measles
Well-Known Member
Just over 6 years ago A's new 13.2hh JA pony, bought with almost our last penny, pulled a check ligament just after we bought her and we have never gone through such disappointment and upset. I still can't listen to Tom Jones and Chicane's "Stoned In Love" that was on my phone at the time without breaking down as I listened to it endlessly sitting on a crate hosing her leg. We did everything possible to care for the injury and she did come back to jump with A at the end of the following year but by that point although only 12yo A was too big to continue jumping her:
The day Polly's leg was scanned at the vet hospital and the extent of the damage revealed I made the spur of the moment decision to have the wonderful Matt Hanks who just happened to have a free 15mins scan her with a view to putting her in foal. His advice was to go ahead if we wanted but at 16yo she might not take for a first foal and it was June already so we only realistically had one season. We had a huge family discussion that evening and booked her to Tiny Tim X, the prolific 35yo 12.2hh JA pony stallion who had won everything and I jumped against as a child. Against all the odds Polly took and in 2007, on her own birthday, she had Poppy, born to parents with a combined age of 51yo
Fast forward to today and Poppy went to her first jumping show and only second ever time ridden away from home. B was 3yo when she was born and they have grown up together so to see them together was a very special moment. Perhaps it has been her handling - as it certainly isn't from experience - but she behaved impeccably, accepting the other horses and ponies and Rowallan's dressed and colourful main arena. Jumping clear in each of her rounds, albeit over tiny fences, was fantastic but nothing could top just how easy and good, and happy she was
B and she are almost like brother and sister in a sort of way.
In time I hope that she overcomes her fear of rosettes
Polly is an older lady now but has a home with us for the rest of her days. She still has a glint in her eye and pricks her ears, straining over the stable door when the travel boots come out, so perhaps B will do a little, just the amount she is happy with, when he is bigger. If not, that doesn't matter as she has given us such a wonderful journey. Good things do come from those sad, despairing moments.
The day Polly's leg was scanned at the vet hospital and the extent of the damage revealed I made the spur of the moment decision to have the wonderful Matt Hanks who just happened to have a free 15mins scan her with a view to putting her in foal. His advice was to go ahead if we wanted but at 16yo she might not take for a first foal and it was June already so we only realistically had one season. We had a huge family discussion that evening and booked her to Tiny Tim X, the prolific 35yo 12.2hh JA pony stallion who had won everything and I jumped against as a child. Against all the odds Polly took and in 2007, on her own birthday, she had Poppy, born to parents with a combined age of 51yo
Fast forward to today and Poppy went to her first jumping show and only second ever time ridden away from home. B was 3yo when she was born and they have grown up together so to see them together was a very special moment. Perhaps it has been her handling - as it certainly isn't from experience - but she behaved impeccably, accepting the other horses and ponies and Rowallan's dressed and colourful main arena. Jumping clear in each of her rounds, albeit over tiny fences, was fantastic but nothing could top just how easy and good, and happy she was
B and she are almost like brother and sister in a sort of way.
In time I hope that she overcomes her fear of rosettes
Polly is an older lady now but has a home with us for the rest of her days. She still has a glint in her eye and pricks her ears, straining over the stable door when the travel boots come out, so perhaps B will do a little, just the amount she is happy with, when he is bigger. If not, that doesn't matter as she has given us such a wonderful journey. Good things do come from those sad, despairing moments.
