richard

They say as you get older time goes even faster and it does seem as though our feet have hardly touched the ground since the last blog. Have had a really busy time with meetings and judging and juggling working the horses in between to gear them up for HOYS. Judged at BSPS champs, surely one of the most efficiently run shows in the country – was looked after superbly and had brilliant stewards which makes judging such a pleasure and being a newbie on the BSPS panel found it very interesting. Sport horse show was blesses with great weather but a shame some of the classes were not well supported but great plans afoot for next year to up the status. Next stop judging the racehorses at Burghley – wonderful main ring and plenty of horses forward in such a magnificent setting, then onto BSHA champs, Addington looking very smart but it comes low on my list of favourite shows – greatly improved going back there a few days later to judge the in-hand classes at the Cherif champs which conversely features very high on my fave show list. Lovely atmosphere and I had some really good animals to sort through. So on to next week – seven (all being well) going to Birmingham which becomes a logistical nightmare – moving house would be simpler! But once done we can rest some of the horses and concentrate on bringing on the new ones and try to all have a break as well. It’s quite extraordinary how little rain we’ve had (car covered in dust) and went up to Scotland last Friday to do a ROR judges seminar and testing and it was as dry […]

So now we are approaching the longest day which I dread as it means slowly but surely the evenings will start drawing in! Shows have been coming in thick and fast but we have a mini-break until Hickstead Derby meeting, though this coming week-end we have our 3rd Search for a Star at a new venue Summerhouses in Gloucester but it doesn’t involve driving horses for hours just a really pleasant day judging. Throughly enjoyed judging the Cuddy qualifier at Bath and West so very interesting weighing up the different breeds and types and it requires enormous concentration! Three Counties show for once had good weather though the ground had become very hard and slippery. Cashel Rock got his HOYS ticket though he had to give best to top winner Dancing Lord ridden by lovely Clare Oliver. Cochrane won a very strong lightweight cob class and went reserve champion so he really does fly the flag for us!
What else is new? World Cup football is on everyone’s lips though there is no way I want to sit up half the night watching. Royal Ascot starts tomorrow and on Wednesday The Fugue clashes withFrench filly Treve in a strong field. We’ll be watching with bated breath!!
Going back to World Cup I can only repeat from my last blog that corruption seems to be a global epidemic, and as for religion!! What happened to a modern tolerant society? The old saying about man’s inhumanity to man has never been more to the point.. Heigh-ho, time for a cup of tea and try to put all morbid thoughts aside and settle down tomorrow to watch a feast of racing – for once TV becomes a boon though […]