So today, I had three wishes:

I wish that more effort had gone into “dressing” the dressage arena here at the Pony Euros as it’s not screaming “Championship” in anyone’s photos – and when, for most of the competitors, the only thing they’ll be taking home is memories not medals, it’s a shame they won’t be able to get photos that make it look like the significant achievement that it really is just to qualify to get here and compete.  Last year in Hungary there was a big electronic scoreboard that displayed the names of the current rider & pony and a bank of flag poles with every represented country’s flag flying and the photos really looked great.   

This shot of Maja Emilie Leth (DEN) & Danish-bred Goldfever Hella Bella (DSP; Triple Trees Prince Perfect x Diamont II) shows one of the only lines where something that looks more “Championship” can be included.

PC5_2860-p I also wish that there were more British-bred ponies competing – but that’s improving year on year and it’s great that there are 2 pure-bred Welsh Section Ds as well as the 2 “hybrid” British Sports Ponies competing this year – and as well as a British-born pony in the jumping, there are also 2 by the British-bred WPCS Sec D Machno Carwyn who was himself a double Pony Euros Individual Gold medallist (for Switzerland).

This is Tara Hayes (IRL) & British-bred WPCS Sec D Thorneyside Kestrel (Thorneyside The Gladiator x Thorneyside Flyer).

PC5_2419-p

Finally, I wish I had an electric scooter – so much fun “walking” the XC course with it’s assistance – and I can now say with confidence that the ground is firm and in places lumpy enough that the scooter felt like it had square wheels!  What is the saying?  If wishes were horses, beggars would ride :-D  I will certainly be begging or borrowing a scooter again if I can!