Unaffiliated Jumping at the Eastminster School of Riding

Stepping in to help Gary Coulson from Take My Picture, this was my first visit to Eastminster School of Riding. Although there was only one ring to cover, the organisation was such that the competitors flowed quickly and smoothly throughout the day. If it were not for Gary's son, Tom, helping out on the sales side (thanks Tom) I would not have kept up with the action and taken nearly two thousand images - all of which have been uploaded here, just to give you one more chance to view and purchase your photos.
Click on the image above to take a look....

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Bookham RC field

Our second visit to Surrey this season and a much bigger turnout with three rings this time round. I managed to cover a couple of the earlier showing classes but the jumping kept me pretty busy for most of the afternoon.
Click on the pic above to see all the photos....

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Barville Farm

Considering the original forecast, we got away pretty lightly today with only one major downpour that just lasted a few minutes. It didn't seem to put that many people off though with entries still being made throughout the day. It's a shame my new marquee wasn't delivered in time for today as it would have made it just that little bit more comfortable.
Hit the image above to view the pix...

MXCP Open Day, Dover

With more riders than the usual Saturday I was torn between the extra photo opportunities and the hog roast that was on offer right next to my truck. Mmmm, it was a tough one!
Click the photo above to see the pix...

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Ingatestone Hall

Well, what a great day out! Brilliant weather, lots of competitors and some great riding. Couple that with the largest entries for the dog show so far and this is one event to put in your diary for next year. Click on the photo above to see all the pictures...

Bexley Borough Riding Club Horse Show at Footscray Meadows

Although a bit chilly to start with, the day soon turned into a bit of a scorcher at times. While I managed to cover most of the classes, I did lose track of which class was which in Ring 1 a couple of times so forgive me if the headings are not strictly accurate. Please try the other classes if you cannot find yourself and let me know if any of the class names are obviously wrong.

Click on the photo above to see the pics...

West Street Pony Club at Cobham Manor, Maidstone

Another new venue for me and I was very impressed. With a massive turnout from all the local pony clubs it was packed to bursting and the brilliant sunshine was tempered by the cool wind for a change. This was just as well as I didn't stop from the moment I took the first photo. Over one thousand and six hundred pictures later and I was ready to drop. Even my camera battery was about to give up and it's never done that at a single event.

Click on the image above to see all the action...

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Farming World

Hot or What!!!!

I don't know about you guys but I lost the will to live after 3pm, so hats off to those who were still taking part in that searing heat. Thanks also to Jim for sticking with it in Ring 1 while I tried to flit between the showing rings, dressage and printing orders.

I lost the plot in trying to keep up with the class numbers in rings 2-4 so I've just grouped them in time sections of when I took the first picture of that class. Hopefully you will remember the time you went in and will be able to find your photos. I know I didn't do all the showing classes but I hope I got most of you at some time throughout the day. We should have got all those who jumped especially if you went into more than one class.

Click on the photo above to see the pix...

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Ingatestone Hall

Sorry for the delay in getting this post up, I've had a few distractions these past couple of days.

Colette's first visit to Essex this season kicked off to a great start with some good weather albeit a little chilly to start with. Hey, one day it will be perfect, trust me! There were some lovely horses in the showing classes so this is where I tried to concentrate my efforts.

Click on the photo above to see the rest...

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Bookham RC field

What an absolutely beautiful day with everyone totally prepared for another one of Colette's massive days in Surrey. It was unfortunate that there were another two events on nearby but that didn't stop those who attended from having a great day out. It also enabled my new assistant to get to grips with my printing set up without any added pressure. Lots of photos to see so click on the image above and have a look...

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Barville Farm

Colette's third outing at Barville Farm this season and, for the most part, it was a very nice day with only a brief and welcome (for me) shower to cool things down a touch. The light was brilliant for the photos and the competitors gave it their all for some spectacular shots including a couple of unintended dismounts captured in almost slow motion.
At the end of the show however, it was a different story with the heavens opening up completely to almost flood the grounds within just a few minutes. Fortunately, I was in my van at the time packing away. Colette and John on the other hand...

Click on the photo above to see the show...

RDA Horse Show at Denne Hill

Well, another great show by the RDA. Jim covered most of Ring 1 for me while I flitted between Rings 2 & 3 and printed the orders. Class 5 was extremely popular with, I think, 30+ entries and I managed to get some great jumping shots in the Working Hunter although I did feel sorry for a couple of riders who had to retire which may or may not have been due to the commotion made by the dogs running up & down the side of the ring. Feel free to hit the comments if I'm wrong.

Over 1300 photos have now been uploaded and you can view these by clicking on the photo above. Those who purchased their prints on the day will be able to start tagging themselves on my Facebook site later today.

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Ingleden Park Equestrian Centre

Colette's first time at Ingleden and she was welcomed by wall to wall sunshine. Now, I know we shouldn't complain after all the wind, rain, snow and ice we've had in the past few months but I do think we went from one extreme to the other. Although I have attended indoor events at Ingleden Park before, this is the first time I have photographed an outdoor show there. I must say that it has a very well maintained outdoor arena in a lovely picturesque setting. In fact, there were a few areas where I could have taken some lovely portraits if I had had the opportunity which is something that I don't get to see very often.

Click on the photo above to see the pictures...

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Barville Farm

Well, what a surprise then!

After all this lovely weather we've been having, the one day Colette wanted to be fine for her first outdoor show of the season, should be one of the wettest days of the year so far. Having said that, I was glad to see (although, in some ways, not surprised) at just how many people stuck their fingers up to the elements and came along anyway. Even more so was the fact that I still managed to sell quite a few pictures to these 'die hard' competitors who were soaked to the skin.

As promised, all those who bought a photo will get a free 'Facebook' image file and they will be sent out as soon as I finish uploading the event to my website. For those of you who didn't give me your e-mail address, I will post yours on my Facebook site for you to download and 'tag' from there.

Click on the image above to see the rest of the day...

Colette's Horse & Dog Shows at Blue Barn

Considering that this may be Colette's very last event at Blue Barn and the fact that the weather was so good, I thought that there would have been a much larger turnout. However, as is usually the case with these family shows, fewer people means more time to get to know new faces and encourage those who are less experienced. And, not forgetting, a chance to get into the top six places that normally elude them.
Click on the photo above to see the rest...

Colette's Indoor Showjumping at Willow Farm

Another fairly busy show this time at Willow Farm. I matched Colette's theme of 'Friday for a Fiver' with my own special offer of 'Fotos for a Fiver' if purchased on the day. The Digital Files were particularly popular with one person buying nearly all of her images in this way at a very special price. I think this is going to be the way forward now as more people are relying on their computers and phones to store their images rather than having loads of prints with nowhere to put them. The added benefit of course is that purchasing in bulk can dramatically reduce the costs even further so get your friends together and contact me for prices.
Click the photo to see the rest...

Colette's Indoor and Team Showjumping at Blue Barn

We all knew today was going to attract more than the average amount of competitors to Blue Barn because of the team jumping class but neither Colette or myself were prepared for the invasion of over one hundred horses and ponies to make it the busiest indoor show of the winter season. Looking back, I think we all coped rather well.
I was especially pleased with way that my new arrangement of actually having the laptop and printer setup in the ring while still maintaining the viewing screens outside. This enabled me to take pictures, download to the laptop, update the viewing screens (every couple of minutes), take orders and print the photos all at the same time. Who said that men can't multi-task? Click the image above to go straight to the photos...

Colette's Indoor Showjumping at Blue Barn

With dressage outside and showjumping inside I was spoilt for choice. In the end I decided to go with the showjumping so that I could be next to my printer and supply photographs straight away for the competitors to take home. Click on the image above to see all the photos complete with a new speedier ordering page.

Colette's Indoor Showjumping at Willow Farm

It had to happen eventually. No rain, no snow, no ice and a bonus helping of a little sunshine! End result being a good turnout and hence loads of photos. Click on the image above to view & order your photos.

Colette's Indoor Showjumping at Blue Barn

Well, we've had snow, ice and now torrential rain. I wonder what else the weather is going to throw at us to ruin a show this year? Anyway, for those that did brave the elements, there was no chance of not being placed. As for the photos, not that many but still some good'uns...