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!

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #9 Ponies, Ponies, Ponies! (and Clydesdales)

After the coos, we moved on to the big stable block at the back where all the Highlands and Shetlands are housed during the show. Unfortunately the Welshies and other pony breeds seem to be kept away from public view which is a real shame.

On the way there we spotted a few decidedly un-ponylike creatures as some of the Clydesdales were readied for the harness turnout classes later on.

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #7 Novice Riding Horses

While I was photographing the warmup ring, the others had already gravitated to the ring next door, where the Novice Riding Horse* class was in full swing. (*I think that was the class name anyway!)

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #6 WHP Warmup

I'm really not happy with how my photos from the last post turned out, but luckily for me, the sun came out when I took a few shots in the warmup ring and they came out a lot nicer. Some were still horribly out of focus though, so I had to do some emergency edits and they still look awful. :(

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #5 Working Hunter Pony

Once we'd exhausted our fill of heavy horses, we went in search of lunch, a seat and more ponies...

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #4 Clydesdales, Belgians and Percherons, oh my!

The heavy horse stables are always a popular place to visit at the RHS, but a little dark, so the majority, if not all of my photos were taken with my phone, as my camera (even on his good days!) doesn't do well in the gloom.

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #3 Assorted Ponies!

Not that we could ever have our fill of ponies, but we decided to head off for the big barn full of Clydesdales after seeing the main ring. The route there took us past one of the collecting rings, which happened to have several tiny ponies in situ!

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.

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #1 Ridden Highlands and Broken Cameras

 As I said in my previous post, I travelled to the RHS this year with two companions, my friends, Tomás and Rory who had come up specially!

We rose early (well, for me anyway!) on Friday to go to the show. The bus into town was a little late, but the Edinburgh ones leaving the depot were very regular and after missing one as the baguette I'd chosen to buy for lunch later apparently had to be toasted first, another arrived a few minutes later.

The forecast was for rain until midday, then cloud and sunny spells for the rest of the day.

The rain showed itself within a few minutes of setting off but we hoped it'd pass over quickly.

Kirrimuir, Cats and Cows

 This post is roughly three weeks late but never mind. XD

Barely a couple of days after returning from Clochan, I got on a train again, this time to Perth, where Heather would be picking me up to stay with her for a few days.

See my previous post for all the Magpie Model related shenanigans, and stick with this for shiny scenery and amusing anecdotes.

Tfw you see a whole field of cobs from the train but can't get
your phone camera out quick enough to catch them all. 😥 .

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #11 - All the rest!

Pretty much everything I couldn't fit into the other posts!

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #10 - Clydesdales and Unicorns!

After oohing and ahhing over all the fuzzy ponies, we wandered over to the heavy horse area. The indoor stables were closed off as everyone was getting their horses ready for the harness classes, but we were able to walk behind them and see a few being groomed and tacked up outside.

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #9 - Ponies, ponies and yet more ponies!

The post you've all been waiting for - lots and lots of fuzzy pony goodness!

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #8 - Mini Major

We unfortunately missed this class but caught the ending and lap of honour. I don't know much about it but I think it involves a horse and pony pair jumping. We literally saw the last pair finish jumping to wild applause but had no idea what was going on!

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 - #6 M&M Working Hunter Pony

As I've said before, the Working Hunter classes are some of my favourites as let's face it, tiny ponies jumping is just as, if not more entertaining than the adult showjumping!

 

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!

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #4 Anglo-Arab and Partbred Arab

After the purebred Arabs came the partbreds. I have to admit that I prefer the partbreds to the others, especially the ponies.

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #3 Purebred Arabian

I'm not the biggest Arab fan in the world as I like my horses with more bone and hair, but I really like seeing them at the RHS. Part of the reasoning for that is that they look like actual practical horses, unlike the oiled up and blinged out showhorses you tend to see in America especially, with loads of mane and tail extensions floating about.

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #2 Welsh Sec B

Despite being a Highland fan through and through, there's something about the dainty features and sometimes snotty attitude of the Welsh ponies that always makes me smile. This class was no exception!