Framlingham Country Show

11th and 12th April saw us performing at Framlingham Country Show - our first proper show of the 2015 season!  It was organised by Classic Festivals who were the team behind our last show of 2014, the East Anglian Equine Fair, so it was nice to know we'd be seeing familiar faces.  The show was being held at Framlingham College and Helen was meeting us there so it was myself, Imie, Monty, Tinker and Casper who piled into the lorry and headed off on Friday afternoon.  After a relatively easy journey we arrived on site only to be told we had to turn around (no easy feat on a tight show field in a 33 foot long lorry!) go back out of the site, wind our way back through the town and come in at the bottom of the field.  This we duly did, but not before missing the little lane we should have taken and having to do yet another many point turn around! We finally arrived where we should be, and after another little lorry wiggle to get through an awkwardly angles gate we were there!  It was a beautifully flat area of grass right next to the cricket nets, but we were assured they wouldn't mind us setting up there.  I was worried about making a mess, but we decided to turn the lorry around so it was facing the right way for the tent and for us to leave at the end of the weekend.  Round I went feeling pleased with my relatively tight turning circle, only to look in the mirror and realise we were leaving huge tracks in the immaculate grass!  Oops!  Never mind, just one more slight adjustment to bring the lorry parallel to the bank... back I went... and sunk.  Properly, deeply sunk.  The lorry was stuck fast, and we couldn't go forwards or backwards.  We couldn't drop the ramp to get the boys off because the lorry was backed up on an angle to the bank so we really were stuck in every way.  Poor boys, we offered them a drink and they were actually quite happy just munching on their haynets, although I'm sure they would have preferred to get off the lorry and eat some grass!

Imie and Helen had gone up to the main show site (a few minutes walk away) to try and get some help.  This was duly found in the form of a lovely chap called Simon Tinkler, who had a stand at the show promoting the local Ernest Doe Power, who as their name suggests had quite a few tractors!  Simon tried with his 4x4 first of all to pull us out, but we're about thirteen tonnes fully laden so no such luck unfortunately - just more holes in the grass.  Off Simon went to fetch a tractor from their premises, whilst we just waited.  We were also next to the colleges tennis courts, and Monty was overjoyed to find a ball!  Ball is God to Monty, and as we were all at a loose end it wasn't long before he was completely exhausted.  Simon soon returned with a lovely big tractor and before we knew it we were free!  Hooray!!  Thank you Simon!  So, after having been on site for just over an hour, we were finally ready to get on with setting up!

It took us a little while to remember where everything went and how the stables fitted together, so our set up was a little longer than usual - we'd got it down to a good fast technique by the end of last summer, but I have no doubt we'll get that back again!  Having settled in for the night we went to bed hoping for good weather - and that we'd all remember the shows the following day!

We had a lovely space for a turnout paddock for the boys and warm up area (although it did have some dirty great tyre tracks across it...), but we didn't get much chance to do a warm up as it poured with rain all morning.  We were all dressed, tacked up and ready to warm up, and just waiting for it to ease off a bit.  But it didn't.  I really didn't want to go out in it as it just makes everything soggy and bedraggled, and the horses hate working in the rain almost as much as I do.  Our warm up time gradually ticked by, and all the while the rain continued to pour down.  Eventually, just five minutes before we were due in the arena the rain stopped and the sun came out!  Hooray!!  We jumped on the boys and trotted up to the arena by way of a warm up with not a minute to spare.  Straight in and away we went - and they were perfect!  Having not been in a proper show for nearly five months they went in and were brilliant.  It was a tight arena on quite a slope, so down the hill and around the bend was a bit hairy in Roman riding - especially as Casper was his usual exuberant self!  He was very good really though, despite being absolutely fascinated by Cherry the miniature horse who was in a pen ringside.  He was trying to concentrate but just couldn't year his eyes from her!  

The only real problem we had was with the music system.  Ron, the music man, hadn't realised we needed two hand held mics and a CD player.  Luckily we had a CD player with us, but we had to muddle through with one hand held and one head mic.  Poor Ron also had to muddle through as the way the system was set up meant we could only have one of the three things (two mics and CD) playing at any one time - not ideal!  He looked like he was going to have a heart attack by the end of the show, but amazingly he managed to sort it all out for the second show so everything played at the same time - well done that Ron!

Next in the ring following both our performances were the Zulu dancers.  Casper and Tinker have never seen anything like them before, and were once again fascinated - I thought Casper's eyes were going to pop out of his head at one point!  The Zulus were great and we were all dancing away before long - Casper included who just couldn't stand still!!  As well as the Zulus there was lots to see and do at the show.  The girls went for a wander about in between our performances and met a lovely big tortoise called Boris.  You can see photos of him and other images from the weekend by clicking here.

By the time the evening came around we were all exhausted, but luckily the rain stayed away so the boys could get some well earned rest and grass  in their paddock.  I took Monty for a lovely walk along the Framlingham Castle Mere Trail, which he absolutely loved.  He's such a pleasure to have with us on the shows - although we do all have to wear earplugs overnight so we can sleep through his snoring!

The next day both the shows went through really well again, and once again we were lucky with the weather.  There was quite a bit of time in between our two performances, so we got everything packed down and ready to go.  It felt quite odd coming back to the lorry with just tack, costume and props to pack up, but it sped us up no end and we were back on the road in no time!  And that was our first show done and dusted just like that!  The following weekend we were off to Colchester Town and Country Show organised by Oakleigh Fairs - I'll tell you all about that next!

Love Rosie x

East Anglian Equine Fair

Photo by Helen Gilbertson

 Photo by Kate Jackson

Our last show of 2014 and it was a late one!  The last weekend in October saw Helen, Imie, Monty, Tinker, Casper and myself heading of to Trinity Park in Suffolk for the East Anglian Equine Fair.  Up until two weeks prior to the event I had had it in my head that it was an indoor show.  When I realised that actually it was outdoors I became slightly nervous!  Not only was it the last weekend in October (when the clocks go back), so the weather was bound to be revolting, but the last shoeing the boys had had we'd not bothered with stud holes as I thought it was going to be an indoor show.  Now we were faced with the prospect of a rainy show, in the cold, on slippery grass with no studs.  Eeek!

Having arrived and set up we were delighted to find some Yorkshire friends there too!  Hannah and Rachel from Connection Training were down for the weekend with a stall at the fair.  I'd not seen them for at least a year, so it was great to catch up with them.  There were there with another lady called Mel, who had her pony Toby with her for some demonstrations.  None of them were staying on site but Toby was, so we were introduced to him and promised to keep an eye on him.  We bedded down for the night and went to sleep hoping for fine weather the next day.

And we got it!  We woke up to a grey but dry day, and were so pleased to make it through the shows without getting rained on at all!  There were some showers but we escaped them all - phew!  We had a lovely big space for warm up, and the arenas were a really good size as well.  There were two different arenas, and one of them had a few trees in.  This didn't cause any problems, other than the fact that I had to duck whilst Roman riding a bit!

As the event was an equine fair there was lots of other horsey demonstrations and displays, everything from Parelli to Para Dressage and Clicker Training to Heavy Horses - it was great!  We spent a bit of time watching some displays and wandering around the stalls, but you never as much time as you think to yourself on a show day - there's always something to do!  We got an extra hours sleep overnight on the Saturday though which was lovely, I always appreciate extra time in bed!!

We were very lucky with the weather again on the Sunday, and both the shows went through well, so any concerns I may have had on arrival were thankfully unjustified.  We managed to gather a few images from the weekend, which you can see here.  Before we knew it it was time to pack up and head home - and before we managed that it was dark!  We set off, waving goodbye to everybody as we went, and then spent the next twenty minutes driving around and around Trinity Park (which is huge!) trying to find the way out!  We kept following little roads that ended at gates - but all the gates were locked.  We eventually managed to find our way out, and back onto a proper road and home.  2014 season done!!  At the end of the last blog of the season I usually say thank you to everybody involved, and how none of it would be possible on my own, it really is a team effort.  It feels a bit odd writing that now, in May, in the middle of another season - but it's still true!  Special thanks must obviously go to my most amazingly generous, willing and generally fantastic boys, Tinker and Casper - without them absolutely none of it would be possible!

And the 2014 blog is finally done!  Hooray!!  Now I can start telling you all about the shows we've already done this year - first up was Framlingham Country Show, and I'll write about that next!

Love Rosie x

Rotherham Show

Sunday 7th September 2014 saw us at Rotherham Show in South Yorkshire.  Charlie, Adam, Monty, Tinker, Casper and myself had all piled into the lorry and headed up the M1 the day before, with Helen meeting us on site.  We'd arrived and set up in good time, and the boys were particularly happy as we'd turned them out in the arena where there was lots of grass.  Their paddock at home was practically bare at the time, so they wasted no time in stuffing their faces as much as possible!

The morning of the show we were excited to see we had been joined over night by Dingle Fingle. Dingle is a good friend who I'd not seen for a while, so it was lovely to see him again.  We'd not had a show together since Tain Gala the previous summer!  Rotherham Show had requested a little added extra, so we had rearranged the shows to include Roman riding in both performances.  We'd given the new shows a run through in August at the Poole Town and Country Show, but it was all still a bit new - we were all hoping it would go well!  Mainly that we'd remember the new running orders!!

Whilst we were getting everything ready for the show Adam took Monty for a walk around the showground - and between them they committed a massive social faux pas!  Not quite as bad as at the recent Dunscore Gala, but not far off...  They'd been for a walk around most of the showground and were just coming back up the main drag between all the stalls when Monty decided that was the most appropriate place to have a poo.  Now, Monty's poos have to be seen to be believed - they are quite simply enormous.  Adam waited for him to finish, whilst being eyeballed by all the stall holders, before dutifully patting his pockets down for the poo bags (you always need two!).  Only to realise with mounting horror that he had forgotten to take some with him!  Eeek!!  After a little while an obliging dog owner handed over a bag, but the offending mountain refused to fit in just one small bag.  Adam had to scrape up as much as he could, before they both came back to the lorry with their tails between their legs.  Needless to say Adam had to go back out with a second bag and collect the remaining turd - much to his disgust and the stall holders delight!  I just saw this 'Off The Leash' cartoon which sums up the situation perfectly!

Whilst all this was going on we had welcomed Helen's parents, Chris and Sue, who had come to watch for the day.  It was to be the first time they had seen Helen vault in the show so they were very excited - and Helen was determined not to fall off!  In we went and it was soon Helen's turn to take centre stage.  She started off well and then it was time for the dreaded shoulderstand on the back - her nemesis move...  Up she went... and then down she came!  But she somehow managed to squiggle around and stay on!  Hooray!!  I'm still not quite sure how she managed it, as looking back at the photos she was practically half way off Casper at one point - it was definitely a good save!  The Roman riding went through really well as well, despite the fact that the arena was on a bit of a slope - we got plenty of speed up coming down the hill and around the bend!  The thing I remember most from the Roman riding is Sue's face as we whizzed past her, it was a mixture of excitement and horror - at least that's what it looked like and was hilarious!

Helen had bought her camera and Adam managed to get loads of photos of the two shows.  You can click here to see them, and bonus points if you can spot Dingle in the background who filmed it all!

Following Rotherham Show we had a break of about six weeks, before heading off to the East Anglian Equine Fair over the last weekend in October - I'll tell you all about that next!

Love Rosie x

Earls Barton Rally and Country Fayre

The late bank holiday in August 2014 saw us packing up and heading off to the relatively local Earls Barton Rally and Country Fayre.  It was a real treat to only have to drive for an hour, and not even touch a motorway.  We've spent so many Fridays sitting in motorway traffic over the summer, but not this weekend!

Having arrived on site we were directed to a lovely quiet little corner that had been cordoned off especially for us.  One side of our area was fenced with an adjoining paddock.  In this paddock were a couple of donkeys and a couple of pigs.  Pigs are quite literally the only thing I have ever found that Tinker is genuinely terrified of, and Casper has always been absolutely horrified but also fascinated by donkeys.  Needless to say from the second I got them down the ramp their eyes were on stalks and they were both snorting and puffing like a pair of ridiculous dragons!  We let them off whilst we were setting up, and the snorty ridiculousness continued for quite some time!!

It was a three day show, and the Saturday went through very well. Following our second show, Helen jumped in her car and shot off to a friend's wedding for the evening, but later on we were joined by Imie's boyfriend George.  George is lovely and Imie was really happy to have him with us, although I think he was a bit unsure about having to bed down in the cosy lorry!

Sunday morning and Helen reappeared!  The boys were mooching around their paddock, and had actually managed to get used to their pig and donkey neighbours.  The weather was lovely and sunny, we had George with us for the day and Adam was due to come down later that evening - what more could we ask for?!  Things did improve though, because before we'd even gone in for the first show the organisers came over and rebooked us for their 2015 event, which was brilliant!  I love getting repeat bookings as it means we must be doing something right!!

The shows went through really well again, apart from a slightly panicky moment just before we were about to go on for the first one when I relised we hadn't got the boys plumes on their bridles.  Luckily speedy George sprinted back off to the lorry and fetched them for us just in the nick of time!

We were very lucky with the weather over the weekend, but then on the Monday it was the opposite.  It was a very miserable day, and pouring with rain.  The organisers came and told us that as there were so few people on site we didn't have to go on if we didn't want to - but how could we not do the shows!  We reached a compromise and ended up doing our forty-five minute show, so everybody was happy.  And it turned out we did have quite a good audience, what they lacked in numbers they made up for in enthusiasm!  We got back to the lorry to find that in the hour we'd been gone Adam had made a super human effort and managed to pack up the entire tent and stables all by himself - it normally takes all three of us the best part of an hour!!  It was lovely not to have to do it, we literally untacked the horses, packed away the show props, and we were away - I think we were home by about 4pm, which is unheard of on a show day!!

We met lots of lovely people over the weekend, as well as catching up with some old friends who came especially to see us, so we are all very much looking forward to our repeat visit in 2015!

Next up is our trip to Rotherham Show, but in the meantime you can see some photos of our weekend at Earls Barton Rally by clicking here.

Love Rosie x

Dunscore Gala

All photo's by Brian Clark at www.dumfriesphotos.co.uk

Still trying to catch up with the blog for last year's shows...!

Friday 8th August saw us packing up and heading off to Scotland!  We were off to Dunscore Gala.  Imie was away again, so it was Tinker, Casper, Monty, Charlie and myself who loaded into the lorry and headed up the M6.  We were due to meet Helen at Penrith, as it's silly for her to come all the way down to us in Oxfordshire from Yorkshire, only to go all the way back up again!  Helen's family own a builders merchants company, (JT Atkinson) and one of their outlet stores is at Penrith, so we arranged to meet her there.

After another long boring Friday drive up the M6 we finally arrived at the Penrith store, and we got a few odd looks as we drove through the industrial estate and parked up outside.  Helen hadn't managed to get hold of anyone to tell them we were coming, and she was stuck in traffic, so I tried to explain as best I could what was going on.  But trying to justify an enormous spotty horsebox parked up right outside their shop, assuring them we were supposed to be there, and that we were meeting one of the family members who owns their chain was quite tricky - they obviously thought I was completely mad!  Especially when I dropped the ramp and started unloading the horses...

Luckily Helen appeared before too long, the horses had a drink and a wee, and a bit of a leg stretch and some grass, and then we all piled back in and waved goodbye to a now very friendly bunch of folk!

We trucked on up to Scotland, and as we were approaching the venue I had the funny feeling I'd been here before.  It wasn't until we pulled onto sit though that the penny dropped and I realised I had done Dunscore Gala before, way back in 2011 whilst still working for Jive Pony.  I remembered it as being a lovely show so was very pleased to be there again.  We weren't quite the first people on site, but we were the second!  Ridgeside Falconry were already there, but not yet set up, and very soon somebody arrived to show us were to go - I could have guessed though as it was the same spot as in 2011!

As the field was virtually empty, Monty was happily trundling about whilst we were setting up.  He never goes far, and is so well behaved that I never worry about him.  However, he managed to commit the most horrendous social faux pas ever, which he has since paid for dearly!  Fiona, the organiser, had come to welcome us.  We were chatting away, and she was saying how they were all getting ready for that evening's quiz in the marquee so she'd been home to get changed which was why she hadn't been on site when we arrived.  Next thing we know Monty walked up behind her, cocked his leg, and weed all down the back of her legs.  I was absolutley mortified - it is possibly the most embarassed I have ever been in my entire life.  What a horrendously naughty hound!  (Needless to say he has since been castrated - that was a costly error on his part!!)

The next day was gala day!  We were up bright and early getting everything ready, before I was whisked away with Tracy from Ridgeside Falconry to go up into the village and judge the float competition.  The floats were all brilliant, with lots of different themes and endless fancy dress.  There were prizes for every single one, all we had to do was to decide what to award them their prize for!  We ended up with things like 'most characterful' and 'best effort' etc, although there was one overalll winner - apparently the group which wins every year!  There was so much effort which had obviously gone into the floats, I just love the smaller events which have a proper community feel to them.  Everybody was very much in the carnival spirit and we raced back down to get ready as the parade also made it's was back to the gala field.

Before long it was time for the show, and we were due to perform our double act.  As far as I can recall it all went through smoothly - I only tend to remember when things go wrong!  There was a a photographer there called Brian Clark (Dumfries Photos), who got quite a few good images of the show - and one utterly ridiculous one which is at the top of this post!  For more photos, have a look at our album (all Brian's photos) or at Abbey Camera Club's website where there is a good selection from the day. 

Next up we went to Earls Barton Rally and Country Fayre over the late bank holiday weekend - I'll tell you all about that next!

Love Rosie

Poole Town and Country Show

 Photo by Emma Owen

I can't believe how ridiculously behind I am with the blog, but now I have some more time on my hands I'm going to do my best to catch up!  So...

The first weekend in August saw us loading up and trucking down to Upton Park in Poole, ready for the two day Poole Town and Country Show.  Imie was away for the weekend, so it was Charlie, Helen, myself, Tinker, Casper and of course Monty who spent most of Friday afternoon sitting in traffic on the A34!  We eventually arrived and it was lovely to finally get the horses off the lorry.  I'd been looking forward to this show, as it was organised by Charlie and Emma Owen, of Oakleigh Fairs.  I used to do a lot of shows for them whilst working as Jive Pony, but hadn't seen them for probably about four or five years.  Unfortunately Charlie wasn't on site, but Emma was there with their two daughters - I couldn't believe how much they'd both grown!  We were placed in a lovely spot, and able to rope off a good chunk of the park to use as our warm up space as well, which meant the horses had a brilliant paddock for the weekend - perfect!

I had recently changed the shows around to add Roman riding in to every performance, and as such had had to make new music CDs.  On the journey down we'd tried to play the CDs in the lorry so we could talk the new shows through, and they wouldn't work.  I'd also recently bought a new laptop and for some reason it had only copied four tracks onto each CD (there should be eight).  I was trying not to panic, and was hoping they would play on the CD player at the show.  They didn't.  I was still trying not to panic, but there was only one solution - Adam!  Adam had been working all week but had Saturday off so was planning on driving down to the show for the day.  The journey from Milton Keynes wouldn't have been so bad, but he wouldn't have got to us until about 11pm.  I rang him and through my panic he cottoned on to the problem and offered to come down to the show having gone home first to collect both my laptops and some blank CDs.  Phew!  it meant he wouldn't be with us until about 1am, but it meant I would have music!!

I organised with the security guard that Adam would be arriving very late, and asked him to point him in the direction of our set up, and then went off to bed.  I set my alarm and snuck outside to meet Adam when he arrived, he'd rung to say the security guard had let him in and told him where to go, so I waited in the tent with the horses.  Next thing I know I can see Adam's headlights right over the far side of the showground, going in completely the wrong direction!  Unfortunately I wasn't really dressed appropriately to go and get him, but it was dark and I had no choice.  So there I am, running across the showground at 1am in just a coat, knickers and wellies.  Not ideal!  Adam's headlights soon picked me out, much to his amusement, and before long we were all back in the lorry - along with my laptops!

In the morning I spent ages moving files from my new laptop to the old one and burning new CDs. I trundled off down to the music tent to test them out with Steve, and they didn't work either!  Steve was sure he could play the tracks directly from my laptop, if only he could find the right lead...  By this time I was tearing my hair out, but I went away and not long after I heard our music playing over the loud speakers. HOORAY!!!  I was so relieved, and it couldn't have happened any later, as we were just warming up and getting ready to go for the first show!  I was far more nervous about our performances than I usually am, I think because Charlie and Emma's opinion matters to me so much, and we were doing a show that was quite new - I didn't want any mishaps!  There were also some audience members I knew (which always makes performing more nerve-wracking), as an old friend had come all the way down from Oxfordshire with her two children especially to see us.  No pressure then!  

I needn't have worried as all four shows went really well over the whole weekend.  The new structure means that Casper gets some time in the arena during the first show before he has to do anything, which lets him settle much better.  It also means I work both horses twice so Casper is never left on his own anywhere - this also suits him much better but I'm not sure Tinker is overly impressed with being tacked up and worked twice a day as opposed to once.  I keep telling him it's like doing two halves rather than one whole and is just the same really but I don't think he believes me!

All in all we had a lovely weekend  It was good to catch up with the Oakleighs crew, who I'd also not seen for years, and there were some lovely walks through the park for Monty.  The horses were happy in their paddock and all the shows went well - what more could I ask for?!  It wasn't just me who was happy with the shows, as Charlie and Emma have already booked us for a couple of different events for our 2015 season.  We won't be going back to Poole unfortunately, as we're already booked elsewhere that weekend, but we may be back down in the area for another event.  Keep an eye on our website and facebook page for details on all the events we'll be at throughout the year.

The next blog will be on our Scottish trip - which was brilliant apart from Monty's horrendous social faux pas!  More on that later...  In the meantime you can see a few images from Poole by clicking here, enjoy!

Love Rosie xx

Kings Bromley Show

Photo by Beth Dillon

The last weekend in July saw us heading up to Staffordshire for Kings Bromley Show. Luckily Imie was out of hospital and on the mend, although she still looked quite pale and interesting!  As the show was northwards Helen was due to meet us on site, so it was just Tinker, Casper, Monty , Imie and myself who set off on the Friday afternoon.  After the expected horrendous M6 traffic we finally arrived on site, and what a beautiful little show ground it was!  Everything was very square and neat and tidy, with lots of white marquees and plenty of bunting - perfect!  We had our own little coral, which meant we could have the horses wandering about whilst we set up.  The horses always love going to shows, as there is always so much more grass than they have at home.  Unfortunately Helen had got held up in traffic as well, so it was just Imie and I setting the tent up.  Poor Imie was still feeling very weak, but we just about managed it between us.  We'd just got the main awning up on the lorry tracking when Helen turned up - perfect timing!

I'd been looking forward to this show, as some friends were also going to performing with their horse act, Big and Little, and I had been wanting to see them for a while.  Pete and Tash had also bought the old Jive Pony lorry (affectionately known as Big Dur), which I had spent many a year driving up and down the country, so I was looking forward to seeing the old girl too!  I know it's silly to get sentimental about vehicles, but when Becca told me she'd sold Big Dur to Pete and Tash I was so happy it was still going to be out and about on the show circuit, and was hoping I'd bump into it (not literally of course!) sooner or later. 

There was also another old friend on site who I hadn't seen for a year or so.  John Pollard, or Polly, has a parrot show using rescue parrots which he trains to do all kinds of things.  He has a lovely set up and the birds really have fallen on their feet when they end up with Polly.  He came over for a chat whilst we were setting up, and it was great to have a long overdue catch up.  One of my favourite things about going to shows is meeting up with other performers.  Over the course of the year we meet up with so many old friends, as well as making plenty of new ones!

It was such beautiful weather that once we were all set up we decided to dine al fresco.  The shop table doubles up as a brilliant dining table, although unfortunately our camping chairs are a bit too low - our food ends up at about chest height!  The horses were still mooching about, and typically they both wanted to get far too involved.  I got up to take a photograph but has to dash back as I nearly lost my supper to Casper!

After a peaceful night (I always sleep really well at shows) we woke to find Pete and Tash had arrived during the night.  Big Dur had been re-signwritten and smartened up quite a bit inside, with lots of spotty oil cloth and new paint.  It looked great but it was funny to be back inside it.  When Becca bought it it seemed like a massive lorry, and it was compared to what we'd had before.  But then I'd bought my lorry which is a bit bigger with a much more spacious living, and having got used to that Big Dur seemed quite small!  And Becca has since bought an even bigger new lorry - lorry size is escalating!!  We spent a large chunk of the morning catching up with Pete and Tash, and it was lovely to see them.  Monty got on well with their two collies, mother and daughter Pickle and Lily, and we also had a visit from Alice, one of our most loyal fans who we hadn't seen since Stapleford Carnival last year.

We were due to perform our double act, and the arena was absolutely perfect for us.  Just the right size and dead flat - a welcome change after our last show at Rushden!  We just about had time to watch Pete and Tash's first show with Billy and Magpie before having to dash off to warm up, and it was really sweet.  Billy and Magpie are ex-circus ponies, and they have a lovely little liberty routine which we all really enjoyed watching.  You can find out more about their act on their website.  Before we knew it we were into the arena and away!  The show started off really well and was going perfectly until the start of Tinker's dance.  We'd just got into it when a fly flew straight into my mouth and went straight down my throat.  Yuk!!  I was coughing and spluttering whilst all the time trying to continue on with Tink's dance as if nothing was happening.  It felt like it was there for an absolute age, but by the time Tink was finishing up with his bow I'd manage to dislodge/swallow the offending fly.  Much as I hated it I'm sure it was a far worse experience for the fly!

The rest of the show went through really well, and Casper was a very good boy!  Helen was once again very nervous about her walk freestyle, having fallen off at every previous attempt during performance, but... SHE STAYED ON!!!!!  Not even a bit of a wobble in the lie out, hooray!!  I was so pleased for her, and you could tell by the grin on her face that she was over the moon as well.  I knew she could do it, it was just a matter of time.  It helped that Casper was walking nicely, and he kept up the good behaviour for my canter work.  A chap called Mervyn filmed this section of the show, so you can see for yourself how good he was.  I was a bit cautious though and didn't let go as much as I usually do - I wasn't going to be lulled into a false sense of security as I know him too well!! 

Mervyn also managed to get a couple of really good shots of the show, you can see them here along with a few others.  The whole show went brilliantly, although by the end I felt like I may actually spontaneously combust.  It was one of the hottest days of the year, and to be running around and vaulting virtually non-stop for forty-five minutes is beyond exhausting!  We had a lovely time though, and were so well looked after.  It's definitely a show I would love to go back to again, so fingers crossed we get invited another year!  Next up is a trip down to Poole for the two day Poole Town and Country Show - I'll tell you all about it soon!

Love Rosie x