***Daughter and Dolly - a little update, and a request!!!***

R

redmone

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Hi everyone!

It's been a few weeks since our last update, and I thought I'd let you all know how the start of Spring has been going for us.

We took daughter and Dolly out to their first show in our own van, which went really well. It was their first "away" show which was a proper show (and not a fun show etc..) and it was quite daunting (massive indoor arena, spotlights, tanoy system, prof photographers etc... - gave Dolly a LOT to look at) - she travelled brilliantly - even behaved well enough for daughter to load! But she was VERY excited when we got there and had no time to warm up - tacked up and straight in the ring (will learn from that next time!).

She behaved very well, but was quite strong, so daughter kept the canter part of her equitation show to a minimum. She thought it best to show she could control Dolly, rather than do lots of canter. Anyway, she came 4th and 5th and was really happy with her first proper time out!

Today she did her March "Interdressage" competition - and picked up her rossettes and prize money (YEY!!!!) for February where she came 3rd and 4th. Very happy!!

We've had our low moments these last few weeks. We had one particular day when Dolly managed to buck daughter off twice in the space of a couple of hours!! I think that was our "Boingy Spring Lamb" day!!!! But daughter's confidence is doing good and she's not letting it stop her!!!

My request is regarding these condition scoring threads which I've been reading with interest this past week. I have no idea what score Dolly would get, but I'd love opinions. She looks so well now (in my opinion) and is really quite fit. So could I please have your opinions on her condition score (and conformation whilst we're at it!).

Here's a picture taken today, which gave me the idea to ask (excuse the stuck out tongue!!!):

DressageDolly.jpg


And here's a "before" photo!

FatDolly.jpg


(I know the saddle seems far forward on this one - we had trouble getting a saddle to fit because of her long back and big belly!!)

And here's a few from her recent show as a thank you!!!

RosettsDolly.jpg


(Don't think Dolly wanted to smile for this one ;))

And my favourite:

CroftTopDolly.jpg


And I'm sure you'll LOVE this picture in our new fleece!!! (and our new VAN!!!)

SkullDolly.jpg


Thanks everyone!!!

I know I've said this before, but I've absolutely NO regrets with buying Dolly for Daughter. We've had our moments, but I love this pony so much. :D

I'm not sharing my wine with you, but I've got Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia (low fat - to offset the wine calories!!!) for anyone that comments!!!

:D:D:D
 
well done! they're doing so well together!

as for condition scoring, I'd say she's about a 4 to a 4.5 in places. She's still quite cresty, but it could just be her shape to an extent. She could also do with some more muscle on her bottom to help balance her out. But, you know how prone she is to putting on weight so I know that you'll be vigilant for any more weight going on, plus it's lighter in the evenings so you'll be able to get her doing more now too!

love hearing about Dolly! :)
 
Yayyy amazing!! :) (seems like she got her sticky bum jodhs back from me then! :p)

I'd say between a 3.5 - 4 condition wise....looks like she has a little bit extra padding ;) but difficult to say. Conformation I have no idea on!!
I LOVE hearing your updates :)
K x
 
joeanne said:
Woop woop go Dolly and Redmones daughter!
Condition scoring is hard because you have a saddle on her.
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Ahhh!! Ooops!!!

Only had about 4 hours today to take a nudey picture of her but didn't think of it!

Sorry!! Nevermind! Next time eh!

:o

THANKS! though! I'm dead proud of them :D
 
mulledwhine said:
Wow wow wow, well done dolly and daughter :) she looks fab !!

So glad that I am not the only one with a naughty pony, but they are the best ones :D
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Thanks!!! Oh she can be cheeky with the best of them, but I've learnt it's more excitement than naughtiness. The more daughter is able to do with her, the less she is "cheeky". I know it could have gone either way, but for us Dolly's challenges have made daughter a much better rider in the long run.

:D
 
JenHunt said:
well done! they're doing so well together!

as for condition scoring, I'd say she's about a 4 to a 4.5 in places. She's still quite cresty, but it could just be her shape to an extent. She could also do with some more muscle on her bottom to help balance her out. But, you know how prone she is to putting on weight so I know that you'll be vigilant for any more weight going on, plus it's lighter in the evenings so you'll be able to get her doing more now too!

love hearing about Dolly! :)
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Thanks!

No knowing anything about this condition scoring but what I've seen in a booklet I was given, I was putting her at about a 4, bearing her new forest breeding in mind (they seem to be a bit stockier).

Rugs are off now, so hopefully she'll lose a bit more before summer.

But maybe not, as she's such a good girl sometimes we can't help but give carrots :o
 
KellysHeroes said:
Yayyy amazing!! :) (seems like she got her sticky bum jodhs back from me then! :p)

I'd say between a 3.5 - 4 condition wise....looks like she has a little bit extra padding ;) but difficult to say. Conformation I have no idea on!!
I LOVE hearing your updates :)
K x
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Don't ever take those velcro pants away from us again please!!!!!!!

I was thinking 3.5 to 4, but thought I was being generous with the 3.5 :D

Shall we settle for 3.75??? :D:D:D

"Daughter" had her 14th fall last week! Said she was twice as good as a good rider now!!! :rolleyes:
 
CalllyH said:
Ahhh fantastic. She seems to have thickened out in her neck alot which I'm not sure suits her.
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Thanks!

Actually, thinned out at the neck believe it or not!!! Possibly looks thicker because of the plaits. We're losing some of it (the skin has gone a bit wobbly underneath her neck, because daughter is trying to learn the outline business :confused: which might hopefully slim her neck down a little) but still a way to go with her neck.

A lot of her "crest" has gone - but there's still a way to go here.

Necks seem to be the hardest place to change! :)
 
For a pony, she is looking quite trim. Wouldnt want to put on any more, but I expect she will getting more work now the clocks have changed. Love her fleece - my little girl (20!) wants one too.
 
Magicmillbrook said:
For a pony, she is looking quite trim. Wouldnt want to put on any more, but I expect she will getting more work now the clocks have changed. Love her fleece - my little girl (20!) wants one too.
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Thanks! I'm pleased with how she looks. Much better in my opinion. I feel she'll probably always be prone to be chunky (like me :o!!!) but she does get quite a bit of work so I hope we'll be able to keep the weight off. Heading into Spring/Summer - she will probably be worked for similar amount of time (we're very lucky to have an indoor school so she's been kept very busy over Winter) but the type of work will probably be more stenuous (more jumping!) and also we'll be able to hack out more, which will help too.

We LOVE the fleece (and bought the matching boots, tailguard, flymask - well you name it actually, as a birthday present for daughter :D)

x
 
Boxers said:
Well done at the show. The pics are lovely. Dolly and daughter are really coming together now aren't they?
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Thank you!

They make a really good team now - it really helped when daughter grew about half a foot!!!

Dolly can still be strong, but she's a good pony. She gets bored and excited we think, and I lookforward to the day when daughter is strong and brave enough to "let her go" and just hold on tight! I don't think we're far away from that now. The change in her temperament when we go out places is amazing. Although she gets excited and strong, she seems much happier even when back home again. I think she likes being taken places.

I'm really proud of them both!

:D
 
Your love for this pony really shines through in your posts! :D

Im on me phone so am seeing tiny photos, but I would score her 3.5. She shows muscle and not too bad a groove over her bum, but still has a bit of a crest. Dodson and horrell, and I think most feed companies will send you charts and explainations of how to score body condition if you are interested.
 
Naturally said:
Your love for this pony really shines through in your posts! :D

Im on me phone so am seeing tiny photos, but I would score her 3.5. She shows muscle and not too bad a groove over her bum, but still has a bit of a crest. Dodson and horrell, and I think most feed companies will send you charts and explainations of how to score body condition if you are interested.
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Going off a leaflet I was given, I gave her 3.5 to 4 but thought I was being generous at 3.5 (cause, yes, I love our little Ginger Ninja!!!) so I'm settling for 3.75! Not sure it's on the chart, but it is now!!!

Thanks Naturally!

:D
 
Tell me more about the fleece - where did you get it?

My son has skull and crossbones on his cross country gear and hat cover. Would love a fleece to complete the look. Makes such a change from hearts and stars!

Keep the threads coming, love reading the updates.
 
Yay for Dolly! I think your daughter is one lucky girl, both with her pony and with her mum! :D

Ditto legaldancer: where did that fleece come from? Love it!
 
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What a great post - well done Dolly and daughter.

I'd say that Dolly was fat (don't do scoring sorry). As for confo - a little difficult to tell, but perhaps a little straight in her hocks.
 
Well done!!! That is a brilliant result from their first show away! The main thing to remember about shows is that there are the goals set by the competition and then there are the goals set by the rider. Daughter and Dolly managed to get to their first show, compete, have a great time and get home safely - that's a first class result in my book!

As you say as Daughter grows in confidence she will be more able to let Dolly go and Dolly will become slower as a result (weird, but true!). It's all about building confidence between the two of them and it's coming along great! As for the bucking just put that down to spring grass - unfortunately that's just horses for you!
 
legaldancer said:
Tell me more about the fleece - where did you get it?

My son has skull and crossbones on his cross country gear and hat cover. Would love a fleece to complete the look. Makes such a change from hearts and stars!

Keep the threads coming, love reading the updates.
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Thanks!

It's from a company called "Bloomin Ponies". We bought fleece, travel boots and tailguard, flymask, saddle cover and a waterproof exercise sheet - it's really good quality, not too expensive and the company are a dream to deal with. They even made things a little bigger for our less than skinny pony! :D

I'd definately recommend them! :D
 
spookypony said:
Yay for Dolly! I think your daughter is one lucky girl, both with her pony and with her mum! :D

Ditto legaldancer: where did that fleece come from? Love it!
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Awww shucks! Fanks Spookypony!!!!

See reply below - an online company called Bloomin Ponies.

They rock! And do cool designs other than skulls!!!

:D
 
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