redmone
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,
I always know that I've been lazy in my updates when I have to check the last one before starting my new update, just to see where we're up to!!!
It's been a very up and down month. Dolly started the month rather cheeky and went through a period of being, well a little swine! She was either very strong or very lazy, either jumping 3 foot above every jump or refusing!! Rushing then backing off!!! In my novice brain, I diagnosed this as going a bit sour, and getting a bit fed up after a long summer of competing.
Of course, she decided this a week before the North West Champs!!!
So I debated whether to take them or not. It really was getting that bad. And Honey08 came to my rescue (again!!) She told me to box her up and bring her over!!! So Honey so kindly gave daughter and her stepson a fab XC lesson, which did help Dolly regain her enthusiasm, but even Honey said that Dolly wasn't herself. It was a fab day though, and daughter (despite being a little frustrated and, dare I say it, tired and nervous herself) really enjoyed it! We love you Honey 08!!!
So we took them to the champs - they'd qualified for the SJ and the workers.
The first working hunter class was a shame. It was beginners, the course was built to height but still quite a nice, if not a bit scary, course. Off they went, and Dolly took a dislike to a white jump on a severe slope and refused. Such a shame, but the standard was so high, there was no chance of getting through to the showing with refusals.
Whilst the workers carried on, they went into their SJ champs class. Dolly was awful, and was eliminated by the third fence. Gutted!!!!!! She just didn't want to play.
I asked daughter (who was getting a little exasperated by this point!) to take her into the separate clear round, which she did. They whizzed round - Dolly going 100 miles an hour, and then trying to slam the brakes on at each jump. Daughter took no prisoners, and although Dolly only got one tap with the whip, it's not a tap I would have wanted myself!!! The pony club kicking legs were out in force!!!
So finally, they decided to go into the next Working Hunter class - the novice workers. We walked the course together and ARGGGH it was nasty! They've done a few novice workers, but nothing like this one. Each jump was big and nasty!!! Honestly, I didn't think they'd get round. And of course, there was the nasty white jump which Dolly didn't like - but this time is was bigger and had a gate!!!
In they went, and Daughter seemed 100% more confident (not sure why - I wasn't!). She trotted really boldly up to the judge and after a brief chat, off they went!!!
Dolly was amazing (and daughter was too!) she totally ate the fences up and bounced all the way round! Didn't bat an eyelid at anything! Even the big horseshoe jump! So a lovely clear round later, they were through to the showing.
The classes were really big, and there was about 20 clears who went through to the showing. At this point we were REALLY daunted. We suddenly realised that we were surrounded by £50K horseboxes, and most of the other ponies in the class were serious money ponies!!! Sounds awful this, but we've never been to a comp before where all the other competitors are of such a high standard - we felt seriously out of our league, sadly.
Daughter and Dolly rode their hearts out. Dolly was amazing, and was one of the few ponies who did a serious gallop. It was about the most perfect show they've done.
So then came the placing. They placed up to 12, with trophies to 6th place and prizes, sashes, rugs etc.... to 1st and 2nd. As the names came over the tannoy (the ratbags counted back from 12!!) it became obvious that they'd either not been placed or been placed quite high!!
I was absolutely thrilled when they were pulled in 5th!!! They received lovely rosettes, prizes and a trophy! Dolly received a bag of treats too!!!!
We just couldn't believe it. Our little ginger monster stood up there with all the posh ponies!!! After the photographs, I went over to take the trophy off daughter for the lap of honour - but instead she handed me her whip, and did the lap of honour one handed carrying the trophy high.
I always love the way she pins the rosettes on Dolly too, and never wears them herself. She does make me proud.
So Dolly redeemed herself. We trooped off home, making a very hard day into a complete success!!!!!
Dolly then got a fortnight off!!! Well she was hacked a bit, to stop her getting fat. But no "work" as such.
We brought her back out and did a little workers show a couple of weekends ago, where despite a really late start and no warm up (long story, air ambulance landed next to our horsebox to help someone so we couldn't unload!!!) she pulled a really good 2nd place in!!!! She really is an awesome little pony, and she's back on form now after a well deserved break.
One thing Dolly does well is tell you when enough is enough!!!!
So here's the photos.......
My new favourite photo!!!
My girls - and YES that is a real live TWEED you see there!! Finally found one we like!!!
Their 2nd recently - I love this photo......why so serious Dolly!!!
Taking on the brushes!!!
Dolly giving it some!!!
Dolly being "special" with fillers!!!
My girls can fly!!!
So here we are the end of the latest update. I have to warn you all to have your tissues (and wine!) ready for the next one. We're in serious family discussions with "where to go next".
I think it might be time to move on from our Dolly, sadly. Daughter seemingly won't stop growing. And I'm going to need all your help and support to get me through the next steps, as I REALLY am struggling with the thought of letting Dolly go.
But for now, sod that. She's our ginger monster. Who taught my girl to ride.
You've all had that "special one" who you've loved and could have strangled a thousand times. They have that twinkle in their eye that says, "go on I dare you". They'll either kill you, or you'll win. Dolly is all that to us, and I wish to god she would just grow another 2 hands (LOL! Now HOW many of you have thought that!!!) - but seriously a 14hh Dolly might be a serious PITA!!!
Anyway, have a glass of wine with me tonight and of course, some sour fizzy haribos. Whilst I think how the HELL I am going to fill the gap she will leave.
RM
I always know that I've been lazy in my updates when I have to check the last one before starting my new update, just to see where we're up to!!!
It's been a very up and down month. Dolly started the month rather cheeky and went through a period of being, well a little swine! She was either very strong or very lazy, either jumping 3 foot above every jump or refusing!! Rushing then backing off!!! In my novice brain, I diagnosed this as going a bit sour, and getting a bit fed up after a long summer of competing.
Of course, she decided this a week before the North West Champs!!!
So I debated whether to take them or not. It really was getting that bad. And Honey08 came to my rescue (again!!) She told me to box her up and bring her over!!! So Honey so kindly gave daughter and her stepson a fab XC lesson, which did help Dolly regain her enthusiasm, but even Honey said that Dolly wasn't herself. It was a fab day though, and daughter (despite being a little frustrated and, dare I say it, tired and nervous herself) really enjoyed it! We love you Honey 08!!!
So we took them to the champs - they'd qualified for the SJ and the workers.
The first working hunter class was a shame. It was beginners, the course was built to height but still quite a nice, if not a bit scary, course. Off they went, and Dolly took a dislike to a white jump on a severe slope and refused. Such a shame, but the standard was so high, there was no chance of getting through to the showing with refusals.
Whilst the workers carried on, they went into their SJ champs class. Dolly was awful, and was eliminated by the third fence. Gutted!!!!!! She just didn't want to play.
I asked daughter (who was getting a little exasperated by this point!) to take her into the separate clear round, which she did. They whizzed round - Dolly going 100 miles an hour, and then trying to slam the brakes on at each jump. Daughter took no prisoners, and although Dolly only got one tap with the whip, it's not a tap I would have wanted myself!!! The pony club kicking legs were out in force!!!
So finally, they decided to go into the next Working Hunter class - the novice workers. We walked the course together and ARGGGH it was nasty! They've done a few novice workers, but nothing like this one. Each jump was big and nasty!!! Honestly, I didn't think they'd get round. And of course, there was the nasty white jump which Dolly didn't like - but this time is was bigger and had a gate!!!
In they went, and Daughter seemed 100% more confident (not sure why - I wasn't!). She trotted really boldly up to the judge and after a brief chat, off they went!!!
Dolly was amazing (and daughter was too!) she totally ate the fences up and bounced all the way round! Didn't bat an eyelid at anything! Even the big horseshoe jump! So a lovely clear round later, they were through to the showing.
The classes were really big, and there was about 20 clears who went through to the showing. At this point we were REALLY daunted. We suddenly realised that we were surrounded by £50K horseboxes, and most of the other ponies in the class were serious money ponies!!! Sounds awful this, but we've never been to a comp before where all the other competitors are of such a high standard - we felt seriously out of our league, sadly.
Daughter and Dolly rode their hearts out. Dolly was amazing, and was one of the few ponies who did a serious gallop. It was about the most perfect show they've done.
So then came the placing. They placed up to 12, with trophies to 6th place and prizes, sashes, rugs etc.... to 1st and 2nd. As the names came over the tannoy (the ratbags counted back from 12!!) it became obvious that they'd either not been placed or been placed quite high!!
I was absolutely thrilled when they were pulled in 5th!!! They received lovely rosettes, prizes and a trophy! Dolly received a bag of treats too!!!!
We just couldn't believe it. Our little ginger monster stood up there with all the posh ponies!!! After the photographs, I went over to take the trophy off daughter for the lap of honour - but instead she handed me her whip, and did the lap of honour one handed carrying the trophy high.
I always love the way she pins the rosettes on Dolly too, and never wears them herself. She does make me proud.
So Dolly redeemed herself. We trooped off home, making a very hard day into a complete success!!!!!
Dolly then got a fortnight off!!! Well she was hacked a bit, to stop her getting fat. But no "work" as such.
We brought her back out and did a little workers show a couple of weekends ago, where despite a really late start and no warm up (long story, air ambulance landed next to our horsebox to help someone so we couldn't unload!!!) she pulled a really good 2nd place in!!!! She really is an awesome little pony, and she's back on form now after a well deserved break.
One thing Dolly does well is tell you when enough is enough!!!!
So here's the photos.......
My new favourite photo!!!
My girls - and YES that is a real live TWEED you see there!! Finally found one we like!!!
Their 2nd recently - I love this photo......why so serious Dolly!!!
Taking on the brushes!!!
Dolly giving it some!!!
Dolly being "special" with fillers!!!
My girls can fly!!!
So here we are the end of the latest update. I have to warn you all to have your tissues (and wine!) ready for the next one. We're in serious family discussions with "where to go next".
I think it might be time to move on from our Dolly, sadly. Daughter seemingly won't stop growing. And I'm going to need all your help and support to get me through the next steps, as I REALLY am struggling with the thought of letting Dolly go.
But for now, sod that. She's our ginger monster. Who taught my girl to ride.
You've all had that "special one" who you've loved and could have strangled a thousand times. They have that twinkle in their eye that says, "go on I dare you". They'll either kill you, or you'll win. Dolly is all that to us, and I wish to god she would just grow another 2 hands (LOL! Now HOW many of you have thought that!!!) - but seriously a 14hh Dolly might be a serious PITA!!!
Anyway, have a glass of wine with me tonight and of course, some sour fizzy haribos. Whilst I think how the HELL I am going to fill the gap she will leave.
RM
