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| Saturday the 3rd of October 2009 saw us doing a 10 1/2 hour drive to Strathalbyn with the horse float and Billara Beersheba and CM Killarnie Ceilidh in tow! Why? Because Sunday the 4th of October 2009 was perhaps one of the best organised, well run shows that we have been to - The Stallions At Stud Southern Equestrian Show, held at the Strathalbyn Polo Club Grounds and run by the SA Pinto Association. We would like to publicly thank the organisers for planning such a wonderfully run show and the huge efforts they put into every little detail of the day! It was our first time attending this particular show and we were so impressed that we will DEFINITELY be back next year should Stacey and the other organisers wish to put themselves through it all again! At left and Below, you can see Billara Beersheba all plaited up and with his traditional showing attire for Cleveland Bay Stallions - thanks to Janet Spencer from Coe End Farm in the UK for selling us her gear!! A huge thankyou must go to Kerri Law who plaited the two of them up for us so beautifully as well. |
| As I am unable to stand for long without passing out, Kerri kindly offered to plait for us which was very much appreciated. The poor thing was so busy with plaiting up for other people as well as stewarding for the entire day! She was run off her feet the whole time and I am sure was just exhausted when she finally got home! |
| Special Thanks must also go to Brian and Tanya Riddle, along with their son Adrian and his partner Bec who came along to help us out - Brian led Ceilidh for us in all of her events and dealt with her all day. Tanya, Adrian and Bec helped me out with moving chairs and whatnot. |
| Bill could have done with about another 150kg in weight on him - however he is 'working fit' and looks like a racehorse in work at the moment as he has been in the paddock serving mares for the last couple of months. |
| We realised when we got to the show that Bills harness didnt quite fit him and didnt have a hole punch with us - so he went in with it all a little large. It is perfect as it is for the two bigger stallions. Ceilidh was really well behaved for Brian - she has not seen a show ring for just over 5 years, and hasnt seen a horse float for about the same length of time, let alone been out in public or scrubbed up for a show! |
| It was as if she had never been away from 'the scene' at all and she just did what she was asked for the entire day with no worries whatsoever. She is such a darling mare, and we are looking forward to her 5th foal which is due in February 2010. Ceilidh won her Cleveland Bay Mare class, and went on to be awarded Reserve Champion Cleveland Bay. |
| Bill was pretty good considering this was his second ever outing, and there were girls in season all over the grounds, other stallions and he has been in serving mares til the day before the show.... He was a bit fidgety, but kept himself reasonably well behaved for the better part of the day. He did have a couple of 'that was a bit naughty' moments, but was not too bad overall. |
| At left Bill is showing his objection to being flicked lightly with the end of the dressage whip... He thought he would hurry up in his OWN time thankyou very much, NOT when Craig asked him to! He was sadly mistaken. |
| Bill won his Led Warmblood Stallion Class, and placed well in the other classes he was in in both the Cleveland Bay and Warmblood Classes. Ceilidh did the same - we were very happy with how the day went. Bill and Craig had to make a dash for a class on the other side of the oval at one point, so he cantered along nicely while Craig sprinted! |
| Above you can see: Craig and Billara Beersheba, Brian and CM Killarnie Ceilidh, Kath Hurrell and Lyndsworth (CBSH Gelding) and Nikki Chadburn with Pine Country Reznor (CBSH Gelding). At left: Brian Riddle with CM Killarnie Ceilidh and her Reserve Champion Cleveland Bay rosette, Kath Hurrell and her gorgeous boy, Lyndsworth and their Champion CB and then SUPREME Cleveland Bay exhibit for the day with judge Steven Brewster. Lyndsworth is a beautiful example of a Cleveland Bay Sporthorse and Kath should be very proud of him. |
| Above: Lyndsworth and Kath Hurrell Above Right: Nikki Chadburn and Pine Country Reznor who is also a beautiful boy and did quite well in all his classes. Right: Brian and Ceilidh in the lineup for Champion and Reserve Champion for the Warmblood Class - she just missed out on this one! Below: Craig, Kerry Jervis, Brian and Tanya Riddle. Kerry organised a gorgeous basket to raffle for the SA CB Promotional Group - which we won! |
| We wandered over to the SA Equine Forum classes where Craig was entered but didnt end up competing in his Rider Class.... The judging had been done and the champion and reserve given out, and Craig was talked into getting on Shaye Williams' gelding, Dusty - I think it was to provide everyone with a laugh more than anything. So after protest and then the Judge even egging him on to just get on with what he had on, and being offered a horse and a helmet (his gear was back at the ute), he was given a little workout and then a 'Special Award' - which caused great amusement for everyone watching. Craig now thinks hes very 'special' - and is happy to tell everyone so! Then he had a chat with another friends Miniature Donkey named Daisy. |
| Daisy wasnt so keen on having Craig kiss her though.... Pictured at right are Lyn (Daisys owner), Caroline, Craig, Michelle Perry from Brynmor Stud, and Jessie (Carolines daughter) and of course Daisy. |
| Although tiring, it was a great weekend and it was wonderful to see so many horses turniing out and looking amazing and their owners having FUN at the same time! We are off to Kapunda on the 10th for a show on the 11th of October! |