***Daughter and Dolly.....you cant win em all!!!!***

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redmone

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Hi all!!! ***waves***

Well I'm typing this from bed with my brew, so please excuse any typos as I'm on my tablet and have sausage fingers!

Yesterday was an "interesting" day so thought I'd update! Let's roll back a week........

Took the two D's to a working hunter clear round. Wouldn't have dreamt of this even a month ago as dirty stop dolly doesn't like fillers or "non pole like" jumps **sigh** however to coin a phrase, daughter has grown a pair!! She seems to have really got her technique together about how to get Dolly over well.....anything.....at the moment and I swear Dolly seems to be loving her new found bravery!

So we set off for the clear round with the intention of doing the 65 class and the 75 class. It was very quiet there so daughter did the 65 class mostly in trot, focusing on getting Dolly over. First clear round, and biiiiiiig smiles all round! No one else waiting to go in after daughter, so she had a go again, but in canter. Again a lovely clear round. Dolly still looking at a few of the nastier jumps, and needing kicking over them, but all good confidend building stuff.

Still very quiet, so we ask when the 75 is likely to start. They say its stopping on 65 for a while due to low entries. That's fine with daughter as she's decided that as Dolly isn't comfortable yet, she doesn't want to do 75 today. Good call. Why over face her when things are going well? So they have one last go at 65, and daughter decides its a jump off **insert shocked smiley here that I cant do when not on PC** and they literally fly around. Daughters beaming. Dollys beaming. We toddle off home.

Monday, daughter has a lesson with her awesome instructor. They practise her individual show and daughter has a list of turnout questions. I go very pale when I hear she needs brown boots and a tweed. She has neither and I have 5 days to get them. Brown boots, sorted in a phone call. Tweed, not so easy. Daughter hates tweed. Long story short, we end up with two! One grey (kindly borrowed from our yard owner who is a superstar) one navy (bought from eBay, new, half proper price with free tie and suit bag - proof that there ARE still lovely people out there) so we can just about scrape through on the turnout side of things.

We get to show on Saturday, bit of a rush as low entries so I have to band in plaits rather than sew and get on the road an hour earlier than planned. But that means we'll miss the rain, so bonus!

A good warm up and then daughter goes in to jump. A fast but clear round which involved a few looks by Dolly but daughter kicked her on. All good, she's through to the 2nd part! Wooooo!!!

Time for daughters show. The bit we're not too worried about. Oh Dolly how could we forget that you have so my tricks up your furry sleeve.

Started off well, trotted past judge and......off Dolly cantered! Lol!! They've not done workers before so we think Dolly thought she was supposed to be jumping!!!! Daughter managed to get her back to trot and then canter at the correct time, but it was a very eager canter. And a very breathtaking gallop!!!!! Took a little bit longer to get back to trot than hoped I think!!!
 
Carrying on.....

Finally they were pulled in third, which was great. I felt they were a little harsh on them as the girl in 2nd place, her pony was bucking and going sideways sometime, but hey ho. 3rd was good!!!

Then judge was rather unpleasant to daughter and said she was out of control in the jumping. No way she was. She trotted between a few jumps. Daughter came out happy with 3rd but a bit upset.

Then it was straight into the next class. Started badly as we managed to miss the course walk due to settling daughters nerves after the judges comments.

Daughter went into her jumping class a bit upset. She jumped 1 to 4 brilliant, but Dolly jumped HUGE at the 5th and daughter lost her reins. Dolly then took that as opportunity to bomb it to the exit sharply turning right instead if left. Daughter did an unplanned dismount.......straight into the corner of a shed!!!!!!!!! Owwwwww!!!!!

I got into the arena, daughter was already up and after Dolly. I caught her and for god knows what reason, I saluted the judge and we left the arena! Lol!!!

Poor daughter. Badly bruised and grazed hip and thigh, and a bit of shoulder trouble too! But got back on and jumped the practice jumps before setting off home.

What a shame.

On the positive, still no refusals!!!!!

On the negative, this is the second time daughter has collided with that particular shed at speed (last year in a show jumping class, exactly the same circumstances!)

Lessons learnt-daughter is ditching plaited reins! Daughter will pay particular attention when jumping towards doors.....and sheds.......

Muchos wine drank by mummy last night! Daughter having a lie in, ibuprofen is her friend!!!

Choccy biccies for getting this far, and my brew is cold!!!!

Xxxxx
 
redmone said:
Dolly then took that as opportunity to bomb it to the exit sharply turning right instead if left. Daughter did an unplanned dismount.......straight into the corner of a shed!!!!!!!!! Owwwwww!!!!!
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I remember my mare taking advantage of me once. I had washed her in superdopa "Showgleam" - it was a beautiful summer's day, with me in cut down jeans :eek: rather than kit - she was in a big headstall with a lunge tape on one side. I decided to let her graze while she dried...... by and by.... we found ourselves at the furtherest reaches of the farm so I shinned up on her back... this was, of course, rather slippery and in fighting the sliding about I ....... LET GO OF THE FLIPPING TAPE!

Mare thought that this was then biggest snake in the world - stuck her head between her front legs, bucked, farted and took off close to warp speed. Don't ask me how - but I stayed with her!!! Every now and then she stood on the tape which jerked her to one side - I couldn't lean forward to get hold of the headstall without committing to coming off...... and we were getting nearer, and nearer to the yard...... the CONCRETE yard with a left or right turn like yours ..... I would go through her ears and may be crunch me two bear legs on the gate on the way through to boot!

Luckily, I was very good at cowboy stuff when younger and even though I was about 35 then - executed a great forward vault and scissored her neck with me legs, grabbing the collar and then reaching for her nose - with my hand over it - she stopped in two strides - in massive cloud of dust!

Injury thus avoided - but two liveries were quietly grooming at one rail and I could feel the disapproval - I later received a letter from the Y.O's about riding ettiquette.


.......daughter is ditching plaited reins!
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Oh Nooooooooo! I bought a lovely set of English plaited reins from a fellow livery ( quite famous Showjumper actually but won't name drop!) when she had a clear out - £6. They are still fitted to my mare's old Fulmer bridle which hangs in her "shrine" - I have her saddle on a rack in my loft ( it's like a room rather than full of spiders) and is surrounded by piccies and Horsey stuff.
 
Glad Mini R is all ok after her tumble...LOVE the nickname "Dirty Stop Dolly", brings up ALL kinds of funny images in my head!
And love that you saluted the judge :D (still laughing at that!)
 
1stclassalan-that is just amazing!!! Wait til I show your post to daughter!!!!!

Don't know what it is about plaited reins' daughter just can't keep hold of them!!!!
 
Joeanne-dont know WHY I saluted judge! Wasn't the salute I wanted to give lol!!!!! She didn't budge despite her Stewart coming to check on daughter. It was a massive fall and an almighty bang when she hit shed! No idea how shes up dressed in riding gear and waiting to go now!!!!! X
 
redmone said:
1stclassalan-that is just amazing!!! Wait til I show your post to daughter!!!!!

Don't know what it is about plaited reins' daughter just can't keep hold of them!!!!
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Little mits I expect. I have hands like shovels and can still hold my full suspended weight despite arthritis!

When in my youth, I used to ride some mad ponies and do a lot of that cowboy stuff - I once even rode around a local country park bareback dressed in very little - doing my impression of an Injun! Had two or three park rangers chasing me in Landrovers but they were defeated by me jumping the haha!

There was a girl...... would it surprise you to hear that many of my escapades have female connections? No? I thought not! Anyway, this older girl was a very good vaulter too - and bear in mind that we did this in open countryside - she could do two to each side in one pass - so learned how to do the same and swing around the pony's neck aswell. I could also fire a bow and arrow from the pony's back too - made the bow and arrows myself. This stuff was the ONLY thing I thought about when young - horses and girls ...... I've not changed much really...... hahahaha.
 
Nice rubber reins needed :D Al has some nice thin ones that she can grip hold of when miscreant ponies/ horses try and take her on...

Poor miniRM- some judges don't like ponies and riders having a blast it seems. Lots of arnica, and tell her to write it up in a 'fall book'. When we were little mum made is write about each outing in scrapbooks when were little and reading them back is hilarious now. The level of optimistic Al was is truly superb :D
 
What a eventful few days, so sorry to read of the exit into shed, but glad daughter is ok.

Dolly sounds a real character and good teacher of expect the unexpected! look forward to hearing more of your adventures this summer!
 
Oh dear, I hope your daughter is ok now, naughty Dolly!

If you want smart reins but with grip, have you seen the plain leather ones that have rubber on the inside? My daughter had them on her speedy strong pony and got of well with them.
 
Ouch ! Love reading your updates dolly and your daughter sound a fantastic match ! Very brave of her to get up after a head on collision

Abbie
X
 
Thanks everyone, can't quote on tablet, but appreciate all your support.

It was very windy today at the yard, and dolly was VERY spooky, not at all like her. Anyway, something blew over, Dolly went one way, daughter went the other. So on the deck again!!! Hahahahaha daughter was up and laughing straight away. Bloody ponies eh!!!!!!

Add a sore ankle to the list of injuries. Will have to get daughters Velcro pants out of the wash!!!!!

PS thanks for the reins advice. Definitely getting some leather on outside rubber on inside ones. She still had plaited ones on today......two days in different reins...two falls..... Coincidence, probably. But you never know!!!! :-)
 
Ouch, hope daughter is ok and not too bruised. The grass is really starting to green up and come through here. I think we're getting the spring flush finally, maybe dolly is feeling the effects!
 
Perhpas you could take them for a hack round a DIY store to tackle Dolly's interests in sheds. Or get her a catalogue to read in the stable. Sound like they've been having fun anyway
 
Hahaha well I'm going to b & q tomorrow, might get her a catalogue!!!!

Those reins are definitely going into the spares drawer!! Getting the rubber ones back out again!

Daughter is fine, a few aches and pains but still jolly!!! I'm sure she'll hurt much more when she's on the way to school in the morning, she's asked for a letter off the stables to say she can stop there and work!!! Lol!!! :-)
 
Hello:D.
Is that the video you posted of facebook of the class? If so that judge is takling bull**** because that was not out of control and working hunter jumping is supposed to performed in a good working canter, i thought is was a very quiet round and Dolly backed off a few of them and you could see daughters legs going:) Tell her not to take it to heart she rode it very well, the down sides to showing i suppose.:)

And thats alright my daughter had nice new white joddies on today and in the clear round she was cantering round and Star spooked and she landed in a nice mucky patch of the the school, que new white joddies now stained with black stuff:rolleyes: second pair in the the last few weeks. It wasnt even a spook worthy of a fall either!!! Although Star more than made up for it later in the day, thank god for clear rounds hey!!!;):D
 
some good news and some not so good, but positive that daughter still happy to get back on, she has comesuch a long way and i love reading the updates...some of us are not on facebook so any chance of the video on here so we can see the round the judge criticised? some judges seem to see something the rest of us dont so tell daughter not to take it to heart., but she still deserves a well done for getting back on:D
 
Hi splashgirl! Thanks for your lovely comments. Will try to post link tomorrow, if I just post link to Facebook you won't be an,e to access it I don't think. Will try YouTube it tomorrow. Xxx
 
Hi Zoe. Yes, that's the video. I thought they did great at that one. Don't get me wrong, she was happy with her third, but even oh said he thought she'd be 2nd as the 2nd placed girls pony bucked .the whole way round, cantered on wrong leg in show and went over jumps sideways!!! Makes me not unserstand, but as you say, that's showing. She was happy for first time at workers, but it has put her off a little. She also doesn't know what she should be aiming for. I think a bit more internet research is needed!!!

What frustrated me, is that the judge really did upset her. Both with the "out of control" comment and a couple of comments I won't give any more airtime to on a public forum!!! So she missed the course walk of her next class and went in out of sorts.

I can't help but think that things might have gone differently with a nicer judge (one who perhaps checks she's OK after she hits a shed at high speed!! ) and tbh that's exactly what I've told daughter. Rightly or wrongly, some people should learn the old "if you've nothing nice to say, shut your trap" addage!!!!

PS I've got two pairs of now arena coloured jods to wash!!!! And the bloody new jacket!!! ; )
 
redmone said:
I caught her and for god knows what reason, I saluted the judge and we left the arena! Lol!!!
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LOL :D

Poor miniRM, that sounds unpleasant. Still, lots of positives in there too so focus on those - and ignore daft comments from mental judges :rolleyes:
 
redmone said:
Hi Zoe. Yes, that's the video. I thought they did great at that one. Don't get me wrong, she was happy with her third, but even oh said he thought she'd be 2nd as the 2nd placed girls pony bucked .the whole way round, cantered on wrong leg in show and went over jumps sideways!!! Makes me not unserstand, but as you say, that's showing. She was happy for first time at workers, but it has put her off a little. She also doesn't know what she should be aiming for. I think a bit more internet research is needed!!!

What frustrated me, is that the judge really did upset her. Both with the "out of control" comment and a couple of comments I won't give any more airtime to on a public forum!!! So she missed the course walk of her next class and went in out of sorts.

I can't help but think that things might have gone differently with a nicer judge (one who perhaps checks she's OK after she hits a shed at high speed!! ) and tbh that's exactly what I've told daughter. Rightly or wrongly, some people should learn the old "if you've nothing nice to say, shut your trap" addage!!!!

PS I've got two pairs of now arena coloured jods to wash!!!! And the bloody new jacket!!! ; )
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Ive been and watched it again after i commented and there was no way she was out of control and in fact if i was coaching a kiddie for working hunter i would encourage to be slightly more forward ( thats not crit ) just thats whats usually expected in working hunter usually so im suprised thats the comments she got. And your right about the bucking should defo be marked down for it. One of the reasons weve stopped showing daughter TBH is sarky judges and weird judging, i can take it on the chin but sometimes is can be really disheartning for young kids. Daughter used to love it but was really put off by some judges and that was when she was 7.
I cant believe she just stood there and watching while she was laying on a shed TBH no compassion. Definatly about the dont say anything unless its nice, we once had a lovely judge do a first ridden class she told all the children how well they had ridden and then came and saw the parents while they did the lap of honour and gave us tips to improve she said she rather say it to us as she didnt want think the kids theyd done something wrong when giving advice. A much better way of doing it in my opinion.

Hey ho onwards and upwards to the next one. Shes doing really well so should be very proud!!!

Im off to putting the joddies that are soaking in the sink into the washing machine to try and get the stains out!!!;):rolleyes:
 
Still wasnt the salute I should have gave! It was an "aye aye sir" salute!!! Pmsl!!!!! Why??? Just why????

Daughters OK, and still laughing at todays comedy moment! Dollys main spook was because the wind had knocked over some jumps, you know, the jumps she's seen every week for 2 years.

Oh and she doesn't like daffodils either. ; )
 
Thanks Zoe. She has a balancing act with Dolly. Daughter really has to dictate the speed, as good old dirty stops dolly lives up to her name, if she's let loose! So sometimes she holds back and then kicks on over the jumps she knows she'll have trouble at. She really has to think over every jump. One thing she's working on with her instructor is establishing a really good canter. Because she gets less stops when she has one. Its tempting for daughter to take nasty jumps from trot but Dolly seems to hold back, hold back then charge. And from charge either jump massively too big, or stop in a very unrecoverable way!!! I'm sure you probably understand what I mean better than I'm putting it. Anyway, in short, I can see massive improvement in them in the last month, and I was annoyed because I dont want this undone by thoughtless comments. But its all experience isnt it.

Daughter likes showing. And jumping. But hasn't quite taken to workers yet. This was a bsps show, so think I'm gonna find a quiet unaffiated show to take them to as another shot. What do you think?

Xxx
 
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