Showered in rosettes

The winner of the local pony in hand class at Virginia Show went to four-year-old Alfie owned by Susan McGuigan.

The dappled gray horse was led by 13-year-old Amy Wakely, who felt “very good” upon placing first in class.

Susan, who runs her own riding school SMCG Equestrian in Bailieborough, explained what judges are looking out for in pony classes, like the one Alfie just won.

“They look at confirmation of the horse, the way it goes, the way it moves and also the way the child or whoever’s leading it can manage it.

“If their legs go bendy it’s no good, they have to move straight basically.”

Considering the wet and windy day last Wednesday brought, Susan explained if it matters to judges if a horse spooks in the showing ring.

“It does to some judges, to me it shouldn’t because it’s a windy day, it’s a horrible day, there’s umbrellas.

“Horses are animals at the end of the day so they can get spooked very very easily so to me it shouldn’t [matter].”

Thankfully for Susan, she reported that her ponies were all “very settled” throughout the day.

“I had one, he had a hissy fit when he saw a donkey, he hated the donkey,” she laughed, explaining that they had to take him to the “opposite end of the field.”

“It’s always trickier in the wind because you’ve so much happening, the marquees, everything is blowing, everything is scary so it’s always harder on a windy day.”

Despite this Susan’s ponies achieved three firsts, with one of them winning the heavy cob class, the local pony class in hand and her daughter Abbie also placed first on her riding pony in the 12.2hh and under class.

“We had a couple of seconds and thirds as well, so very happy.

“It’s great to get ponies out and it’s great to get people together. You meet up with old friends and make new friends.

“It’s our local show, we’re from Bailieborough so it’s the closest show to us. We always bring a few ponies and support it.”