Good Luck Butkin's DD

[Mirage]

Hope all goes well at HOYS this week.

Thanks Mirage. The whole of our producer's team went to the excellent Chelwood Equestrian Centre, in East Sussex, today for a pre-Hoys practise. DD got to practise riding indoors with flower arrangements and lots of horses/ponies riding around her. She performed her show a few times and practised her strip (which is her weak point). It was particularly worthwhile as she now realises she has to release her hands a little when asking for her gallop so the mare can really stretch.

Definitely given her more confidence. We're going on Friday to work the pony in about 7.20pm (after a bit of shopping!) and then our class is 7am on Saturday. DD will be totally stressed out by then but we just hope the pony goes well and they come out of the class happy. Hopefully it'll be the first of many trips there!!

Good luck - and if I may make a suggestion - rescue remedy for your dd, amazing at helping to keep nerves under control..... I buy my son the black current lolly version

Good luck Butkin family - will be thinking of you on Saturday as I flog to boring old trade fair in London!

Hi Mrs M. Thanks for this tip. We've ordered some Rescue Remedy Lucky Stars this morning...

Can't wait to hear how it went!

I am wondering how it all went too.....

Hi all! DD loved every minute of it and embraced the whole experience. (she was troughing the Rescue Remedys!) She particularly loved the working in session at 7pm on Friday evening when they all got to bomb around the arena in their bling (she was wearing her diamante leggings for the first time!). Then up at 4am yesterday to get down to the office to collect our competitor's wristbands at 5am before working in.

The class went really well. They were foot perfect and got a really good ride mark. They finished 12th of the 20 ponies who came forward and we were all delighted - they even beat the winner of this year's Royal International. I'm sure that if we can qualify again next year she'll be even more confident with this experience under her belt - she was one of the younger children in the class.

Spent a fortune. 90 quid on photos, 85 on DVD, 50 on metal plaque for stable and that is without all the shopping expenses! We've ordered a new saddle for the pony as they could come and measure her there and then and we've ordered DD a bling riding helmet as her Christmas present.

All in all a great success. DD was even offered the ride, this Winter, on a professional producer's novice 13 hand show hunter so she is chuffed about that!

I've added a photo to my profile..

Aww so cute Butkins, well done! Your DD has a good little seat .

Wow - they look fantastic. Glad it went so well, congratulations to you all.

Fabulous news! A big Well Done to your DD Butkin (and to you for all the hours you've put in too].Great photo.

Thanks all! Yes those photos show a good transition through the season. We bought the pony at Christmas and now you've seen - in these photos - how our season has gone.

We'll keep her for one more year and then we think DD will have outgrown her. We're looking at 13 hand hunter ponies and 13.2 show ponies to bring one on to be the main pony in 2014.

Well done Butkin I'm so glad you had a good time and you get to relive it all when the DVD arrives!
Good luck for next season and I hope you find something to move onto.

wow that is one pretty (handsome) pony - well done to you all.

Well done! Photo is lovely and excellent result. It is so hard finding the right pony to move onto, but even better if a producer is needing your DD to ride their ponies (will save you a fortune!)

We had mixed results last week but live to fight another day. I hated all the classes being moved onto different days - we ended up with 5 in the ring on the last day (which is usually relatively quiet) - ended up absolutely manic!

well done, they look amazing :)