Emma Jones and her family have been showing Welsh Mountain Ponies for almost 30 years. In 2003, they were preparing a yearling - Frongoch Carwyn - for his first taste of the main ring at the Royal Welsh Show. In the run-up to Carwyn's big day on Wednesday 23 July 2003, Emma kept a personal diary - charting the highs and lows of competing on the agricultural catwalk.
Read the third instalment here or click on the links to read other entries.
19 days to go 14 days to go 5 days to go Judgement Day
18th July 2003 - 5 days to go
"Since Lampeter Stallion show, Carwyn has been steadily improving. The difficulties involved in showing young-stock are that (like children) they grow at different stages. Carwyn has the most amazing head and eye, and has a strong shoulder. However, at the beginning of the season he was growing very quickly in height, which made it difficult to get him to look right. With young stock, we always try and let them grow at their own speed - aided with good quality hay and feed, with plenty of exercise which will give them a good start in life. Some animals are overfed as youngsters, making it difficult for their bones to cope with natural growth, and this often results in poor moving animals or even worse problems in adulthood.
Carwyn recently took the second rosette at Midland In-Hand Show at the Three-Counties Showground in Malvern in a strong class (highest place colt), and another second placing at Kent County Show last weekend (12-13 July 2003).
We are very pleased with his progress, although he has yet to come home with that sought-after red rosette. He is maturing well and gives us so much pleasure which is really what it is all about!
We are now getting extremely excited about the Royal Welsh Show, in particular, about our 8am slot in the Main Ring on Wednesday morning! Unfortunately, since it is mid-week, Karen & Dave will not be able to attend but mum and I will be watching eagerly in the grandstand as Colin and Carwyn enter the main ring.
My nails (which are already short) are now slowly being bitten away in anticipation and excitement. It has been widely published that the entries in the Welsh Mountain Pony Section A classes this year have exceeded all previous records, so we can expect tougher competition than usual.
Our hopes are that he goes well, and by that, I mean that he shows himself off well to the judge, and if he comes home with a placing and a rosette, then we will be more than happy!" Written by Emma Jones of Frongoch Stud.
Click on the links below to read other entries from Emma's competitor's diary:
Judgement Day 5 days to go 14 days to go 19 days to go
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If you've ever wondered what it's like to compete in the Royal Welsh Show, read the diary of Emma Jones from Frongoch Stud near Aberystwyth. 
