Very proud - A long journey (photo overload!)
Dec 28, 2013 23:58:31 GMT
JessicaT, catkin, and 4 more like this
Post by remianddodge15 on Dec 28, 2013 23:58:31 GMT
So some of you will have seen parts of our story on here before (under the username of bumblebee - I somehow lost my login details for that account though), but I just wanted to share the absolutely amazing journey that I have been on with my cob over the last 3 years.
November 2010 - Having lost my first pony to liver failure just 6 weeks previously (only 2 months after buying him), I started looking for another horse, and came across an advert for a little coloured cob who had recently come over from Ireland, and seemed to tick all the boxes. I went to try him, and although he felt very green and quite enthusiastic, I figured that I would get more used to him before long.
'Remi' (Jays Remembrance) arrived at his new home the following day, and things started off well. I rode him and he felt the same as he had the day before - green and keen, but safe.
The day he arrived home
However, things soon changed, Remi became more and more lively to ride, and bolted with me a number of times. In hindsight a nervous rider buying a 4 yr old Irish cob who had previously hunted probably wasn't my greatest idea, and it wasn't long before I became too scared to ride him. Remi spent most of the winter unworked and became a bit of a nightmare to handle. I became more and more sure that I would have to sell him, but knew I would lose a lot of money from what I had paid for him. Eventually I decided to put him out in the field with another youngster for a few months to give him the chance to grow up a bit.
The effect turning him away had was amazing. He turned into a much more laid back, friendly horse. Gradually we started doing some groundwork, lunging and inhand showing, and Remi had some fantastic results
Started with lots of lunging
Our first show - on my 21st birthday
We had a great first season!
Towards the end of 2011 I moved Remi to my dads farm, and realised that it was a bit of a 'now or never' situation with riding him. I knew he had potential and was being wasted not doing anything, so one afternoon I roped a friend in to help, and decided to bite the bullet and ride for the first time in 6 months. Remi didn't put a hoof wrong and gave a lovely ride, and I was so glad I kept him. A couple of months later we took the plunge and did a couple of ridden shows. Remi was as green as grass in the ring, but behaved perfectly, so I was happy.
First ridden show!!
Throughout the winter (2011-2012), me and Remi began to trust each other more and more. We started schooling in open fields, and hacking out (something which a few months previously I never thought we would do)
Open fields - something which would have been a death wish a few months previously!
Enjoying a hack - something else which had once seemed impossible.
As we got into 2012, me and Remi attended some showing clinics, and went to a few more local shows, before finishing the season with a fab week at Equifest where we did the training classes and concours under saddle.
Equifest 2012
July 2012 - we have our first attempt at jumping
BSPA 2012 - even just being able to wear a tailcoat is huge progress as Remi used to bolt the minute that something moved on his back.
First time bareback - a small step for most but a huge leap forward for us.
And 2013 just got better and better. We started the year with Remi amazing me once again - After 6 weeks off I tacked Remi up and rode him in the snow - considering he'd previously needed working most days to keep him sane, I couldn't believe how chilled he was
Playing in the snow after 6 weeks off, and not a single buck!!
Remi has just continued to amaze me this year. When I think back to the hyper pony that I could barely lead down the yard, let alone attempt to ride, I cannot believe the amount that we have achieved this year. I am such a proud owner, and wouldn't change him for the world now. We plan to try SFAS next year in the hope that he can continue to make my dreams come true. Here are a few of our recent highlights:
May 2013 - 2nd at the Royal Windsor Show
June 2013 - Remi has a go at the lead rein thing - something I would have never trusted him to do in the past, but he looked after his precious cargo like an old pro.
July 2013 - 3rd Place at Royal Norfolk in our first county ridden class.
July 2013 - Playing on the beach!!
August 2013 - Remi proves he can jump!
Equifest 2013 - we did dressage, jumped a couple of clear rounds of the WH course, won the inhand hogged coloured for the second yar running, encountered ride judges for the first time (turned out Remi was much cooler about it than I was!!!), got some good placings and feedback, and went in the evening performance and didn't even flinch (without calmer or earplugs!) - couldn't believe my little superstar cob and how far he's come.
September 2013 - having a blast on the stubble - something else I thought would just be a dream.
Sorry about the huge post - well done to anyone who made it this far!!
November 2010 - Having lost my first pony to liver failure just 6 weeks previously (only 2 months after buying him), I started looking for another horse, and came across an advert for a little coloured cob who had recently come over from Ireland, and seemed to tick all the boxes. I went to try him, and although he felt very green and quite enthusiastic, I figured that I would get more used to him before long.
'Remi' (Jays Remembrance) arrived at his new home the following day, and things started off well. I rode him and he felt the same as he had the day before - green and keen, but safe.
The day he arrived home
However, things soon changed, Remi became more and more lively to ride, and bolted with me a number of times. In hindsight a nervous rider buying a 4 yr old Irish cob who had previously hunted probably wasn't my greatest idea, and it wasn't long before I became too scared to ride him. Remi spent most of the winter unworked and became a bit of a nightmare to handle. I became more and more sure that I would have to sell him, but knew I would lose a lot of money from what I had paid for him. Eventually I decided to put him out in the field with another youngster for a few months to give him the chance to grow up a bit.
The effect turning him away had was amazing. He turned into a much more laid back, friendly horse. Gradually we started doing some groundwork, lunging and inhand showing, and Remi had some fantastic results
Started with lots of lunging
Our first show - on my 21st birthday
We had a great first season!
Towards the end of 2011 I moved Remi to my dads farm, and realised that it was a bit of a 'now or never' situation with riding him. I knew he had potential and was being wasted not doing anything, so one afternoon I roped a friend in to help, and decided to bite the bullet and ride for the first time in 6 months. Remi didn't put a hoof wrong and gave a lovely ride, and I was so glad I kept him. A couple of months later we took the plunge and did a couple of ridden shows. Remi was as green as grass in the ring, but behaved perfectly, so I was happy.
First ridden show!!
Throughout the winter (2011-2012), me and Remi began to trust each other more and more. We started schooling in open fields, and hacking out (something which a few months previously I never thought we would do)
Open fields - something which would have been a death wish a few months previously!
Enjoying a hack - something else which had once seemed impossible.
As we got into 2012, me and Remi attended some showing clinics, and went to a few more local shows, before finishing the season with a fab week at Equifest where we did the training classes and concours under saddle.
Equifest 2012
July 2012 - we have our first attempt at jumping
BSPA 2012 - even just being able to wear a tailcoat is huge progress as Remi used to bolt the minute that something moved on his back.
First time bareback - a small step for most but a huge leap forward for us.
And 2013 just got better and better. We started the year with Remi amazing me once again - After 6 weeks off I tacked Remi up and rode him in the snow - considering he'd previously needed working most days to keep him sane, I couldn't believe how chilled he was
Playing in the snow after 6 weeks off, and not a single buck!!
Remi has just continued to amaze me this year. When I think back to the hyper pony that I could barely lead down the yard, let alone attempt to ride, I cannot believe the amount that we have achieved this year. I am such a proud owner, and wouldn't change him for the world now. We plan to try SFAS next year in the hope that he can continue to make my dreams come true. Here are a few of our recent highlights:
May 2013 - 2nd at the Royal Windsor Show
June 2013 - Remi has a go at the lead rein thing - something I would have never trusted him to do in the past, but he looked after his precious cargo like an old pro.
July 2013 - 3rd Place at Royal Norfolk in our first county ridden class.
July 2013 - Playing on the beach!!
August 2013 - Remi proves he can jump!
Equifest 2013 - we did dressage, jumped a couple of clear rounds of the WH course, won the inhand hogged coloured for the second yar running, encountered ride judges for the first time (turned out Remi was much cooler about it than I was!!!), got some good placings and feedback, and went in the evening performance and didn't even flinch (without calmer or earplugs!) - couldn't believe my little superstar cob and how far he's come.
September 2013 - having a blast on the stubble - something else I thought would just be a dream.
Sorry about the huge post - well done to anyone who made it this far!!
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