LiffWee93
Well-Known Member
little lola was one of these 
got her as a semi-feral pony straight off the forest, just weaned, straight out was difficult to handle, jumped over the herding gates to get her from the trailer to the stable.. would keep you at a distance with any way possible (usually feet or galloping around the stable) took a persistent 2 years to be able to handle her in entirety. Her go to leading was planting or rearing, and this continued into her ground work, whenever a question was asked of her (ie. go a little further on her walk than she wanted to, go a little longer on the lunge or not nap on the long reins) so we spent ages just playing with her, getting her to see the world as much as we could
we left her late to back as she mentally couldnt cope, just leaning over would cause her to shake, so we was backed at 4 and a half, did a little bit, a few little walk abouts, some trotting around and was an absolute angel, when unfortunately we had a scare one ride, she bolted and put me through a fence, i dislocated and broke my shoulder.. once healed, i got back on with the aid of a professional and he was awful, would stand and shake, would bolt at any movement and was just a terrified mess we got her to the point where i could do a circle in trot on the lunge each way with me and i retired from riding her, gave her the winter off, and left her. The following year, i could not ride her, she would just bunch up and deck me in any way possible, nothing wrong, just scared. My mum could ride her fine, no problem and she was a doll, so, as she was never destined to be my riding pony, i just walked mum in hand, then she had the winter off. net summer (5yo) we got a knowledgable friend out to ride her through the issues, 3 days on, 3 days off, from april to september, she was starting to turn around and managed some little hacks but still had some issues with tension and running off, but not to the same degree ( all physical checks were fine at all stages). the end of the summer came and she was turned away for the winter after a summer of lots of learning!
the following year (now rising 6yo) i somewhat decided to get back on lola, after a year of bonding, playing and no stress, i was by myself (very stupid) popped my back protector on, and rode her down the enclosed drive of our yard, hopped off, turned back, hopped back on and even had a little trot to the gate.. i got off and cried!! we had many trials that year, mainly me dealing with my tension and dealing with her brain and sharpness, but we got going, did a couple of dressage tests to success, popped a few jumps with no control and went out hacking where she proved bold and brave, she then had that winter off again.
Now rising 7, she was still just a sideline for me, we did bits and bobs and had lessons and made moderate progress, still had massive tension issues, and she unforunately tied up twice this summer, but we made it to the new forest show and didnt come last, it was a massive dream of mine to do! i used to get off her solid from shaking with nerves and so tense and we would just bounce off each others nerves..
shes now 9 years old... we jump competitively at 80cm, compete at elementary dressage , hack out everywhere and just play around having fun! shes just the sweetest, hardest trying little thing i could ever ask for, we have over come our fears together and are honestly reaping the rewards she still has her moments, but thats a new forest mare for you, her rear still appears when shes very excited and doesnt get her own way, but nothing dangerous in any way.. i love her to bits <3
first attempt at leading..
being started..
backed
being a good girl, before our accident
first jumps
first show
jumping now
4th at the new forest show this year
hacking
making her elementary debut a winning one!
flying round her 2nd ever time cross country schooling!
sorry, really long post, but there is hope!!
got her as a semi-feral pony straight off the forest, just weaned, straight out was difficult to handle, jumped over the herding gates to get her from the trailer to the stable.. would keep you at a distance with any way possible (usually feet or galloping around the stable) took a persistent 2 years to be able to handle her in entirety. Her go to leading was planting or rearing, and this continued into her ground work, whenever a question was asked of her (ie. go a little further on her walk than she wanted to, go a little longer on the lunge or not nap on the long reins) so we spent ages just playing with her, getting her to see the world as much as we could
we left her late to back as she mentally couldnt cope, just leaning over would cause her to shake, so we was backed at 4 and a half, did a little bit, a few little walk abouts, some trotting around and was an absolute angel, when unfortunately we had a scare one ride, she bolted and put me through a fence, i dislocated and broke my shoulder.. once healed, i got back on with the aid of a professional and he was awful, would stand and shake, would bolt at any movement and was just a terrified mess
we got her to the point where i could do a circle in trot on the lunge each way with me and i retired from riding her, gave her the winter off, and left her. The following year, i could not ride her, she would just bunch up and deck me in any way possible, nothing wrong, just scared. My mum could ride her fine, no problem and she was a doll, so, as she was never destined to be my riding pony, i just walked mum in hand, then she had the winter off. net summer (5yo) we got a knowledgable friend out to ride her through the issues, 3 days on, 3 days off, from april to september, she was starting to turn around and managed some little hacks but still had some issues with tension and running off, but not to the same degree ( all physical checks were fine at all stages). the end of the summer came and she was turned away for the winter after a summer of lots of learning!the following year (now rising 6yo) i somewhat decided to get back on lola, after a year of bonding, playing and no stress, i was by myself (very stupid) popped my back protector on, and rode her down the enclosed drive of our yard, hopped off, turned back, hopped back on and even had a little trot to the gate.. i got off and cried!! we had many trials that year, mainly me dealing with my tension and dealing with her brain and sharpness, but we got going, did a couple of dressage tests to success, popped a few jumps with no control and went out hacking where she proved bold and brave, she then had that winter off again.
Now rising 7, she was still just a sideline for me, we did bits and bobs and had lessons and made moderate progress, still had massive tension issues, and she unforunately tied up twice this summer, but we made it to the new forest show and didnt come last, it was a massive dream of mine to do! i used to get off her solid from shaking with nerves and so tense and we would just bounce off each others nerves..
shes now 9 years old... we jump competitively at 80cm, compete at elementary dressage , hack out everywhere and just play around having fun! shes just the sweetest, hardest trying little thing i could ever ask for, we have over come our fears together and are honestly reaping the rewards
she still has her moments, but thats a new forest mare for you, her rear still appears when shes very excited and doesnt get her own way, but nothing dangerous in any way.. i love her to bits <3 first attempt at leading..
being started..
backed
being a good girl, before our accident
first jumps
first show
jumping now
4th at the new forest show this year
hacking
making her elementary debut a winning one!
flying round her 2nd ever time cross country schooling!
sorry, really long post, but there is hope!!