redmone
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone!
Well I'll try to keep this brief, but you probably know me well enough by now to know that that's probably wishful thinking!!!
Where to start? Well August 15th comes to mind. The day we became pony owners for the first time. And you all stuck by me through thick and thin. From my "should I buy daughter a pony" posts to my "oh my god Dolly has charged into a wall!!!" posts!!! You propped me up when my nerves went to pieces, and you all promised me it'd come right.
I weakened for a few weeks, and started to believe we had made a mistake. That Dolly wasn't "the one". She's a lot of pony for a tiny 9 year old. She still is. But my tiny 9 year old is a lot of child too. She's the most determined person I know. She's shy, quiet and you'd be forgiven for overlooking her. But she's the sort of person that pips people to the post, because they forget about her. She's my hero. Her and her dad. They both said they'd prove me wrong, and I really hoped they would.
Anyway, back on to Dolly!! We've had her over 4 months now, and I don't regret a minute of it. She still has her moments, but I've learnt that they all do. The Dolly that we bought isn't the same pony we have today. Sure she has her quirks, she's still quite food focused, and quite territorial (possibly hang-ups relating to her past) but once that bridle is on she's ready to go! She seems so much happier now, and seems to enjoy her "work".
I can see the bond growing between her and my daughter, and whilst we are all still cautious when we are in her stable, she is a lovely pony to handle and (I believe) to ride! She has a little fan club of riding school children who love to ride her, and this makes daughter feel very lucky.
She has brought so much into our lives, and I love her to bits.
Recently she has done obstacle courses with daughter, and daughter had a fantastic canter round the indoor school last week. All the training by the riding school is really paying off, and we are very grateful for everything they have done for us.
Dolly is beautiful, and such a character. I love her so much, and I love the confidence that she gives my daughter. She (so far!) keeps her safe and that makes me love her all the more.
And of course, there is the lovely red rosette and trophy her and daughter won after only being together 2 weeks!!! That made me happy!
I don't for a minute think we're out of the woods. I've heard winter can be quite trying. But with the help and support of our stables, our friends and your wonderful people on here, I think we'll make it! And come next summer you'll be sick of my updates!!!!!
Funny how some of my worries from a few months ago seem so silly now.
However, can anyone explain to me why I feel the need to shop constantly for rugs now? That I don't understand. I am a goth. I love shoes. And clothes. And tattoos!!! Yet, I'm impressed by "Rambo" rugs and find myself trying to think of reasons why Dolly needs boots!!!! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And guess what!!! I CAN TACK UP!!!!!! Ohhhhhh yes! Me. On my own. I can!!!! I'm offically daughter's groom now!
You should see me girthing up, one buckle first. Then wait a bit. Don't want Dolly to be uncomfortable. Lets go to two buckles now. We can do the third whilst walking into the school. Oh get me! Can't pick out feet yet - that's next!
Anyway, I suppose what I'm trying to say is THANK YOU!!! All of you. For your help, advice and support. For believing in us, and for caring enough to want to hear more.
Thank you also to our stables and riding school, for everything. Without them we wouldn't have Dolly.
The update could have been one line, just saying that everything is fine, and Dolly is great. But that would have been boring!!!
Hope you got to here. I have a houseful of stuff for your reward - take your pick!!! Mince pie? Cheese? LOADS of beer and wine
Merry Christmas everyone, from Redmone, mini Redmone, Redmone's sexy bloke
p) and Little Dolly!!! xxx
Well I'll try to keep this brief, but you probably know me well enough by now to know that that's probably wishful thinking!!!
Where to start? Well August 15th comes to mind. The day we became pony owners for the first time. And you all stuck by me through thick and thin. From my "should I buy daughter a pony" posts to my "oh my god Dolly has charged into a wall!!!" posts!!! You propped me up when my nerves went to pieces, and you all promised me it'd come right.
I weakened for a few weeks, and started to believe we had made a mistake. That Dolly wasn't "the one". She's a lot of pony for a tiny 9 year old. She still is. But my tiny 9 year old is a lot of child too. She's the most determined person I know. She's shy, quiet and you'd be forgiven for overlooking her. But she's the sort of person that pips people to the post, because they forget about her. She's my hero. Her and her dad. They both said they'd prove me wrong, and I really hoped they would.
Anyway, back on to Dolly!! We've had her over 4 months now, and I don't regret a minute of it. She still has her moments, but I've learnt that they all do. The Dolly that we bought isn't the same pony we have today. Sure she has her quirks, she's still quite food focused, and quite territorial (possibly hang-ups relating to her past) but once that bridle is on she's ready to go! She seems so much happier now, and seems to enjoy her "work".
I can see the bond growing between her and my daughter, and whilst we are all still cautious when we are in her stable, she is a lovely pony to handle and (I believe) to ride! She has a little fan club of riding school children who love to ride her, and this makes daughter feel very lucky.
She has brought so much into our lives, and I love her to bits.
Recently she has done obstacle courses with daughter, and daughter had a fantastic canter round the indoor school last week. All the training by the riding school is really paying off, and we are very grateful for everything they have done for us.
Dolly is beautiful, and such a character. I love her so much, and I love the confidence that she gives my daughter. She (so far!) keeps her safe and that makes me love her all the more.
And of course, there is the lovely red rosette and trophy her and daughter won after only being together 2 weeks!!! That made me happy!
I don't for a minute think we're out of the woods. I've heard winter can be quite trying. But with the help and support of our stables, our friends and your wonderful people on here, I think we'll make it! And come next summer you'll be sick of my updates!!!!!
Funny how some of my worries from a few months ago seem so silly now.
However, can anyone explain to me why I feel the need to shop constantly for rugs now? That I don't understand. I am a goth. I love shoes. And clothes. And tattoos!!! Yet, I'm impressed by "Rambo" rugs and find myself trying to think of reasons why Dolly needs boots!!!! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And guess what!!! I CAN TACK UP!!!!!! Ohhhhhh yes! Me. On my own. I can!!!! I'm offically daughter's groom now!
You should see me girthing up, one buckle first. Then wait a bit. Don't want Dolly to be uncomfortable. Lets go to two buckles now. We can do the third whilst walking into the school. Oh get me! Can't pick out feet yet - that's next!Anyway, I suppose what I'm trying to say is THANK YOU!!! All of you. For your help, advice and support. For believing in us, and for caring enough to want to hear more.
Thank you also to our stables and riding school, for everything. Without them we wouldn't have Dolly.
The update could have been one line, just saying that everything is fine, and Dolly is great. But that would have been boring!!!
Hope you got to here. I have a houseful of stuff for your reward - take your pick!!! Mince pie? Cheese? LOADS of beer and wine
Merry Christmas everyone, from Redmone, mini Redmone, Redmone's sexy bloke
p) and Little Dolly!!! xxx
I'll do it! I do want to learn to ride but am:
dont worry about looking silly every one does at some point or get a private lesson to start with