quite a few people there who we remembered from 2012, it really is always lovely to get repeat bookings from shows and see people from year to year.  One of our biggest fans, Alice, was there and it was great to see her again.  We'd be seeing her again before long too as she was planning on coming to see us in a few weeks at our final show of the year in Stapleford.

Before long it was time for Casper's show, and given how naughty he was at Ibstock last year I was desperate for him to behave.  My pleading and wishes fell on deaf ears though and once again he was sooooo naughty!  I spent the whole of the first freestyle hanging on for dear life as he did the wheel of death around the circle, although I did still manage to do all my moves and even went upside down (intentionally!) - but I'm not sure how pretty any of it looked!  He was very good for the dancing though, and then absolutely flew around the arena for his games.  It was too much though, and at the end of the chase section he got too close and stood on my heel - taking a massive chunk of it out with his hoof.  Oww.  It's a good job my shoes are red, as it was bleeding quite a bit.  I tried not to look at it (I find injuries only really start to hurt if you can see them?!) and carried on with the rest of the show.  Thankfully Casper pulled himself together and finished the show beautifully - however naughty he is he always seems to redeem himself pretty quickly, I can never stay angry with him for long!

Tinker did a lovely show as usual, so all in all we had a great day.  I really love Ibstock Country Fair, everybody is so friendly and we get looked after so well, I really hope we can go back again another year.  Next up is Stockton Summer Show on the bank holiday Sunday and Monday.  I rode there with the Devil's Horsemen last year so it'll be nice to be there under my own steam this year.  It's the closest show to home so I expect there'll be a different batch of familiar faces!  I'll let you know how we get on, but in the meantime you can see a few photos from our final road trip by clicking here.

Love Rosie x

Slaley Show

 Photo by Daniel Graham

 Photo by Daniel Graham

Saturday 10th August and we were up in Northumberland for Slaley Show.  We'd travelled up on Friday afternoon, and had yet another new girl with us!  Chloe had stepped in at the last minute, and although she knew my horses (she comes and helps us out at home with the birds on Saturday mornings throughout the winter) she didn't know the show and had never even really seen vaulting!

The arena was the perfect size for us, although the grass was LONG!  When we arrived and took the horses off the lorry, their eyes lit up and when we turned them out in the arena whilst we set up they just ate and ate and ate!!  Although the horses love the long grass I knew it would be problematic come show time, especially during their dances.  Keeping them from eating during shows is hard enough at the best of times, but I knew temptation would be too much for them here!  We spent the evening running through the show with Chloe, which we're very good at now as we have now taught seven different girls what to do!

Come the morning Ben and Becca arrived with the Eagle and Vulture Team, and it's always nice having them at the same show.  There was plenty going on, and it was soon time for our shows.  Casper was up first as usual, and we'd done a lovely warm up but for some reason he was really excitable and went steaming in at a hundred miles an hour!  The first freestyle was quite interesting as he was still going fast, but I managed every move and he settled eventually.  And then it was time for his dancing.  And my earlier concerns turned out to be well founded as all he wanted to do was eat!  Every time I even took myself slightly away from his head (which is pretty frequently during the dance) he was straight down and stuffing his face.  All the audience seemed to think it was very funny, so we just had to go along with it and try not to get too annoyed with him!  I had the same problem during his games - especially when I threw his catch toy, it literally just vanished in the grass!  Aside from the mid show snacking, the show went through really well, and I was really pleased with Casper.

In between our shows there was lots going on in the arena.  My favourite was the fancy dress class, where there was loads of different costume combinations.  My particular favourite was the Tesco burger pony, who was being ridden by a chef and had an 'every little helps' sign on it's bottom!  Tinker really liked them as well, and he stood by the fence watching them all go by - he looked like one of the judges!

Before long it was Tink's turn.  As ususal he was really good - although even he attempted some mid show snacking as well, and he definitely knows better!  It was all going really well until the very end.  Tink had been quite lazy throughout the final freestyle and I was working really hard to keep him going at a decent pace.  I was standing up on him waving my fan and felt him slowing down so I gave him a good shout.  He normally ignores me but I must have sounded particularly convincing as he shot forwards causing me to go straight out the back door!  Whoops!!  I feel very silly, but I got back on and finished as I should - with no more shouting at Tinker!

We have got LOADS of photos from Slaley Show, as two different photographers both took lots.  I've put them all together into one album, so just click here to see them.

Next up is a bit of a road trip.  We're up in Scotland at Sanquhar Riding of the Marches on Saturday, before trucking down to Leicestershire for Ibstock Country Fair.  I'll let you know how we get on!

Love Rosie x

Garstang Show

Photo copyright Garstang Show

Back at the start of the month we all set off for Garstang Show.  It was the usual four of us, but we had Helen's sister Megan along to help this time.  We were due to perform our double act show - for the last time this year!  Last time we did it, back at Byfleet Parish Day, it went really well, so I was hoping for a repeat performance.  

On arrival we were met by a lady called Sally, and her two dogs Guess and What.  Sally took me up to see the arena, and it was an absolute monster!  Easily the biggest arena Casper would ever have seen, and probably one of the biggest for Tinker too.  Luckily it was divided up for the various showing sections, so I managed to arrange for some of the barriers to remain in place, meaning we would work at one end of the arena - right in front of the grandstand!

In the morning we had a really good warm up. I'm very lucky that Helen is able to warm the Tink up for me, as it means I can concentrate my efforts on Casper.  Megan lunged him for me and he was lovely to vault on, although this always makes me nervous for the show!  It was soon time to go up for the show, the only slight problem we encountered was the incredibly efficient stewards, who wouldn't let us go up to the arena as we didn't have our wristbands on.  Cue a quick sprint back to the lorry for Helen!  

As often happens where there's lots of showing classes the arena was running slightly behind schedule.  However, as we were only using half the arena it meant the next showing class could go on at the same time as our display.  I knew my two would be fine with it, but I was very impressed with the showing horses, as they had to contend with us whilst trying to put on their best showing effort.  At one point I was charging around doing Roman riding, with somebody doing their individual display - obviously not ideal for them, I hope they got extra marks for not being fazed by us!  It looked nice though, as the class was for coloured ridden horses, so they all fitted in nicely with my two!!

The show all went through really well, and I was especially pleased with the Roman riding as I'd put Casper back on the outside.  It makes sense as he has a longer stride than Tinker, but Tinker had taken exception to it back in May at Ilkley Carnival and I didn't want a repeat of that episode!  Now that Casper has more confidence he's more than capable of going on the outside and it worked well, so hopefully we can stay like this from now on.  

The crowd were brilliant all the way through, and clapped and cheered in all the right places which was lovely! Following the show we went for the meet and greet and were absolutely mobbed.  We must have been there for a good hour chattering to everybody, and we sold lots of horseshoes, posters and key rings.  We met a couple of local dignitaries, and had our photos taken with them, which I think have now made their way onto the Garstang Show website!  Everybody was so welcoming and friendly, I really hope it's a show we go back to another year.

It was quite a long way between the lorry and the arena, and unfortunately the trolley decided it just couldn't cope with the return journey - one of its wheels sheared clean off!  Luckily there was lots of young farmers to hand, and Helen soon press ganged a couple of them in to carrying all our props and kit back down to the lorry.  No mean feat when you have eight bases each weighing fifteen kilos, as well as all the other kit!

Next week we're up in Northumberland for Slaley Show.  Ben is going to be there with the Eagle and Vulture Team as well, and I always enjoy having him at shows with us so I'm looking forward to it.  I'll let you know how we get on, but in the meantime you can see some photos from Garstang by clicking here.

Love Rosie x