An Honest Appraisal - Please?

J

JAK

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Are we on the right track? A few weeks ago, MD was struggling to hold the Baggage & could barely manage two tiny jumps in a row, as she tanked off round the school after every jump & was extremely difficult to stop & steer!
(Yes, I know she's only little but she's bl**dy strong! lol)

She is now schooling & hacking out calmly, alone (& today as a nanny!) & below is a short vid of her doing a couple of little jumps!
I would love an honest appraisal of whether she now looks a little more like a pony we could actually do something with, rather than just charge about on?

She is extremely calm to handle now & although she was never nasty in any way whatsoever, she seems so much more placid generally.
She loves her new bit but also has a bit of respect for it, which I think has made a huge difference!

There has been no buckiing for several weeks now & no tanking off in the field either, so she is a lot nicer to ride now!
I really hope she stays this way, as she is so much more receptive now! lol

 
She's looking like a lovely pony now - sounds like a great improvement.

Looks to be jumping very nicely too, Big pat on the back for you and MD!
 
They look lovely together. I'm sure she'll only improve
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Thanks all! We're quite chuffed with her actually!

She's a lovely pony, not a nasty bone in her body (unless you're another pony! lol) but her owner was a small child when she first had her & she really isn't a small child's pony, as she's much too strong & bloody-minded, so she's got away with blue murder really!

Gucci_B - yes, school is big but sadly, total pants!
It's either under water, frozen solid or doing a good impression of the Sahara desert!
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I think it sounds (and looks) like you and MD are doing a fantastic job so far. She's similar breeding and size to my pony, so I know what you mean about her being strong, I can totally sympathise with that! Keep up the good work and look forward to hearing further updates!
 
She is definitely my kind of pony and I think she could be great fun for PC etc
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what sort of "something" do you have in mind?
 
She is remarkably similar to your lad bex, in both looks & attitude!

The first couple of weeks, MD spent most of her time turning in ever decreasing circles from a flat out gallop & using her, by now fairly sharp, reflexes & balance to actually stay on, as the little cherub swerved all over the school & careered round & round on only the very outer edges of anything that could be termed 'control'!

I think she's one of these ponies that really has to have respect for you, or you're stuffed really! lol
The new bit made a helluva difference though, well worth 30 quid for that & the leather curb! It really was quite a magic transformation tbh!

I think it really helps if you 'like' something too though & MD adores her completely, warts an' all!
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[ QUOTE ]
She is definitely my kind of pony and I think she could be great fun for PC etc
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what sort of "something" do you have in mind?

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Yes, I think you'd love her - she's certainly never 'boring'! lol

MD wants to do some hunter trials with her, as BB doesn't really enjoy showjumping.....apparently?
She's no particular breed, so showing is out but she's got huge amounts of stamina & is as surefooted as a mountain goat, so 'baby level' Le Trec might be an option?
 
No showjumping? sounds just like Cob Blob!
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You say showing is out but if she was at our yard I'd shamelessly take her into PC pony/WHP/most appealing etc at local shows - I think she's lovely
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But hunter trials and TREC sound great fun too
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best of luck with her.
 
I think she's probably the mare version of mine, and therefore has a touch more attitude
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. My boy seems to be slowly learning that I'm in control and appears to have stopped both tanking and being a bit nappy this week....it's amazing what you can achieve by being determined and consistent isn't it?
 
Maybe MD should just have a go at everything then? (Except WH, as BB has an enormous mane, so she'd end up with plaits like tennis balls unfortunately! lol)

I think she WOULD do showjumping personally - it's just a question of attitude, training & strength of will! She's found everything else fun so far, so I can't see why not!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think she's probably the mare version of mine, and therefore has a touch more attitude
grin.gif
. My boy seems to be slowly learning that I'm in control and appears to have stopped both tanking and being a bit nappy this week....it's amazing what you can achieve by being determined and consistent isn't it?

[/ QUOTE ]
I think she may well be!
MD is always 'nice' to her, as there's no point stropping with a mare! lol Most of the time, MD simply tries to convince BB it was all her idea in the first place, backed up with strength of character if she starts to play up!

Once BB realised she couldn't easily buck her off, swerve her off or get her to voluntarily GET off in abject terror, she began to listen a little more & once she relaxed enough to actually start enjoying herself, that was it, they were away!
MD never over-does the 'schooling', it's all in short stretches, with lots of (controlled!) 'fun' inbetween! (If you tried to make her 'conform' ALL the time, she'd soon start to rebel I think!)
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[ QUOTE ]
MD never over-does the 'schooling', it's all in short stretches, with lots of (controlled!) 'fun' inbetween! (If you tried to make her 'conform' ALL the time, she'd soon start to rebel I think!)
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totally agree with you there....think part of the reason mine has been so much better this week is that last weekend we did some jumping, and then went out galloping across open fields. BB looks like she enjoyed the jumping in the vid
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I'm glad your lad has been behaving himself a little more this week, it sounds like you are really getting somewhere with him now!

BB has quite a varied week too! Galloping in the field, quiet hacking, jumping once or twice, little bits of schooling & they have a lesson once a week, with BB having to work quite hard but always finishing off with something fun, like games of some kind or something!

So far, she has joined in with everything & judging by her calm, relaxed attitude, seems pretty happy with her lot in life!
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I can't believe how similar our ponies are, I will have to find a clearer photo of her for you!
 
She is looking VERY goo.

One point I would make is that she seems to be rushing in her trott. Try half halting her to bring her back to you especially on the approach to a jump.
 
You're quite right, she does 'rush' & although the 'rushing' is marginally better than the previous 'headlong charging' followed by flat out 'bolting' on landing, it's still not good enough!

Fear not GW, this is not the finished product.....hell no! This is a teensy improvement only! lol
(We know it's an improvement, as MD's hands are no longer pulsating red like a traffic light when she's finished riding! lol)

Unfortunately, BB is one of these ponies that only has two speeds - dead donkey or light cavalry charge - very little inbetween! It's the 'inbetween' we're mostly working on!
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I would be delighted if a relatively inexperienced pony would jump that little course so nicely. Well done to your MD who has obviously done a lot of wirk with the pony.
She leans in a bit around the corners is the only fault that I can see.
By the end of the summer holidays, I'm sure they will have a real partnership.

FIona
 
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