Royal Highland Show 2014 - Part 7 - Working Hunter Pony

I took millions of photos as usual, all of which can be found here. As ever, feel free to take and use as reference, just remember to credit!

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 I love watching Working Hunter Pony classes for several reasons. 

1. Ponies.

2. Ponies jumping.

3. Ponies + jumping = much entertainment and good photographical opportunities. :3

I certainly wasn't disappointed this year - the standard of jumping was very high, although the spills did rather outnumber the thrills for a while!

Take this for example. When approaching the second part of a combination, this pony adopted the traditional 'AW HELL NAW' expression common to many ponies when faced with a novelty dachshund and kennel underneath a jump, and immediately started cantering sideways.

Thanks to a brilliant bit of riding by the girl, he was encouraged forwards without running out and went on to jump it cleanly.

I didn't get photos of this one as my memory cards were full, but there was one round that really made me laugh. The pony refused the second fence so the rider used every trick in the book to get him over it a second time. This mostly involved growling and shouting the old favourites of 'GITOWAAAN', 'Hyyyyyuuuuuppp!' and 'Grrrrrraaarrrfffhhhh' at literally every fence. It was like watching a pantomime, so much so that when they left the ring, the commentator referred to it as a 'very vocal round' XD
Also, is this just a horsey person thing or do spectators at other sports try to join in from afar? Only, I found myself doing it too - clicking and hissing under your tongue as if to encourage the horse forward. Several people standing next to me were doing it every time a pony looked ready to refuse!

Not quite so graceful, lol.



Sarum Jester was up next and I watched him enter the ring with great anticipation.






He was still doing that lip thing. XD







I can't remember exactly how he did but after checking the results I can confirm that they came second overall, hooray! :D












Another lovely roan I remember from previous years.







The exmoor pair didn't have such a good round. After putting in  a lacklustre refusal at the first fence, they popped over it second time round ok.





The next few fences went without a hitch, even taking the spooky dachshund fence in his stride.



A second refusal came at the ninth, where several other ponies had also come a cropper. They circled round, the rider kicked on...



...and once again the pony decided he didn't fancy it, only this time, he was serious!



Literally seconds after that photo, he did this. As someone standing behind me was heard to remark: 'Bloody typical Exmoor, that!' XD











Oh look, it's the Prettiest Pony In The World Ever! (tm) (Otherwise known as Laitheill Savannah :P)









I don't think he won anything other than my admiration but it certainly was lovely to see him in action.

Finally, I'll end my RHS coverage with that nice chunky cob from the previous post who, after jumping really well all round...



...took exception to one fence, dumped his rider and then went off for a casual trot around the paddock, tripping over his reins and looking very confused.



One of the stewards caught him in the end but not after he'd had a good wee run around!  XD


Anyway, that's all from the RHS this year - as I've said on every post, I have a LOT more photos up on flickr so please do check them out if you've liked what you've seen here.