Ok, I know it's a dreadful opening, but it was a hot day over at Chatsworth for the International Horse Trials, which is one of the major UK events. This is the first time that we have been and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thankfully there was a breeze that helped to keep us cool as we walked a fair few miles around the Cross Country Course. We were there for 7 hours and still missed the show jumping.
It's a lot of photos of horses, but I did have a good time taking these shots and some of you will be familiar with some of the sites.
Takes me back to C's "Pony Years" when every weekend and some week nights ( during the school Hols ) involved a Pony Called Cheeky. Thankfully Rob T was more interested in computers than Ponys.
Hope you like 'em
You can't get a horse through there....?
Apparently they can. This jump is called the keyhole for obvious reasons
Approaching the first jump to go into the water at Queen Marys Bower
Most famous because Rod, Rob and Mary Queen of Scots , have sat there
Amazing power of the horses
Coming under the steps at the Bower
The next few are jumping into the water at the Bower
Love the expression on some of the riders faces
Chatspemberworthley
Take as many photos as you want...I'm having a scratch
Further out in the grounds. A refusal ( after landing downhill from another jump )
You want me to go over there?
OK. This calls for a vertical take off
and a semi controlled landing
Quite a few jumps were carved as ducks
We thought that if C and D were here, then that would be D on the grass
Many dogs were flopping into the water by this jump
If I falsely claimed to have created this, I would be impressed
Manning a public crossing on the country course
Conscious of having his photo taken
We always enjoy the Pony Club Games at the country fair and they put on an event here.
Much fun is had by these youngsters with a lot of yelling and encouragement to each other and from the crowd
Pony Hat
Some of the runs include the need to mount a moving pony... and sometimes the pony just moves anyway
The Duchess presenting Rosettes. She did quite a few presentations during the day
The scurry championships
Another pony hat?
The winners
320 Horses home, but no jumps and no refusals
Needs a wash and a rub down though
