Entires are in for a busy weekend at the SWSJC for the Discovery Regional Final now all we need is the weather to arrive bright and early Friday morning and remain until Sunday!!!
Fingers crossed its not cancelled due to the lovely British weather as on our last attempt at getting to the Regional Final the lorry broke down so we'll try again hopefully with more success. Picnic feels on form and jumping well so we will have to wait see what Picnic comes out the lorry on Friday - hopefully the rosette winning one as we'd like to qualify for Scope over the weekend as well... watch this space!!!
Friday
ShowJumpingShire shows a dislike to rustic fences
17 June 2012 - Area 42 show was held at West Wilts Equestrian Centre in the new outdoor arena. This is the first time we've been to West Wilts in a very long time and the new warm up and main arena have a superb surface and set of show jumps we'd highly recommend!
The day did not go quite to plan and Picnic decided that it was about time she showed some 'personality'. First a bit of background as to why Picnic did not want to play ball:
The previous day while out showjumping at Wales and West we were approached to ask if Picnic competes in Maxi Cobs and Hunters? The lady was really impressed by how well she jumped she thought her 'type' was ideal. Now we are used to by now seeing surprised expressions when Picnic jumps and looks 'athletic' but this is a first to be thought of as a showing horse!
So we entered the Scope 1m Qualifier, the course started really well and Picnic felt on form but then... Fence 4 was a rustic, now Picnic has jumped rustics many times before and really is a horse that doesn't stop so when she put the anchors on and shot off to the left it was quite a surprise, even more so when re-presented to it she popped over and continued the course clear as if nothing had happened!!! Attached is the video of our round
Putting that class to one side I thought we'd enter the next class as she was jumping really well and keen. Once again the round started well and approached in much more collected canter into the rustic to make sure we didn't have a repeat performance - how wrong could I be??? This time she took it on then put back down ducking into the bottom of it, slightly unseated but still on board I politely told her off before our 2nd attempt, and again popped over and completed the course jumping all combinations and more spooky fences!
The day did not go quite to plan and Picnic decided that it was about time she showed some 'personality'. First a bit of background as to why Picnic did not want to play ball:
The previous day while out showjumping at Wales and West we were approached to ask if Picnic competes in Maxi Cobs and Hunters? The lady was really impressed by how well she jumped she thought her 'type' was ideal. Now we are used to by now seeing surprised expressions when Picnic jumps and looks 'athletic' but this is a first to be thought of as a showing horse!
So we entered the Scope 1m Qualifier, the course started really well and Picnic felt on form but then... Fence 4 was a rustic, now Picnic has jumped rustics many times before and really is a horse that doesn't stop so when she put the anchors on and shot off to the left it was quite a surprise, even more so when re-presented to it she popped over and continued the course clear as if nothing had happened!!! Attached is the video of our round
Putting that class to one side I thought we'd enter the next class as she was jumping really well and keen. Once again the round started well and approached in much more collected canter into the rustic to make sure we didn't have a repeat performance - how wrong could I be??? This time she took it on then put back down ducking into the bottom of it, slightly unseated but still on board I politely told her off before our 2nd attempt, and again popped over and completed the course jumping all combinations and more spooky fences!
After wondering why it suddenly occured to me Picnic was just proving her point that she would not make a very good working hunter or maxi cob by refusing rustic fences!!! Thanks for clarifying that Picnic.
Thursday
Tuesday
June 2012 ShowJumpingShire gets a place on the Wiltshire Team
Picnic was one of the horses selected to represent Wiltshire at the National Team Jumping Qualifier at Wales and West.
16 June 2012 Wiltshire had two teams entered for the qualifer and the rain was torrential! Thankfully it eased off as the day went on but we all got very wet.
The first team won the competition in style with a superb jump off and have qualified for the final at Scope!!!
Our team all jumped well and finished as a team on 4 faults but we were still in the prize giving with a respectable 6th place so a good day for Area 42
16 June 2012 Wiltshire had two teams entered for the qualifer and the rain was torrential! Thankfully it eased off as the day went on but we all got very wet.
The first team won the competition in style with a superb jump off and have qualified for the final at Scope!!!
Our team all jumped well and finished as a team on 4 faults but we were still in the prize giving with a respectable 6th place so a good day for Area 42
May 2012 - ShowJumpingShire attends Royal Windsor Horse Show
We entered for the Instructors Challenge Accumulator class which was a lot of fun, even though the weather was awful and more mud than I've ever seen - getting towed in and out with the lorry!
I think the atmosphere was all too much for a Picnic to take as the arena was so big there was too much space for her to lose concentration between fences and argue - we decided to take on the rather large skinny joker fence to clear it then hear the awwwww from the crowd as her toe clipped it and it rolled to the floor, ummm judging by the noise of awwws there was no need to look round! Once again it was a first time learning experience for both of us and we will no doubt be back to try again next year!
I think the atmosphere was all too much for a Picnic to take as the arena was so big there was too much space for her to lose concentration between fences and argue - we decided to take on the rather large skinny joker fence to clear it then hear the awwwww from the crowd as her toe clipped it and it rolled to the floor, ummm judging by the noise of awwws there was no need to look round! Once again it was a first time learning experience for both of us and we will no doubt be back to try again next year!
Apr 2012 - Showjumping Shire attends Blue Chip Championships
So Picnic and the faithful hound (Ranger) set off for Hartpury Arena to spend two days jumping in the international arena.
The arena looked fantastic with all the trade stands, drapes and well designed courses, I was very excited walking the course the first night while Picnic was tucked up in her stable ready for a 7am class start of 150 competitors!!!
Day one - We got into the jump off which was a real buzz as the arena was so spooky I wasn't sure quite what Picnic would think, we had a few moments when coffee perculators went off and scary horseboxes were parked in the arena but we got round only to have the 2nd from last fence down in the jump off.
Day two - Picnic was very distracted and she was a little big for her boots charging round like a bull in a china shop, amazingly we got round but did take a pole or two with us. The main achievement was getting through the tunnel entrance as she nearly took half the arena party out making a sharp reverse manouver!
We were still over the moon to have got to the Blue Chip Championships - theres always next year!
The arena looked fantastic with all the trade stands, drapes and well designed courses, I was very excited walking the course the first night while Picnic was tucked up in her stable ready for a 7am class start of 150 competitors!!!
Day one - We got into the jump off which was a real buzz as the arena was so spooky I wasn't sure quite what Picnic would think, we had a few moments when coffee perculators went off and scary horseboxes were parked in the arena but we got round only to have the 2nd from last fence down in the jump off.
Day two - Picnic was very distracted and she was a little big for her boots charging round like a bull in a china shop, amazingly we got round but did take a pole or two with us. The main achievement was getting through the tunnel entrance as she nearly took half the arena party out making a sharp reverse manouver!
We were still over the moon to have got to the Blue Chip Championships - theres always next year!
Jan 2012 - ShowjumpingShire qualifies for Blue Chip
Out of a huge class of about 80 competitors Picnic jumped a fantastic first round to get into the jump off to land 2nd place at Berkshire College!!!
YouTube video link - Berkshire College Blue Chip Discovery Jump Off
We also had a great outing at Merrist Wood trying to qualify for another Blue Chip class but narrowly missed out with 4 faults and there were very few clears! Picnic jumped a fantastic round as the jump off was full up max height of 1.20m
YouTube video link - Berkshire College Blue Chip Discovery Jump Off
We also had a great outing at Merrist Wood trying to qualify for another Blue Chip class but narrowly missed out with 4 faults and there were very few clears! Picnic jumped a fantastic round as the jump off was full up max height of 1.20m
YouTube video link- Merrist Wood 1.05m Speed Class
YouTube video link - Merrist Wood Blue Chip Power qualifier
Showjumping Shire attends Scope Festival
A great time was had and the British weather was just as good for the three days we spent in Stafford.
Although no prizes were won a great experience was had and every round we jumped felt better and better - we were just cursed by 4 faults all week!!!
Although no prizes were won a great experience was had and every round we jumped felt better and better - we were just cursed by 4 faults all week!!!
ShowjumpingShire Qualifies for Scope Festival
Picnic qualified for Scope 1.05m Adventurer at the Area 42 show.
ShowjumpingShire wins her first Newcomers
Somerford Show 2010 - 1st place Newcomers
Luck was on the showjumping shires side when she was the only horse to jump a double clear in the Newcomers class. The last fence on the course was catching everyone out and the jump off looked absolutely huge - even to a Picnic!
To our amazement when a cheer from the crowd developed we realised the last fence was still in place and were the only combination that day to do so, very happy horse and rider to have tackled a 1.20m jump off successfully!!!
Luck was on the showjumping shires side when she was the only horse to jump a double clear in the Newcomers class. The last fence on the course was catching everyone out and the jump off looked absolutely huge - even to a Picnic!To our amazement when a cheer from the crowd developed we realised the last fence was still in place and were the only combination that day to do so, very happy horse and rider to have tackled a 1.20m jump off successfully!!!
Round up of events 2008/9
2008 - 2009
Decision had been made to have a go at affiliated showjumping! Membership cards arrived and 'Picnic' was now known as 'Zara Warrior Princess'
Our First outing was at Summerhouse in Gloucester to enter the British Novice class. A double clear was the aim of the day but after a swift jump off we ended up in 2nd place in a strong class
We ventured to Cheltenham Racecourse to have a go at the Ruxton 1.05m Derby and although we had a few poles down being a bold Shire horse the derby fences posed no challenge!!!
The rest of 2009 we continued to enter the British Novice and Discovery classes for experience and during the winter months got used to the surprised looks when the indoor arenas echoed with the sound of the shire horse footfalls to see the agility of a thoroughbred in the jump offs!!!
Decision had been made to have a go at affiliated showjumping! Membership cards arrived and 'Picnic' was now known as 'Zara Warrior Princess'
We ventured to Cheltenham Racecourse to have a go at the Ruxton 1.05m Derby and although we had a few poles down being a bold Shire horse the derby fences posed no challenge!!!
The rest of 2009 we continued to enter the British Novice and Discovery classes for experience and during the winter months got used to the surprised looks when the indoor arenas echoed with the sound of the shire horse footfalls to see the agility of a thoroughbred in the jump offs!!!Monday
A brief introduction
The showjumpingshire, otherwise known as 'Picnic', a Shire x TB mare with a great personality and plenty of attitude!
Picnic began showjumping in 2008 and had little previous experience and very low mileage. She was bought as a project horse to have some fun on in 2007 and did various unaffiliated activities. Dressage was never her strong point due to her nosiness and general short attention span, this also ruled out eventing as even though she'd jump double clear the dressage score added with time faults (shires weren't bred to gallop) meant we were never really in with a chance. However showjumping seemed to suit her as she had scope, agility and power with an attitude in the ring - However Picnics are quite temperamental!!!
So Picnic turned her hoof to showjumping (with her owner) both had never ridden affiliated before so after deciding showjumping was a path they'd like to take they started affialited BSJA and have never looked back.
We hope you will enjoy following the showjumpingshire on her adventures in the showjumping world and show that all a horse needs is a big heart and trust in the rider and its amazing what they can achieve.
Picnic began showjumping in 2008 and had little previous experience and very low mileage. She was bought as a project horse to have some fun on in 2007 and did various unaffiliated activities. Dressage was never her strong point due to her nosiness and general short attention span, this also ruled out eventing as even though she'd jump double clear the dressage score added with time faults (shires weren't bred to gallop) meant we were never really in with a chance. However showjumping seemed to suit her as she had scope, agility and power with an attitude in the ring - However Picnics are quite temperamental!!! So Picnic turned her hoof to showjumping (with her owner) both had never ridden affiliated before so after deciding showjumping was a path they'd like to take they started affialited BSJA and have never looked back.
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