With all the excitement of Twixstead and other serious shows, Anki Holmstrom decided it would be nice to have some fun, so on Friday Twin Palms Riding Centre will play host to a Show Jumping event with a difference.
The morning will start with a Treasure Hunt, this is a lovely class as anyone can enter – the obstacles range from trotting poles on the ground and go up in stages to bigger fences.
All the obstacles are given a secret amount of points, horse/pony and rider go in and jump an allocated amount of fences. They can jump what they want as many times as they want as long as they don’t knock it down and at the end of the round all the points are added up.
The winner is the rider with the most points, and the most unlikely of fences usually carry the maximum points. It’s a nice easy start to the day.
This will be followed by a pairs class, with fences now up to 50/60cms. Two riders must enter the arena at the same time and must jump the fences to order.
Rider one jumps fence one then rider two jumps fence one but rider one cannot jump fence two until rider two has jumped fence one – confused ? Actually it’s really quite simple – and simply the most fun ever.
The first rider has to wait for the second before jumping any new fence then it’s the first pair to finish in the quickest time.
This class is fast and furious, although usually starting off relatively quietly. However, as soon as the first pair is round, its gloves off and into the fray. The stipulation with this class is that you cannot go in as a pair more than once – however, that does not mean you cannot find a new partner!
Next up will be another speed class, though with the fences up to 70/80cms this may slow things down a little!
However, if Team Relay classes witnessed in the past are anything to go by, this will be one frantically fought battle. Teams will consist of three horse/rider combinations, similar to the pairs you can go in as many times as you like but not with any combination of the same horse or rider. The teams will enter the arena and the first rider will go round, when they finish they will hand the baton to the second rider who will complete the course and hand it to the third.
The fastest team wins and in both the pairs and the team relay contests there will be five seconds added for every knock down.
The final class of the morning will be an Accumulator class with a Joker! The fences in this class will be up to 100cms – although the Joker fence is now a secret!
But, I’m told, it will be a hum dinger of a fence - so this class will not be for the feint-hearted. An Accumulator class means every fence is worth itself in points e.g. fence one is worth one point, fence two, two points etc.
If any fences are knocked down that amount of points is deducted from the total, the Joker is usually worth double points – however, in this case - it may be worth more. Another speed class, this is going to be a morning of sharp-thinking and quick-witted planning.
Just to add a bit of interest, there will be league points allocated in all classes. Everyone is welcome to come and watch.
I am going to round off this week with a very small but poignant moment for me. As I sit writing this article it is February 26. Hhhmm, insignificant to most, but this date is firmly etched in my memory - it is the day that my wonderful, super-talented horse lost his life. It’s a year on and I still miss him so very, very much, so to my gorgeous boy, I write:
"Somewhere in time’s own space, there must be some sweet pastured place, where creeks sing on and tall trees grow some paradise where horses go, for the love that guides my pen, I know great horses live again."
RIP Merlin, you will live on forever in my heart.
