Run down of the ponies we currently have, so pleased to have gotten down from 6 to 3 but then we went back up to 4 again, oh well thats life.
Bit of a run down on our ponies:
Cheeky which is/was Shannons pony is a 14.2hh approx QuarterhorseXTB mare, she's a solid paint which we purchased for Shannon to do pc and low level dressage/eventing. Shannons a very nervous rider and Cheeky suited her down to the ground as she just doesn't get stressed. Unfortunatley a year and a half into owning Cheeky Shannon has shot up and has had to move onto a 16.2hh horse and due to this we've had to put Cheeky up for sale. Other than an issue with a back problem due to an ill fitting saddle Cheeky has been a dream to own, so will be sad when we eventually part with her, but I know she'll make someone else very happy.
JimJim aka Jimmy the Tulip aka Black Knight is a 16.2hh 13yr old TB gelding that we have on lease from Amy Wilson. JimJim was recommended by friends and Dy who was Shannon's old PC instructor and happens to be Amy's mum, the wise woman! We've got JimJim on lease to see how it all works out before purchasing him as its a big step up for her to go from Cheeky to a full sized hack and Shannon being a nervous rider as it is, we werent' sure how it was all going to go. We understand JimJim has evented, hunted and generally been out and about. Shannons first ride on JimJim was at Dy's and Amy's place and she had a blast with Dy yelling instructions at her, she was jumping (and Shannon hardly ever jumps) within the hour. Next outing was a XC training day held at Ricc/Fen. JimJim behaved perfectly and Shannon was beaming from ear to ear, I however wasn't feeling quite so well, nervous mother syndrome! Petra (Amy's sister) even managed to show Shannon that you can fall off and still laugh about it - GO PETRA! We then got JimJim delivered to home and Shannons next outing was to PC for a Derby Day, this was her first ever time doing a XC course in a big open field on her own. JimJim behaved like the gentleman he is and just ambled along. They managed to score themselves a red ribbon and a silver platter for their efforts that day. The two of them are already firm friends with JimJim refusing to be led up the float by me, but following Shannon up no problems at all.
Ratbag or Short Circuit is 16.2hh has just turned 5 and raced under the name Lepalderat. I purchased Rat off my friend Kaz in late 2006. He's not had a lot of work as Kaz hadn't had him long when I purchased him and even though she'd done a great job to feeding him up, he was still a little weak and has taken some time to really fill out and look like a horse. In 2007 I took Rat out and did a green horse show and a green horse dressage day, he was amazingly behaved at these days, never putting a foot wrong. Due to Dad's illness and subsequent death in 08 we ended up spelling the horses for almost a year, so our next outing wasn't till mid 08 where we chose another green horse show to be our first outing, unfortunately while we were warming up outside the ring he got a fright at a horse galloping up behind and this wasn't helpped by his paddock mate loosing the plot as well. However, I did learn two things, I can bounce and my well behaved boy can buck :) I did manage to get back on and completed 3 of the 7 classes I had entered, however I had managed to injure myself and found my hip must have taken a bashing when I landed. In the classes we presented ourselves for we managed to get a last in best presented, mmm might have been the mud all over the saddle and the side of the horse where he fell over when he took off after we parted company. We got a 4th in best walking and a 3rd in best trotting. Unfortunately my nerves were shattered with horses going everywhere, I think in those 3 classes there were 4 people come off! I called it a day and was just pleased that other than getting a little nervous with the horses playing up in the ring, he managed to hold it together. Spring of 08 is when this boy is really going to start getting some decent work in the hope of having him ready for the next winter dressage series. He's now filled out and starting to get to know what his job is and whats expected of him. So come summer, well be heading on out for as much exposure as possible.
George or Killarney Star is my little old man, he's around 15.1-15.2hh and is 12 or 13 years old. He was raced under the name of Six Pack and is by Varikos. George was purchased from Rebecca Peter's as my old Intermediate Eventer was put down and I didn't have the money or time to really replace him. So for the first 3-4 years of having George we plodded around the paddock and had the occasional ride around the road. It was only about 2-3 years ago I got the itch to do something more, so George started jumping. He loved it, and even though by nature he's very stubborn this never comes out on the course, he might decide he's going straight while I'm trying to get him round a hill, but the minute he see's those flags he's off, funniest thing to ride, he literrally doesn't need me there at all! He's not so keen on dressage, think its a tad to boring for him, but saying that his scores have improved greatly so theres hope for the future. We've also done a Vaughan Jeffries course, which was in June this year, was so much fun, will certainly look at doing more of these and when I can afford them.
