The ups and downs of children & ponies (and me too)....

Fiona

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PICS TO BE ADDED TONIGHT... IF FB PLAYS BALL...

I haven't done a report for ages, but as I did eventually take some nice pics rather than indoor video clips I thought do a bit of a spring ;) review..... for DS who's 6 and his new pony, and me and my 13.2 connie.....

If we go back to the beginning of April, the weather was still disgusting, the fields were muddy, and we had Pony Club Easter Camp for three days.

Daisy the new pony had never been to PC grounds before (as winter rallies are indoors) so we took her over the week before where she behaved like a fire breathing mini dragon as there was a pony being lunged in the (hidden by trees) lunging area. However after that ceased, she was a good pony again and we rode in all the different arenas and XC in preparation for camp.

The weather wasn't great (rain day 1 am, dry day 2, day 3 rain so bad we moved to local indoor) but in terms of enjoyment it was a fantastic day, and DS gained immeasurably in confidence, and pony didn't put a foot wrong.

On the last day he jumped a fab SJ clear in a very spooky huge outdoor arena, and then the instructor gave all the parents heart failure and having a 'high jump' competition where they all jumped 90 cm - WOW

Since then we have had ups and downs....

Ups have been a lovely forest ride where they jumped ditches, logs and water, an indoor SJ competition where he got placed twice against the clock, and some great jump sessions at home (hubby built a fab brush fence last week)...

Downs have been a couple of PC rallies, where for some unknown reason Daisy wasn't very well behaved (refusal and not cantering into the rain, where he fell off...)

We finished the month with a busy weekend....

Sat - PC XC rally
Sun - PC Tetrathlon

F did the first 20 min of the XC rally, and decided D was too strong and he was scared, so got off...

However this seemed an awful shame, so I got my hat, and had an excellent time for the next half hour, proving that she was a fab XC pony and jumping all the 60cm XC fences.

Early start for Tetrathlon (our first) but DS had a bad beanbag throw (though its a bit of a lottery event), a fab swim of 2 whole lengths, and brilliant run, and only one stop in a really spooky jumping course (lots of flower pots, brush under fences etc). However they deducted 500 points from the poor pet because I called 'kick on ......' as he came past me and this was deemed outside assistance :( :( Still he was happy with his day, and got to ride on the beach too...

And....................

Me and Fionn the flying connie :) :)

We had a series of gridwork lessons in March with an instructor so local that we could hack to our lesson which was amazing...

Gridwork always gives me loads of confidence as no worries about strides etc, so we both enjoyed this immensely.

Next up was the weekend after PC camp where I decided Fionn and I deserved an outing and we went to an all weather XC venue (Wheels and equi will know where I mean) where was had a fab session, and jumped loads, with only two stops ( the very first fence a tiny SJ, and a very scary ditch with white edges).

Then we had a few more jumping/gridwork sessions, the forest ride where he was super, and finally XC on Saturday past.

He jumped all the 60cm fences in the hilly field without even looking at them, cantered up and down some very steep hills, and ended up on the beach, or rather in the sea, right up to his belly and loving it, not bad for his first beach visit, and for a pony from the land locked Irish midlands....

I'm planning to add my pics to this thread soon of my FB, but first I have to confirm it and fiddle with my phone, so pics to follow in the next 1/2 hr, or if not I'll add them as a reply.

*****FB won't let me open pics full screen, so looks like pics might have to wait until I get home tonight :(

Aims for the next month or so...

Me and Fionn - jump cross this weekend, and some county show connie classes in June.

DS and Daisy - indoor SJ this Friday, and some more PC rallies, with some M&M First Ridden classes once the shows start next month.. We hopefully have an older rider to take her into some M&M WH classes too :)

Thanks for reading...

Fiona
 
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Wow, busy busy! Sounds like loads of good experiences under the belt even with the few whoopsies. Can't wait to see pony pics!
 
Flipping fb won't let me open them full screen to copy them across, so I'm off to set up an imgur account.....

Back soon..

Fiona
 
On the beach after tetrathlon - as a test....

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Jumping at tetrathlon

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Riding at the xc rally (before he decided he didn't want to....)

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Jumping WH fence at Camp

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First day at Camp

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Happy boy..

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Fiona
 
And now for my gorgeous boy :)

Tiny first jump XC schooling

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Wow - jumping into water...

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More XC

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Scary ditch - we needed a lead...

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XC on Saturday past....

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And enjoying the beach

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Fiona
 
Wow, busy busy! Sounds like loads of good experiences under the belt even with the few whoopsies. Can't wait to see pony pics!

Pony pics all up now... I needed to use the laptop :(

Daisy pony may need a stronger bit in the open, will have to try a few :)

Fiona
 
Your ponies are gorgeous! And the pics of your son and his pony are adorable. I hope he gains his confidence in the open soon, although it looks like they're doing fantastically well and it's better that he says 'no' than gives himself a scare. I'm sure they'll be flying around xc (and terrifying you ;) ) in no time!
 
Your ponies are gorgeous! And the pics of your son and his pony are adorable. I hope he gains his confidence in the open soon, although it looks like they're doing fantastically well and it's better that he says 'no' than gives himself a scare. I'm sure they'll be flying around xc (and terrifying you ;) ) in no time!

Thanks jiffy.....

The day after he said no to the xc rally, he warmed up in a massive field for his Tetrathlon before trotting on the beach, so I think he's ok in the open per se, just on his own rather than in a ride. Hope so anyway.

I've a wee hanging cheek and a wilkie on stand by if I need a slightly stronger bit too....

Fiona
 
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