Haflinger World Exhibition

Hey guys … guess where I was last weekend!!!! I actually got to go with my big friends Haruschka, Merida and Maja to Ebbs for the Haflinger World Exhibition!!! Oh, I was so excited!

 

I even got all dressed up for the occasion … I washed and brushed my golden-brown coat. After all, the three big girls had been getting pampered and styled for weeks beforehand, washed again and again with wonderfully scented shampoo and groomed to perfection. I didn’t want to fall behind and end up embarrassing myself!!!

 

And then, on Wednesday, we finally set off. We had to go with two horse trailers … but since I’m just a little plush horse, I was allowed to ride in the car with the two-legged ones ?

 

Wow, that was a long drive. At last we arrived at the Fohlenhof in Ebbs and oh my, what a queue of horse transporters … !!! We had to wait another whole hour before it was finally our turn. Seldis tried to comfort me: “You know, Netti, there are over 600 horses from 20 different nations arriving today, so of course that takes a while” … but I’m just soooo impatient!

 

But eventually we made it. Haruschka even had her baby with her, but both of them handled the long journey and all the waiting with angelic patience. The big ones moved into nicely prepared boxes in specially erected stable tents … I hadn’t been able to imagine beforehand how you could possibly accommodate 600 horses at the Fohlenhof … but in the end everyone found their place. As a plush horse, I had it easy once again and was allowed to sleep in the hotel room with Seldis ?

 

• 
• 
• 

The next day it all started … oh, the suspense was rising … the big horses were presented to the judges. Wow, standing calmly in front of the judges with so many strange horses around is tough. Even I was hopping nervously back and forth on my little stubby legs just watching. But they all did a fantastic job, and so they were all allowed into the big “ring” at the end of the event. That’s where all the horses of the same class (Seldis explained it to me – it depends on age and whether they have a foal or not) appear together in front of the judges.

 

The judges stood in the middle, looking very serious, while the horses were led around them one after the other. But suddenly, everything started to move. One horse was sent to the front of the line, another had to move further back … what a muddle! Couldn’t they just walk behind each other like they were supposed to …??? “Oh Netti,” Seldis explained, “the judges are comparing them now, and they decide which horse should move to the front – that’s the one they think is more beautiful. That’s how they determine the order from the best down to the very good horses. Because there are no bad horses here – especially not at a world exhibition … only the very best are invited.”

 

Ah, okay, now I understand the system … so, time to get nervous – the further forward our horses walk, the better – wow, it was exciting! And what can I say … all three of our horses were right at the front!

 

Haruschka came 3rd in her class (broodmares, 4-year-olds, group II)
Merida (mares aged 7 to 8) 5th place
Amaja (yearlings group I) 6th place

 

That was such a huge joy. Paul, Seldis, Sarah, Fabienne and of course I all celebrated properly … naturally only after the big ladies had been royally looked after. I even asked Haruschka very respectfully if I had to address her as “Ma’am” now … she just smiled down at me from above: “Oh nonsense, Netti … you’re just as beautiful as I am … just a little different” ?