We've Moved!

Our Blog has moved!

Please visit us at....

ponygroom.wordpress.com

The new blog is called "The Pony Project"

The blog is still about Molly and her pony but things have changed!

1. Molly now has a new pony Delilah (until recently I was calling her "Delightless").

2. We are at a new barn with a new trainer

3. Molly has moved up to the Short Stirrups (although her stirrups get longer every day!)

We're Moving!

No, we are not physically moving, but I am going to move the blog to another host AND update the name. Since Molly has moved beyond the mini stirrups, the blog was really not relevant any longer.

Once I set up the new account, I will make a final post with the new name and location.

Hey There Delilah

Molly has had a pony on trial for almost 2 weeks now. We are vetting her tomorrow so hopefully all will work out. She is very sweet and kind. I have a feeling she may have been "manhandled" at some point in her past as she can be a little "wary" of things. However, she is great with the kids and wants to trust the rest of us. She has been nothing but polite and well mannered since we have had her.

She was a bit of a spook the first day at the barn. Add to a new place, crappy weather and no turn out and I think she was just out of sorts. Molly did ride her both on her own and in some lessons and she was very safe and not at all naughty. Because the kids were home for spring break all week we really had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with this pony. Miss Delilah (that's what I was told her name was but who knows) did jump all of the jumps in our ring, although sometimes she needed to have a look first. That gave me cause for concern because I am really expecting to find something that will just jump around cold and not care. Poor Molly was riding with a HUGE audience - everyone at the barn wanted to see the new pony so I am sure Molly had some butterflies about having to "perform". Once she got a look at everything Delilah did march right up to all of the jumps and did her lead changes when asked. She never once got quick. Okay, maybe we can work with this.

The next day was a much nicer day. The weather of the previous day could not decide what it wanted to do - for 10 minutes it was nice and sunny, then it would turn grey and windy and snow flurry for 10 minutes. So, the pony and Molly were having to deal with the weather fluctuating between April and February for 10 minute intervals. This day I had higher expectations for several reasons - pony had finally gotten some turnout, Molly was feeling more comfortable with her, and it was a nice, warm sunny day. Here is what we got...

We decided to take her to a big A show the next day just to school. Even though she was cute enough in the lessons, I still wanted to see what she would do at a show - would she be unphased by the whole scene? Would she be up and excited? Would she be a total freak and scare Molly? Since Molly is looking to do some serious showing, it was important that we find this out ahead of time. As it turned out, she was none of the above really - she was "curious but unphased". Who would have thought that one? She seemed generally interested in everything that was going on, but as soon as Molly got on she seemed to go into "babysitter" mode and just packed Molly around (GOOD PONY). Molly rode her in the indoor which had schooling for 3 rings! The Children's Hunters, Pony jumpers and the Short/Mini stirrups. It was an interesting combination for sure. Delilah just did her thing and never looked at what anyone else was doing. We then took her outside to school in the ring with the short stirrup kids. This is really what I wanted to see. How would she be with the actual jumps. She did take a look at one, but Molly just sat and sent her forward and that was it. No issue and not another look. We were all really pleased that she seemed to know her job and just went to work. Even with all the ponies schooling is all different directions, she was cool, calm and collected. She even got all her lead changes.

We hung out for the rest of the day to watch the gal who runs the barn go. Delilah hung out on the van without a peep from her. She even ran out of hay and just looked out the window instead. She is a very sweet pony! SO tomorrow is the big day. I seriously doubt there will be any lameness issues - she has been very sound since we've had her. But, you just never know what may turn up. I am keeping my fingers crossed - we really like this one!

Oh Danny Boy

**NOTE** I wrote this post RIGHT after the show and saved in anticipating adding video - sorry, I'm just not going to get around to posting the video. Besides, it was only about 30 secs before the battery died!

Well, Danny had his first ever Dressage show on Sunday. The good news is that he is DEFINITELY a dressage horse. The bad news is that we need to develop a better prep plan because he was NOT the same horse at the show that he is at home. This is okay though - I just need to know that and be able to plan for it. The fact that he was clipped earlier this week and it was like 27 degrees when I got to the farm did not help things I'm sure!



We went for a lesson on Friday and he was out of the world fabulous. My trainer rode him for the first 1/2 of the lesson. I thought it would be good for her to feel what he does and good for him to get a really good school with correct aids. Lastly I thought it would be easier for me once she set him up. I was right on that plan on all counts. She was able to make him move like I have never seen him move before - I actually had chills at one point. It reaffirmed my thoughts that this is really his destiny. After a while of watching I was really getting antsy to get on. In my head I was thinking - ok, my turn...that's good can I try...come on come on me now , me now. She FINALLY gave him back to me and it was great. He was soft, supple and forward. It was so cool to get a connection and feel his back just springing along. I left feeling really prepared for our first show in 2 days.



I had been having second thoughts that maybe it was too soon - mayby we weren't really ready. If Danny was my own horse I wouldn't care so much, but I'm riding him for his owner. He is for sale and it is my responsibility to make sure he is prepared to be successful. So I had some reservations - was he REALLY ready? Did I choose the correct tests (T-2 and T-3)? Could I actually pull this off? You have to keep on mind - Danny is 8 - sometimes he has the attention span of a 4 year old. He was broken and only ridden by his owner for his whole life. All he really knows is how the huunters go. He had been turned out for a WHOLE YEAR until I started riding him in January. Basically, he has only been back in work for about 10 weeks and he is being asked to do things that he has never been asked to do before. So, not too much pressure right??

Tack Sale

The Somerset County 4H Association is holding its annual tack sale THIS WEEK...

Location: Somerset County 4H Center 310 Milltown Road Bridgewater, NJ

Sale Dates:
March 20th 6-10pm
March 21st 9-1pm

Anyone wishing to sell tack...

All items must be clean and in safe condition

Bring Items to 4H Center
Wed March 18th - 6-10pm
Thur March 19th 9-1pm

All items not sold must be picked up by 2pm pn March 21st
Consignment fee 20%

Additional Info 908-526-1510
732-469-6295 after 5pm

He's a Rock Star!

I mentioned in my first update that I have been given a great opportunity to ride a really nice horse for someone. This is really an unbelievable opportunity because Danny is a really nice horse and this isn't costing me anything other than lessons and showing expenses. AND, the lessons are with my dressage trainer, not someone picked by Danny's owner.



So here is the low down. Mr. D is an 8 yr old KWPN/TB cross from the Concord/Voltaire line. He is a nice big boy toppping out at 16.3 1/2, and a nice mover. He has a wonderful puppy-dog personality and is really very quiet. His problem? He does not like the jumps. In fact, he is convinced that they will eat him. SO....if the jumps will eat you, it makes it difficult to be a show hunter. The solution? Dressage. That's where I come in being the resident DQ at a all hunter/eq barn.



Danny's owner is a top level adult eq rider. She is consistently #1 in our zone and #3 in the country. She horse shows - A LOT - to keep this rank. When Danny decided he was no longer going to entertain her ideas of a hunter for him, she literally "turned him out" and put him at a farm on pasture board for the rest of the show season so she could concentrate on her eq horse. So there he sat, and sat, and sat. All the while eating lush grass and getting fat! The only problem is that Danny is a "people horse". He LOVES attention and LOVES people. While he had pasture buddies, he did not like being away from people. He would harass the poor farm owner at the pasture farm by standing over him as he tried to do fence maintenance, or follow him around when he was throwing hay. Mr. Farm owner felt threatened by this and sent Danny home from "camp" in December (stupid horse). There was now a perfectly nice horse to ride - that NEEDED to be ridden and to find a job - and me, a horseless rider.



D and I have been together now since the first week of January and things have been going well. He has good basics which makes things easy. AND, he generally like having a job and seems VERY happy with he career change. He's clueless sometimes, but a quick study and things have been great. We went for out first lesson with my trainer a few weeks ago and she really liked him. She said we were a well matched and competent pair. She was also able to help me get some really decent work out of him - much more than I get at home. By the end of the lesson we were both exhausted!



This past week, it seems like we took a step backwards. I know, this happens with horses, but I was starting to get REALLY frustrated. I find it more stressful when it is someone else's horse. I feel the need to show that I am always doing a god job and moving him forward. The ultimate goal is to get him in a really nice place and sell him for a nice chunk of change so I do feel a little pressure - imposed strictly by myself - not at all from the owner - but I still feel it. This week I felt like everything was just a fight and the problems were not going away. I was starting to worry that maybe he was too much horse for me.



While discussing this with my friend, she said that she finally figured "it" out with her horse and that she wanted to come try it with Danny to see if it worked on other horses. She came out today. OMG - At first it was ugly - I mean REALLY ugly. Danny was MAD, his stuck his nose in the air, swished his tail and just refused to give in. Now, in this situation I would have said - "oh buddy, what's the matter you don't like this, here how about if I ask this way?" and he would have gotten away with being a butt. Not this time. my friend took up the contact put her hands in one place and put her leg on - and on and on until he finally figured it out to just accept the contact. Surprisingly, the resistance only lasted for about 5 minutes. It seemed like an eternity to me. I was starting to wonder how long I should let it go on before I stepped in - after all, if she really pissed him off, it would be ME who would have to fix it! But seriously, 5 minutes - maybe 7 tops and then this GORGEOUS dressage horse emerged! He was straight, he was supple, he was forward and he was in the contact. I usually get some of these things, but usually not all at the same time! This was amazing and he looked great.



I got on and by now the resistance was totally gone so all I had to do was look pretty - it was great. All of our issues were gone! We have been having a sticky right lead problem - not today. He has been bulgy and a little unbalanced - not today. It was SO exciting. There is a REALLY great dressage horse in there. I just need to learn how to bring it out!

Could this one the THE ONE?

Molly tried a pony last week that just wasn't a match - oh well. It was a good experience for her to get on something new and she what it threw at her. The pony was actually a little rude, but Molly kept her cool and really acted like a pro (especially for a 9 year old!). She did a great job riding it but it was obvious this just wasn't for her. Plus, it was at the top of our budget so in my mind it had better be nice!

Yesterday we tried another. I really had no expectations since the ad had no picture and no video - great, we could be going out to see a half lame, horrible mover and ugly to boot. However, I googled the farm - the website looked pretty respectable and I was familiar with the shows they attend so I crossed my fingers and off we went.

The pony was actually pretty cute. He is quite green, but sensible, a good mover, and good jumper. He had a nice little attitude and was really good about the jumps. Of course, as soon as we walked in I thought he looked a little off (ok maybe more than a little - he was kind of head bobbing off) but there were a lot of factors going on here I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Molly got on and rode pretty much like a sack of potatoes. I did not think this guy liked you to hang on his face, but Molly rode around with reins a mile too long. He didn't seem to care. Molly's stirrups were too long so her balance was all over the place - he didn't seem to care. He wasn't perfect - he needs work. He is inside out, a bit inverted and he gets a little quick. But I think he has a very kind attitude and when we finally did get Molly situated right and she put him together a bit he was VERY cute. He will not be something she can go out and horseshow on next weekend, but by the summer we should have something workable for the show ring (if we take him).

So here are the pro's for this one - Molly wanted to take him home as soon as we were done. He is a nice mover, a nice jumper and a nice attitude. He is also CHEAP (in horse terms) I think he can be flipped for nice money with a little work. We can take him on trial.

The con's - 1. WE NEED TO SELL TREENIE FIRST 2. He is green 3. He needs work

I think it is worth taking him on trial. We can see how he is and how much he progresses in a week. My concern is what if we really like him at the end of the week and we still have nothing happening on Treenie? Do I send him back and hope he doesn't get sold in the meantime? Can I send him back and ask for a right of first refusal? I'm kind of hoping we take him and then don't really like him because then - problem solved right? Oh boy, it's times like these when I really wish we did some other sport - like running!