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Olympia Lights Up the Winter |
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Column by Dawn Williams Published Jan 2008 in the Western Morning News (Devon & Cornwall) |
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The secret of dealing with the Horseman’s Winter Depression is to find a capable friend to hold fort for a couple of days and take off to Olympia. The Baillie's Mountain and Moorland Final produced a showcase of beautiful native ponies and Somerset-based Jackie Webb's stunning Connemara, Bunowen Castle Ri, unquestionably deserved to take the crown. Ridden by Matthew Lawrence, the pair put in the kind of individual show that had the hairs standing on the back of your neck - and it was good to see Matthew drop the reins and throw his arms around the pony's neck in a very public display of affection after a foot perfect performance. Also impressive was Katy Marriott Payne (The 2004 winner on Exmoor Stowbrook Jenny Wren), riding Mrs E Waller's pretty Welsh section A, Delami Destiny, who was absolutely text book for anyone wanting to see how it should be done - they won Small Breeds and took overall third place. Shopping is certainly not a problem at Olympia – and also not to be missed are fantastic displays like the Household Cavalry Musical Ride (I defy anyone not to need a fan for that one) and the amazing Ukrainian Cossacks. All in all, just what the doctor ordered. It's also uncanny who you meet at Olympia - I was happily chatting to a fellow before realising that he was indeed the hitherto unidentified chap who had run his feisty cob up the backside of my subsequently exploding Exmoor stallion in the Silver Medal final at the NPS Championships last summer. Of course, this hapened behind the judge's back and I had to grit my teeth when she commented that, 'He didn't really settle did he?' Such is the lovely atmosphere at Olympia that I found myself finally finding it funny. A sense of humour has to be an essential ingredient for successful showing. At the recent Exmoor Pony Christmas Show, the weather delivered unrelenting torrential thundery squalls and we were chilled to the bone. My groom had the foresight to bring ingredients for delicious hot chocolate and was making it while I checked the foal. Suddenly, I heard a loud thud and found my poor groom dripping in the chocolate, having been thumped in the back by the door as the wind whipped it from its catch. Unfazed by the snorts and giggles from surrounding trailers (unfortunately including myself), she asked calmly if we had a towel, and we managed to salvage the remainder. So when the hose attachment springs off, drenching me in a chilling spray; when the feed store door refuses to budge then sends me ricocheting into the wall; when I get into my Land Rover and the water gathered in the sun visor releases itself in a shocking fashion into my lap – when all of this happens, I will not crumble. I’ll just take inspiration from the glittering ponies who made it to Olympia, try to remember what made their riders look so good, and focus on emulating some of that in the coming year. And remember, we’re on the up because every day now, it gets lighter!
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