Phew two days of horsey related shopping & four demos later I’m just about done in, ok I’ll be honest the walk up to the coach on day one did me in or it could be the six bar gate my friend hopped over with ease and I struggled to get on the first bar before giving up and walking around the long way. The only consolation being said friend had to stand and wait in the cold -that’ll teach her for being a third of my weight, more specifically for scoffing at me about how I need to get fit. Don’t get me wrong we’re very close friends despite my constant urge of wanting to shove her over all day!

Still we made it to the coach pick up point, which after reading on FB I was confused as to whether they were having the coaches this year. Have to admit I was rather worried about this we walked it once a few years ago and I really didn’t think I would make it. However the coaches were there and all was good. Upon arrival we went straight into see Lucinda Frederick’s demo; I really enjoyed this she showed us some of her pole work. What I particularly enjoyed was the fun element she put into it. Her ethos is a ‘fun fair training system’ which really struck a chord with me.  Which I’m hoping to elaborate on in a future post.

We then shopped… this wasn’t so fun both me and my friend were a bit off the planet for some reason, that is until we visited the Equine touch stand where we had a little of their human touch demonstrated on us both. It instantly took the nagging knot out of my shoulder and my friend said it had cleared her back as well. Again this is another post in the making I did my level one equine touch about six years ago and have been toying with the idea of going back and completing it to become a practitioner.

After another peruse of the stands we headed back to watch the Eilberg demo. This had a very different feel to Lucinda’s. Over the course of the weekend I ended up watching three Eilberg demos and I feel I have a little more understanding of where they start with the pirouette training, as well as with passage and what  Ferdi Eilberg called the half step. The athleticism of the horses always amazes me. It is always a pleasure to watch such quality horses being worked, made me want to come home and update my subscription to horse hero, oh and to ride of course.

I ended up buying a few bits on day one, but the bulk of my shopping was done on day Two. Day two was with another friend who is also plus sized, this time we concentrated more on the shopping she had a few bits on her list so we headed straight out to the stands outside. This plan worked well it was a lot quieter out there and we were able to actually see in each stall and have a bit of a forage. Of course that is actually lethal for the old bank account I am happy with what I got though. We had a little bit of a hunt to find the Maxavita stall she wanted. Still it wasn’t that late in the day and they were all out of goodie bags supposedly! Which I think is bad form considering she spends a lot with them.

We then checked out the two plus size stands… yep you heard me right there were TWO plus sized stands both catering for people sized 16-24. There was 16plus rider and Fuller Fillies both were well stocked (except neither had coats that were suitable for my friend, which was one of the main reasons she wanted to go). Fuller Fillies has a problem with their order and 16plus rider had run out. between the two of us and the two stalls though we managed to buy three pairs of jodhpurs , two pairs of gloves, a top and a pair of half chaps.

I would have bought more but if I’m being honest I am over a size 24 at the moment and really couldn’t justify buying more stuff that doesn’t fit. Still it was a good haul and I hope they both return next year. I will also admit to having had some gripes with Fuller Fillies in the past and it was nice to meet them and I got a totally different feel from it compared to their online presence.

Overall it was a great weekend, my only gripes with Your Horse Live itself is still the palaver over seating. In the past we were able to just walk in and get a seat as we pleased. To a point I understand that hoards of people heading to their seats mid demo is not always the best thing. But then these horses are meant to be professional and should be able to deal with it, if not the riders certainly should. Still I do kind of understand. And although I don’t know what the answer is I don’t believe it is their present solution.

I was already annoyed with the whole VIP system. This whole ‘we managed to find 200 extra VIP seats’ and then saying it won’t affect the Joe blogs who has standard tickets is nonsense. Would also like to say I am so glad I didn’t have a VIP ticket other than Oliver Townsend and Geoff billington I saw most of the demos. And there were still plenty of seats. And once we were seated we were left alone. The VIPs however were constantly being asked to show their wristband, the poor couple in front of us got asked at least four times.

Of course the VIPs got to walk straight in practically, and we mere mortals had to walk half a mile (no exaggeration) through a barricade up and down like sheep. This I feel was a piss take fair enough if the queue was long and that’s where you started but really there was no need for it on at least three of my four demos. We walked straight in, a long walk mind. Oh hang on the second day someone had the bright idea to move the blockade and we bypassed three long rows. Much nicer when you are carrying a day’s worth of shopping and a hot chocolate with melting cream –not mine- so yeah there was my one main gripe of the weekend.

Over all I had a great weekend and can’t wait to do it all again next year. Hopefully my shopping list will be longer and I will be at the stage of looking for new tack and riding gear for me and Nas oh and don’t forget Paris I’m sure by then she will need some new stuff. So far this year all she has got is a new purple head collar.

I Can’t Wait.

This is the only photo I took all weekend! it was of a pony rug with matching lead rope. too cute.