Royal Highland Show 2017 - #2 Welsh Ponies, Cobs and Connemaras

 Just along from the Highlands in the main ring, the Welsh Sec Bs, Ds and Connemaras were being shown. We wandered along to the Connies first, but by then I'd managed to get my camera working again so we doubled back to see the smaller ponies.

Unexpectedly there was a collective 'awwww!' when this gorgeous little foal stepped into the ring.

I always love watching the Welsh ponies as they seem so much more fizzy and excitable in hand than the Highlands. They also come in a huge range of colours, and I'm always interested to see the more dramatically marked ones.

The handler of this lovely pony was just as striking in her pink tweed - a far cry from the traditional greens and browns you usually see in the showring!

The traditional single braid behind the ear...

Because I go to the show every year and usually on the same day, I've started to recognise particular horses and their handlers, as many manage to qualify for the same class. I recognised this woman instantly, but not her pony - the gorgeous Cadlanvalley Georgie Boy was nowhere to be seen.

This year's entry seemed no less excited by the experience and seemed to have just as much personality as the older stallion!

They didn't do too badly either!

I really loved this mare - so many mismarks!

Not to mention the most adorable little foal which was just beginning to lose its foal fluff!

It had already started greying out and gah, just look at that face! 😍

I think those red trainers were prophetic - they match his rosette!

The Welsh Cobs/Sec Ds were no less appealing, and I was fair taken by this gorgeous chestnut.

This one managed to get loose at one point and his rather flamboyantly attired handler had to rush over and catch him before he did himself or anyone else any damage!

 The judges  were easy to spot - Magda described them as looking like ‘sentient sleeping bags’  which  was hilariously accurate when the wind picked up and their big  coats  were billowing everywhere.

I loved these two's colour - pangare ftw!

One particular stallion stood out from the rest and eventually won his class. I looked him up just now and he's called Llanarth Fiery Jack - a very apt name, as you'll soon see!

 

He was one of those horses who's constantly fidgeting, and once he won the class, this only got worse. He bunny hopped if asked to stand still for more than a minute, and you should have seen him getting his sash put on!

When it came to the lap of honour, he got in very close to the barrier, and after unceremoniously shoving his handler into it near the top, managed to actually dismantle part of it on the way down!

It was only lightweight plastic and no one was hurt, but it must have been somewhat embarrassing!

I discovered that Nigel worked better when I took a flurry of photos at a time, so I was able to turn it into a gif! (and it isn't the last one I made either)

There didn't appear to be any real malice or pain involved, just excitement, and all in all I thought him to have been a very worthy winner - a far cry from a rather overweight stallion who'd won a few years ago.

Next up, assorted ponies, then onto the Clydesdales!