In case you've not realised, these stories are not in chronological order. I sometimes get a notion about a particular story that I want to write and it may or may not be in the linear timeline as it happened. I guess this is more a 'string theory' timeline - a bit like every piece of string we need on the stable yard - whether or not you left it neatly wrapped up and tied securely, when you get to it, it looks like someone came along and twisted it all up into a mass of knots and then kicked it around a bit for fun.
I'm listing the Pony stories because some of my friends and followers are starting to get interested in the tales and are coming over from Facebook etc just to read. I'm trying to get them interested enough in Hive to join up too.
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We didn’t just have the Carneddau ponies and the ‘Murderpony’ on the yard. There are also the Shetlands: Twinkle and her daughter, Twilight, Aramis, and of course, Maverick.
The Shetlands were purchased by Bev and I bought Twinkle for Mia. I told her she’d be her pony on her birthday and she seemed pleased enough. She’s not been able to ride her much, especially because of Covid 19, but when the rules were relaxed a little, her dad brought her up to the stables and she rode her pony for the first time in ages.
We caught Twinkle and brought her into the stable yard where we both brushed the fluffy Shetland. I’m not going to claim we groomed her because that would imply she looked neat and tidy when we’d finished – and she didn’t. She has her winter coat, still and, like the Carneddaus, it’s coming out in clumps.
I suppose ‘Hot Mess’ would apply, but only in the fact that she’s hot and looks a mess…
We tacked her up, Mia’s not confident with the bridle yet and she watches me. She’ll get it but I don’t want her to make Twinkle jump with the metal bit hitting her teeth, so for now, I show Mia and she watches. She’ll get it, and when she wants to do it for herself, I’ll be there with her.
The saddle is a challenge. Twinkle is a little fat pony and the girth has to be on the very last holes for the strap, otherwise, she puffs out her belly and you can’t get the girth buckles to meet the saddle straps.
Then I show Mia how to stretch the pony’s legs out so the girth doesn’t pinch under her. Lifting one front leg then the other gives a little more comfort and consideration for the pony. It also helps the rider because that uncomfortable pinch can turn into a pony that’s not happy and plays-up.
I lunged Twinkle for a few minutes, to get the ‘fizz’ out of her and get her warmed up. I’m not very good at lunging the ponies, but Twinkle knows what she’s doing.
The day was sunny but not too hot. The wind wasn’t strong and the rain kept off (for once when we wanted to ride). Mia and I led Twinkle into the paddock and she watched while Twinkle ran around in circles (both ways, of course). Then we checked the saddle again, made sure the girth was tight – but not too tight – and Mia got on her pony. This is a milestone for Mia as she’s needed help to mount her pony before. She’s growing in confidence as well as ability and I’m so proud of her.
The thing I’m most proud of is that she’s growing out of her ‘girly-girl’ phase and she doesn’t mind so much when she gets her hands dirty. She still baulks when I tell her we’re going over the ‘jump’ in the field. “Noo, Mamma!”
One of us, then another led the cute pair around for a while and then I tied the lead rope around Twinkle’s neck and walked around with Twinkle following. Then I took off the lead rope and told Mia to practice walking and trotting around the paddock, in a wide square. When she got to the end of the square, she should then go diagonally across the paddock and do it again, the opposite way (that way they don’t get bored or too good on one side, without practicing on the other side).
Mia hasn’t had a canter on Twinkle yet, but she’s getting the hang of rising trot – although, the little fat pony’s legs go like the clappers and it’s very bouncy. They remind me of guinea pigs when they run!
I know I’m making a big deal of this, but it’s exciting to watch our granddaughter growing up, learning to ride and enjoying herself. I was pony-mad when I was a kid, but I had to wait and buy my own. Then, my kids weren’t interested in horses and I never forced them to like things I wanted them to like.
My daughter @danielles was never interested in reading, but she devours books now and she followed me in crochet and baking – to surpass my basic skills by a country mile. My son @fifty50pence likes motorbikes and war games and he joined Hive.blog this weekend. I believe you have to allow children to follow their own path and as parents, we have to enjoy their hobbies, pastimes and passions and if, eventually they arrive at a similar interest to your own, you can secretly celebrate then.
With Mia, I think she’ll get along with Goran when we start training him for on-hand showing and she’ll look so cute in the show ring – if that’s what she wants to do. Both Goran and Pagan are growing fast – as is Mia and I think Mia will be too big for Goran before he’s ready to be ridden. If she enjoys horse riding when she out-grows Twinkle, I think we can safely say she’ll be getting another one. Twinkle will be ready for Mia’s new brother, Keenan by then – if he wants to ride the horsies, of course.
