Dolly's first Christmas! (what do you get a pony as a present????!!!!)

I'd be wary of feeding a little fat pony lots of sugary fruit! It's not great for them. A giant turnip would be just as appreicated and will last her for ages.

Are you planning on doing any hacking in the spring and summer? What about a nice set of pink reflective stuff for her? V-bandz do a really nice range in leg back, tail band and breastplate.

Or if dolly has a 'colour' then a set of stuff in that - nice leadrope and headcollar, brushes etc.

I'm so pleased it's going well for you :D This time next years you'll be reading back posts and asking 'did I really ask that/struggle with that?!'
 
Happy first Christmas with Redmone and family to Dolly!

I used to think it was nice to spoil the ponies at Christmas, but having seen my colic prone sec A demolish half a lickit in about 3 hours and a swede (tied to the rafters on bale twine) in about a day, I go easy on that stuff now. An extra hug and a chin scratch is appreciated just as much. Get a 'luxury' item for your daughter to use with Dolly, that way you won't waste money, nor spend Christmas Day evening wondering whether Dolly has overdone it! :)
 
If I had lots of money I would buy my pony a Newmarket fleece for Christmas - it's his first winter of being stabled, and I like the idea of making him look like a racehorse. :o No-one needs to tell him that he's a fuzzy little piebald cob! I will probably get him one of those pony stockings that come with a few packets of treats and a mane comb or something, it's about all I can afford! I bought him a little Likit last year, and it lasted for ages because I only let him have it when I was in the stable with him (he kept trying to grab the whole thing in his mouth and I was paranoid he'd somehow swallow it and choke) so he just enjoyed it while I was grooming him, at it was wrapped up and put away in the cupboard the rest of the time. It turned his curly little moustache green. :D
 
how about speaking to local farmers and see if you can't get her a sugarbeet or a large turnip or something, so it's a bit of a different treat for her that will last a bit longer than a couple of carrots!

otherwise I would tend to agree with the others and go for a "luxury" item like a posh grooming brush, a saddle cover, or a smart numnah.
 
redmone said:
Very true! Me and OH just spent about an hour talking about how lovely Dolly is!!! I know we're all soppy over her, and it's probably a bit sad, but we really do love her to bits!

Some of our previous "problems" seem a bit silly now, even though it's only a few months later! Daughter is so happy and confident at the minute, and my nerves are improving! I did have a period of a few weeks where I actually lost MY confidence in handling Dolly for a while (don't tell daughter!!!), and I just asked for help more often, but I'm better now - don't know why really!!! I'm wary, but don't take any cxxp!

Still can't believe WE HAVE A PONY!!!!!!!!!!!
:D:D:D
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It's completly normal to be smitten with your pony everyone I know is :D
the problems will always come it's just learning how to deal with them and stopping things before they get out of hand and I'm guessing in the past few months you have come so far in knowledge and confidence so things are no longer such a big deal and I'm sure dolly will continue to push you so you both carry on learning ( who wants a perfect pony it would be boring, that's what I keep telling my self anyway)
don't worry about the confidence it will carry on coming and will be knocked a few more times just try not to let dolly know. The more you get to know her the more confident you will become as you will be able to predict her reactions a bit better
enjoy her she seems great and can we have another update please?? :D
 
Kallibear said:
I'd be wary of feeding a little fat pony lots of sugary fruit! It's not great for them. A giant turnip would be just as appreicated and will last her for ages.

Are you planning on doing any hacking in the spring and summer? What about a nice set of pink reflective stuff for her? V-bandz do a really nice range in leg back, tail band and breastplate.

Or if dolly has a 'colour' then a set of stuff in that - nice leadrope and headcollar, brushes etc.

I'm so pleased it's going well for you :D This time next years you'll be reading back posts and asking 'did I really ask that/struggle with that?!'
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I'm now thinking turnip, headcollar and leadrope (existing one looking a bit tired anyway) and I'd like one of those pony stockings I'd heard talked about (just for the silliness of it!!!).

Yep, I'm already cringing at my "meltdowns" of a few months ago!!!!:o

:D
 
nikicb said:
Happy first Christmas with Redmone and family to Dolly!

I used to think it was nice to spoil the ponies at Christmas, but having seen my colic prone sec A demolish half a lickit in about 3 hours and a swede (tied to the rafters on bale twine) in about a day, I go easy on that stuff now. An extra hug and a chin scratch is appreciated just as much. Get a 'luxury' item for your daughter to use with Dolly, that way you won't waste money, nor spend Christmas Day evening wondering whether Dolly has overdone it! :)
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Thank you!

Happy Christmas to you too, and everyone else on here!!!

Don't honestly know what I'd have done without you all!!!!

:D:D:D
 
dafthoss said:
It's completly normal to be smitten with your pony everyone I know is :D
the problems will always come it's just learning how to deal with them and stopping things before they get out of hand and I'm guessing in the past few months you have come so far in knowledge and confidence so things are no longer such a big deal and I'm sure dolly will continue to push you so you both carry on learning ( who wants a perfect pony it would be boring, that's what I keep telling my self anyway)
don't worry about the confidence it will carry on coming and will be knocked a few more times just try not to let dolly know. The more you get to know her the more confident you will become as you will be able to predict her reactions a bit better
enjoy her she seems great and can we have another update please?? :D
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Thank goodness for that then! I just sometimes feel a bit soft (and that's not something I've been called much in my life!!!) when I go on about her!!!

Dolly is definately a "character"! It's funny because I was looking at the Xmas photo thread, and I was surprised when comparing her to other "kids ponys" and she's quite different actually (not sure if that's good or bad!). She's like a mini racehorse rather than a pretty pony that you could put bows in her mane! I know breeds are different, but I can understand why she hasn't really settled anywhere in the past few years. She's only 12.2 (apparently!) but she's solid and well, not "kids pony ish"!!!! Oh I hope you know what I mean, I can't explain!!! I suppose what I mean is she's too little for big girls, but too strong for little girls!!!

We love her for who she is though, and she suits us perfectly. We were never going to be a multi pony family (well not until I get mine anyway :D) and my daughter gets SOOOOOOO attached to things, there's no way she'd be able move on to another in a few years and sell her first pony. I know she just couldn't do it. So Dolly is spot on as she'll easily cope with my daughter into her teens I think. I've seen girls 5 foot 4 ish ride her, without looking daft or heavy. And there's so much room for development too. I suspect Dolly will teach my daughter to jump at some point.

I'm definately over cautious with her in the stable. I feel Dolly is quite territorial and likes her own space, so I watch her carefully when we're in there. It'd be nice for daughter to be able to do things on her own, but all in good time I think.

If there's one piece of advice I live by, it's that there's no rush to do anything.

Update coming up soon......look out for it!!!! :D:D:D
 
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