Elf On A Shelf
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My prep for the RHS 2021 has started already! A friend has challenged me to meet her in the ring at the Highland in the HOYS Welsh C&D ridden class next year. No biggy! There's usually only 50-60 ponies entered in that class! And why has my prep started so early given that I normally break the pony in at the start of June just before the show ...
Gerry is now 11yo. My mum bought him as a weanling, he was broken in at 5yo and I can count on 2 hands and 1 foot how many times I have sat on him since! So whilst a 4yo will get away with lacking polish and topline compared to the rest an 11yo will not! So I have a year to turn Gerry into a muscled up show cob! He hasn't done a days work in his life so I have my work cut out for me! It's a good job there are lots of hills round here!
To be fair to him I can pretty much just hop back on, no rebacking process every other year when I hop on ??
Today was day 2. I toom him out in the small back paddock again just to be on the safe side and so he could once again remember that he could indeed keep his mouth closed with a bit in and steer. Once we had established this again we headed off to the bigger field for some nice forward going walk and a couple of wee trots. Gerry is, to be fair, not a typical Welsh D, he is quite sane and chilled but not brain dead or lazy. He is keen to learn.
I will try to remember to keep this thread going more for reference of our journey over the coming months.
Just as a precaution a wee walking spin for about 5 laps before I get bored!
I used to be able to get on my 17.2hh from the ground by dropping my stirrup 4 holes. My hips don't work so well these days, plus lack of practice, means I need to drop my irons 4 holes to get on a 14hh ?? and even then it's a struggle to get my foot high enough to get it in the stirrup ??
I know I know! I am wearing trainers! Plus a shed load of clothes as it was cold ??? I do have a hat on though! ??
First few strides of the day hence the 'ready to bail' position ??? not that he would ever actually do anything!
Gerry is now 11yo. My mum bought him as a weanling, he was broken in at 5yo and I can count on 2 hands and 1 foot how many times I have sat on him since! So whilst a 4yo will get away with lacking polish and topline compared to the rest an 11yo will not! So I have a year to turn Gerry into a muscled up show cob! He hasn't done a days work in his life so I have my work cut out for me! It's a good job there are lots of hills round here!
To be fair to him I can pretty much just hop back on, no rebacking process every other year when I hop on ??
Today was day 2. I toom him out in the small back paddock again just to be on the safe side and so he could once again remember that he could indeed keep his mouth closed with a bit in and steer. Once we had established this again we headed off to the bigger field for some nice forward going walk and a couple of wee trots. Gerry is, to be fair, not a typical Welsh D, he is quite sane and chilled but not brain dead or lazy. He is keen to learn.
I will try to remember to keep this thread going more for reference of our journey over the coming months.
Just as a precaution a wee walking spin for about 5 laps before I get bored!
I used to be able to get on my 17.2hh from the ground by dropping my stirrup 4 holes. My hips don't work so well these days, plus lack of practice, means I need to drop my irons 4 holes to get on a 14hh ?? and even then it's a struggle to get my foot high enough to get it in the stirrup ??
I know I know! I am wearing trainers! Plus a shed load of clothes as it was cold ??? I do have a hat on though! ??
First few strides of the day hence the 'ready to bail' position ??? not that he would ever actually do anything!
watched all the c classes and was the same with the Ds. Knew I’d wasted my money before I went in. Two ponies my boy had beaten in the right only weeks before were pulled higher and yep bay and entire 