What happens after a bunfight? A proper HHO pony...

Lolo

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2008
Messages
10,267
Visit site
So a year ago, there was a mega bunfight in here. And as I idly clicked through I saw the cause of it all was a pretty little grey, who had triggered a different argument merely 3 years earlier...

So Smokey was introduced to HHO by bexcy_bee June 2011. He looked like this...

smokey.jpg


And a lot of very sensible people said he looked a bit like a donkey and to avoid like the plague. So obviously she tried him, he tried to rodeo her off and he went home with her fairly shortly afterwards. Lucky pony landed firmly on his feet!

And then last year, June 2013, bexcy_bee sadly advertised him after doing amazing work to turn him into a confident, happy little horse. And by sheer luck of me clicking on a mega thread about him, Al saw him, fell head over heels and he came home a week later!

1044506_10202973122196124_1781499937_n.jpg


And now he's been with us a year, and he could not be more lovely. He is becoming a proper eventing pony, he LOVES working hard and going out to 'parties' and he is still a confident and cheerful soul who settles in anywhere as long as he can have a nap and some food! He's stayed at a 4* eventers yard as a WP (with Al), he's produced 3 double clears on sub-40 dressage at 90cm ODEs and everyone who has met him has stuffed him with compliments...

10371462_10204382701634729_5690423095124444906_n.jpg


And some photos of the most awesome event pony ever in action from this weekend (report in Comp Riders if anyone is interested!)

10489972_10204372761986244_5431688160259753161_n.jpg

10511204_10204372755426080_3746169505844746761_n.jpg

(he is slightly overbent, but he's still doing lots of long and low and stretchy stuff and his self carriage is slowly coming from that- Al's instructors are very pleased with how he is working, and so is she)

10492495_10204372780986719_5539397573506191998_n.jpg

10494758_10204372787986894_7901954188150155216_n.jpg

10492203_10204372805267326_5367669337233709139_n.jpg

(we think he finds 90cm a bit big...)

10518652_10204372826787864_3653785576950231950_n.jpg

10516625_10204372832107997_40442284597327809_n.jpg

1902888_10204372827547883_7497834462724453943_n.jpg


I thought you might all enjoy a Smokes update!
 

RubysGold

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 December 2006
Messages
6,775
Location
Yorkshire
Visit site
I remember the day the thread came up where she tried him and bought him. There were a lot of opinions flying round about it.
Hes looking super now :D
 

Lolo

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2008
Messages
10,267
Visit site
Sometimes, all the HHO experts can be wrong... :)

In fairness to them, he does look like a donkey in the first photos- he's not even pretty, bless him!

He looks amazing. BB and Al have done an amazing job turning this little chap around. I remember the original thread and video, but I don't remember him being so dark! :) x

Wish he was still so dark- he's impossible to take photos of (for useless me!) because parts of him are bright white and other are dark so he's either too dark or over exposed in all my photos! They really have, he was a proper 'fingers crossed' pony!

I remember the day the thread came up where she tried him and bought him. There were a lot of opinions flying round about it.
Hes looking super now :D

Lots! Thank you :) He's changed rather a lot. I always wonder what went through the people's heads who let him get like that. He is such a sweet and gentle little horse, the idea that anyone could neglect him and not be very nice to him is so upsetting :( Testament to what a darling he is that he is so confident and cheerful!
 

Lolo

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2008
Messages
10,267
Visit site
Well I always thought he was lush , I love being right .

:D He has also always thought he's lush, nice for him that people agree now!

I feel like it rings a bell, he's not that one that was local to me is he (Cambridge)?

We're quite local to you (Norfolk, but compete over Cambridge way a fair bit with Ely and Isleham), but I'm not sure where b_b got him from, but she wasn't local to Cambs while she had him...
 

BlairandAzria

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 November 2010
Messages
2,807
Visit site
Ah I remember bex's thread about the little grey, didn't realise he and the lovely smokes are one and the same!! Brilliant pony!
 

Lolo

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2008
Messages
10,267
Visit site
He is lovely x

He agrees he is! It's an ongoing joke that he truly believes in his own perfection- not aided by everyone he meets telling him he's clever/ brave/ talented... He's a darling and we love him to bits :)

Good for you and good for her.........shows you need to follow you own gut sometimes, He looks super!

He's a proper ugly duckling come good- he really landed on his feet with b_b and we were so lucky to be able to continue his journey!

Lovely thread, surprising what time and TLC with a competent person can produce.

Thank you :)
 

Elsiecat

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 July 2012
Messages
3,975
Visit site
How don't I remember this thread!? Link required!?

Lovely lovely horsey. I am more than slightly jealous!
 

Lolo

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2008
Messages
10,267
Visit site
How don't I remember this thread!? Link required!?

Lovely lovely horsey. I am more than slightly jealous!

Umm, the original thread is here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?462822-Opinions-on-this-horse

(he won't event... He would have won on Sunday in a massive class with some ex-FEI ponies if fence 9 in the SJ hadn't scared the pants off him!)

And the second one kicked off enough that it was pulled.

We're very proud of him, he's been through it a bit poor boy and so the fact he's still such a nice character who loves people really shows off how special he is :)
 
Last edited:

*Whinney*

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 June 2014
Messages
159
Location
West Somerset
Visit site
He has a great story, well done to all involved and good luck for the future. Having watched the video in the original thread with BB riding, and also having seen the Reg video montage you posted last week, I think the riding style of the two young ladies is very similar and Smokey obviously thrives on it.
 

mandwhy

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 July 2008
Messages
4,589
Location
Cambridge, UK
Visit site
Ah, yes, that's the one I was thinking of... I love how it is so infamous it is known by name!

I do remember the thread though and I remember thinking what a nice kind rider on the videos :)
 

Sussexbythesea

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 July 2009
Messages
7,763
Visit site
A really lovely story :) . I remember watching the Bexcy_bee video at the time and thinking what a lovely rider she was and how relaxed and unfazed she was over his shenanigans. I had no idea he was the Smokes of today.

Just goes to show how in the right hands a horse can really develop into a star and it could have been so different if he hadn't been found by BB and your sister :)
 

Echo24

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 August 2006
Messages
1,330
Location
Kent
Visit site
Very pleased for you. I saw a lovely dun connie mare but my instructor was adamant she wasn't sound, that she would underweight and take too long to bulk up, that she was spooky and too fine so I followed my head over my heart. A year later I saw the same pony being advertised but what a transformation under someone experienced. Sometimes I think you need to follow your gut instincts and it sounds like you did the right thing with Smokey!
 
Top