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 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!

Royal Highland Show 2016 - #1 Ridden Highlands

It's that time of year again!

Like last year, I met up with fellow collector Magdalena after I arrived and we spent the day ogling ponies and trying to work out what interesting variation of dun most of the Highlands were!

The first thing I saw when I arrived was unfortunately the very end of a class, the Highland Ponies Under Saddle.

As usual there were plenty of beautiful ponies.

The prizes were being handed out when I walked up, and a quick google reveals that this triumphant and gorgeous beastie is Royal Caledonian of Fourmerk.

The equally lovely Reserve is Glenbanchor Somerled.

  

The lap of honour looked like great fun!

Short post is short but the next one will more than make up for it!

Part 2 - Welsh Sec B!

Copperfox 10 Day Challenge! - Be a Model Horse

 Post 3 of the Copperfox 10 Day Challenge

Day 3:  Be a Model Horse 

Imagine yourself as a model horse.
What colour would you be? What mould would you be created on? What scale?

---------------------

As challenges go, this one isn't all that hard.

 Being a rather rotund individual with often untameable hair, the only logical conclusion to draw would be some kind of Cob...

The lovely Smudge, who I used to ride on holiday until he was sold.

...or Highland Pony... 

The even lovelier Carlung Feargus who is pretty much my dream stallion. Swoon.

I do love a good chunky Clydesdale though too, so it's a toss-up between those three.

No idea who this one is, but all the others had captions so I didn't want it to feel left out. XD

Of course this question is really about models, not real horses, and I think I've found the perfect mould.

The Julip Cob mare is chunky, well rounded and not tremendously flexible - all attributes I share!

Rather aptly, it was a photo of Carlung Feargus above that I sent in as a colour reference when I ordered up Rhona here.

As far as colour is concerned, my hair is a very dark brown, with lighter highlights during the summer, so perhaps a dun on seal bay would be appropriate?

Of course black dun (mouse dun or grulla) is one of my favourite shades of dun...

...and they, like most duns, show frosting on their manes and tail which kinda count as highlights, right?

So basically I already have my own model-me!

Border Reiver tack anyone?

I've been meaning to post about this for years, but persistent computer issues have put me off...but no longer! I have a shiny new computer that actually functions, hoorah!

---

I have always had a particular affinity for the Scottish Borders, not least because most of my ancestors hail from there, but mostly because it's where we go on holiday every year. I feel more at home there than I do in my home town of Glasgow, but that's perhaps not surprising - I'm not a big fan of cities in general. (although the phone reception here is far better!)

Anyway, a number of years ago whilst driving through the countryside we saw a sign advertising a 'living history' display at the 13th century Old Buittle Tower by 'The Borderers', a group of like-minded individuals from across the UK and some from as far afield as the Netherlands, who dressed up in period costume and weaponry, complete with fully kitted out ponies bred to resemble the now long gone Galloway type. This was pre-Nigel, so I didn't get any photos other than this one on my ye olde film camera but I remember being blown away by everything, from the mounted archery and shooting at a gallop, to the fascinating history behind the Border Reivers themselves.