spookypony
Well-Known Member
Had a very long day yesterday---probably explains why it's nearly 1:30 and I haven't managed to get properly moving yet!
6:00 am start, to drive about an hour to go do my Riding and Road Safety test. 7 candidates, all adults, all freaking out because how embarrassing would it be to fail on a 10-question multiple-choice test that 12-year-olds pass on a regular basis? Much reviewing of kite marks and stopping distances took place. I grumbled that if I want a hat, I go into the saddlery and ask for a Ventair size 6 3/4, so what do I need to know the bl**ding kite marks for?
Everybody passed that bit.
On to the simulated: two of us formed "Team Teddy", assigned to a very sweet but very clueless, rather, er, corpulent 5yo cob. We were a touch worried because he spooks at riding crops, and they want you to carry one to back up your right leg if needed (would help if Teddy had a clue what leg aids mean...
). I suggested that there should be Best Turned Out prize, but wasn't taken up on that.
He was very good in the simulated (trick was to convince him not just to trample calmly over everything in his path in his chilled-out way).
Everybody passed that bit too!
On to the road test, after a few admonishments. Here, "Team Teddy" hit a rather large snag: Teddy refused to load into the trailer. Since there wasn't really time to faff about, it was decided that we should join into a Poppy partnership instead: a rather pretty coloured mare.
The village that was the site of the test oddly turned into a high-traffic zone for the hour or so that it took for everyone to finish. Lots of amused pedestrians were watching our antics, too! Poppy decided to spook at lots of flower pots with her first rider, and then didn't want to keep going when another rider passed her going the opposite way.
I took note, and set off at an energetic trot. A sticky moment when crossing the main road: a lady with a huge line of cars behind her apparently didn't realise it was her right of way, and was waiting for me to cross. Some waving and smiling and questioning looks later, I did. Thought that might fail me (it was her right of way, after all), but apparently, the examiners thought I handled it well. Phew!
Lots of nervous cranking by everybody in the car on the way back, turned to smiles when we were told that everybody had passed.
I drove back, had time to eat lunch, and then went to go school the Spooky Pony. What should have been a simple operation (taking him out of the pony jail) turned into a long complicated one, when the very strong Welsh D he is sharing with, barged past me out of the paddock. Fortunately, there's another gate at the top of the lane! It took 4 people to finally get him back in the paddock.
Meanwhile, the Spooky Pony had been taking chuncks out of his "red square thing" (the mineral lick). I still had SJ in the evening, and time was a-ticking, so I rode over to the riding school and schooled for 1/2 hour while the 60cm was taking place. I love my pony!
We had a bit of a breakthrough in Friday's lesson, and what usually takes nearly an hour (getting him to work at least sort-of-properly into a contact) took about 5 minutes instead, and he spent most of the time trotting rather nicely, with only downward transitions really causing problems. I thought he might be a bit unlevel again on the right rein towards the end, so I left it at a good moment, and went to warm up the school horse. Still
.
Warm-up was a big argument: I rode the same horse as last month, a confidence giver over jumps, who is incredibly lazy on the flat. After she discovered that her favourite novice-rider trick---going to stand in a corner with her ears back and refusing to budge---wasn't going to fly with me, she kicked the wall in frustration (shuddering the whole building, I might add, since she's a heavy 17.1), and got her posterior in gear. A low gear.
Feeling a bit gloomy, I went into the 75cm, and she jumped a clear round, but with the absolute minimum of effort required. The jump-off was really, really bizarre (the organiser was feeling mischievous, and wanted some entertainment, she said
). We finally got moving, and I was actually happy with the turns we were able to do. Still, there were lots of ponies in the class (need I say more?), and we came 7th in the end.
Next was the 1m. My 18-wheeler of a lorry of a mare had been chipping in an extra stride in the final double, so I was thinking mostly about improving that. She gave me a much better round. The jump-off was less bizarre this time, but---
---she refused the first! I think my line was maybe a little too extreme, and I was getting complacent...anyway, turned her around and managed a decent round, with the 4 faults. 3rd in the end of 3 in the jump-off, but still pretty happy, because the 1m looked a lot smaller already to me than it did a month ago.
Then had to hack the pony home. I hadn't counted on it being quite so late, and didn't really have enough hi-viz on. For shame! Only the same day as passing the Riding and Road Safety test!
Fortunately, most of the way is through the forest.
Finally got home at 11pm, and woke up very late this morning, feeling decidedly creaky.
6:00 am start, to drive about an hour to go do my Riding and Road Safety test. 7 candidates, all adults, all freaking out because how embarrassing would it be to fail on a 10-question multiple-choice test that 12-year-olds pass on a regular basis? Much reviewing of kite marks and stopping distances took place. I grumbled that if I want a hat, I go into the saddlery and ask for a Ventair size 6 3/4, so what do I need to know the bl**ding kite marks for?
Everybody passed that bit.
On to the simulated: two of us formed "Team Teddy", assigned to a very sweet but very clueless, rather, er, corpulent 5yo cob. We were a touch worried because he spooks at riding crops, and they want you to carry one to back up your right leg if needed (would help if Teddy had a clue what leg aids mean...
Everybody passed that bit too!
On to the road test, after a few admonishments. Here, "Team Teddy" hit a rather large snag: Teddy refused to load into the trailer. Since there wasn't really time to faff about, it was decided that we should join into a Poppy partnership instead: a rather pretty coloured mare.
The village that was the site of the test oddly turned into a high-traffic zone for the hour or so that it took for everyone to finish. Lots of amused pedestrians were watching our antics, too! Poppy decided to spook at lots of flower pots with her first rider, and then didn't want to keep going when another rider passed her going the opposite way.
I took note, and set off at an energetic trot. A sticky moment when crossing the main road: a lady with a huge line of cars behind her apparently didn't realise it was her right of way, and was waiting for me to cross. Some waving and smiling and questioning looks later, I did. Thought that might fail me (it was her right of way, after all), but apparently, the examiners thought I handled it well. Phew!
Lots of nervous cranking by everybody in the car on the way back, turned to smiles when we were told that everybody had passed.
I drove back, had time to eat lunch, and then went to go school the Spooky Pony. What should have been a simple operation (taking him out of the pony jail) turned into a long complicated one, when the very strong Welsh D he is sharing with, barged past me out of the paddock. Fortunately, there's another gate at the top of the lane! It took 4 people to finally get him back in the paddock.
Meanwhile, the Spooky Pony had been taking chuncks out of his "red square thing" (the mineral lick). I still had SJ in the evening, and time was a-ticking, so I rode over to the riding school and schooled for 1/2 hour while the 60cm was taking place. I love my pony!
Warm-up was a big argument: I rode the same horse as last month, a confidence giver over jumps, who is incredibly lazy on the flat. After she discovered that her favourite novice-rider trick---going to stand in a corner with her ears back and refusing to budge---wasn't going to fly with me, she kicked the wall in frustration (shuddering the whole building, I might add, since she's a heavy 17.1), and got her posterior in gear. A low gear.
Feeling a bit gloomy, I went into the 75cm, and she jumped a clear round, but with the absolute minimum of effort required. The jump-off was really, really bizarre (the organiser was feeling mischievous, and wanted some entertainment, she said
Next was the 1m. My 18-wheeler of a lorry of a mare had been chipping in an extra stride in the final double, so I was thinking mostly about improving that. She gave me a much better round. The jump-off was less bizarre this time, but---
Then had to hack the pony home. I hadn't counted on it being quite so late, and didn't really have enough hi-viz on. For shame! Only the same day as passing the Riding and Road Safety test!
Finally got home at 11pm, and woke up very late this morning, feeling decidedly creaky.
