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

Rushden Party in the Park

 Helen and Charlie in their playsuits - neither of which burst during the show, unlike mine!

The week after our long road trip of the North of England, we had our closest show of the season.  We were due to perform at Rushden Party in the Park and as it was only about forty miles away, and we weren't performing until the afternoon, we decided to travel that morning rather than the night before. Unfortunately during the week Imie had been rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis (although she had the appendix removed it turned out to be a case of E coli - much nastier!  She's fine now though, phew!!), so it was a last minute call to Charlie who was thankfully available.  So in the morning we set off with the lorry crammed full; Tinker, Casper, Monty, Helen, Charlie and myself.  It was such a gorgeous hot sunny day that there was no need to set the tent up, just the stables which we did in no time.  As usual, we asked if we were able to turn the horses out into the arena whilst we set up.  The organisers were quite sceptical, and one lady seem convinced the horses would jump out!  I assured her they absolutely wouldn't - the grass was so lush and the arena very large, there was no way they were going anywhere!  It was also fenced with metal barriers, and as neither of mine have ever been taught to jump I knew they'd never attempt it.  She wasn't convinced though and I had to promise my insurance was in place and that I took full responsibility for any 'mishap'.  Needless to say they barely lifted their heads and just ate the entire time they were in there!

The arena itself was a tricky one.  It was on quite a slope and must have been ridge and furrow historically.  As such I knew it was going to make for a difficult time vaulting.  I wasn't wrong and as soon as I went in on Casper it felt like we were on a roller coaster!  I managed the first freestyle with no problems, until the very end.  I did a big flank off and as I pushed off from the roller I heard a rip and felt my costume give way - eeek!  I was wearing the stripey playsuit which has a halterneck.  The halter neck strap had torn from the top of the playsuit on the left side, leaving the whole of my costume precariously positioned with nothing to hold it all up!!  I motioned to Helen that something was wrong, so she talked and talked until I managed to sort something out.  What to do though?!  My mind was racing - we've safety pins in the lorry but Charlie won't know where and pins are painful to vault in.  I couldn't cover it with the cardigan as there still wouldn't be a way to hold the playsuit up.  Then I realised what to do.  I ripped a hole in the top of the costume, poked the strap through and tied a knot in it.  Not ideal as the halter neck was now so tight it not only hurt but was under more strain so may give out on the other side.  Fingers crossed it would be ok though!  I hate costume malfunctions, but it's only the second time it has ever happened, the first time being at Castle Howard last year when the zip on my dress burst!

On with the show!  Next was Casper's dance which he did beautifully.  However, he was an absolute monkey in the games section, and kept doing laps of honour on his own whilst bucking and farting - much to the crowds amusement!  Not mine though, as each time I would have to sprint around the arena to fetch him from wherever he ended up - not ideal on a boiling hot day in a big arena with a precarious costume!  Helen was to do her freestyle next, and given that she'd fallen off the previous two attempts she was pretty nervous.  But she stayed on!  First time ever in a show!!  I was so pleased for her, and the audience gave her a massive round of applause.  Still, however happy she was, I know she was very happy to give Casper back to me and take the microphone back!  I wasn't looking forward to the last freestyle because of my costume, but thankfully it held.  And chatting to people afterwards it would seem nobody even noticed - phew, got away with that one then!!

Tinker put in a near perfect show, as ever (what on earth I would do without him I don't know!), although even he struggled with the arena a bit.  However, I don't think we found the arena as difficult as the motorbike display team that were also performing.  They had to adjust all their ramps, take offs and landings.  Nothing any of us could do about it though other than get on with it!  To be fair the arena was on the flattest part of the whole park, it's just a very wonky old ground which you notice more upside down on a cantering horse or flying over ramps on motorbikes!  We had a great day, although it felt very odd to have the whole thing done and dusted in less than ten hours - it's usually at least twenty-four or more!  Everyone was really friendly and looked after us well, the crowds were brilliant and the weather was amazing - what more can you ask for?!

I didn't get any photos of the day unfortunately other than one of Helen and Charlie and a very sweet one of Monty, both at the top of this post.  Next up is Kings Bromley Show which I'm very much looking forward to as some friends are also there with their act, Big and Little, which I haven't seen before.  I'll let you know how we got on soon!

Love Rosie x

Croft Carnival and South Tyneside Family Fun Day

I'm so behind with the blog it's untrue!  But going right back to the first weekend in July we had a road trip of a weekend planned.  Adam and I set off on Friday, with Tinker, Casper and Monty on board.  We were off for Croft, near Warrington, where we would be performing our double act at their carnival on the Saturday.  Imie was staying with her sister nearby so was due to meet us on site, and Helen would be driving down to meet us also.  Once again it was a Friday afternoon spent sitting in Traffic on the motorway, this time it was the turn of the M6!  We finally arrived to a beautifully kept green, but unfortunately the organisers weren't aware of the size of the lorry and stable tent, and hadn't accounted for the amount of space we needed.  We ended up with the lorry wedged into the corner of the green as far as we could get, and luckily the tent fitted perfectly between a group of trees.  It was as if we'd been made to fit the space!  It was a little bit drizzly as we were setting up, but I didn't mind at all as it meant the boys' new spotty rugs could come out!

When we arrived Monty jumped out of the lorry as usual, and was met with looks of horror by the organisers.  It transpired that the green had a very strict 'no dogs' policy - oops!  We promised he'd be on his best behaviour, and that we'd keep him in stealth mode for the duration of our visit - easier said than done!  

It also turned out there was no place for us to warm the horses up on site.  Warm up is obviously vital, so they ended up coming up with a solution.  Across the road from the carnival field, and down the way a bit was a green space designated for dog walking - perfect!  We'd just have to factor in walking there and back into our preparation time, but it would be lovely to warm up away from the hustle and bustle of the carnival.

In the morning (after a quick stealth walk for Monty!) we tacked the horses up and headed down for warm up.  As we were doing the double act we had both working at the same time, and we had a good practise with both horses behaving brilliantly.  Helen ran through her freestyle a few times as well, as once again she was going to be performing during the show.  This time she'd be on Casper, so a little bit different to the previous week when she'd been on Tinker.  Fingers crossed he behaves!  Before we knew it we were back on the carnival field and it was show time!

Tinker opened the show and was his usual brilliant self, but out of the corner of my eye I could see Casper being an idiot and making Imie's life very difficult.  The music box was a big trailer covered in mirrors down one side, and he was using this as an excuse for silliness - he obviously saw a fool in the mirror and decided to join in!!  This didn't bode well for Helen, and I could see the dread in her face as the moment for her freestyle approached.  She started of beautifully, but before long it was time for those dreaded shoulderstands.  Casper was being particularly unhelpful with an incredibly active walk, not making it easy for her at all.  Unfortunately this was her undoing, and once again she tumbled off during the shoulderstand on the back.  I know she can do this move, so we're just going to persist until she can do it in front of an audience every time!

Casper was very full of beans throughout, but the show went through really well.  The audience were amazing, and really supported us right the way through.  It's a great feeling to be up on a horse clapping along to the music and have a big crowd clap along with you - I love it!  Imie and I spent a lot of time following the show chatting to people with Tinker and Casper, and all our shop goodies went down really well.  We were so busy that by the time we were finished Helen and Adam had virtually packed the whole stable tent down - result!  When it was time to leave Helen and Imie went ahead in the car, and Adam drove the lorry.  It felt very strange being driven in my own lorry, as it's not something that has happened before.  Although I've been driven miles and miles by Adam in Devil's Horsemen lorries it felt odd being driven in my own. I could definitely get used to it though!  

We were on our way up North again, this time up to South Tyneside for a Fun Day.  Because it was the weekend of the Tour de France in Yorkshire, we avoided the M62 and went up the M6 and across the A66 instead.  I've always liked driving the A66, and the whole drive was beautiful.  My ex-boyfriend, Ben, had recently moved into a farm along the A66, so as Helen and Imie had whizzed ahead in the car they stopped in to say hello to him.  They hadn't been there long though before we flew by in the lorry, and then the race was on!  As we were driving I was texting Imie saying how many miles we had to go and our ETA, she was doing the same and even though we'd had a good head start they were gaining on us!  We ended up arriving at exactly the same time, who'd have thought my old lorry could nearly beat a nippy little Golf!

We were right next to the seaside, so having set up Adam and I took Monty for a walk along the beach.  He absolutely loves the water, and is obsessive about his ball, so with the combination of the two he was in heaven!  It was a very tired, soggy, happy hound that returned to the lorry with us - he definitely slept well that night.

We all did, and were up bright and early the next day ready for the show.  We were the only act in the arena all day, which was great as it meant we could set the bunting up and leave it up all day.  It also meant we could warm up in the performance space, which usually means Casper is very well behaved as he's already seen everything there is to see.  The only slightly strange thing is that we then usually end up having quite a large crowd gather during the warm up, and today was no exception.  It's always a bit odd being applauded for simple warm up moves, but is something I always appreciate!  Warming Casper up in the arena did wonders for him, and he pulled his best show of the season out of the bag.  I was very grateful, as I had some old friends who I'd not seen for ages in the audience, a lovely couple called Alan and Dorothy.  Alan and Dorothy are great friends of Ben's, but I hadn't seen them since leaving Yorkshire in December.  South Shields is pretty local for them, so they'd made the trip up to see the show, and was really lovely to see them and have a long overdue catch up.  Also in the audience were some friends of Helen's, so we were really hoping today would be the day she managed to stay on!  Alas it wasn't to be, the shoulderstand on the back once again proving to be her undoing.  Adam was taking photos and managed to get a hilarious sequence of shots showing the whole thing - you can click here to see them along with lots of other photos from the weekend.

After another great show from Tinker we packed up and headed for home.  It was a long long drive, made even longer by the remnants of the Tour de France traffic which had us stationary for quite some time.  We finally made it home and Peroni (Adam's horse) was very happy to see the boys back - he doesn't like being on his own in the field, even if he has got neighbours.  Even though we covered some miles we had a great weekend, made easier by having Adam share the driving with me - and Helen share the vaulting!  I'm determined that she'll master the freestyle and make it through with out falling off - maybe next weekend?!  In contrast to this weekend's mammoth road trip we have a relatively local one day show next weekend, so local that we're doing the whole thing in a day and won't even have to put the tent up!  It's Rushden Party in the Park in Northamptonshire, and I'll hopefully get around to telling you how it went soon!!

Love Rosie x

Ackworth Gala

Last Saturday we were at Ackworth Gala - and it was a show with a difference for us! Helen was due to meet us on site, and Imie was away on holiday, so it was Tinker, Casper, Monty, myself and new girl Charlie who set off up the motorway.  This Friday it was the turn of the M1, and I was hoping it would treat us better than the M6 had the previous week.  It didn't unfortunately, and it took us five hours to do the 130 mile journey.  Not to worry, we arrived to a gloriously flat and empty field (I love doing shows on cricket pitches!) and were set up in no time.

We spent the morning talking through the shows, as they were to be slightly different.  Casper had unfortunately come in from the field with a slight knock to his leg, which had since filled up with fluid.  Although he wasn't at all lame, he did have what resembled a small water balloon attached to his leg, so we decided to give him the day off from vaulting.  This meant Tinker would have to step in and do the vaulting work, allowing Casper to have an easy day!  Poor Charlie not only had to learn the show, but also a confusing version involving lots of swapping horses around.

I'd also decided during the week that it was high time Helen tried some vaulting during the show.  She's been having lessons on and off for the past year or so now, and can do both freestyles through in walk on both Casper and Peroni (Adam's lovely big Irish Draft).  We'd been saying since last summer that she could do the explanation walk freestyle in Casper's show and that was what we had planned.  Unfortunately though, Helen has only vaulted on Tinker a couple of times, and whilst he and Casper may look fairly similar they feel completely different to work on!

Show time was rapidly approaching, and having given Tinker a brief warm up we ran Helen through  the freestyle.  Again and again.  And again.  It's the dreaded shoulderstands that she struggles with.  You have to be so strong in your core to be able to hold them on a moving horse, and I was expecting her to do two!  Plus a lie out onto the back following one of them.  I knew she could do it as I've seen it happen, but Tinker is different to both Casper and Peroni, and she kept collapsing or sliding off.  Practise was over far too quickly and then we were into the show!

We opened with Tinker before swapping him for Casper, who did his maths, dance and games really well.  He was full of beans once again though, and let it out by doing the most impressive rear he's done all season - go Casper!  Following the games we got Tinker back in and it was time for Helen's debut vaulting performance.  Having never before vaulted in front of an audience, and having spent most of the rehearsal time falling off, Helen was pretty nervous.  As was I!  Up she went and with the music playing we were away!  I was commentating through the freestyle and really enjoying myself, as I don't get to do much commentary these days.  Before long it was time for shoulderstand on the neck, and although Helen couldn't hold it for more than a couple of strides she didn't fall off - hooray!  She did really well with the whole thing, but then it was time for the second shoulderstand, this time on the back followed by the full lie out.  I turned around for a moment to move one of the posts to stop the bunting sagging, when I heard a groan from the audience and looked around to find Helen standing on the floor!  That wasn't in the script!!  Not to worry, we had a contingency plan.  It's called the leg up.  Up she went again to try for a second time, and plopped off for a second time!  Oh no!!  Up she went again and, moving swiftly on (!), on to the neck to continue with the routine.  The rest of it went through beautifully and then it was over - Helen had vaulted in front of an audience!  They were brilliant and gave her a well earned huge round of applause.  I know she enjoyed it but I also think she was very glad to take the microphone back from me and hand me back the horse!  Tinker and I finished the show, with lots of commentary from Helen along the lines of 'Doesn't she make it look easy Ladies and Gentlemen?  I can assure you it is NOT!'

After the show we had a bit of a breather and changed costumes before taking Tinker back into the arena for his full show.  He was brilliant as usual, apart from repeatedly falling out of his pirouette.  I couldn't work this out as this is one of his best tricks, until I remembered he had studs in his shoes!  The ground was quite soft and the poor boy was quite literally stuck to the spot - despite his best efforts there was no way he could spin around himself.  Oops!

Following the shows we packed up as quickly as we could ready for the journey home.  However, we weren't nearly as quick as the Ackworth Lions - about forty minutes before we were done the entire field had been packed away.  Everybody had vanished and the field was once again completely empty - although not quite as flat anymore!

Thankfully the drive home went much better, within three and a half hours I was home, having dropped Charlie off on the way back.  She did really well for her first show, so hopefully will come with us again if needed!  Casper had his leg drained this morning (Wednesday) so will be back in action this weekend.  I was planning on giving him another weekend off from the vaulting, but it turns out we have the double act booked in for Saturday so no such luck!  It's a bit of a monster this weekend; we're heading up the M6 again on Friday ready to perform at Croft Carnival on Saturday, then packing up and driving North some more up to South Shields for their Summer Fun Day on Sunday.  Then it'll be a very long drive home on Sunday night.  Luckily Adam is coming with us and I've put him on the lorry insurance now so he can share the driving with me!

I didn't manage to get a single photo from Ackworth Gala, but I've got the camcorder on charge so will be able to get video evidence of Helen performing this weekend!  I'll let you know how we get on!

Love Rosie x

Todmorden Agricultural Show

Last Friday Tinker, Casper, Monty, Imogen and myself loaded up and headed off up the M6 towards West Yorkshire for Todmorden Agricultural Show where we were to perform on Saturday.  Helen was going to meet us on site, but it always feels very odd driving off in the lorry without her!  The journey was 160 miles, so I was reckoning on about four hours maximum - how wrong I was!  Traffic and roadworks were horrendous, and there were a fair few overheated broken down cars and a couple of accidents as well.  All this combined meant it took us six hours to get there!  My sat nav log on arrival to site informed me that our average speed was 27 miles an hour - even though my top speed had been sixty!  We had a good welcoming committee on arrival, Helen (the organiser) jumped into the cab to direct us onto site, and our Lovely Helen was also there along with Stuart and Olly from the Sheep Show.  It was a very tight squeeze on to the showground through a little gateway with stone pillars either side and over a small bridge.  It took a couple of attempts, but with Stuart stopping traffic and Helen and Olly directing me we made it - breathe in lorry!

We unloaded the horses and turned them out into the arena for the evening whilst we got set up.  I moved the lorry to where we were to park up for the night, but then we decided to go back a bit to straighten up so we weren't on a slope (Helen might have rolled out of bed otherwise!).  Back I went, then stopped.  And stayed stopped.  I'd managed to find virtually the only piece of soft ground on the entire show filed, and all three wheels on the right hand side of the lorry were sunk up to the rims.  Whoops.  We were going to make do and set up with the lorry now on even more of a slope (Imie would be the one rolling out of bed now), but Helen and two other chaps were unbelievably helpful and arranged for a JCB to come and tow us out.  Shortly afterwards we were repositioned and had the tent and stables all set up in no time.  Olly very kindly helped us with the set up, and along with our shiny new ladders, this had us done in no time.  Good job too as the midges were out in force and we were very glad to finally be able to shut ourselves away in the lorry for the night!

In the morning we had a really good rehearsal.  Tinker and Casper were both brilliant, and as we were doing our double act I practised the Roman riding through as well.  Walking back towards the tent I was so happy - the whole set up is finally (three years down the line!) exactly how I always wanted it.  Everything looks just right, and I'm so glad I put the extra effort in to paint the stables blue and the tent poles red - it was definitely worth it!

Show time soon came around and in we went.  Tinker opened the show and did the first freestyle beautifully, followed by a lovely dance and some fast skipping.  Next up was Casper, and he went really well too!  His maths were good and he was good to vault on too, if a little fast, but much better than last week.  Next were his games, and although he was more interested in eating the grass than fetching his dog toy he did manage it eventually!  Roman riding next, and it went brilliantly!  I did loads on them; lots of jumps, going from one to the other and stands on one leg then the other - it was almost a shame when the music came to an end and I had to stop!  Tinker's turn again with the choreography vaulting, and the crowd had me going all over the place - not an easy freestyle!  We finished with the bridleless vaulting on Tinker and once again he was superb, I really cannot ever fault him.  The audience were absolutely fantastic all the way through, cheering , laughing and clapping along, we couldn't have asked for more.

In fact, we were looked after brilliantly all day long.  Soon after the show Helen (the organiser) bought us over three platefuls of sandwiches and cakes, as well as cartons of orange juice - none of which lasted very long!  Absolutely everybody we met and talked to were so friendly and interested in the show and the horses it really was a delight, and we stayed chatting to people for a good hour following the show.  This booking had been three years in the making, what with other bookings and cancellations getting in the way, but it was definitely worth it!  I've been in email correspondence with Helen all this time and was so glad to finally put a face to the name, and will absolutely now count her as a friend.  We were sorry to pack up and leave, but we soon did and were on our way again.  Luckily the drive home went a lot quicker, and we were back in under four hours, even with a fuel stop.

We're back off up North again this Friday (but the M1 this time, hopefully it'll be better than the M6 was !) ready for Ackworth Gala on Saturday.  I'll let you know how we get on, but in the meantime you can see a few photos from Todmorden Show here.

Love Rosie 

NB: I received the most wonderful thank you letter through the post this morning from Helen.  It's always nice to know the show organisers are happy, but this was above and beyond and bought a tear to my eye!