Showing steward and judge

Sharon Thomas on the appeal of local shows, an ill-timed back flip, the joyful chaos of entertaining children – and smuggled dogs

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Neither I nor my husband David had a horsey background. My father had been a professional footballer and as I had three brothers, football was the only interest in my family. I loved ponies, but the only way to be involved was through my local riding school, where I learnt the basics and helped out at weekends and evenings, mucking out and riding ponies bareback to and from their grazing with just a headcollar.

Later, I bought myself a hunter and rode for several seasons with the South Notts, and occasionally with the Quorn and Belvoir. I also competed a bit in dressage. David was a dinghy sailor - we used to race most weekends, but when we asked our eldest daughter if she would like a dinghy or a pony, the latter won and sailing went by the wayside, except for holidays.

From then on, the showing bug took over - initially at local riding clubs. One day, David Cronk was judging and encouraged us to join the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) and eventually Ponies UK, where we enjoyed first ridden, show hunter and native classes. We qualified and competed at both the Royal International (RIHS) and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).