Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
There isnt words for how pleased I am with her. I thought I was going to burst into tears in front of everyone! Shes been away 5 weeks and driving for 4 of those. I've driven her 4 times and the last week has been a write off with the snow and ice. And today she loaded up with 5 other ponies and went to her first event. She stood nicely at the wagon when she wasnt being worked, and as we had so many ponies we were mad busy so she was expected to behave herself on her own a lot of the time, which she did.
Shes never been in an indoor, never been in a school with other ponies being driven, never seen a gallery full of people or white boards and shes certainly not been expected to do what she did today. She also had to leave everyone else and go right round the lorry pack, down an icy slope and round to the other end of the place to the warmup.
You get 2 tests for driving, one for the way the pony goes and one for accuracy, its called precision and paces. She absolutely smashed it!
.
Both 6s were when something startled her and she just lost concentration enough that she wobbled a bit. And we didnt show enough steps of rein back, but we only taught her reinback yesterday so I took the 2 good steps and didnt push for 4. But as a first go after 4 weeks I'll take that!
We knocked 3 cones which was driver error. My eyes are terrible and depth perception is difficult. I'm ok if I practice a lot but I've not practiced in about 6months. But she was fab, just kept on going with a really nice rhythm. Obstacles was brilliant. Shes never seen an obstacle never mind 12 of them in the arena. I babied her round but she was forward and turning when she was asked and not once did we come close to knocking one or missing one.
We came 4th.
I personally think she was robbed! There should have been a prize for the best pony there just for her
She gave me such a good feeling. She thought everyone was there to see her and she loved it which I really didnt expect. She was harnessed up 3 times for the different bits and every time she was happy to go back to work, even though she must have been knackered by the end of the day. I know I was! She unloaded at the breakers yard while we got everything sorted and then she was loaded back up again about 40mins without missing a beat. Shes back at home now tucked up in her stable ready to go back out with her friends tomorrow. She must wonder what the hell happened today!
Shes never been in an indoor, never been in a school with other ponies being driven, never seen a gallery full of people or white boards and shes certainly not been expected to do what she did today. She also had to leave everyone else and go right round the lorry pack, down an icy slope and round to the other end of the place to the warmup.
You get 2 tests for driving, one for the way the pony goes and one for accuracy, its called precision and paces. She absolutely smashed it!
.
Both 6s were when something startled her and she just lost concentration enough that she wobbled a bit. And we didnt show enough steps of rein back, but we only taught her reinback yesterday so I took the 2 good steps and didnt push for 4. But as a first go after 4 weeks I'll take that!
We knocked 3 cones which was driver error. My eyes are terrible and depth perception is difficult. I'm ok if I practice a lot but I've not practiced in about 6months. But she was fab, just kept on going with a really nice rhythm. Obstacles was brilliant. Shes never seen an obstacle never mind 12 of them in the arena. I babied her round but she was forward and turning when she was asked and not once did we come close to knocking one or missing one.
We came 4th.
I personally think she was robbed! There should have been a prize for the best pony there just for her
She gave me such a good feeling. She thought everyone was there to see her and she loved it which I really didnt expect. She was harnessed up 3 times for the different bits and every time she was happy to go back to work, even though she must have been knackered by the end of the day. I know I was! She unloaded at the breakers yard while we got everything sorted and then she was loaded back up again about 40mins without missing a beat. Shes back at home now tucked up in her stable ready to go back out with her friends tomorrow. She must wonder what the hell happened today!
