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

amymay said:
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.
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Thanks AmyMay!

Awww not the F word!!!! We don't use that particular "F" word in our house!!!

Curvy? Rubenesque? Voluptuous?? I'll even settle with chunky!!! :p

Thanks anyway!!! :D
 
She's in a SNAFFLE ????!!!!

Well, anyway - just wow and well done! Can you please assemble all your posts on the early trials and tribulations as a novice pony-mum, and get Fatty to sticky them as an example of 'How To Do It Right' - with a bit of help from HHO ;) :D :D :D
 
Booboos said:
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!
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Thank you so much!! What a lovely post!

They've done a good few shows at our riding school, and been to a couple of fun shows, but this was the first on own our (in our van - yey!!!) and to come home with rossettes was a bonus!!!

Daughter is very good - she seems to judge herself (quite harshly sometimes!) rather than compare with others and as much as she loves winning, she seems happy just to have a good and safe day. She loves her dressage at the moment - seems to relish the judges comments and really tries hard to beat her own scores every month. Doesn't really mind where she comes overall (although we'll see how that works when she doesn't get placed :p!).

Dolly doesn't buck very often, she used to into canter when we first got her, but not done that for some time. She put in quite a big buck mid-air over a jump, which is when daughter fell off. I honestly think it was excitment rather than naughiness. You're probably right - spring grass!!! She caughter daughter out though, as she's been so good for so long, I think daughter had left her velcro jods at home ;)

Daughter has asked if I'll take her to some gallops soon. Not sure about the wisdom in this, will have to give it some thought!!! :eek:

:D
 
brighteyes said:
She's in a SNAFFLE ????!!!!

Well, anyway - just wow and well done! Can you please assemble all your posts on the early trials and tribulations as a novice pony-mum, and get Fatty to sticky them as an example of 'How To Do It Right' - with a bit of help from HHO ;) :D :D :D
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:p LOL!!!

She's been in a snaffle for over a month now - only put her back in the pelham once for a jumping lesson (daughter fell off anyway :rolleyes:)! We decided when we got our van than if daughter wants to compete, she needs to be in a snaffle, so we changed her bit then and haven't looked back!

She's going much nicer in it I think. She seems to bend much better and is even starting to go a little rounder for daughter (which is something the dressage judges keep telling daughter to work on). Also she's much less moody, which I don't know if it's a coincidence or not. I used to walk in the stable with her pelham bridle and she'd put her ears back and sometimes turn her bum on me.

Now if I go in with her bridle with the snaffle bit, she usually comes to the door to me (sometimes tries to walk out of the door without me too :rolleyes:) and doesn't seem to mind it going on at all. Of course, perhaps she'd still be like this with the pelham, but she just generally seems happier.

How lovely of you to say that about my early posts!!! GOD what a neurotic nervous worrying mess I was!!! :o I'm one of those people (a control freak!!!) that likes to know what I'm doing, and I found it very scary to suddenly have responsibility for this animal that I knew very little about it's needs! So I made it my business to learn. I wouldn't buy a car and not learn to drive (not that I can personally drive the pony, but you know what I mean!!!) so it's just the same!

And I love every minute of it! No regrets whatsoever!!!

There are still times my nerves go a little, and my heart is in my mouth, but I bet all pony mums are like that forever!!! So I'm just rolling with it now!!!

HHO has been a massive source of advice to me and I've learnt so much by stalking everyone!!! Also, we're really really lucky to have the livery yard that we do - endless help and support from lovely people.

Thanks Brighteyes!! And everyone else!!! :D
 
Aww, great to read an update! So glad your daughter is enjoying Dolly so much now :)

I would say Dolly is looking good, but a little on the podgy side :o Just something to keep an eye on with all the lovely spring grass.

I love the rug!! Brilliant, I had a quick peek at the site and I also like the blue one with white stars, wish I had a pony to dress up :D

Well done again, your daughter is lucky to have such a dedicated mum :)
 
It's so lovely following your progress, and seeing your two girls' having so much fun :) Do you have a busy Easter planned? And have you found a PC branch yet? (Love your van!:))
 
Spudlet said:
Hello! Loving the rug:D

It's hard to score from a pic, but it is very easy to do yourself:) This link will tell you how:http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/information/right_weight_advice

There is a film, a pod-cast that you can take with you, and leaflets to download. It's a good skill to learn, and it's not hard (if I can do it, anyone can):D
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Thanks Spudlet!

Always nice to hear from you!!! I'll look at that pod-cast soon - I'd like to learn how to do it!!

This weekend, with the help of our very patient riding school/yard owner, I learnt how to plait up by sewing the plaits it! I honestly thought there was NO chance I could do it (I'm quite domestically challenged!! :p) but she was a great teacher and even made my plaits look respectable!!! I do like learning new tricks!!! :D

My way of telling whether someone/something is overweight is to wobble them and time how long it takes everything to stop moving! I'm still wobbling...... :o I'm gonna try that on Dolly! :D

:D
 
Sarah Sum1 said:
Aww, great to read an update! So glad your daughter is enjoying Dolly so much now :)

I would say Dolly is looking good, but a little on the podgy side :o Just something to keep an eye on with all the lovely spring grass.

I love the rug!! Brilliant, I had a quick peek at the site and I also like the blue one with white stars, wish I had a pony to dress up :D

Well done again, your daughter is lucky to have such a dedicated mum :)
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Thanks! They make a good team, and Daughter loves her to bits. It's been 18 months since we got her now! :)

Podgy! Ohhhhh ***startled face, in shock - puts hand to mouth - you get the idea!!!*** I'm thinking curvacious or rubenesque!!! (can't spell either!!!)

That site is really good isn't it!! I'm sure they'd make "horse size" fleeces!!! They made the waterproof sheet especially for me (no extra charge) as I wanted it reversible and a bit bigger than would normally be for a 12.2hh (podgy size :p)

:D
 
dunkley said:
It's so lovely following your progress, and seeing your two girls' having so much fun :) Do you have a busy Easter planned? And have you found a PC branch yet? (Love your van!:))
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Thanks!!!

I'm having THAT much fun too!!! :D

Yes, lots planned over Easter! We currently have 3 shows landing on the same day :( so got to pick one (ohh listen to us - spoilt for choice! :)) and yes, daughter is a centre PC member at the moment and hoping to join our local PC branch, but we're struggling to make it to the rallys. Will be better when she moves schools after July - it's too much of a round trip at the moment.

She's doing a pony club mounted easter egg hunt in a few weeks, and lots of dressage!! So busy busy busy!!! :D

Thanks re the van! We love it too!!! Calling it "The Dolly Trolley"!!!!

:D
 
Spotsrock said:
dolly looks fab. Great improvement in condition. Love the updates. Yay daughter and dolly!
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Thank you!!

Even if she is still a bit curvey (:p) she's a lot more solid and is in much better condition, and much fitter. I think she'll always be the round type, but the yard where she's stabled keep a really close eye on all the ponies weights, so I know between them and us, we'll always watch she doesn't get any rounder!!!

It's nice you mentioned the condition rather than just her weight and shape. She's much glossier and has a twinkle in her eye now!! She looked quite dull and tired 12 months ago. It's a big difference that I didn't think anyone else could really see.

Thanks! :D
 
Lovely update :) That rug is awesome though, it suits dolly perfectly. Well done mini redmone if your reading fab news about being in a snaffle again, it just shows how much you have both improved.

Have a good easter and get your selves to some branch PC some time you will love it (and the gallops :D).
 
dafthoss said:
Lovely update :) That rug is awesome though, it suits dolly perfectly. Well done mini redmone if your reading fab news about being in a snaffle again, it just shows how much you have both improved.

Have a good easter and get your selves to some branch PC some time you will love it (and the gallops :D).
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Thanks DH!!! Nice to hear from you even if you are a bad influence!! :D

Mini RM says thanks, and hi! She likes you and your ideas!!!

We don't even think about the snaffle now. Daft isn't it. I think a lot of keeping the pelham was psychological - like it would make all the difference. Call it time of year, Dolly being better schooled, daughter being bigger, but Dolly has been 100% better behaved (apart from the one dodgy day!) since she was put in the snaffle. And she looks so much better too.

YEY!! :D
 
Lolo said:
Your daughter is getting very tall! Her and Dolly look fab :)
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Thanks!!! She has got tall hasn't she!!! Have to tuck all her jods into socks so you can't see them half way up her legs (don't tell her I told you! :p)

There's now offically 6 inches between my height and daughters. :(

Soon I'll be the shortest in the family. Sigh. :mad:
 
I prefer to call it a little encouragment :p:D

I think daughter has improved massivley to, being bigger will have helped a little but she has definatly improved :)

*whispers* now mini redmone get your bum to the gallops and make sure theres loads of pictures for us :D
 
dafthoss is right - off to the gallops with mini-redmone, post haste! :D

Looking good, love the photos as always... And prize money :eek: Nice one :D
 
redmone said:
Daughter has asked if I'll take her to some gallops soon. Not sure about the wisdom in this, will have to give it some thought!!! :eek:

:D
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Good on her!!! For the first few times it might be worth avoiding enclosed gallops, the kind where you have no choice but to keep on going because if Daughter gets a bit worried there isn't much she can do. An open field might be a better bet because if she feels it is all getting too fast and out of hand she can gently steer Dolly onto a large circle and sit there until Dolly runs out of steam.
 
dafthoss said:
I prefer to call it a little encouragment :p:D

I think daughter has improved massivley to, being bigger will have helped a little but she has definatly improved :)

*whispers* now mini redmone get your bum to the gallops and make sure theres loads of pictures for us :D
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NOOOOOooooooooooo!!!

**throws body in front of monitor to stop MiniRM from seeing comments**

too late. poop.

We'll see about the gallops. Will have to get that hipflask I was recommended "to help with nerves"!!!!

DH!! You are bad. :eek:
 
JFTD said:
dafthoss is right - off to the gallops with mini-redmone, post haste! :D

Looking good, love the photos as always... And prize money :eek: Nice one :D
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Thanks JFTD!!!

Apart from the gallops bit!!!

One bad influence is bad enough, but two......soon it'll appear that I'm the bad influence, holding daughter back because my nerves just can't take any more. The shakes, night terrors, cold sweats??? Nope not me. **reaches for wine** :eek::eek:

Ha ha only joking!!! I am the original "there's no blood or broken bones, get up and back on and don't fall off next time. Poor pony, with it's silly rider that can't stay on!" mum!!! Even when I am cringing and "there there-ing" inside!!!

I shocked my mum the other day, when she saw daughter fall off for the first time (not first time for daughter, first time nana saw it!) - and I left daughter on the floor and went after Dolly with polos!!! BAD MUMMY!!!! ;)

Anyway, prize money! Yey!!! Very cool! Especially this time as it's cash that she might actually spend! Daughter won't cash in the cheque she received as her first ever prize money!!! :rolleyes:

:D
 
Booboos said:
Good on her!!! For the first few times it might be worth avoiding enclosed gallops, the kind where you have no choice but to keep on going because if Daughter gets a bit worried there isn't much she can do. An open field might be a better bet because if she feels it is all getting too fast and out of hand she can gently steer Dolly onto a large circle and sit there until Dolly runs out of steam.
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That's a good point. And at least I can see them more on a circle!!!! I have this vision of them disappearing into the distance and me having to get a bus to go fetch daughter back!!!

It's good daughter feels up to this now, but I think we'll still leave it a few months!!! She wants to do pony racing next year :eek:

Thanks for the advice!!! :)
 
Haha I'd have given her a wee kick on the way past to encourage her back up on her feet to chase the pony ;) But I'm evil (and stupid - I jumped a few rounds over a grid last night that I don't even remember as I fell off the time before and concussed myself :eek:)

You need to take the wine out with you - you'll be laid back as anything and mini-R will get all the encouragement and liberty she needs to fly up the gallops... Just wait till she's out racing and eventing decent heights :D You'll really need the alcohol then!

I'd cash that cheque and buy something symbolic with it :p A nice keepsake so you've used the prize money but not frittered it away on something :D
 
JFTD said:
Haha I'd have given her a wee kick on the way past to encourage her back up on her feet to chase the pony ;) But I'm evil (and stupid - I jumped a few rounds over a grid last night that I don't even remember as I fell off the time before and concussed myself :eek:)

You need to take the wine out with you - you'll be laid back as anything and mini-R will get all the encouragement and liberty she needs to fly up the gallops... Just wait till she's out racing and eventing decent heights :D You'll really need the alcohol then!

I'd cash that cheque and buy something symbolic with it :p A nice keepsake so you've used the prize money but not frittered it away on something :D
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Ha ha Love it JFTD!!!

What you like jumping after a bang on the noodle!!!! Did the jumps seem bigger or smaller with a concussion!!!

I agree about the wine, and the cheque! But daughter thinks otherwise!! She wants to keep the cheque in her scrapbook forever. Sigh. :rolleyes:

:D
 
:D Can you imagine if you were on a yard with me and yellow pony :p. I'm JFTD's bad influence aswell, I put up jumps then we discuss how small it is then after she has jumped it stand next to it and find out its chest height :D .
 
dafthoss said:
:D Can you imagine if you were on a yard with me and yellow pony :p. I'm JFTD's bad influence aswell, I put up jumps then we discuss how small it is then after she has jumped it stand next to it and find out its chest height :D .
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LOL!!! What a pair you are!!!

How much astray you'd lead mini RM! Actually, I think you'd really like her!!!

:)
 
Er, all I notice in the photos is that my position improved with a concussion? :confused:

Ahh bless her about the cheque, that's quite sweet though... It is a nice thing to have I guess :D

dh is right. We're standing next to an epic 3ft6 (keeping in mind I ride a 14,2 highland here!) monstrosity and I'm going it's only 3ft right, the same height as the one before it (we'd already jumped a few times) and dh is going "yes absolutely it only looks big because I'm so short, besides I will hit you with a fence post if you don't jump it" :D NEVER EVER let her give mini-R a lesson! Or at least, for your own sake, do NOT watch :D


eta - you're right, I think we would like her, and I think we would lead her very much astray :eek:
 
JFTD said:
Er, all I notice in the photos is that my position improved with a concussion? :confused:

Ahh bless her about the cheque, that's quite sweet though... It is a nice thing to have I guess :D

dh is right. We're standing next to an epic 3ft6 monstrosity and I'm going it's only 3ft right, the same height as the one before it (we'd already jumped a few times) and dh is going "yes absolutely it only looks big because I'm so short, besides I will hit you with a fence post if you don't jump it" :D NEVER EVER let her give mini-R a lesson! Or at least, for your own sake, do NOT watch :D
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:D:D:D

I bet you'd both be big softies with Mini RM!!! :D
 
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