Carriage horses do the double!

HufflyPuffly

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In a rash decision I decided to take not one but two bonkers carriage horses out to do dressage yesterday. I also in my wisdom decided Skylla could do short arena tests and Topaz could do AM98 :lol::eek3:...

First up Skylla, she is a joy to take out :). She doesn't spook at anything and is exactly the same away as she is at home, this is SO refreshing after Topaz :o. First test of the day was P14, we were a little tentative but still a big improvement from our last outing to score 64%and win our section (of one :lol:).

[video=youtube_share;bvLQnWw8Hcw]https://youtu.be/bvLQnWw8Hcw[/video]

My friend then suggested that maybe I take the handbrake off, my face went :eek3: at the thought of steering the boat ahem Skylla round a 20x40 at a bigger stride... But after a telling off I manned up for a more forward second test in P13. The judge (thankfully) agreed wholeheartedly with my friend and we scored our PB of 68% to come second overall :D.

[video=youtube_share;znuKnNsbIKk]https://youtu.be/znuKnNsbIKk[/video]

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Then a quick trip back to the yard to drop Skylla off and collect the mud wallowing hippo that is Topaz :o. First up M73, felt a little wobbly but ok in the main, she's really feeling quite confident at this level now :). Still feel her belly gets in the way of half-passing :lol: but she does try ;). Managed a fandabbydozy of a PB for 68% and overall third :).

[video=youtube_share;7TBloFrfyrk]https://youtu.be/7TBloFrfyrk[/video]

to be continued....
 
Then AM98 :eek3::eek3::eek3::eek3::eek3::eek3::eek3:. Flying changes were erm... expressive, though they are improving at least ;). The first she said ok, then got excited and then flailed about a little :o. Though the rest of the test was ok and we did it, we managed 61% so got our AF sheet :D, clever fatty hippo :).

[video=youtube_share;dzm8k1fTalU]https://youtu.be/dzm8k1fTalU[/video]

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Aah well done, Carriage Ponies!

Skylla looks awfully pleased with herself. Topaz looks to be dreaming of wallowing! Those flying changes were very exciting, indeed!
 
go carriage ponies! Well done :D

Which AF will you do the AM at? are you bringing both to Midway champs? Questions, questions!
 
Aah well done, Carriage Ponies!

Skylla looks awfully pleased with herself. Topaz looks to be dreaming of wallowing! Those flying changes were very exciting, indeed!

I think those are astute observations there :lol: thank you.


go carriage ponies! Well done :D

Which AF will you do the AM at? are you bringing both to Midway champs? Questions, questions!

We will be going to Northallerton all being well, if Skylla can get her next two sheets I may just bring her as her first big comp, but then I'm not always sensible so will probably just bring both :o...


Really enjoyed watching the videos of both horses! Loved the enthusiastic changes, magic!

Thank you, she LOVES her changes :lol:
 
Woop! Well done carriage ponies :D

Skylla is just so cool, I cannot wait to see you progress her. And yay for your clever friend and the golden 'ride it like you stole it' advice netting you an awesome PB :D
 
Good hippo driving ponies! And yay for letting off the handbrakes, although from those vids I reckon you've got plenty more power to come. Skylla seems to have a fab uphill frame - is that natural or all your own doing, either way it's impressive!
 
Another admirer of Skyla's uphill frame, a lot to like about her. She looks to have really filled out and muscled up, I imagine she has a huge future ahead of her. What is her breeding?

Love the flying changes, obviously finding them very exciting, my mare does just the same, I am hoping as she gets more established they will become less exciting.

Great weekend for you, well done.
 
Woop! Well done carriage ponies :D

Skylla is just so cool, I cannot wait to see you progress her. And yay for your clever friend and the golden 'ride it like you stole it' advice netting you an awesome PB :D

Friend is beyond smug now, I fear I will not be forgetting this for a while :lol:

Those flying changes are just adorable.

Well done!

Ah I'm glad you like them, the judge wasn't 'quite' as much of a fan :o.

Good hippo driving ponies! And yay for letting off the handbrakes, although from those vids I reckon you've got plenty more power to come. Skylla seems to have a fab uphill frame - is that natural or all your own doing, either way it's impressive!

All her def, not my doing :o, there is lots more in the tank for sure she just needs to be pursuaded to use the power for good not evil :D.

Another admirer of Skyla's uphill frame, a lot to like about her. She looks to have really filled out and muscled up, I imagine she has a huge future ahead of her. What is her breeding?

Love the flying changes, obviously finding them very exciting, my mare does just the same, I am hoping as she gets more established they will become less exciting.

Great weekend for you, well done.

She always looks better at this time of year but I'm not convinced it's not chubby rather than muscle ;). She's out of a Hackney mare by a Friesian x Hackney x Holstein stallion, bred to drive and trot really fast basically :lol:.

The changes are slowly getting there, but I like to crack on and not wait for perfection :o so we're letting the world see them as they are, late behind and bonkers as they are.
 
I love seeing these two mares. Both beautiful... Good on you for listening to the advice to ride forwards. Trust me, I know how daunting it seems but clearly it was worth it for a PB. I seem to be jealous of everyone on the forum's horse's right now, but Skylla is one of the main candidates for my large-scale-theft plot. Beautiful x
 
I love seeing these two mares. Both beautiful... Good on you for listening to the advice to ride forwards. Trust me, I know how daunting it seems but clearly it was worth it for a PB. I seem to be jealous of everyone on the forum's horse's right now, but Skylla is one of the main candidates for my large-scale-theft plot. Beautiful x

I'm happy enough to ride her forwards but in a short arena it seemed ambitious :lol: she's still like steering a barge :lol:. I'll tell her you like her, though she is such a sweetie especially now she's down with the idea of human carrying, she did her first double last night, I love her :).
 
Wow, Topaz is looking so secure in her work! And Skyllah is adorable, look at her go! Well done, what a massive day!
 
I love seeing these two mares. Both beautiful... Good on you for listening to the advice to ride forwards. Trust me, I know how daunting it seems but clearly it was worth it for a PB. I seem to be jealous of everyone on the forum's horse's right now, but Skylla is one of the main candidates for my large-scale-theft plot. Beautiful x

I'll help you thieve her....and we'll work out some kind of time share :D
 
Lovely update. Skylla is looking so grown up now and Topaz looks like the most fun you can have with your clothes on ever :D

Well done. You should be very proud of yourself!
 
Lovely update. Skylla is looking so grown up now and Topaz looks like the most fun you can have with your clothes on ever :D

Well done. You should be very proud of yourself!

Ah thank you, they are both super, Topaz just likes to add a bit extra :D.

Great weekend for you, well done.

Thank you it was lovely! Though glad of a quiet one this time though :).
 
Wow great scores!!! Well done, they both look to be going really well. Is your mum still moving away with Topaz?
 
Wow great scores!!! Well done, they both look to be going really well. Is your mum still moving away with Topaz?

Thanks, mum has moved but Topaz is staying for the moment at least (all the business with the vets we at least want to sort out before moving her!). Think mum wants to leave her until I move, but then I actually need to stop procrastinating about it all :o.
 
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