My two older foals had their first day out today. I thought I would take them down to the local hacking gymkhana just for a nice relaxing look around. I don't believe their first exposure to the show scene should be on the day of a big show when I am stressed out, making them worse!!
Diva and Holly were little angels, they can still be stubborn to lead sometimes at home but they didn't put a foot wrong at the showground, my non-horsey hubby even had them trotting nicely on the lead and normally they won't do anything for him lol. I decided to enter them in a couple of novelty classes each in the beginner ring (this is a HACKING gymkhana, so there were no other suitable classes!!)
The beginner ring was very popular with around 20-odd horses and ponies there, probably 15 to 18 in each novelty class. I wasn't there for the ribbons, but I am very proud to say that the girls brought home some!
Diva:
1st Most Adorable
2nd Best Standing Horse/Pony
Holly:
1st Silkiest Softest Coat
Also went in Best Presented
Being surrounded by the nice quiet horses and ponies in the beginner ring was a good experience for them, as was having all the little kids swooning all over them!!! They were only out for around 2 hours, and we only live a few kms away, so they were straight back home to their Mums and it really was a pleasant day out for everyone.