2017 Round up - and onto the next!
- Thread starter LeannePip
- Start date
JFTDWS
Well-Known Member
LP, you've had a terrific year - and some cracking photos in there. I also love Lev's first photo and GR's second particularly.
And now for something completely* different...
*alright, slightly different, anyway.
Right at the end of 2016 (literally, the 30th of December), I took Fergus out to try some polocrosse. I didn't really think anything of it - I just thought it would be a laugh, and something to do - we do like trying random new sports... Apparently that's not how it works. I've done very little else all year...
First tournament: utterly destroyed in very game, and frankly ridiculous levels of overheating (me, not Fergus, he's totally weather proof).
Went to camp and another tournament, won a match (literally nothing to do with me
and lost the other two anyway), passed my umpiring exam and generally had a lot of fun, even if I finally realised I'd need a faster horse to play properly...
We did end the year going to TREC competition and I did my annual "miss a couple of flags and destroy my otherwise decent PTV score". We did get a nice photo though!
Dae's had an odd year with ongoing issues with shoeing, culminating in me having the wretched things off and turning him away to get them back on track. Photo of him doing some fast work in the field early on this summer.
He did become the poster boy for Dengie's HiFi Lite though, which is cute. (Yes, it really is him, I know he doesn't look quite like that now - he's greyed out more and I hacked his mane off for reasons which do not need exploring at this juncture)
And he's being broken to harness as a general dogsbody / hopefully driving pony next summer.
And finally, I'm finishing the year with a ginger addition, Skye. Initially the boys were very interested to have a new girlfriend.
But Fergus wasn't at all convinced:
Now they're a very settled and happy little threesome, and she's been a great addition. She's four, backed at the end of this summer (before she came to me) and a QHx. She's a really lovely mare who takes pretty much everything in her stride.
First time off the yard - a little winter TREC competition where we did pairs with rara (and came third because of her epic score with Fergus!)
And first time at polocrosse training, where she went very green and backwards but was mostly very good. Hopefully with a bit of training and tact, and me stepping up and not being so useless, she will settle into the sport and make a nice pony.
And now for something completely* different...
*alright, slightly different, anyway.
Right at the end of 2016 (literally, the 30th of December), I took Fergus out to try some polocrosse. I didn't really think anything of it - I just thought it would be a laugh, and something to do - we do like trying random new sports... Apparently that's not how it works. I've done very little else all year...
First tournament: utterly destroyed in very game, and frankly ridiculous levels of overheating (me, not Fergus, he's totally weather proof).
Went to camp and another tournament, won a match (literally nothing to do with me
and lost the other two anyway), passed my umpiring exam and generally had a lot of fun, even if I finally realised I'd need a faster horse to play properly...We did end the year going to TREC competition and I did my annual "miss a couple of flags and destroy my otherwise decent PTV score". We did get a nice photo though!
Dae's had an odd year with ongoing issues with shoeing, culminating in me having the wretched things off and turning him away to get them back on track. Photo of him doing some fast work in the field early on this summer.
He did become the poster boy for Dengie's HiFi Lite though, which is cute. (Yes, it really is him, I know he doesn't look quite like that now - he's greyed out more and I hacked his mane off for reasons which do not need exploring at this juncture)
And he's being broken to harness as a general dogsbody / hopefully driving pony next summer.
And finally, I'm finishing the year with a ginger addition, Skye. Initially the boys were very interested to have a new girlfriend.
But Fergus wasn't at all convinced:
Now they're a very settled and happy little threesome, and she's been a great addition. She's four, backed at the end of this summer (before she came to me) and a QHx. She's a really lovely mare who takes pretty much everything in her stride.
First time off the yard - a little winter TREC competition where we did pairs with rara (and came third because of her epic score with Fergus!)
And first time at polocrosse training, where she went very green and backwards but was mostly very good. Hopefully with a bit of training and tact, and me stepping up and not being so useless, she will settle into the sport and make a nice pony.
Last edited:
Jenni_
Well-Known Member
Can I join in a bit late?
At the end of 2016 I really didn';t have any horsey goals - I was still sharing Taz but not really in the best place after splitting up with my ex and just leaving him everything- so in January 2017 I made the decision to buy me something valuable of my own, that I wouldn't have had if I'd still been with my ex - cue Skyfall.
She arrived in March and what a 2017 she's given me- full of highs and lows. She's the first horse I've ever owned, and she has let me experience so many horsey firsts this year. Even silly things like buying my first set of clippers to clip my own horse have meant the absolute world to me.
Coming home
Haul from our first competition
Not quite mastered standing elegantly...
Dressaged in company...
Had fun!
Comparison of her next to a 15:3hh...
She's babysat the yard kids who absolutely adore her...
She's made us laugh....
Met her baby brother...
I got to drive to a competition for the first time ever...
Was part of my first Riding Club Team and did my first Qualifier...
I got to hack my own horse on Christmas Day....
Enjoyed snowy rides...
And has been my best pal!
The year hasn't been without drama though, some confidence issues and a few broken bones but we're hopefully coming through the other end.
Don't want to flood this thread too much as she's more to come and I'll do a recap on our first year together in April.
Plans for this year are to continue with the 'firsts' - beach, BE80, hunter trials camps you name it we want to try it.
But the biggest plan of all is to just keep smiling!
At the end of 2016 I really didn';t have any horsey goals - I was still sharing Taz but not really in the best place after splitting up with my ex and just leaving him everything- so in January 2017 I made the decision to buy me something valuable of my own, that I wouldn't have had if I'd still been with my ex - cue Skyfall.
She arrived in March and what a 2017 she's given me- full of highs and lows. She's the first horse I've ever owned, and she has let me experience so many horsey firsts this year. Even silly things like buying my first set of clippers to clip my own horse have meant the absolute world to me.
Coming home
Haul from our first competition
Not quite mastered standing elegantly...
Dressaged in company...
Had fun!
Comparison of her next to a 15:3hh...
She's babysat the yard kids who absolutely adore her...
She's made us laugh....
Met her baby brother...
I got to drive to a competition for the first time ever...
Was part of my first Riding Club Team and did my first Qualifier...
I got to hack my own horse on Christmas Day....
Enjoyed snowy rides...
And has been my best pal!
The year hasn't been without drama though, some confidence issues and a few broken bones but we're hopefully coming through the other end.
Don't want to flood this thread too much as she's more to come and I'll do a recap on our first year together in April.
Plans for this year are to continue with the 'firsts' - beach, BE80, hunter trials camps you name it we want to try it.
But the biggest plan of all is to just keep smiling!
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
Jenni_ you look like you've had an incredible year with Skyfall (love the name too), it brought a tear to my eye seeing how many amazing things you've done! Best of luck for 2018.
Jenni_
Well-Known Member
Thank you! I was bubbling a wee bit reading back through it... not half as much as I will be when I do a full recap because I've missed loads out and she really has given me the most brilliant year.
She's currently enjoying her winter holiday broken up with a couple of hacks with me and the kids dragging her in to ride her. She looks dreadful but she deserved a break.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Lovely pictures. She is gorgeous.
Girlracer
Well-Known Member
Thank you, he is looking and feeling really well at the moment so fingers crossed!
Michen
Well-Known Member
Hmmmm. A strange year having started it planning what BE100s would be good to move up from 90 with. Then a few weeks later I lost my wonderful little horse to colic which was one of the most horrendous things I’ve ever been through. I’m not sure I’ll ever really get over what happened.
Then bought this manky Irish bog pony on Facebook whilst still probably in shock and very sad.
He arrived looking somewhat sad but has blossomed into the most gorgeous Boy though he has been anything but easy with his sharp and fiery behaviour plus soundness issues. We finally seem to be getting somewhere though so we shall see what the year brings.....
Then bought this manky Irish bog pony on Facebook whilst still probably in shock and very sad.
He arrived looking somewhat sad but has blossomed into the most gorgeous Boy though he has been anything but easy with his sharp and fiery behaviour plus soundness issues. We finally seem to be getting somewhere though so we shall see what the year brings.....
Bernster
Well-Known Member
Awesome pics Jenni, it looks like you've had an amazing year with her. What a good find! Look forward to your anniversary thread.
Michen, hope your boy continues to improve.
And jftd, lovely pics, so glad your new girl is doing well.
Michen, hope your boy continues to improve.
And jftd, lovely pics, so glad your new girl is doing well.
Mule
Well-Known Member
Had a good year competing. Unfortunately I had to have a lovely horse put down because of illness.
Highlights were coming 6th in riding club national eventing championships. Also having a lesson on my dressage instructors grand prix horse.
I've been bitten by the dressage bug so will focus on that this year and mabey keep jumping just for fun.
I've finally figured out contact and seem to have developed feel :thumbup: I will do lots of unaffiliated prelim to try to sort out my horrible spatial awareness, as I'm still losing marks in tests due to it.
The plan is to start doing novice dressage in the summer, lots more hacking, get a bit fitter and then see what happens
Highlights were coming 6th in riding club national eventing championships. Also having a lesson on my dressage instructors grand prix horse.
I've been bitten by the dressage bug so will focus on that this year and mabey keep jumping just for fun.
I've finally figured out contact and seem to have developed feel :thumbup: I will do lots of unaffiliated prelim to try to sort out my horrible spatial awareness, as I'm still losing marks in tests due to it.
The plan is to start doing novice dressage in the summer, lots more hacking, get a bit fitter and then see what happens