Matthew Ainsworth

Show Horse Producer From Herefordshire

Most Memorable Horse/Pony: Colebrooke, owned by the Hyde-Andrews family.

Top Tip: Do a variety of work with your horse, whatever discipline it is you chose to focus on. Varied work keeps their minds occupied and prevents staleness. Ours all go hacking, schooling, on the gallops, clear round show jumping and autumn hunting.

09May2018

New Additions, New Season

   

Since our last instalment, we have nearly been washed away. Everywhere was under water, the horses and people were all fed up, and it felt like it would never end!!!! Countless Point to Points were cancelled, so Spain has only had two runs since. The first one, at Charlton Horethorne, was somewhat stressful, our usual […]

02Mar2018

A blur of hunting, mud and worrying

   

Since Christmas, life has been a blur of hunting, mud, more hunting and obsessive worrying over the point to pointer! A chilly day for hunting, but less mud for once! The Duke of Spain belongs to a syndicate of locals from the nearby pub. He has previously won a maiden, not with us, and we […]

21Dec2017

Bitter Sweet – Matthew Ainsworth

   

The pinnacle of the season, HOYS, was fairly bitter sweet for us this year. Starting off the week was Small Hunter, Wentworth. We travelled to the NEC early doors, as it’s only an hour away for us. He had a good trot round with everyone else, crammed in the main arena, before his class. We […]

03Oct2017

HOYS Bound – Matthew Ainsworth

   

Just after my last blog instalment, I had the pleasure of going to Ireland to judge the “All Ireland 3 year old Championship” which is held at Bannow Rathangan Show, in Co Wexford. The horses which came forward to compete in this class, have to have previously qualified for it, during the current showing season […]

19Jul2017

So worth it! – Matthew Ainsworth

   

Since our last blog, it feels like we traveled the length of the country going to shows, but it’s been so worth it! After Devon, we went to the Royal Bath and West. This show had a new setup for the horse section. There was always a huge main ring, which was fantastic to ride […]

26May2017

In the ribbons – Matthew Ainsworth

   

Four year old hunter, Boston, is in the full swing of his showing career! He has been to two shows so far, BSPS Area 10, Shropshire, was his first outing, on a miserable, grey, dull morning! There aren’t that many four year old classes available, so he competed in a novice class, meaning some of […]

09Apr2017

Up and Running – Matthew Ainsworth

   

It feels like the hunting season finished only five minutes ago, and already we have been to a show! The hunters have begun their well earned holiday. I had a few days “away” visiting, it’s always good to go and see other peoples country and hounds. I enjoyed a few days with the Belvoir, which […]

08Feb2017

Good head torch needed – Matthew Ainsworth

   

A lot of our time, at the moment, is taken up looking for blackthorns! After hunting, we have to spend a considerable amount of time looking for the little blighters. They tend to end up in knees, and high up the inside of hind legs. We had one horse who, having hunted all winter, developed […]

23Nov2016

Start of another season – Matthew Ainsworth

   

At the time of our last blog, we had finished showing and were preparing for Horse of the Year Show, and the start of the open hunting season. HOYS came and went in a flash, we didn’t stable there, instead we set off at 3am on the day of Lordys class. Ideal with a 16 month […]

11Oct2016

Nearing the end – Matthew Ainsworth

   

The penultimate show of the season, for us, is always the British Show Horse Association National Championship Show, held at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre.  The show boasts classes for everyone, and every horse. It is a brilliant get together, to reminisce over the season, and in some instances the last time we will see some […]

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