Recently, we have seen a couple of new equines join us at the yard. Bunty, a beautiful white grey Arab x Connemara, has been here a little while. She has settled in well and her stable is next door to Diva’s. The contrast between the two is stunning. All Bunty would need is a horn to make her into a true unicorn!
The second new arrival is a pony for Erin to ride. Searching for the right pony was tough. With a child it is so important to get it right. Hopefully, with Pebbles, a bay roan 12hh mare, we have found the right one.
Although only seven years old, Erin does as much by herself with Pebbles and Tilly as she can. Pebbles lived in at night for the first 10 days or so and went out in a small paddock, so we could get to know her and for her to know us too.
Erin was keen to ride her so, on the day after Pebbles’ arrival, we tacked her up and, after a little lunge to check out her temperament, Erin got on.
It was lovely to see Erin riding her new pony in the school. We started off with her on the lead rein and then progressed to the lunge line with a little bit of off lead to end on.
In the two weeks since Pebbles’ arrival, their partnership has gone from strength to strength with Erin happily off lead and doing trotting poles, and she has even had a little canter!
I think they will have a great future together, and we will find some shows that include ridden lead rein classes and then progress onto first ridden. They both love poles and jumping, so we will look out for some lead rein working hunter classes too.
Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.