Paeroa A&P 15th Jan 2011

Feck it was HOT!!!!!! Feel like I could soak in a cold bath for the next week. Jessie came and picked us up on her way down with Scotty and both boys travelled well. Its the farthest I've travelled Star in a float since I've got him. Hes DEFINATELY getting better with this whole show thing now YIPPY!!!!! Doesnt give a rats arse about the other horses inhand and for this show I decided to ride him in it. Our first ridden A&P aaarrrhhhh. BUT he was a really good boy. No sign of any tanty fits.

Couldnt be fagged taking a photo at the show - just wanted to rehydrate myself and Star, cool down and get home. So thought I better take a photo at the farm before taking his plaits out. All he wanted was his dinner thank you very much.

He ended up coming home with 3 ribbons. Its all dependant on the judge on the day and some you kick butt and others you come home empty. So far he hasnt come home empty at all which is awesome. He got 3rd Gelding 6yrs and over, 2nd Best Head (those two were inhand) and 3rd Best Walking Horse (ridden). We only did 4 classes ridden (one of which was best presented - in which I wasnt 'correct' turnout gear wise compared to others).

The one thing that amazed both Jessie and myself was that there were no 'other' attractions at Paeroa only the horse events. Small towns for you. How many of the A&P's around dont have gate entry fees to pay? Not exactly the most organised show I've been too either.

Next show is Franklin A&P on Sunday 20th Feb, then Kumeu A&P on the 12/13th March and finally will be doing the Easter Show. Will brave the ridden at Franklin and see how we go. Know hes not going to be a superstar in the ridden section but he needs the milage. Star is improving with each show hes going to - oh the joys of having a young horse aye. Have decided not to do the North Island SB Assoc Show in Feb. Starts like 9am and its in Tauranga which means we would either have to drive down the night before and camp out or get up before the sparrows fart - nah dont think so - me like my sleep.

Clevedon A&P Show 2010

We learnt an important lesson today. Doing both Standardbred and Sport Horse and that amount of classes is not a good idea. Dont know who was more nackered - me or Star. Anyway we only entered 2 SB classes and several Sport Horses. Standardbred we got 1st Best Presented and 1st Gelding 6-14yrs. Then we won Champion Adult SB so in for Supreme - and yip we won that too. Hes such a good boy!!!!!

For the sport horse he was getting a little over it by then and so was I. Felt like a very long day. We had entered 6 classes in Sport Horse and wasnt expecting to get anything at all in those so was surprised when we got 3rd in Mare or Gelding registered with Sport Horse Promo Board. Think I have had enough exercise to last me the year.

Next show will be Franklin A&P then maybe Kumeu and the Easter Show.

Winter Woolies Show 2010

Me and Sue decided that we would take the boys along to the Winter Woolies Show in Pukekoke. We decided to go even before it was postponed to give the boys an outing. Spook hasn't been to anything in YEARS!! And for a lad that thinks going on a float is a stupid idea ended up loading well for him and was great to float. Spook came home with several ribbons and did well in the Sport Horse inhand. We decided to do the First Timers ridden section since its been a such a long time for him and also Star just needed some experience with the whole show scene and to be ridden at something like this without blowing his brain cells.

Well I must report back that no he DIDNT blow any brain cells and was very well behave. We even came home with a ton of ribbons and some nice ones too. The photos consist of

- the one with 6 ribbons was for inhand Standardbred and should have been one more red one but didnt realise it was in my other pocket when I took the photo

- the one with 5 ribbons was for the ridden in First Timers ring - yes he behaved so well he got ribbons under saddle.

- my favourite is the other 2 really nice wide ones though which he got for inhand SB - hes such a good boy!!!

METALLICA!!!

Oh ok I know this is meant to be my animal blog but cant resist putting going to the Metallica concert on here. Went to the thursday concert at Vector Arena in Auckland and it was FANTASTIC!! So much for seating concert - dont think anyone at all was seated during the whole show. Enter Sandman just totally rocked!! Pretty sure we drowned out James Hetfield with all of us singing along. Sorry about the crappy photos but they were taken from my basic little phone. The place was a sell out for both nights as you can see by the last photo.

One of Star's party tricks

All horses have their funny little ways and this is one of the things Star finds fun to do when he's bored. Most horses would freak out and pull back if they got their lead rope over their heads - nah not Star - he actually does it on purpose and will have fun playing 'lead rope over head, lead rope normal, lead rope over head, lead rope normal ..........

He also likes playing lets see if we can undo our halter. If he cant succeed doing his own halter the nearest victim will do.

Franklin A&P Show

Sorry didnt get any photos as dopey me forgot not only Stars show bridle but also forgot the camera.

He was such a good boy this time around, relaxed quite quickly and only had a short period of 'oooohhh look' and that was when having sheep races on. He settled down really well and unlike Clevedon we could leave him at the float afterwards while we buggered off and got something to drink and look around. Got back to the float and I'm sure we woke him up from a nap.

Learnt one thing though - dont be in 2 different breed classes that overlap - makes for major juggling and running between rings. We did both Standardbred and Sport Horse. Came home with 2 ribbons (and prize money - love A&P's for that 'grin'). He got 3rd for Gelding 4yrs and over in both Standardbred and Sport Horse. Very pleased with the Sport Horse one!

Thought the judge in the SB ring was never going to finish each class as she took AGES!!! Fun when you are in one ring and looking at the ring beside you and knowing that the next class is yours and judge is slowly making their way half way though the one you are in.

On a whole was very pleased with how he behaved. Definately one of the better ones there. All four legs stayed where they should have been and no dragging me off in all directions like some poor people had.

Clevedon A&P Show

Phew thank goodness thats over. Like our nice big classes? There was 16 in the Standardbred rings at Clevedon so the challenge was on. Star was a good little boy. Very well behaved in the ring (ok we wont mention outside the ring - it was all too exciting - and what are those little tiny horse things over there?). We got 2 2nds. First one was for Best Presented and the other was for Walk/Trot/Halt.

The Judge seemed to have liked the big boofy type of horses and the ones with the more roman nose which we all know Star isnt. The ones that won the 'Best Head' which surely Star should have done well in had the a-typical roman noses and big jug heads. Its all up to what the judge likes on the day isnt it. Even though 8 horses could have been called in for Champion & Reserve only 4 were and Star was one of those so we got pretty close. Hopefully Franklin & Kumeu the judge likes a finer looking horse.

Would also like to thank Candice for doing a lovely job and making his tail look all pretty too