***Daughter and Dolly update - a very special frilly!!!***

[HorsesHavingFun]

I love this updates! Congratulations on daughter's first, she must be thrilled!

 

[B_2_B]

Awesome update, I always look forward to these posts too

 

[mollyblob]

Fantastic, well done D&D! I'm always impressed at daughter's mature attitude which always shines through in your posts- you must be so proud of her and Dolly. And I reckon there's something in the name actually, I've known two Dollys and they've both been absolutely brilliant ponies. Can't go wrong with a pony called Dolly

 

[sandi_84]

Aw well done D&D!
Also... how cool is Dolly's rug and matchy matchy travel legs! I sooo want that rug! Anything with skulls on it is a major thing for me, where did you get it from?

 

[toffeeyummy]

That's a lovely post and a lovely pony. Having just made the really sad decision to sell my daughters pony it's really encouraging to see what potential fun she could be having like your daughter on a different pony

 

[ester]

Tell daughter that if she can jump the naughty ones (aka Dolly!) her next pony will seem really easy... because if she keeps growing like that you are going to have to go shopping again at some point

I reckon she needs a string actually

 

[kinnygirl1]

Awesome! Those two look great together!

 

[mightymammoth]

loved the video, they made it look so easy

 

[redmone]

Massive well done! I am sure both Dolly and Daughter will have loads more confidence SJ after this triumph!

Thank you! I thought Daughter would decide to try the trailblazers qualifier instead this month, but she's going to stick with the beginners class (and try to do the three rounds) again. I don't blame her - I think she just wants to build both their confidence up. Isn't it strange how different ponies are at shows, compared to home...

I love seeing your updates! Dolly is a smaller version of my Orla (facially, they look so similar, what is she, a nf/welsh?!!) Unfortunately, my 12yo daughter keeps going through confidence dips, so progress has been very up & down! However, we did hack out together on Sunday & had a really lovely gallop, so maybe her mojo is coming back...! Hope D&D enjoy Friday!

Oooo well if she'll galloping it certainly sounds like she has her groove back! I've said before, you're all very brave and just getting on board takes bottle! I think I struggle a bit because I'm a control freak - and I'm not too keen on riding horses that have a mind of their own (so all of them!!!) but I'm learning to relax a bit more. It's taken much longer than I thought!!

You're bang on with your guess on Dolly's breed - new forest x welsh (we think!) - we like to think more new forest (as daughter likes them) but I think she has more of a girly face, like welshies have. Good luck to your daughter and thanks for your lovely comments! xxx

I love the D&D updates, every time they have improved and had so much fun in the process- what having a pony is all about!

Tell miniRM not to stress over size. Al has just started schooling a family's ponies a day a week and the largest is a mini-TB type 14.2hh, and the smallest a little 13hh. She's 5'6 and looks right on a 16.3hh... Yet still looks fine on the midget ponies

Thanks Lolo!! We're trying not to think about it now. Her jumping instructor said that she'll never outgrow Dolly, and Dolly will always be able to take her to school! I get that - everytime I think she's cracked something with Dolly, Dolly throws something else at her (literally sometimes!! )

It's been such a lovely journey getting to where we are now....I don't want to think about starting it again!! EVER!!!!!

 

[redmone]

I love this updates! Congratulations on daughter's first, she must be thrilled!

She's chuffed to bits - it was 3 weeks ago and she's still beaming about it!! Thank you! x x x

Awesome update, I always look forward to these posts too

Thanks!

Fantastic, well done D&D! I'm always impressed at daughter's mature attitude which always shines through in your posts- you must be so proud of her and Dolly. And I reckon there's something in the name actually, I've known two Dollys and they've both been absolutely brilliant ponies. Can't go wrong with a pony called Dolly

I am really proud of Daughter to be honest. I think some other kids would have just kept on pushing for another rosette. She always surprises me how thoughtful she is. She's 12 next week.....god I hope the hormones don't change all that!!!

I know another Dolly too - she seems a nice enough sort of horse! Perhaps you're right......

Aw well done D&D!
Also... how cool is Dolly's rug and matchy matchy travel legs! I sooo want that rug! Anything with skulls on it is a major thing for me, where did you get it from?

hahaha thanks!!! Bloomin ponies is where the set is from - brilliant company to deal with - will make anything for you too!

That's a lovely post and a lovely pony. Having just made the really sad decision to sell my daughters pony it's really encouraging to see what potential fun she could be having like your daughter on a different pony

That must be a very hard decision to make, I hope it works out for you. We specifically looked for a pony which we were likely to keep for a very long time, knowing how hard it would be for daughter to part. But I did realise at the time, it would mean over horsing her for a while - as a good few members on here will remember Good luck in your pony search, I'm sure it'll be worth it!

Tell daughter that if she can jump the naughty ones (aka Dolly!) her next pony will seem really easy... because if she keeps growing like that you are going to have to go shopping again at some point

I reckon she needs a string actually

hehehehe I'm sure she'd agree!! Thank you, I will tell her!!! The dirty stops have been the worse thing! Don't get be wrong - Dolly doesn't do it all the time, but it's always when they're going really fast and she leaves it so last minute. I have a video of one and it's literally during the last stride - I mean she just looked sooooooo like she was jumping and ping off daughter popped!!!

Awesome! Those two look great together!

Thank you!

loved the video, they made it look so easy

Such very kind comments, thank you! xxx

 

[noodle_]

Thank you!



We're in Oldham - so about 35 miles from Bold Heath. What absolutely lovely people there, couldn't help us enough. The man even offered to jump start my van if battery went flat - first time I'd ever laid eyes on him. Top place, top people. I was very impressed!!

Thanks x



Thanks Mrs M. x x x



We were all in bits, we were that chuffed!!! I definately think Dolly was happy with herself!! She does love her laps of honour

they are lovely there

arenas are amazing too! my old horse used to get freaked out by the fans in the indoor - i want to take my little youngster there soon too ! we are showing as shes only 2 but will see you around at some point

 

[ester]

that's the welsh bit of her.. I have the 14.2 version . It was a little amusing to watch him do it to my instructor (ridden to advanced ) at the first fence of a hunter trial . She was baffled- 'well he was forwards and straight and I don't know what the problem was!'

I like to think of him as 'character building'

 

[gadetra]

Aww go Daughter and Dolly. Daughter has such a secure lower leg and a lovely rider.

I seriously think you should bring all your D&D threads together into a book. I for one love reading about them and your journey together

Oh edited to add maybe you could be an official H&H blog?

Maybe we should start petitioning H&H....!

 

[LauraWheeler]

Lovely update. Well done D & D

I get very nervous at shows to. Even at stressage. My riding goes to pot and I look like a compleat numpty (made the mistake of posting a video of my last dressage show on here and OH my god I got slated ) At home I'm still far from perfect but at a show I compleatly fall appart. Although the more often I go the better it gets. With the jumping I am lucky though as Herbs loves it so much he'll jump whatever I point him at nomatter what I do ontop
D & D will get there and hopefuly now they've had this confidance boost they'll come on leaps and bounds. They both look so chuffed in the first pic and rightly so. (Lucy and I came joint first with about 8 other people once, Comp sounds similer to the one D & D did but all clean sheets came first, Great confidance giving class it was to )
The video looked fab although those jumps are HUGE I'd better start jumping Herbs again Daughter is putting me to shame
Good luck at the next one I'll keep an eye out for the next update. xx

 

[Delicious_D]

Awwwwww I loved reading that . Thanks for writing! Good old D&D.

 

[redmone]

they are lovely there

arenas are amazing too! my old horse used to get freaked out by the fans in the indoor - i want to take my little youngster there soon too ! we are showing as shes only 2 but will see you around at some point

Definately!!! We go to Croft Top in Accrington quite a bit too - lovely big arena!!

I've got this funny feeling that one day I'm going to be dived on by someone shouting "I'M NOODLE" - can you imagine the OHs face! hahahahaa!!!!

that's the welsh bit of her.. I have the 14.2 version . It was a little amusing to watch him do it to my instructor (ridden to advanced ) at the first fence of a hunter trial . She was baffled- 'well he was forwards and straight and I don't know what the problem was!'

I like to think of him as 'character building'

Made me laugh the thought of that! We did have a moment once when Daughter couldn't get Dolly over a water tray, and another girl "had a go". Girl is a fantastic rider, but Dolly chucked her off, first try I felt bad, but lesson learnt. I'll never let someone else try to "fix" a problem in future - no point! They're not going to be facing these things in the show ring on Dolly! And besides, I think it did nothing for Daughter's confidence. Well it did afterwards actually, she said "at least it's not just me"!!! Blummin ponies!! hahahaha

Aww go Daughter and Dolly. Daughter has such a secure lower leg and a lovely rider.

I seriously think you should bring all your D&D threads together into a book. I for one love reading about them and your journey together

Oh edited to add maybe you could be an official H&H blog?

Maybe we should start petitioning H&H....!

Oh now that's a compliment to be compared to the mighty Hovis!!! I'm not sure I'm that interesting! lol!!!! I do love writing though, always have done. Why use 2 words when a whole page will do! hehehe!!!

Thank you anyway, for your lovely comments about Daughter! I think that lower leg is conditioned to hold on for dear life now!!

Lovely update. Well done D & D

I get very nervous at shows to. Even at stressage. My riding goes to pot and I look like a compleat numpty (made the mistake of posting a video of my last dressage show on here and OH my god I got slated ) At home I'm still far from perfect but at a show I compleatly fall appart. Although the more often I go the better it gets. With the jumping I am lucky though as Herbs loves it so much he'll jump whatever I point him at nomatter what I do ontop
D & D will get there and hopefuly now they've had this confidance boost they'll come on leaps and bounds. They both look so chuffed in the first pic and rightly so. (Lucy and I came joint first with about 8 other people once, Comp sounds similer to the one D & D did but all clean sheets came first, Great confidance giving class it was to )
The video looked fab although those jumps are HUGE I'd better start jumping Herbs again Daughter is putting me to shame
Good luck at the next one I'll keep an eye out for the next update. xx

Hi Laura!!!! Was hoping you'd see our update!!! Ponies are strange little things aren't they! Dolly has two modes at "parties" - she's either a massive show off (which is great when they're showing!) or "not playing" - which is a bit of a pain when they're jumping! She's a brilliant jumper when she's not stopping at scary things!!! But that knocks daughter's confidence, so I think she doesn't kick her on as much. It's a vicious circle I think. She's getting there though!

One jumping competition, she went into the very small first round and stopped at x4 fences, one after the other - no fillers. Had NO idea what happened that day! Daughter got her over the practice fence a couple of times then we went home and left jumping for a few weeks - we didn't want her to go sour with it. After that she started having jumping lessons once a month with a really good instructor, and he has done her the world of good. He was my first email after her win at Bold Heath!

The competition sounds similar - but if you didn't go clear in say the 2nd round, they'd tally up the faults and places people 2nd, 3rd etc.. all clears in the 3rd round came first, and there was Daughter and an adult lady (they merged the adults and kids). Was so pleased for them. The thought of x4 clear rounds (inc the clear round class!) was unbelievably! They've never even had a double clear before!!!

And the adult lady who won, came over to daughter afterwards and said "YOU deserved that win, not me. You really worked for it and didn't just let your pony do it for you. Well done" - and that made daughter's day too. Lady was VERY well turned out and on a massive (16hh+) black horse, who was just stunning. Such a nice place, nice day and nice people. Makes a change when you hear the way some shows seem to go.

Awwwwww I loved reading that . Thanks for writing! Good old D&D.

Thanks D!!! x x x

 

[TrasaM]

Well done to D&D I love reading your posts but can I please point out that you are way overdue giving us an update on YOUR progress get to it woman.

 

[Walrus]

What a lovely post - I love reading your posts and seeing your pictures. Seeing them always reminds me that our hobby should be fun and I know I get carried away with outlines and going correctly and also managing the logistics of horses (fitting them round work, how much hay, where's the hay coming from etc.) that I forget that the main point is having fun! I think I need to take a leaf out of the 2 D's book and remember what the horseless kid I used to be would want me to do and get out and have fun!

 

[Perfect-Piaffe]

Fantastic! I love daughter and dolly updates!!