Lolo
Well-Known Member
Its been a very long time since there was a Team Reggie update, and Al has prodded me into writing one because things are going well. This is the most positive Ive ever heard her so I have leapt into action. Top sister award coming my way for sure
The reason things have been quiet is because after years of trying, we finally managed to pack Al off out of Norfolk to the sunny skies of Northamptonshire. On a bit of a feeling brave/ stupid moment, Al plucked up the courage to ask her instructor if she knew anywhere she could be a working pupil this winter. Two weeks later she was in the back of her idol's lorry pretending very hard to be somewhat sane. And then off she went, with the Large Brown Pony in tow. Bit sudden, but very, very exciting!
Tango went with her for the first 6 weeks, mostly because Smokes was still losing the summer tummy and Al felt Tango needed a little more input before he had a very well-deserved winter holiday. He got a lot from the experience, and they began to crack the canter- hes a slow-burn, and hopefully his 3 months off will give him lots of time to adjust to his new body (he grew 3 inches and evened up, and completely changed shape in 3 months ) and hell come back in January ready to continue his eventing career. His owner is very pleased with how he did this summer and has asked Al to continue his education next year. Very smiley faces, Al has a massive soft spot for his dopey kindness and hes the perfect foil for Smokes complete lunacy!
Little bit posh, eh?
And how he finished the year: his first 80cm round, his first indoor SJ, and he was seriously brave and had one pole where it all got a bit too forwards (but as he is prone to backwards, we won't complain!):
[youtube]WYZhg9N1-Jg[/youtube]
So now Smokes is with Al, still looking very small but not very fat anymore! Hes stabled opposite the big boys on the yard, so spends a lot of time reminding them about his famous daddy as they roll their eyes and humour him
Here he is, next to a 16.2hh... He is very dinky!
Hard work being a top eventing pony... (he is always tucked up asleep, typical teenager!)
In his time there, theyve been working very hard on establishing a really true contact and things are beginning to click. I got a very happy text last week when he cantered properly for the first time, and hes really beginning to mature into a proper eventing pony. He does have his mental moments and sometimes I feel hes lucky Al has done 4 years with Reg, because when he gets into a tizz for reasons known only to him he is very frustrating. But hes come so far in so little time that Al just keeps giving herself reality checks- after all, it took 4 years for Reg to become what he is, expecting Smokes to do it in 4 months is possibly ambitious!
And some videos of him schooling before he left:
[youtube]Z11PX3y4eB4[/youtube]
Al working on letting him make his mistakes... Only trouble being, he quite likes making mistakes so he gets to do his rocket launcher impression. The jumping is in a transitional phase atm, where they're finding the right balance for how much input he needs versus how much he wants!
[youtube]-fiu7aGir2M[/youtube]
And poncing, in a new place surrounded by XC fences... Clever boy
It is hard for Al, I think, being at such an amazing yard with such good riders surrounding her. She knew she wasn't as good as any of them (and when they get on Smokes and he ponces perfectly for them, she feels both inspired and like throttling him!) but being constantly surrounded by so many very talented riders has made her realise how hard she's going to have to work to up her game and catch up. She knows how hard shes going to have to work to achieve what she wants to, but being surrounded by people who dont think shes off her head for even trying and who have been so positive about her dreams has given her a real kick to keep on slogging.
In terms of Al's living as a WP, this photo can sum it up...
"Lunch time"...
So while all this excitement is happening, I can hear the Wheres Reg? questions popping up Al made the very difficult decision to leave him back in Norfolk this winter, to be mums top happy hack. He likes his life there, hes very settled and happy, and has his routine and his friends. Between that and his physical limitations, a winter of hard work on a pro yard wouldnt have been right for him. It was both an easy and hard decision for Al- easy because there was no other Reg-friendly option, and hard because hes her boy and the longest shes gone without seeing him was 5 days this summer.
Hes having a lovely time with mum though, going for leg stretches and pretending to be scared of nothing at all just for kicks. Hes a very safe hack, but he does have a wicked sense of humour! Al goes home on her day off for Reggie cuddles too- its hard to say who misses the other the most!
Im quietly excited to see what 2014 holds for Team Reggie. Als rag-tag team all have their challenges, but I really hope all the hard work shes been putting in begins to pay off.
The reason things have been quiet is because after years of trying, we finally managed to pack Al off out of Norfolk to the sunny skies of Northamptonshire. On a bit of a feeling brave/ stupid moment, Al plucked up the courage to ask her instructor if she knew anywhere she could be a working pupil this winter. Two weeks later she was in the back of her idol's lorry pretending very hard to be somewhat sane. And then off she went, with the Large Brown Pony in tow. Bit sudden, but very, very exciting!
Tango went with her for the first 6 weeks, mostly because Smokes was still losing the summer tummy and Al felt Tango needed a little more input before he had a very well-deserved winter holiday. He got a lot from the experience, and they began to crack the canter- hes a slow-burn, and hopefully his 3 months off will give him lots of time to adjust to his new body (he grew 3 inches and evened up, and completely changed shape in 3 months ) and hell come back in January ready to continue his eventing career. His owner is very pleased with how he did this summer and has asked Al to continue his education next year. Very smiley faces, Al has a massive soft spot for his dopey kindness and hes the perfect foil for Smokes complete lunacy!
Little bit posh, eh?
And how he finished the year: his first 80cm round, his first indoor SJ, and he was seriously brave and had one pole where it all got a bit too forwards (but as he is prone to backwards, we won't complain!):
[youtube]WYZhg9N1-Jg[/youtube]
So now Smokes is with Al, still looking very small but not very fat anymore! Hes stabled opposite the big boys on the yard, so spends a lot of time reminding them about his famous daddy as they roll their eyes and humour him
Here he is, next to a 16.2hh... He is very dinky!
Hard work being a top eventing pony... (he is always tucked up asleep, typical teenager!)
In his time there, theyve been working very hard on establishing a really true contact and things are beginning to click. I got a very happy text last week when he cantered properly for the first time, and hes really beginning to mature into a proper eventing pony. He does have his mental moments and sometimes I feel hes lucky Al has done 4 years with Reg, because when he gets into a tizz for reasons known only to him he is very frustrating. But hes come so far in so little time that Al just keeps giving herself reality checks- after all, it took 4 years for Reg to become what he is, expecting Smokes to do it in 4 months is possibly ambitious!
And some videos of him schooling before he left:
[youtube]Z11PX3y4eB4[/youtube]
Al working on letting him make his mistakes... Only trouble being, he quite likes making mistakes so he gets to do his rocket launcher impression. The jumping is in a transitional phase atm, where they're finding the right balance for how much input he needs versus how much he wants!
[youtube]-fiu7aGir2M[/youtube]
And poncing, in a new place surrounded by XC fences... Clever boy
It is hard for Al, I think, being at such an amazing yard with such good riders surrounding her. She knew she wasn't as good as any of them (and when they get on Smokes and he ponces perfectly for them, she feels both inspired and like throttling him!) but being constantly surrounded by so many very talented riders has made her realise how hard she's going to have to work to up her game and catch up. She knows how hard shes going to have to work to achieve what she wants to, but being surrounded by people who dont think shes off her head for even trying and who have been so positive about her dreams has given her a real kick to keep on slogging.
In terms of Al's living as a WP, this photo can sum it up...
"Lunch time"...
So while all this excitement is happening, I can hear the Wheres Reg? questions popping up Al made the very difficult decision to leave him back in Norfolk this winter, to be mums top happy hack. He likes his life there, hes very settled and happy, and has his routine and his friends. Between that and his physical limitations, a winter of hard work on a pro yard wouldnt have been right for him. It was both an easy and hard decision for Al- easy because there was no other Reg-friendly option, and hard because hes her boy and the longest shes gone without seeing him was 5 days this summer.
Hes having a lovely time with mum though, going for leg stretches and pretending to be scared of nothing at all just for kicks. Hes a very safe hack, but he does have a wicked sense of humour! Al goes home on her day off for Reggie cuddles too- its hard to say who misses the other the most!
Im quietly excited to see what 2014 holds for Team Reggie. Als rag-tag team all have their challenges, but I really hope all the hard work shes been putting in begins to pay off.
