The showjumping was due to begin in the main ring, so we loitered around the big collecting ring for a little while, taking in the competitors warming up.
Showing posts with label Showjumping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Showjumping. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 July 2018
Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Royal Highland Show 2017 - #11 Mini Major
I don't quite understand the rules of the Mini Major class, other than the fact that there are teams of two - a young rider and an adult in the ring at the same time, trying to complete the course as fast as possible one after the other.
What I can tell you though is that it's exhilarating to watch - those ponies can't half shift!
Sunday, 3 July 2016
Royal Highland Show 2016 - #7 - The Most Majestic Floof!
I was going to include this particular pony in the last post but felt he deserved a thread of his own!
Royal Highland Show 2016 - #5 Warmup Ring
I always love watching the warmup ring for the jumping classes often more than the classes themselves as you can get a much better view for the most part!
Monday, 22 June 2015
Royal Highland Show 2015 - Part 5 - Showjumping
I'm not going to lie, this is my favourite thing to photograph.
I'm also not going to lie about the fact that this post is an absolute behemoth so please forgive me, I took a LOT of photos of the jumping and I'm not very good at choosing which ones to post. XD
I'm also not going to lie about the fact that this post is an absolute behemoth so please forgive me, I took a LOT of photos of the jumping and I'm not very good at choosing which ones to post. XD
Sunday, 22 June 2014
Royal Highland Show 2014 - Part 6 - Jumping Warmups
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!
----------------------------
The warmup ring is one of my favourite places to photograph at the RHS. There's always something going on and even if no ones jumping, the ring's position makes for some excellent photographs, especially in the afternoon as the sun hits it at just the right angle. Because I usually shoot with a macro lens, I can't zoom in, which severely limits what I can photograph in the main ring. This place is perfect then, as I can get some good jumping shots from only a few dozen feet away.
Mr Smiley again from last year. :P
All those were taken earlier in the day but when I went back later after lunch, to my delight I found it was full of ponies! They were all warming up for the Working Hunter Pony class which I think, in this instance was for ponies not exceeding 122 cm.
I found another favourite in this group too; a gorgeous little roan welshie called Sarum Jester!
He looked like a really spirited ride and had a habit of flipping his top lip while he careered around the ring - I've never seen anything quite like it before!
This one had really delicate sabino/rabicano ticking all over the place.
I think I've seen this Exmoor here before too...
I thought Sarum Jester was going to take the title of prettiest pony in this group but he was usurped when Laitheill Savannah, a Sec B stallion walked into the ring. My first thought was that someone had found out how to shrink Andalusians.
Unf, what a stunner.
He wasn't just a pretty face either, he could jump too!
Some taller ponies came in about this point to warm up for the bigger classes later on which resulted in even more lovely things to photograph!
...like this absolutely gorgeous buckskin.
This grey's rider kept pushing him into a gallop up the long side for a few strides and you could really see the power behind every movement.
Lovely chunky cob with rabicano. :D
Talk about overdoing it!
XD
Part 7 coming soon!
Monday, 24 June 2013
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Royal Highland Show 2012!
Ok, so it's being posted a week after the fact but I had over 1500 photos to sort through and Flickr was acting up so I only managed to upload the photos last night! XD
I've got over 400 shots on -Flickr- so have a look and feel free to use any as reference for painting or showing or whatnot - just don't claim as your own, yadda yadda etc etc.
Yeah, so I went last Sunday and god, getting there was a right faff and a half. I'd arranged to go with my friend but due to a horrifc communications fail I was halfway to Edinburgh before I discovered that she couldn't make it. This meant I'd have to get the special service bus to the show by myself instead of getting a lift with her, which I'd never done before but I thought that it'd be easy enough to deal with.
I've got over 400 shots on -Flickr- so have a look and feel free to use any as reference for painting or showing or whatnot - just don't claim as your own, yadda yadda etc etc.
Yeah, so I went last Sunday and god, getting there was a right faff and a half. I'd arranged to go with my friend but due to a horrifc communications fail I was halfway to Edinburgh before I discovered that she couldn't make it. This meant I'd have to get the special service bus to the show by myself instead of getting a lift with her, which I'd never done before but I thought that it'd be easy enough to deal with.
To cut a long story short, by the time I actually found the bus (absolutely no signs or information at Waverley station, way to go show organisers) time was already against me. I'd made the mistake of not planning ahead with regards to train times and whatnot so I already knew that I was going to miss rather a few classes but hey, it would be fine though because the bus to the show would only take half an hour or something...right?
Nearly TWO HOURS later I finally arrived at the show.
It was now almost ten past three and the last class started at four. (luckily the showground closed at six so I knew I'd have time for some stuff)
Anyway, I wasn't going to have come all that way for nothing so I gritted my teeth for the entry fee and walked as fast as I could (difficult in the conditions!) to the Showjumping rings where I knew I'd be guaranteed some photos. The weather hadn't been good for the show - all week there'd been nothing but rain and I had expected the worst for Sunday but luckily for me it stayed dry, aside from a couple of brief showers later on. Not that it made much difference when everything looked like this:
Normally I make a beeline for the Highlands and Clydesdales but as most of them would have gone home by now as all their classes were over I didn't bother. I did see this gorgeous big hunk of a horse en route to the SJ though.
It took me a while to get there as I'd managed to arrive just as the Parade of Breeds was going on and all possible paths to the other side of the showground were blocked by a very long queue of cows and bulls of all shapes and sizes.
I got some nice shots.
...some were very flattering...
...others...
...not so much. XD
I have no idea what breed this is but just look at that reverse dappling! He looks like a piece of burr walnut!
The Highlands are my favourites. :D
This one was being really bolshy and just after this photo was taken he half charged into the fence, prompting a typically subdued british 'Oooh!' from the audience while the poor woman at the other end of the leadrope elbowed him in the neck to bring his head round. XD
This little Hereford calf was the most adorable thing ever. ^^
Oh and here's the pipe band doing their thing. :D I know it's going to sound really stereotypical but I absolutely love the bagpipes (when played well, mind) and I wish I'd thought to record some of it as it was really good.
This isn't the same band but they were at the show too so it'll do. :P (not my vid btw)
Not a horse or a cow or whatever but here, have a spaniel in a suitcase. :P
I finally made it to the SJ rings and assumed my usual place on the sidelines, Nigel in hand.
I really like the junior SJ as you always get a really nice selection of ponies in a variety of types and colours. I certainly wasn't disappointed this time and recognised some of my favourites from last year as well as some new faces. I alternated between the actual SJ rounds and the warmup arena a few feet away.
The only thing about this combination I didn't like was just how loose fitting the lad's hat strap was - if he'd fallen off, that helmet would have been of absolutely no use to him. :/
You don't really appreciate the scale of the fences until you see photos! O_O
Some rounds went well...
Others...
...not quite so!
I absolutely loved this bay - such a beautiful rich colour and the navy blue really set it off nicely.
Another beauty was this gorgeous appaloosa who I appear to have taken more photos of than anything else!
I vividly remember this one from last year as being one of two pintaloosas I'd seen at the show - the only two I'd ever seen in my life!
This one (yep, this one AGAIN!) liked to have a buck every now and again.
This pair had a really good start to their round...
...which unfortunately didn't last. :(
They were both ok and I saw them back in the warmup a few minutes later but eeep, that could have been a really nasty incident!
Black horses always look really smart and this one was no exception.
Here's that lovely bay again. (note the helmet still hasn't been fixed. ¬¬)
The winner!
I'm not sure what he's being interviewed for but I think I recognise the guy holding the mic so it might have been for the national news or Countryfile or something.
Right on time the sun came out and oooft, do those horses shine or what? (The bay at the back's my favourite)
Mmmm, dark bay.
(look at this one's withers! O_O)
Between classes I wandered over to the main ring to see the other SJ rounds but it was heaving and as I only had my macro lens with me I couldn't have got close enough to take anything decent so I just stayed in the waiting area for a bit.
Sabinos ftw! :D
I managed to find a space on the far side and got a few shots - the jumps were MASSIVE!
The winner of this class would have been especially pleased as it was the fifth time in six years she'd won it!
Meanwhile, back in the smaller ring, the next and I think last, class had begun. The sun was out and it made for a really exhilarating watch.
LOVE this shot. :D
There were a few refusals and temper tantrums in this class - possibly because the fences had gone up and probably due to the mud as it can't have been fun to canter on.
The little pintaloosa was up next and oooft, could that thing move?!
...and buck!
Sadly if I remember correctly they also put in two refusals and were eliminated. :(
It never fails to amaze me that kids that size can jump that high.
This little pony was a right proper snotty thing - head up, legs skittering about all over the place but it could jump the moon!
Well, when he felt like it. XD
This welshie was brilliant - short choppy strides, arched neck - I think he was channelling the warhorses of old!
He refused one but I think went clear for everything else.
This was the moment she realised she'd won I think. :)
I'll leave you with the lap of honour because after that class it was the end of the show and I trudged back to the bus. XD
More photos -here!-
So yeah, it was pretty much all showjumping and nothing else! XD I didn't mean to post quite so many on here but I know many people won't bother to look at the whole album on flickr so I might as well. :P
I saw an ad for Hopetoun Horse Trials next month - also in Edinburgh - which has cross country so I'm working on my parents to see if they'd be able to take me as I've never seen XC in person before! (There's dressage and showjumping too but it starts at 8am and there's no way I'd be able to get there in time.)
Nearly TWO HOURS later I finally arrived at the show.
It was now almost ten past three and the last class started at four. (luckily the showground closed at six so I knew I'd have time for some stuff)
Anyway, I wasn't going to have come all that way for nothing so I gritted my teeth for the entry fee and walked as fast as I could (difficult in the conditions!) to the Showjumping rings where I knew I'd be guaranteed some photos. The weather hadn't been good for the show - all week there'd been nothing but rain and I had expected the worst for Sunday but luckily for me it stayed dry, aside from a couple of brief showers later on. Not that it made much difference when everything looked like this:
Normally I make a beeline for the Highlands and Clydesdales but as most of them would have gone home by now as all their classes were over I didn't bother. I did see this gorgeous big hunk of a horse en route to the SJ though.
It took me a while to get there as I'd managed to arrive just as the Parade of Breeds was going on and all possible paths to the other side of the showground were blocked by a very long queue of cows and bulls of all shapes and sizes.
I got some nice shots.
...some were very flattering...
...others...
...not so much. XD
I have no idea what breed this is but just look at that reverse dappling! He looks like a piece of burr walnut!
The Highlands are my favourites. :D
This one was being really bolshy and just after this photo was taken he half charged into the fence, prompting a typically subdued british 'Oooh!' from the audience while the poor woman at the other end of the leadrope elbowed him in the neck to bring his head round. XD
This little Hereford calf was the most adorable thing ever. ^^
Oh and here's the pipe band doing their thing. :D I know it's going to sound really stereotypical but I absolutely love the bagpipes (when played well, mind) and I wish I'd thought to record some of it as it was really good.
This isn't the same band but they were at the show too so it'll do. :P (not my vid btw)
Not a horse or a cow or whatever but here, have a spaniel in a suitcase. :P
I finally made it to the SJ rings and assumed my usual place on the sidelines, Nigel in hand.
I really like the junior SJ as you always get a really nice selection of ponies in a variety of types and colours. I certainly wasn't disappointed this time and recognised some of my favourites from last year as well as some new faces. I alternated between the actual SJ rounds and the warmup arena a few feet away.
The only thing about this combination I didn't like was just how loose fitting the lad's hat strap was - if he'd fallen off, that helmet would have been of absolutely no use to him. :/
You don't really appreciate the scale of the fences until you see photos! O_O
Some rounds went well...
...not quite so!
I absolutely loved this bay - such a beautiful rich colour and the navy blue really set it off nicely.
Another beauty was this gorgeous appaloosa who I appear to have taken more photos of than anything else!
I vividly remember this one from last year as being one of two pintaloosas I'd seen at the show - the only two I'd ever seen in my life!
This one (yep, this one AGAIN!) liked to have a buck every now and again.
This pair had a really good start to their round...
...which unfortunately didn't last. :(
They were both ok and I saw them back in the warmup a few minutes later but eeep, that could have been a really nasty incident!
Black horses always look really smart and this one was no exception.
Here's that lovely bay again. (note the helmet still hasn't been fixed. ¬¬)
The winner!
I'm not sure what he's being interviewed for but I think I recognise the guy holding the mic so it might have been for the national news or Countryfile or something.
Right on time the sun came out and oooft, do those horses shine or what? (The bay at the back's my favourite)
Mmmm, dark bay.
(look at this one's withers! O_O)
Between classes I wandered over to the main ring to see the other SJ rounds but it was heaving and as I only had my macro lens with me I couldn't have got close enough to take anything decent so I just stayed in the waiting area for a bit.
Sabinos ftw! :D
I managed to find a space on the far side and got a few shots - the jumps were MASSIVE!
The winner of this class would have been especially pleased as it was the fifth time in six years she'd won it!
Meanwhile, back in the smaller ring, the next and I think last, class had begun. The sun was out and it made for a really exhilarating watch.
LOVE this shot. :D
There were a few refusals and temper tantrums in this class - possibly because the fences had gone up and probably due to the mud as it can't have been fun to canter on.
The little pintaloosa was up next and oooft, could that thing move?!
...and buck!
Sadly if I remember correctly they also put in two refusals and were eliminated. :(
It never fails to amaze me that kids that size can jump that high.
This little pony was a right proper snotty thing - head up, legs skittering about all over the place but it could jump the moon!
Well, when he felt like it. XD
This welshie was brilliant - short choppy strides, arched neck - I think he was channelling the warhorses of old!
He refused one but I think went clear for everything else.
This was the moment she realised she'd won I think. :)
I'll leave you with the lap of honour because after that class it was the end of the show and I trudged back to the bus. XD
More photos -here!-
So yeah, it was pretty much all showjumping and nothing else! XD I didn't mean to post quite so many on here but I know many people won't bother to look at the whole album on flickr so I might as well. :P
I saw an ad for Hopetoun Horse Trials next month - also in Edinburgh - which has cross country so I'm working on my parents to see if they'd be able to take me as I've never seen XC in person before! (There's dressage and showjumping too but it starts at 8am and there's no way I'd be able to get there in time.)
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