The British Appaloosa Society

An introduction from the Junior members co-ordinator

Hi again, this autumn just gone (2009) Benny & I entered into our local Barlow Hunter Trials, its only 3 miles away so it’s nice to have something on your doorstep. 

It is a really hard hunter trial, rough terrain, lots of hills, but we train galloping up and down hills, so it wasn’t a big problem for us! Lots of local people are scared of the trial, don’t know why?  The night before we went to walk the course, lots of turns, big solid fences, no water complex, which I was slightly disappointed at but never the less lots of meaty fences, one had carrots , cabbage and potatoes on the top of it...I pinched a carrot to munch on as I walked the course!

That night I had butterflies, friends were coming to watch us, and I was doing the pairs class with my best friend from pony club, so it was really important to me to do well.  I have so much trust in Benny though I never worry about how he will do, I trust him with my life.

That morning we got Kermit, Brodie & Benny ready, washed and brushed all clean ready to get muddy! I love xc & hunter trials, can’t get enough of them.  When we got there things were running on time which is a bonus.  As we got ready lots of people my Mum knows kept coming and chatting, everyone thinks Benny & Brodie are related... just cos they have spots!!  Claire rode over and we set off to the start, my Mum gets really nervous at my starts, then when I have gone she settles, and funny thing is I get nervous for her when she starts.

I chose to ride in first position, Benny is really reliable, and we were counted down and OFF..... Benny leapt forwards full of spring and we flew over the first line of fences, then a twist downhill with a big drop, to a chair, all on a steep hill, I loved it.  With the wind whistling through my helmet and on my favourite pony, Claire was right behind me on her coloured mare ‘Remi’  back up the hill and a big jump out of the field onto the veg jump, I thought Benny might want a carrot here, but he didn’t he just kept on going ears pricked.  A wall, a long gallop up hill, a turn with combination, tiger traps, pheasant feeders you name it we jumped it, I came down to where the crowd were standing at a corner, a tight one at that, I looked up to my marker and pressed Benny onto it, over we went, big pat for him as we jumped into the woods.  The ground is so undulating; it’s a real test of skill for rider and horse, then over a really wide table top, with plates on it, back to a wall and a gallop to the finish line, all in all 20 jumps.  Boy was it thrilling.  Claire and I ‘high fived’ each other. 

We jumped off the ponies and walked back to the trailer, where we sponged them off, praising and loving them.  We felt so good we were sure we had done well.  As it is on Barlow pony club terrain, and we are from High Peak, we really wanted to do our best; it’s a pony club thing!

Once I had Benny settled I had to do it all again with Mum on Brodie and me on my other pony, Kermit,

Unfortunately Brodie gave a massive leap at the downhill jump, and Mum pulled him up as she wasn’t straight to the chair so we picked up faults, looking back she says she should have just gone for it, but he didn’t half take off, I was behind her and saw it!!

With the last pair to go, we were watching the ‘scores on the doors’ then came the moment, prize giving.

 Mum & I got 5^th and then Claire and I got 1^st place, we were so happy and excited we jumped all over the place, we won £25 between us, buckets, horse treats, brushes, it was great and we beat Barlow pony club.

Later on I got 2^nd with Benny as an individual and 6^th with Kermit; I had such a good day I can’t wait for spring when it happens again.  Mum got 9^th as she was too quick she opened Brodie up too much on the gallop; he is a speed merchant, but they all behaved impeccably and we were so proud of them.  I am now looking forward to spring for some more one day events/hunter trials  with Mum & the boys

Me & Benny at Area pony club 1 day event

A huge thank you to Rosie for this article.

We wish her and Benny best of luck for the 2010 season and look forward to reading her exploits later in the year.

Come on juniors! Let us know what you are getting up to??