Heathfield show was our first show of 2014. Moriarty won his part bred arab class and went on to stand part bred arab champion. Mouse won both her part bred arab class and riding class and was third in the part bred native class, and was the highest placed youngstock.
South of England was our next outing. Moriarty wasn't the judges taste today, taking 3rd in the part bred arab stallion class and 3rd in the riding pony class. Mouse started well with a 2nd in the part bred arab class and was a little quiet and not herself in the riding pony class getting a 5th.
Kent County was Murraybrook Mycroft's first big outing where he was first in PBA yearlings and 1st in hack yearlings. It was good to have a Murraybrook youngster in the hack classes again as that is where it all began with Murraybrook Passionata. Mouse also had a good show being 2nd in the PBA and 2nd in the riding pony, in her last year in the youngstock classes.
Edenbridge and Oxted is always a favourite show for us and this year was no different. The weather was foul but the ponies still shone! Murraybrook McCallum won the PBA youngstock with Mouse in 3rd. Moriarty then won the senior class. Onto the championship and Moriarty repeated last year's success and was champion Arab/PBA. The judge took a long time considering and then asked to also award a 2nd reserve rather than just a reserve champion. We were absolutely delighted that she awarded Callum 2nd reserve - especially as she said that he was too good not to give an extra award to! High praise for a yearling especially standing reserve champion over the pure bred Arabs.
Callum also did the coloured in hand 148cms class which is open to any age. With 15 forward, the majority being adults it was amazing he was pulled in 2nd behind a recently gelded stallion. After a long wait in the pouring rain he went back in for the championship with a spring in his step and once again delighted us to be reserve champion, beating the winner of the over 148cms class.
Orsett show was next on the agenda. We've been planning to go for years and this year we made it! Callum had a fabulous day winning sports horse/pony, part bred (any type) and PBA. Mouse was 2nd hunter/pony, 2nd part bred (any type) and 3rd PBA. All these classes were open any age so very good results for a yearling and 3 year old! Callum finished the day by standing in hand champion!
We finished the season for the main show team with the Cherif Championship. Not our year for taking champion but still thoroughly enjoyed this show as always. The quality of horses/ponies is just amazing!
The end of November was the British National Foal of the Year show to which we took Rufus, Dino and Ray - returning only with Rufus as the other 2 went home with their new owners. Dino kept up the winning streak for the stud, winning his coloured class and standing coloured champion. He also was 2nd in the hunter class and 3rd in the PBA horse class - shown by his new owner on her first time of handling him! Rufus was 2nd in the hacks and 5th PBA horse while little Ray was 2nd in sports pony and 1st in the PBA pony section. Another successful day and more Murraybrook babies embarking on their careers.
