***Daughter and Dolly - an AWESOME day out with HONEY08!!!***

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redmone

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Hi everyone!!!

Well it's half term and the lovely Honey08 on HHO offered a while ago for me and daughter to go to visit her for a hack and maybe a play on her XC course! (WOW!!!)

Roll back a few years, we first met Honey at a show in Oldham. She was judging the handy pony classes and had the misfortune of coming across Dolly - the unhandiest pony going (is that a word - unhandy??) - when Dolly took a dislike to an umbrella and bombed it up the field :rolleyes: - turns out we don't live a million miles away from each other, and Honey's friend was Daughter's instructor for a while. Small world!

So anyway, yesterday off we toddled to Honey's neck of the woods. Honey gave me a dead straightforward route to get there. Sat Nav had other ideas - god only knows where we went, but finally we arrived. It was raining a little, but nothing too bad.

Honey was very very kind and had already set a stable up for Dolly, so very soon, Dolly was tucked up happy with her haynet and straw bed (yum yum says Dolly!!!) and I had a brew in hand :)

After brew, we were off to hack out. Yes. WE!!!! (including me!!!) I had the absolute pleasure of riding Rob who despite me researching him by stalking Honey's FB photos, was more massssooosive in person than I imagined!! Gulp. Honey's lovely stepson helped me get on board - I felt like I had my head in the clouds - both because I was so happy to be hacking out with Honey and Daughter, but also, due to the height I was at. The biggest horse I've ever ridden was 15hh (I'm 5 foot if I stretch) but Rob was just under 17hh! Honey did promise me that Rob was a gentleman and would look after me, and she was 100% right.

We set off and, honestly, I've no idea how long we were out for. I loved every minute of it. However, I do have to admit to forgetting my big girl pants! I was quite (very!) nervous and a bit of a big girls blouse!!! Rob seemed huge compared to what I've ridden before and when I tried to trot, well it went a bit wrong and I bounced around like a.....well.....a bouncy flump!!! Daughter and Honey put up with me though, and I had a fantastic ride. I'm so grateful to them both for their patience, and to Honey particularly for letting Rob suffer me for a bit. I hope I wasn't too crap!!! :)

Oh god this thread is going to be massive.....and I'm not even halfway there..... :eek:

We arrived back "home" and I realised that I had to get off. It was a looooooong way down, but I made it :cool: Honey then let daughter hop onto Rob! The scary thing was, daughter didn't even look tiny on him!!!!!! :confused: Honey had been kind enough to lead me on Rob, however daughter didn't need any of that and had a little walk up the lane on her own **proud** :)

We put the ponies away and went for lunch which was yummy (cheese and onion pie, chips and beans :):)) then back we came for daughter (and Honey's friend and daughter) to have their XC play!

I had hoped the hack would wear Dolly out a little (yeah right) yet she still jogged to the XC field! She was however, VERY well behaved, for Dolly. We were so pleased with her. She popped everything, first time - no stops (for once :rolleyes:) I think Honey probably thought I'd dreamt up all the traumas I've moaned so much about :D

There were tyres, benches, a sleeper with logs, a workers type jump which looked quite inviting, until Honey popped a load of bright coloured flowers underneath it :cool: it was brilliant! The only thing Dolly took issue with with a traffic cone :rolleyes: - I mean our yard doesn't have one of these in every blummin corner of the arena (ponies!!!) - oh and she wasn't keen on the trails of sheep wool that was about!!! Imagine - the only thing she "looked at" was sheep wool :rolleyes:

Both ponies were fantastic (and Honey's friends daughter was a cracking little rider for her age) and it was lovely to see the girls chatting and making friends. We've made plans for them to meet again, as they got on fabulously.

Even the weather played ball for a while.

Anyway, too soon it came time for our goodbyes and we loaded up and went a much better way home, by listing to the wise Honey08 this time! :o

Daughter said on the way home, that it was one of the best days out she's every had with Dolly. It was just lovely. Both to see Honey again, and for her to let us not only use her horsey (me) but her stable and fields also. She's a superstar. Dolly seems to really like XC, which is not something we've done loads of, but Honey has given Daughter the confidence to give this more of a try now. Actually daughter is trying to convince me to take to her Craven Wood on Sunday, as we speak :rolleyes:

HONEY08 - THANK YOU FOR A LOVELY DAY!!! It really was the best. Have I mentioned I love Rob and really, I'm sure he would have fit in my van???

Daughter quite fancies him for when she's older. Yeah - she'd have to fight me (she'd win :o).

OK. What've I got for you guys tonight. It needs to be special, as this is a MAMMOTH thread! If you've got to here, you get a woo woo cocktail (nom nom nom!!!) and some garlic mushrooms....no must do better than that.....a choc ice??? How's that sound??? :D

Here come the photos....



Dolly "moving in"



Daughter ready to go!



OK. You finally get to see my fat arse in the saddle. Please look at the beautiful Rob more than me :D



Daughter riding Rob! I love this photo :D



Honey's brilliant XC course!



Flying Dolly!



Over we go :D



Serious love for this ginger monster at the moment! :D

Thanks again Honey! xxxxx
 
Lolo said:
Get thee to a PC branch for eventing! No age limits and I reckon D&D (still having to stop myself from typing the Double Ds) would absolutely rock :D

You look fine on Rob, don't know what you're talking about... You definitely need to ride more, you look so happy. Daughter looks teeny tiny up there!
(I scrape in at 5'2, and this horse is a solid 18hh minimum... I think we look very well suited personally ;))
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:D:D:D

I'm a DD you know ;) hehehehe!!!

I know what you mean about PC....we're looking more into that now. I thought we just couldn't give the commitment it needs, but it sounds like it needs less commitment than I thought so will look again, even if we just can pick and choose what we do.

Such a lovely day, and such a lovely horse :D

xxx
 
redmone said:
:D:D:D

I'm a DD you know ;) hehehehe!!!

I know what you mean about PC....we're looking more into that now. I thought we just couldn't give the commitment it needs, but it sounds like it needs less commitment than I thought so will look again, even if we just can pick and choose what we do.

Such a lovely day, and such a lovely horse :D

xxx
Click to expand...

I think PC always sounds like a bigger deal than it is, you know? Because it's nutters like me who advocate it and my family is very involved! But it doesn't ask for much, you can do as much or as little as you like.

My mum set out thinking just like you though. She now runs the biggest ODE in the calendar... Took 10 years, but we've gone from despising it to loving it :D
 
Lolo said:
I think PC always sounds like a bigger deal than it is, you know? Because it's nutters like me who advocate it and my family is very involved! But it doesn't ask for much, you can do as much or as little as you like.

My mum set out thinking just like you though. She now runs the biggest ODE in the calendar... Took 10 years, but we've gone from despising it to loving it :D
Click to expand...

Thing is, we like just bobbing about doing what we want! I don't think I could handle having to be somewhere at a certain time each week, which is what we thought it was.

I know the activities are good, and I already know the people who run ours (as they did a centre PC at our yard which daughter was a member) - just need to get my butt in gear! :D

xxx
 
Lolo said:
Get thee to a PC branch for eventing! No age limits and I reckon D&D (still having to stop myself from typing the Double Ds) would absolutely rock :D

You look fine on Rob, don't know what you're talking about... You definitely need to ride more, you look so happy. Daughter looks teeny tiny up there!
(I scrape in at 5'2, and this horse is a solid 18hh minimum... I think we look very well suited personally ;))
Click to expand...

Ahhhhhh just realised you'd put a link in!!! What a lovely chap!!! You're ok too ;)

Daughter says he's gorgeous! :D
 
Fabulous pictures! Especially the one of you riding Rob, your smile says it all! Dolly is cute as a button, your daughter looks like a great little rider. :)
 
Aw! That's so nice of Honey08! Sometimes I despair at the human race and then I read about nice things people have done for other HHO members and it restores my faith :D

Sounds like a fab day for you both!
You look great on Rob (who is indeed scrummy btw!) :D

Isn't it funny how your mini looks perfect sized on Dolly and perfect sized on Rob too?! :D

Lovely photo's and well done to you both! :D
 
Woop woop :D little eventer in the making :D just wondering if her saddle fits okay/could it be put slightly further back? Just seems quite forward but who am I to say :p
 
Thanks everyone! Sorry can't quote as on my tablet!

Honey was fantastic and it was lovely seeing her again! I've linked her to this thread so I'm sure she'll be along when she's back home!

Dolly was brill, and I was so happy that she behaved nicely (you know how these ponies like to show us up lol!) But best of all is that she seems to be getting less "stoppy" (touches wood!) Will try to get them out to more xc places this year, a few people have said it should help with her sj too.

As someone said above, its very strange that daughter looked "not tiny" on Rob and "not big" on dolly, strange stretchy child!!!

PS re saddle thanks for asking, but dolly just has a very long back! Had it recently fitted.....again!!! May be getting it done again soon, as she's lost more weight, we're down to 36" girth from horrendous 44" when we got her :-)

Xxx
 
Exactly rachaelstar! I've been taught exactly where to place it now (measured using fingers) and it never budges. But some photos it still looks like a scarf!

The only ones that look better are miles too big in the seat. At least daughters bum fits this saddle now!!!

Dolly wears a size 5 foot 6 inches rug, I didn't realize that was big for a pony until recently! And her bum still sticks out! :-)

Sausage dog pony!!!! :-) x
 
Awww, lovely report Redmone. We had a fun day didn't we! I got plied with wine and chocs, taken out for lunch, and flowers from my other friend, so I got spoiled too!

Redmone was very brave, Rob is big, he was bought for my 6'4" hubby.. I also didn't help her nerves by posting a photo of him gooning about being naughty in the field on Facebook the night before!! Doh! Sorry!



You did really well Redmone, Rob was quite happy with you. He loves pootling along, if you'd asked him to work he would have been more upset! As for the trotting - we should have added another hole for you on the stirrup leathers, he has a huge stride and a bounce to his trot, so don't knock yourself. You made me giggle when we were nearly home, you'd been beaming all the way, then your face dropped and you said, "how am I going to get down??" Daughter did really well on him, it suprised me how she didn't look that small too. He is a useful horse, my stepson came off a 13.2 and went onto him, I can ride him (he would event if I got my backside into gear) and hubby does too - perfect family horse! It was tempting to try him in your box, but he would have probably broken your suspension!!

Daughter and Dolly did really well on the mini-xc, as did the other little girl on her pony - another little chestnut mare, it really was national ginga day. Neither had a stop or fall all afternoon, and there were lots more smiles. Definately do not swop her onto a bigger pony, she is fine and they are at that stage where they will have loads of fun - make it last as long as possible..

Glad you got on well with my friend and her daughter, they were a good match for a lesson weren't they. I think she is glad to have met you as she wants someone to go out to shows with, and you guys are out there all the time!

We must do it again..

katherinef said:
my neck of the woods - brilliant hacking around Castleshaw.
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Ooh Katherinef, wonder if I know you!!
 
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