Pony Room

Pony Girl, like any self respecting pony obsessed little girl, has a thing for all toys pony.  She is lucky enough to have her very own Pony Room tucked away on the third floor to store 75% of her pony toys.  She doesn't have to clean it and can put whatever posters she wants on it.  I thought I would share a glimpse into her fantasy life.

For Christmas this year, PG asked for odd things.  She had your typical Pony Roy@le and My Little P on the list, but she also had random pirate ships and castles on the list.  She kept telling me "I want this, but I am going to take out all of the pirates and use it as a horse ship".  Crazy PG.   

This is Leg0 corner.  

And the warm up arena.

The trail riding mountains.

A barn on the hill.

A few more barns.

What all the walls are plastered with...

The top of the pony rescue center.

She has a blast up here and we will likely move all of her new pony toys into this room.

Pony love

Pony Christmas post coming soon!

G Pony

The past two lessons we have been trying out a new pony named G Whiz.  Whizzy is a Medium Pony and is small enough for PG to be able to manage everything by  herself.  He is much more athletic, trots and canters very fast and takes his jumps BIG.

In essence...he is a true pony.  Along with being a true pony comes true naughtiness.  G Whiz has already put himself on Santa's naughty list once and is working hard not to do it again!  Ponies are headstrong, temperamental and try to bully you over.  The first time on Whiz and he spooked, jumped up and down bucking until PG finally fell off.  That marks fall #8 for PG.  My heart no longer jumps out of my throat and I am now able to remain calm without entering the arena.  After a few tears (and catching naughty Whiz after he full out galloped two loops of the arena) PG climbed back on and got to work.

This pony can teach her a lot - how to maintain control on the ground, how to perfect diagonals, build endurance and get the feel of a true pony who has more arch in his jump and step.  

So far, these two are having a blast!

Equis Vino

Living with a Pony Girl means the whole family has to get into horses.  I often find myself looking for horse themed wine to purchase and to show PG the label (and to enjoy myself).  Here are a few of my favorite Equis Vinos.

And who doesn't enjoy a good glass of wine ;)  I will keep adding to these as I find them!

This one is a favorite of mine and I always have a few bottles of it.

And this one has to be the best bottle!!!

Pony drawing

Not bad!

Oh Pony!

Where are we since November goal setting?  Making progress....but not fully in control of all factors.  Our plan with the Breezey girl is solid and both PG and Breeze are doing great (cantering full courses). 

But there is a wrinkle.  Since we, nor our trainer, own Breeze (the barn owns her) other people ride her from time to time.  Last weekend, a 300 lb man hopped on her for a trial ride (I was a wreck all weekend with worry for her).  While she is a nice, sturdy Quarter Horse, she is still size wise a pony.

See....Breeze has had a harder life in her short 8 years.  She has been a lesson pony, been ridden wrong by adults and has not had any consistent love.  So when she gets a blast from the past ride her wrong...she backslides.  You can even see it in the way she interacts with humans - its not the same love filled snuggling interaction you get out of our trainer's horses who know that people are to be trusted and are leaders.

For us - that means 20 minutes of our lesson is spent trying to correct her bad behavior and re-establish trust after someone else rides her.  Once she gets going and realizes it is PG on her (whom she loves) all is well.  It is frustrating though for PG and she has to be strong in riding through it (she handles her through some kicking, wriggling around and wanting to face into the wall).  I am proud of how PG handles her with no fear....but it is frustrating.  Not exactly what you want out of a performance animal working towards goals.

I, however, am pretty attached to the Breeze girl.  Her and PG have much in common and are in many ways kindred souls.  She is also showing much more promise than we ever thought....PG's trainer even got a lead change on her which is great!!

We are going to weigh our options though.  Tomorrow, Gee Whiz comes back and is actually a much nicer size for PG (a Medium instead of a Large).  PG LOVES Gee Whiz also b/c he is more comfortable to ride (size) but has a bouncier jump and canter.

Time will tell....we just love all of these ponies. Sigh - if money weren't an issue.

Hopping a vertical

Warming up

Really moving!

Love this cantering close up

The Gate - to date still the biggest jump PG has done

Hopping boxes like a pro - and to think PG used to be scared of these boxes!

Bye-bye!!

Cool OPI ad

Horsey thanksgiving!

Loving her hunter dress this thanksgiving! So thankful for this girl!

This is bob the turkey. We disguised him as a pony so he wouldn't be eaten for dinner! Real mane, tail and leg clippings used!

Why I love riding...

• It provides confidence in ways other sports can't.  Watching your 5 yo control a 900 lb animal over jumps and around the ring is truly awe inspiring.  Watching her learn how to navigate the arena around other horses with a pony that likes to bite other horses is an act of motherly bravery.

• It provides a sense of teamwork between animal and human.

• It develops cognitive abilities and problem solving skills.  Learning a course is one thing.  Figuring out how to position your animal to go to each jump and supporting it through the jump takes some planning.

• It develops responsibility.  Riding isn't all fun and games. With work comes reward.  PG has to groom, tack and cool down her horse.  She also now has to clean her tack after each and every ride (saddle, girth and bridle).  Horse care is also very important.  There is nothing I love more than watching her independently put away a 1300 lb horse!

• It enhances trust skills.  Riding is a true team sport.  PG has to trust her pony and her pony has to trust her. If either are off....it just doesn't work.  And the pony always knows what kind of day you are having.   Ponies/horses are herd animals and survive by being highly attuned to the emotional state of those around them.

• Passion! It is fun to nurture your child's passion!!  Many kids at this age don't have a "Thing" that is all theirs.  I am so grateful PG does.

• It is fun bonding for mother and daughter!  What is more fun than hanging with your kid, helping them tack and them watching them ride.  Not to mention all of the fun trips to horse shows to hang out.

• It tends to eliminate tween-age drama!  Boy troubles?  Friends being mean?  Go tell it to your horse and hang at the barn where no one will judge and every horse accepts you! (at least this is all what I hope will happen!)

• Nostalgia.  What little girl hasn't experienced the desire to be around horses.  I get to relive mine while fulfilling my daughters!

And I am sure there is much much more I have yet to learn that will engage and develop PG!

Setting Goals

PG has been with her current trainer for six months now.  Her trainer is amazing....a rated judge and professional rider. We upped her lessons to twice a week about 5 months ago and have been moving along ever since. We are at the point now where we are making some goals.  If you ask PG, her goal is to ride in the olympics! ha!

Our current goal is to enter the Short Stirrup division (1.6 - 2.0 feet) this winter.  PG is now cantering small jumps (pyramids) and can navigate courses that require gate changes at defined points on the course (alternating trot/canter).  We think we will be ready in the next month or two.

It is PG's pony we are unsure of.  PG currently doesn't own her own pony, but we have the privilege of being the only rider of Breeze (without the lease fee!).  Breeze is an 8 yo mare who hasn't been treated properly in the past, but really seems to enjoy her new job with PG.  She trusts PG.  Her downfall is that she can be a bit sour and has some arena etiquette to work on (she likes to bite horses that come too close).

So this week we are starting a one month trial.  Breeze will go on a supplement (Myo Guard) and will go through Pony Boot camp with our trainer (PG's trainer will ride her twice a week with the intent of sharpening her brain and teaching her how to jump properly and get her into better shape).  After this month we will see where we are.

Short stirrup here we come!!!

First vertical jump a few months ago

First Show Experience

PG's first show experience was when she was 4yo in 2011.  She had been working on her diagnols and we went to a schooling show for a Walk, Trot Leadline division.  It was her first taste if being in the big ring for all to watch and she ate it up!

The show conflicted with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge but she opted to stay home just to show.  We waited about 3 hours for a 90 second excursion in the arena, but she loved it and brought home a second place ribbon.

This was a great test to see how she would handle the stress of a show and she dug it.  Shortly there after we said Goodbye to the Saddleseat world (reason for another post) and entered the world of Hunter/ Jumpers.

Should have known...

The first warning sign came at 19 months old.

How did we get here?

It all started rather innocently.  Just one quick ride at the barn across the street from my in-laws.  A way to kill an  hour or so before dinner.  Pony Girl was 3 years old and I didn't even know what kind of riding the barn did (it was Saddleseat).

It was one of those moments you could see happening...even though there was nothing visual to see.  A girl falling in love with the idea of horses.  And the freedom and wonder they bring.

20 minutes into the ride the horse ( a nice bombproof Morgan mare) spooked and Pony Girl went flying, got tangled in the stirrup and would have been drug had she not been all of 39 inches tall.  The mysterious draw of the horse got her right back on.....and the rest has been history.  Five falls and many spooks later, we are still going strong. With big dreams to fulfil.