Took daft Section D mare to hunter trial....

[greenfairy]

;D

I've told you about the mare we've been given.
We've been quielty hacking her out & about & she's coming on no end. She seems to thrive on regular 'work'.

Anyway, out hacking she's proved to be very a very brave jumper, so we thought we'd try a local hunter trial yesterday.

She was a star!

We quietly lunged her away from all the action & she was so calm, just quietly taking everything in that was going on around her.

Anyhow, she jumped clear (2'6 - 2'9")!

But the best thing was her general attitude & behaviour. She was fantastic! ;D

[BeTheBest]

Brilliant, well done both of you

[Roselea]

I don't know all the story but from what I can gather that is fantastic!!!!!

[greenfairy]

All the credit goes to my daughter!

Rose, basically we have been given a mare , by a friend, as my daughter is the only person she could think of with the guts to ride/ bring on this mare. She's 10 & has been with the same owner since a foal. She was broken/brought on & was doing well. Then her owner had a baby ( when pony was 4) & took time off pony's education at that crucial 4/5 year old stage.
Being a sec D she's sharp & full of attitude, but also very, very sweet to handle.

She started to get bolshy under saddle & of course having a young family, her owner really lost her nerve. So as a consequence, the mare started to get the better of the situation .

Anyway, long story short, she's spent the last 5 or 6 years not doing much, & being bloody minded when ridden.

My daughter is pretty much fearless, but at the same time fair & has been the only one not at the mare's ( & our's) old yard. So she was offered her on a keep/sell ( when sorted) / do what we like basis!

We've been out hacking, done a bit of schooling ( no pressure) etc etc. She seems to be thriving on regular work & the fact that my daughter will stick with it when she prats about is doing her good. She still objects/ evades by barging backwards but hasn't reared for a few weeks now.

We took her to the WPCS show in Newbury a few weeks ago, to do an inhand class: we took her for the outing & she was really good, taking it all in her stride.

She went hunting when we first got her but was a bit bargy so she came home before an accident (kick) occured. We'll take her again next season if we still have her.

So, yesterday, she went XC & my daughter & I were thrilled with the whole day. She was as good as gold, but my daughter said she had to RIDE every step of the way, but the mare never once thought of stopping at a jump.

If we can sort out the barging issues, she's going to make an excellent pony!

[Teeni]

Am i right in guessing that you went to Pinkmead Hunter trials yesterday as you are in Hampshire??

Well done

[greenfairy]

Yes that was the one. Were you there? My daughter was in class 2 , wearing blue/dark blue stripes on a bay 14.2. She wanted to do the open, which the mare could well have jumped, but as it was her first time out, we kept to the smaller class.

How did you get on?

[Teeni]

A few people from our yard went we are only a 2minute walk from there and part of Pinkmead Livery yard across the road. I did not compete yesterday but was there with Aceofspades as she took her 3yo there to get used to the atmosphere of shows before actually doing one themselves. Another girl from our yard did the Novice Pairs, got over the 2nd jump and her stirrup leather broke, they continued and came 5th (every year till now they have won the pairs)

Was a lovely day, saw losts of people i knew including my old loan horse which was nice

[greenfairy]

Oh I saw someone had snapped their leather! They did well to do so well!

[Roselea]

That really is fantastic then Greenfairy, I know just what section D's can be like! I do my best to avoid them, I'm only little and they all think I'm fair game LOL
I wish you all the best with the mare, maybe one day I'll see you up at PUK!

[Teeni]

Greenfairy, did you see 3 people legging it over to them after the second jump, lol one of them was me he he he.