Aklah Arabians

True Addiction Stafford Spring Show 2012

The first show of the season officially marks the close of winter, though it didn’t feel like winter was over at the Stafford Spring Show. We had travelled the evening before to the show and apart from the petrol station, were we usually fill up at, not having any diesel the journey was uneventful. This is just what you want when travelling with animals.

We took three horses with us Stormlite Royal a novice stallion owned by Alan and Teresa Sheward, for his first ever ridden outing, Aja Estareyna a novice mare and True Addiction an open gelding. All the horses had worked in really well the evening before and we were looking forward to the show the following day with confidence. The sense of optimism we had felt the evening before quickly evaporated the next morning , when it became apparent that the horses were more excited about the first outing of the season, than a small child waking up and running down the stairs on Christmas day, to see if Father Christmas had been. All the smooth relaxed work that had been evident the evening before had evaporated resulting in Tina having to work all the horses, to the point where they were listening again.

Aja Estareyna was first on and went smoothly, but she was slightly unsettled in her head and was pulled a credible 3rd on the ride around. She looked to give the judge a good ride but again was slightly unsettled in her head but retained her 3rd placing.

Stormlite Royal was up next and it was evident that the occasion had over awed him and was easily distracted by what was going on around him. This is expected on a first outing, but on a positive note he did nothing majorly wrong, which stallions can do on these occasions. This is a first step on a long journey towards becoming an accomplished open ridden stallion and everyone involved was more than pleased with the 4th place he was awarded.

After the novice classes it was True Addiction’s turn and he looked to be going well in the collecting ring until an unfortunate event unsettled him. Tina had her work cut out from this point onwards to regain his attention which she successfully did. He got a 1st place pull on the ride around, which she retained after the judge rode him. “As usual” said Tina “the weekend has been like a roller coaster. High one moment and down the next, but all in all the horses have performed to their capabilities and the Red rossete with True Addiction was the icing on the cake.”

The day started for us with the novice mare class with AJA ESTAREYNA. who produced us what is becoming a

Al Shahrani

consistant performance for the level she has attained so far this year, resulting in a very good 3rd place position.

The North Staffordshire Summer show had agreed to trial a points system for the Horse of the Year Show classes.

We duly entered Teresa Shewards open gelding AL SHAHRANI. There were two judges one to judge the ride and performance Read the rest of this entry »

Aja Estareyna NAHL 2011

Even though the Northern Group Show is a fairly local show to us, just over an hour’s drive, we elected to stable overnight. This we believe gives the horses the opportunity to get used to their new environment and results in a more relaxed performance on the day.

Our day started with AJA ESTAREYNA in the novice mare class and she Read the rest of this entry »

Al Shahrani Reserve Gelding HOYS

We are now entering the busiest part of the season after having a three week sabbatical since our last competitive meeting at the North Western Group Show with AL SHAHRANI and AJA ESTAREYNA. During this period we have continued with regular work and schooling sessions and are now ready for the next event, the Northern Group Show.

We are personally hoping that we will continue with the improved performances we have seen at each of the previous shows and look forward to seeing you there.

Aja Estareyna Osbaldeston 2011

The journey to the North Western Group ‘C’ show was uneventful, just how we like it, though it was very blustery. We arrived in good time to the show ground to allow us to bed down the stables and allow the horses time to adjust to their new surroundings, before exercising them and putting them to bed for the evening. With time to spare that evening we relaxed and watched Read the rest of this entry »