But what can I say BAHPAC/BAC was the best weekend of my life and we had some amazing results. So we set off rather excited on Friday morning around 11am in our new lorry Tiger walked straight in without any problems I think he was thinking 'finally they've got me some decent transport' haha. It took us the grand total of 5 hours to get there and once there we settled Tiger into his stable and I checked out the venue, I was very impressed it was fantastic and everyone was extremely friendly and helpful and the schools were fantastic, I especially liked how they allowed us to warm up in the indoor so the horses got used to the atmosphere and gave us riders some peace of mind.
Saturday was the first day and after a freezing cold night I got up around 6am to feed and start working in Tiger, he was very calm and relaxed and warmed up nicely in his exercise rug which he usually hates but I think he was feeling the cold also so was relieved to have the extra layers.
Our first class was the inhand geldings and stallions and had 20 entered, unfortunately for me Tiger was in ridden mode and didn't feel the need to prance around and pull pretty faces so instead he marched round with his ears flat back and occasionally trying to take bites out of me, so we weren't placed although I was rather glad after finding out the judging was in the long format where you come back for an evening performance for each class finalists to be judged, oh and before I forget I want to congratulate the people who were in the lorry next door to us on their win in that class and also for winning the championship, certainly and journey worth making! Next was the young handlers I haven't done a young handlers class all year but I felt I needed to make the most of them as it will be my last year next year! Tiger went much better in this class than he did in the previous one I think he realized that it is actually quite fun although still refused to smile for the judge, we must have done something right though as we WON it!!! Yipeeee... what a good boy, although it took a while to get Tiger to smile for the camera!
After quickly rushing back to the lorry for a costume change and back in the ring for the young riders we went, although Tiger was desperate for a wee so he was getting rather stroppy about keep having to canter round due to the sheer amount of us in the class! Luckily he managed to keep a lid on it and behaved himself earning ourselves a place in the final 6!!! Although we didn't have chance for a break as we were BACK in the ring again in a matter of minutes for the ridden geldings which again was full of top quality horses. Tiger was very well behaved again, apart from a spook with the judge he went well, although due to the spook I wasn't expecting to get into the final 6 as it seemed nearly all the horses went amazingly for the judge and he certainly had a hard decision, although much to my surprise we were called out 6th of the final 6 I couldn't have been happier although it did mean MORE work for Tiger! A quick hour break allow Tiger to have a quick rest, and a wee! and me to have some lunch before we were back in for the 'evening performance' and final judging, this was a chance to dress up although I didn't have any fancy clothes so was the only one still in the tweed and tie haha although didn't seem to make much difference to the result, we came 5th in the Young Rider class which I was very pleased about and then I couldn't of been happier in the ridden geldings where we came 4th!!!! Woooo!!!
That evening I think both me and Tiger earnt our dinner and sleep. Sunday was the day of the British Arabian Champs and in with the big boys (ie the pros HAHA) Tiger was very tired still so just warmed up gently. There were 24 geldings entered in the Ridden Geldings class and luckily it was spilt into 2 classes of 12 and I was in the second class, Tiger was extremely good for me and did a great gallop and went really well for the judge, we then had to go to the out door arena for the conformation judging Tiger was very happy in this arena and with plenty of things for him to look at he stood up nicely for the judge and smiled with a little help from polos might I add!!! We got through to the final 8 which I was so happy about although it meant another final judging without 'all the gear' but my nan and grandad kindly offered to take me to the local tack shop to see if I could pick up a cheap blue jacket and stock, and we did blue jacket and stock for £35 bargin!!! oh I also spent about £10 on garlic licks and treats for Tiger though so he wasn't left out!!! I was very excited about the afternoon performance and getting dressed up properly this time I felt very posh que grandparents taking lots of pictures and inappropriate and unattractive times HA HA. So time had come I was very nervous as the first lot of geldings came out I congratulated everyone, I noticed all the posh big rosettes although they only went down to 5th so my aim was to at least come 5th!!! Tiger was PERFECT going round all together I was so proud and couldn't stop smiling, although I was still nervous about our individual as thats where everything usually goes wrong haha I was 2nd to last to go so watched everyone elses which all seemed polished and professional I was tempted to show off some of our dressage movements including flying changes and half pass although felt these were far to risky on a horse that likes to have some fun right at the wrong moments so I decided to play it safe and do a simple figure of 8 in trot and canter with simple changes and a rein back at the end, Tiger did a lovely individual apart from breaking into a stride of canter as I asked for medium trot across the diagonal- it's always the easy things! But my nervous were obviously turning into mixed messages and Tiger kind of took over and went lovely showing me how it's done, I would say and just allowed me to sit there and look pretty but I have watched the video back and I wouldn't say I looked pretty at all haha at least Tiger did, even with his rather wonky quarter marks! After our mistake I was nervous and felt I had lost my amibition of at least coming 5th but much to my amazement I had come 5th!!! I was over the moon and couldn't have been happier with him, and I got my big rosette I was after!!! And I think Tiger got the mountains of treats he was after haha!I couldn't have asked for more from him over the weekend he was perfect, and just before I got ready to go home I decided to put on all my rosettes and pose for a photo, I had 9 rosettes in total, what a way to end a season!!!
I have already set myself an ambition for next season, to win a sash and to compete in a working hunter class!!! Can't wait!!!
