Pumpkin's Progress

OK, so I thought it might be worth while writing down Pumpkin and mine's progress so we can see how far we have come. First, I suppose, Pumpkin is 18 yrs old, 13.2hh Welsh cross something. We have had him scince he was 5 but he sat in the paddock untill I decided I wanted to do something with him.

So, early this year we had a trainer come in and help train Pumpkin. That went amazing and in 4 3-hour sessions, he was perfecto. I am super pleased that he now has the abilty to be ridden with less hiccups. So really, for the last 8 1/2 months, I've just been mucking around, glad to have a pony I can ride.
Well, the options for pony club and competeing have come into play, so we are cracking down and getting things like balance, collection, extension ect perfect. So, for the next month or so, I have packed up the jumps and am going to be really focusing on my dressage basics for Pumpkin. Huff.... that will be interesting ;p

That's all for now, I will *try* to keep this alive... Anyways, here are some pictures!


Jumpies


Bareback



And his head...

Wednesday, 22nd September

So, I can see this whole dressage thingo taking a long time to get correct, espiecially with a non-horsey family and the occasional photos to go by.


I rode Pumpkin today, just working on the walk and trot. And talk about dead as a doorknob... Even with the time off and his grain this week. Poopsies.
Flexion is coming along nicley, and whoopy for half halts! I am starting to work on him engaging the hind end, and from the vidoes I got, yeah, I can see a difference - small, but it is a difference ;)


His balance at the end was better, I could deffienatly feel that as well. We still need a lot of work before I will start thinking about jumping mini courses ect.

Monday, 27th September

Rode him up to the shops yesterday, he did briliantly! No antics this time. Got up to shops and let him graze a bit behind the kindy while my sister and her friends went a brought stuff. Gave Pumkin a lemonade iceblock... that went down quick. On the way we stopped in at the park and had another little graze while kids came up and gave him lots of pats! Haha. He is loved by everyone. Once we got back home, a little canter and called it a day. Later on, I jumped on bareback and walked up and down the fence for some pointless fun.

Saturday 2nd October

It has been raining most of the week the week so I as only able to ride yesterday... oh the joy. Thanks to Mr Pony having to much energy, someone needed to get in his brain that we do not buck when we pick up canter. Huffs. Anyways, after that was sorted, we worked on rythum and transitions. Proud of him again, but the rythum is going to be worked on again tomorrow. Balance is coming along nicly, so that is good.

Hopefully the rain will stop tonight and I can ride without tearing up the grass.

Thats great that you have a goal :) I have a similar goal with my horse :)
Good luck and I know it can be difficult with a non-horsey family

Thanks! It can be tough but we pull through :P

Sorry, just had to say that Pumpkin is the most adorable name ever..It totally suits him :)

JackOfDiamonds - Thankyou!

Well, the rain has FINALLY stopped and the ground is now dry enough for me to ride without destrying everything in sight. But, he dosn't lunge(working on it) and he is so high it is insane.
Yesterday we just walked around the paddock doing nothing cause it was getting late.
Early today just had a few trots, just going about things slowly so he doesn't go ballistic on me. I don't feel like having a Fresh Bucking Horse vs Me competition :P

Monday, 18th October

Fun fun. Right...
Tacking up went like hell so I had to put him out in the back paddock for him to run around. He went balistic and ran for a good 10 minutes before he decided to calm down. So, got him to walk up to me and we put the saddled back on. That was better. Then took him out to the front paddock to put his bridal on. A little tantrum there, not to much.

We ended up walking around for ages trying to get him to listne properly. Had a little trot after a while then finished up.

The silver lining: we worked a lot on flexion... yay! He also is stopping better and listening to my seat more.
Guess it will just take a bit of time

Thursday, 28th October

I haven't been able to ride in a while due to a sore tailbone which has happened to be very annoying. I have been sitting out of P.E for a while now and that probably means not a very sufficient grade. Yays. Oh well. I suppose that can mean more bonding time and playing with Pumpkin rather than as much riding. I do hope this doesn't slow us down alot