Hats off to WAGs, HABs and MADs

HERE it is, the H&H show guide, an abundance of dates to inspire competition greatness. Grab a highlighter and get planning. Spare a thought, though, for whoever will be going with you — be that your wives and girlfriends (WAGs), husbands and boyfriends (HABs) or mums and dads (MADs, I suppose).

I always appreciated what my parents did for me, but since having children of my own, have far greater appreciation. The fact my mother stood in a freezing indoor school watching me trot endlessly round on my pony each night after school, that my father bought a horsebox when I’m sure he’d far rather have had another classic car rusting on the driveway as opposed to an Iveco. And that was just the tip of the commitment iceberg in terms of both time and money.

There were certain shows my father would come and watch more than once. The places that did good egg and bacon rolls, with somewhere he could sit with his coffee, paper and relatively warm toes, waiting to congratulate/ commiserate me on my round and drive the truck home. He needed then the feature we have written now (show guide, p16), detailing some of the best venues in Britain for supporters.

The unaffiliated event I’m looking forward to most is the first of H&H’s own this year — the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing in association with KBIS — a three-day at Keysoe, Beds, 26-28 May, which you will be able to enter at equoevents.com. See you at the hog roast, MADs.