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 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!

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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!

Royal Highland Show 2014 - Part 5 - Overall Mountain & Moorland Championship

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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 The Overall Mountain & Moorland Championship - The 'Waxwing Trophy'.

'The Champions from following sections are to come forward for this Championship:

HIGHLAND PONY, SHETLAND PONY, MOUNTAIN & MOORLAND IN HAND, ERISKAY, WELSH SECTION A, WELSH SECTION B, WELSH SECTION C, WELSH SECTION D AND CONNEMARA'

This beautiful and striking Sec C was one of my favourites.



(SO annoyed at that fence being in the way!)



The lovely palomino from the previous in hand classes was also in attendance.







...as well as this chunky beast of a Highland pony!



I may have my photos mixed up but I think this lad was in here too.



Most of the entrants were adults but there was one particularly youthful attendee... :P



There was a little grey Sec A, a tiny black Shetland and a Fell too, but I didn't get any photos of those.

The winner was Northwick Elektra, the Welsh Cob!



Part 6 coming soon!

Royal Highland Show 2014 - Part 2 - Welsh Ponies In Hand

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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Right next to the Ridden Highlands were a variety of wonderfully coloured little ponies - how could I resist? I think I took more photos here than anywhere else at the show but they were just so photogenic, it's really no wonder. (I was having a little trouble getting the white balance right to begin with as the light levels kept changing with the sun coming out, then going in again so apologies for some of them being so dark.)

I'm not sure if I'd missed all the Sec As or if their class was on later (I think I remember seeing Sec A stallions at one point) but I'm pretty sure these were all Sec Bs.

That little braid behind the ear is a Welsh speciality.















Smutty palomino is one of my favourite colours on ponies and there were a fair few at the show this year.








Keep an eye on this one... :P



I remember this little palomino stallion from last year - those bend orr spots are so distinctive! I managed to find him online and identified him as 'Cadlanvalley Georgie Boy' - such an elegantly put together little pony.



He was mostly well behaved, but threw his head up a bit when being asked to turn at the trot.



He wasn't the only one either...



...several ponies acted up when cornering...



...or just trotting in a straight line!





After they'd all been trotted up it was time for the judges to get a closer look. Legs were straightened out, necks extended and every pony put their best hoof forward...





...well...



...nearly...



...everyone...



...anyway!



I don't think he meant anything by it, he was just getting a bit too excited. I loved his handler (who I kept thinking looked a bit like Hodor from Game of Thrones XD) and his attitude though, he didn't freak out or act aggressively towards the pony, just calmly held his ground when he went up, kept him in check and didn't lose his temper. In fact, no matter how many times he reared, I don't think the smile slipped from his face. (..and he reared rather a lot. XD)












I call this sequence 'Help, I've forgotten how to horse!'









Somewhat unsurprisingly thanks to his behaviour, the little dappley monster left without receiving a rosette



I don't think 'Hodor' seemed to mind though. :D





Part 3 coming soon!