*EDIT* Added to dressage ring for the flat work, if thats ok  

I;m soo bad for flexing with a long rein, haha I know a few people that would kill me for it but it works!

I know generally on JMR your meant not to ride a novel just to save the judges, but I know my competing is quite different to the american\canadian across the pond so thought I’d write a bit on it, as I know some of you like to read it, but  really, ya don’t have to read it.   ^_^ 

Hey guys! Well i’ve had a busy weekend, competing in the 1m and 1.1m at premier ponies on saturday (picture 2 and 3) getting a clear round in the 1m (over here 148cm only jump-off in 1.1m+) as well as placing 2nd in the 1.1m against about 30 people, including a european gold medalist for children on horses and some top local show jumpers, so i was well pleased as i’m generally youngest in the class (im gonna be riding blue until im 16, so long time yet ) I missed out on 1st by .5 of a second!

Then pictures 1 and 4 is a grade 1 (in connies you can have grade 1 and 2, grade 1 is best) Connemara mare, she’s 13 and a complete stunner! Her rider is a bit nervous and Western Star (Sally) likes to take the piss (‘cuse the language!) with her rider, by running out dirtily at the last stride when there is an fillers, just because she can. But really she is an AMAZING jumper, and she’s my perfect ride, you have to really drive her to the fence, flexing your left rein (she always runs out right) and when she jumps its just BOOOMMMM. She sounds horrible to some, but I swear, I love her! and  she’s a beautiful forward going canter too. The first time i rode her I jumped a 1m puissance on her, I think her owner has a video, but its the biggest she’s known to of jumped, and let me tell you she had no problem over it!

So yes, that is her, the bay. On Sunday then, we went to a small agricultural show – you know the likes, with baking, art, crafts, livestock, horses etc?- We got  two 2nds and a 1st. But to be honest, the first 2nd should of been a first. The show hunter (Wiki says you call this Flat\Hack classes sorry if I’m mistaken but I’ve no clue!) is pretty much based on a pretty hunting pony. And western star was BEAUTIFUL. On the bit the whole time. The class was only us and another girl, who is BIG into the showing, like going down the furthest end of the country for a show. The 2 ponies were evenly matched, but when the first place winner could had to boot her pony to make him canter, you have to wonder, is it because the pony’s owner is the shows organiser? Anyway, that is rather mean, and I was soo happy with how Sally went,  so moving on.

Now we want to get her a few more manners while jumping fillers, and to do some Working hunters with her. Her owners loves to see her out and about, and her family is happy to bring her places, they are all such lovely people, and really enjoy it! We want to try and qualify Sally as a serious competitor for the national working hunter championships in April.

Then on Monday (its a bank holiday here) We had a huge agri show. Because of the wet horrible weather they canceled the SJ on the thursday so mom decided to enter my donkey (A.K.A Blue!) Into a showing class. Now sorry to blue, but although he has such a lovely ISH head, he just doesnt work. We got in 4th out of 6th though. Then we rushed down to the SJ, which was announced would still go ahead, just the day before the show. The warm up was TINY and I mean it, It was like turn for the warm up jump 2 strides jump 2 strides, whats that 12 feet per stride x 4. 48 feet is 16 meters, it was like a 16mx20m arena, that had been soo churned up by the 10 classes before mine, it was horrible!

Anyways though, we managed to get a clear 1m round without much of a warmup (only 4 clears including me out of like 1o competitors – its a huge week show this week, and most riders were saving their best ponies, as this show is known to be very mucky!- and even won the cup- its my first cup and I was soo pleased!

I think blue was quite tired when it came to the 1.1m after a day of trotting around trying to get his head down (didnt work, my nerves got to him! Never nervous jumping, but make me show on Blue, uh oh!) and we got 3 poles down. I didnt mind to be honest, a girl I compete with (fab rider) had a run out, which isnt normal at our level, the ponies were off form, because of 1) such a crap warm-up and in my case 2) tired Blue.

So thanks to all my FAB readers, I swear since Janaury I have come on soo much, and even though I dont go on JMR so much anymore – I still think I drowned you a bit with my photos when I post!- I love JMR and what it does. And even though it’s pretty scary for a european like me, who comes from somewhere no one would know\care about equitation, its pretty daunting posting photos, but really, y’all are all soo nice, and if anyone wants me at their barn\stables when I’m 16, I’ll be happy to come along XD

And I hope ya’ll like my “riding journey” from hunting to show jumping this year, and may it continue!

AND one last thing, If you actually read all this, IRISH COOKIES TO YOU! 

Haha Dont judge this one! What happens when Roisin gets more than a little left behind when Blue takes off, she throws her hands up. I can’t bear catching him!