END OF A GREAT YEAR
by Pam Edwards of PGES Arabians |
2006 was the best year for me in showring, so far. Lots of red rosettes and two Hoys tickets for my two homebred horses, Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba) and Shakirah (Nazdrowie x Fiaba).
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Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba) at Edenbridge and Oxted Show, with owner/breeder, Pam Edwards, ridden by Victoria Ayling Photo: Equinational
Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba)
at Hoys, ridden by Victoria Ayling
Photo: Real Time Imaging |
Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba) made it to Hoys by the skin of his teeth. Only eight weeks before the show, he unbelievably knocked himself out in the stable! This was when one of my grooms turned out his best friend Pharaoh by mistake and left Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba) behind. We think he must have reared up in a panic and hit his head on the wall. I found him propped up against the wall unable to move. We called out an emergency vet and thanks to his knowledge, of having seen a horse at polo knocked out with a mallet during a game, he knew just what to do. He inserted a drip in his neck, of a certain drug, and turned to me saying ‘if he doesn’t respond in half an hour there will be no hope’!
God’s will, he came round and by the end of the day was nearly 100 percent. I send my many grateful thanks to Murray Shotter, of Shotters and Byers. I cannot thank him enough. That was the reason for my absence at the Nationals.
Well within two weeks, Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba) went out to win the Cranleigh Show and became Reserve Champion. Two weeks further on he won the Edenbridge and Oxted Show.
Only Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba) could do that! I thought the stable was the only place a horse was safe. Wrong!
Unfortunately, Charis (WSA Charisma x Fiaba) did not get a place a Hoys but he behaved impeccably and I have to be pleased with him because he is the spookier of the two. As the Hoys commentator said, ‘…all the horses, here today, are all winners’, I think everyone who qualified should give themselves a pat on the back for going, place or no place.
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However Shakirah (Nazdrowie x Fiaba) came up tops for me when she was placed 7th out of 9 places, 14 entrants. If you looked at the ridden marks, she had the third highest score (44). The First place only had 47. The inhand mark let her down on conformation (I can’t think why, as most people think she is stunning) and this brought her to seventh place. I am over the moon with a place but can’t help thinking where she could have come had she got a slightly higher conformation mark. Never mind I am not the only one; there were a least three entrants that came in the first six who had a low conformation mark. There was also one that came in the first six who have a low ride mark and an extremely high conformation mark. I would be interested to know if other entrants feel the same. Maybe there should be two prizes one for ridden (which is what the competition is about) and one for conformation.
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Shakirah (Nazdrowie x Fiaba)
at Hoys, ridden by Victoria Ayling
Photo by: Real Time Imaging |
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Shakirah (Nazdrowie x Fiaba) absolutely loved Hoys and her behaviour was flawless throughout. She stood still in line and even coped with the clapping. What a star! Anyway I had a fabulous time at Hoys, an awesome and great experience. Can’t wait for 2007.
A big thank you to Victoria Ayling for all she has achieved with my two and also Fiona Gair, who tirelessly works them in at shows and does the gutsy bit of hacking them out |
