Swift08
Well-Known Member
Back in February my mum and I took on two ponies, one we ended up keeping and the other had to be sold (looooong story). His previous owners had bought him years ago from southall market and he had not really done a huge amount in his life. I spend some time schooling him at the end of 2009/early 2010 but after that he had been left. He had always been a sharp, spooky and forward going pony. He has never been malicious but if something upset him he had no problem running away and being extremely bright he also knew how to push a rider!!
When he came in February he had severe lice and was pretty underweight, just had a very thick coat so we gave him some time to settle and put some weight on then brought him into work again. He took to it well and by the time it came to sell him, he was doing well but still not very muscled, still sharp unless on the lead rein, safe most of the time, brilliant with voice commands and as perfect as he could be on the ground, I have to admit I was so worried when his new owners came to view him!
The girl is tiny for her age but he worked so well for her doing all she asked and trying so hard for her and I really liked her way with him. She was asking questions and most importantly, she listened to my answers! Even at the second viewing when he took off with me and almost ran them down, they still wanted him
Since he left at the end of April they have been in regular contact letting us know all of the ups and downs and today they invited my mum and I to watch them at a local show. The third he had ever been to in his whole life and I think this is her first season off the LR!!
He behaved beautifully most of the time, they won tack and turnout and came second in m&m but 7th in first ridden because he was very naughty and napped back to the other horses (although she did try her hardest to correct him). The judges loved him though and the m&m one told her that had she managed to canter him properly she would have won and he has enough quality to do well in affiliated classes 
It was however the first time she had cantered him at a show and the last time he cantered in an open place she fell off. Today though he was doing lovely controllable canters in the warm up areas, he would just rather do a lovely extended trot in the ring!
So all in all I am SO pleased with him and his wonderful rider, in fact we all were! We were all like nervous parents when she was in her classes lol.
One photo I took earlier although I have blocked out her face as she is not my child. He has totally landed on his feet in his new home though.
p.s he looks like a different horse to the one that left us
When he came in February he had severe lice and was pretty underweight, just had a very thick coat so we gave him some time to settle and put some weight on then brought him into work again. He took to it well and by the time it came to sell him, he was doing well but still not very muscled, still sharp unless on the lead rein, safe most of the time, brilliant with voice commands and as perfect as he could be on the ground, I have to admit I was so worried when his new owners came to view him!
The girl is tiny for her age but he worked so well for her doing all she asked and trying so hard for her and I really liked her way with him. She was asking questions and most importantly, she listened to my answers! Even at the second viewing when he took off with me and almost ran them down, they still wanted him
Since he left at the end of April they have been in regular contact letting us know all of the ups and downs and today they invited my mum and I to watch them at a local show. The third he had ever been to in his whole life and I think this is her first season off the LR!!
He behaved beautifully most of the time, they won tack and turnout and came second in m&m but 7th in first ridden because he was very naughty and napped back to the other horses
(although she did try her hardest to correct him). The judges loved him though and the m&m one told her that had she managed to canter him properly she would have won and he has enough quality to do well in affiliated classes It was however the first time she had cantered him at a show and the last time he cantered in an open place she fell off. Today though he was doing lovely controllable canters in the warm up areas, he would just rather do a lovely extended trot in the ring!So all in all I am SO pleased with him and his wonderful rider, in fact we all were! We were all like nervous parents when she was in her classes lol.
One photo I took earlier although I have blocked out her face as she is not my child. He has totally landed on his feet in his new home though.
p.s he looks like a different horse to the one that left us
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