Great Yorkshire Show

I go to the show every year. I used to compete in the Welsh Cob ridden classes, but was never placed. Frankie is very much a 'performance' built boy, and despite having a multi-championship winner for a sire and a very nice mother, he's a bit long backed, a bit long-legged, has a wall eye, and in those days, was quite lean for a Welsh, as we did plenty of jumping, cross country and general hacking and galloping around. Although he has stunning paces and loved the atmosphere of a big ring, he was never a match for the rounder, crested cobs who were taller, bulkier and more 'typey'. But I wasn't too bothered. We mainly went for the fun, and because he did a good show and it was good experience to compete in front of bigger crowds. I think i'd baulk at doing it now, knowing how he is not the right 'type'. Workers was much more our thing.

Anyway, this year was the first year of a 'retrained racehorse' class. Immediately I thought of Luke! The examples of TB forward ranged from tiny ex flat horses aged 5 who went well and regularly showed as riding horses (and won) to 19 year old pros who did a bit of everything and went maturely, to horses who people had clearly just entered through the qualification criteria that their horse that they had probably never ridden in a ring full of other horses and had to hand gallop, had raced twice as a two year old, or whatever. There were so many joggers, half-rearers, those going round with their heads in the air, riders showing in half chaps, synthetic saddles, no continuity between tweed or black jackets. Basically, Luke wouldn't have been an embarrassment in there.

Unfortunately when I showed, these classes were very rare, otherwise i'd have been keen to have a go. Luke has lovely conformation and paces, although i have no idea how he'd react to the crowds. He'll be 21 next year, but this year's second place was 19...

The whole thing, combined with meeting old friends and hearing their stories made me miss living with horses even more acutely.

I'd love to start again, or at least get the boys fit, possibly have them front-shod, and just get back to riding regularly. I'd love to do some smaller shows with Jack, and maybe get Frankie out and about in veteran classes now he's 18, something I cannot quite believe.

It's something to look forward to anyway, with a bit of luck and hope.