Having a judge free weekend we took Rio (Mannog Zips Rio Grande) to a party on Saturday at Cae Henblas, Sioe Eglwysbach 70th Anniversary show.  A lovely setting amid the hills of North Wales.  Usual prep for Rio - out of field,  bath, trim, travel, show, home, field.  However the weather did not play kind with some very heavy short sharp showers whilst waiting, everyone got drenched  but then the clouds parted and the sun shone for his class and the rest of the afternoon.

He won the Foreign Breed class which included 2 minis and a lovely Arab.  Then there was a ring championship where he went Reserve Champion to a stunning 2 year old Welsh Section  B colt who eventually went Reserve Supreme of Show. Rio is just so easy to show. He stands still, set himself up and then, for such a well muscled horse,  his trot astounds the judge - "divine" and "wish I could take him home" . There is no knee action - he floats and finds it so easy.  Having been Reserve Champion we then went into the main ring for the Supreme of Show.  We knew he would not get anywhere but it was just so nice showing a Appaloosa to the Welsh crowds . (Rio is  93% FPD).  A lovely Welsh Section D mare (ridden) won the Supreme of Show and well deserved.

Outside the ring Rio, as always,  attracts a huge amount of attention as there was nothing like him on the showground. We are often asked his breeding and when we say "Appaloosa" the response is "surely he should be spotted!" Never mind eh!  He still loves all the cuddles.

Then I also see that Georgia Ryle and her lovely part bred gelding exhibited on the same day but this time at Gelli Gynan Llanarmon yn Ial show with 2 x 1st and Champion In Hand.  We were certainly busy here in North Wales! Well done Georgia.