[hil529]

Well to my surprise, we actually made it to the show today without anything going wrong!! thats a first time nothing bad has happened when I try to plan something in .. ohh id say .. about 9 weeks.

I got to the show a little late as I took more time than I had planned to get flash ready (DARN DIRTY PONY!). But no big deal, thankfully Flash doesnt need to be schooled in the ring I will show in to be settled (unlike Tommy), so I just hacked him around one of the smaller, unfenced rings as pleasure horse was running.

He was being sooo good. So good in fact that I decided to try my luck and enter the walk/trot/canter class as well as the w/t. I had JUST started really working on the canter on him, so I was a little nervous as he really didnt get the whole "keep cantering" part. he would pick it up pretty much on command ( i taught him to go off voice on the lunge and he has kept that undersaddle as well .. it really helps when your knees are where your heels should be on his side!! lol 5'6 + 11hh = not soo perfect of a pair)but he would quickly break back down to a trot. It was strange b/c he is VERY well balanced naturally, so it just took some figuring out.

Well was I was warming up, he was cantering PERFECTLY!!! he was being sooooooooo good. oh I was so proud! So i had my dad run and enter me in the w/t/c class too.

then came baby greens (the division I was doing). one of the local trainers that I know well was laughing as I walked into the ring saying "what happen? did you send your gelding through the dryer and shrink him?" lol referring to the 6hh difference between my normal baby green mount being my 17hh gelding and my new mount being my 11hh pony haha so that put me in a good mood as i was laughing.

well the w/t was first. Flash was FABULOUS! he was trotting a little quick(poor pony was trying to keep up to everyone) but that was his worst fault. He didnt place, but i was SOOO happy with him anyway. I honestly was not expecting a ribbon, I would have had to ride my heart out on my normal baby green mount in order to place above some of those horses in there (and Tommy was very well ranked in baby greens before he decided to go on a lameness vacation). so no ribbon did not discourage me at all.

Then came the w/t/c ... i was a littler nervous as I really didnt want to get bucked off in the show ring on my 11hh pony .. talk about embarrassing! lol but I was going to deal with what ever came up. When they asked for the canter .. Flash put in a BEAUTIFUL lead departure from a walk!!! OH i was so happy!!! correct lead and all! We cantered for about 3 laps .. and boy does that ring seem MUCH bigger on 11hh compared to 17hh!!! then we got to walk and change direction. We cantered the other direction too. Although this was not as good lol flash decided to have a but of fun along the long side and have a bucking spree as he swapped leads about 15 times haha the whole ringside burst into laughter as I was basically trying to not pee myself and stay on!! lol oh it was priceless!!

then he settled down and was back to himself .. with a very accomplished look on his face! lol then they asked for a halt (from the canter mind you! in a baby green class! thank god I wasnt on Tommy!) but flash is a pro at stopping dead so we aced that one! then they asked us to back up ... and again .. got that in the bag!!!

when placing the class i still didnt place, but i was still sooo happy! i talked to the judge after too .. haha his canter before his tantrum was good and the judge said he was very relaxed and willing .. and we both just were having a lot of fun (the ultimate goal) then she said our halt and back up were the best in the class haha .. she said she didnt think baby greens was the best class for him to which I said oh no!! just they didnt have pleasure pony or green pony at that show, so the only think left that I could ride him in was this. then she said he is going to be a super amazing short stirrup pony in a year or so! boy was I SUPER PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made him what he is! he was just halter broke when I got him .. now look at him!

then as a reward I went for a short hack out on the trail. I figured he would love a trail, and boy was I right!!!! omg he could trail ride all day long! he loves it! loves splashing in the water and riding through woods and cornfields and down the road! oh the whole bit!!! I even let him out and he actually was galloping like he does in the pasture (which is like blinding fast!) lol it was SOOO much fun!!!!!! he even past both the TB and the large pony that was with us. Lol he has SPEED!

so here are some photos!!

schooling




bucking ;]


getting ready for my class
i LOVE this shot


showing


canter pony!






a fun angle here


this was right before his pony tantrum ;]


after ;]

[marybear06]

I'm glad you had a good time. Even if you didn't place, you had a blast and that's what counts. Congrats!

[Chelle2005]

looks like loads of fun... Ponies are sooooo naughty but sooooo cute.. Glad you had fun

[sirius-dressage]

Ah, pony tantrums. Gotta love 'em. When they decide you're too annoying, not a darn thing you can do about it!

What a good job you guys did, you look great together. And don't worry, when I was showing hunters last year there were lots of older girls riding little ponies in the greens or pony hunter classes to get them ready. They beat everyone else too, so I think with a little more time Flash will be ship shape and ready to win.

[shyxpony]

Sounds like you had a good time! I can TOTALLY sympathize with the pony tantrums! Flash is such a cutie

[~*GOJUMP*~]

AWWWWWWWW!!!!!! I'm SO happy for you two! Thats very exciting! And SO cool to know how well you've got him going! can you believe that just a while back he was barely halter broke, and now he's getting compliments form a judge saying he'll be a great L/S Stirrup Pony!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!!

Well congrats! i'm so happy for you two!

[Gypsy Rose]

Oh, wow! I'm so glad you had a fun day!

[HorseCraze120]

Awww Flash! You showed at RADNOR. Usually thats the scariest place for a horseshow, he looks like he was such a good boy!!! I'm so glad that you guys had a good day

[aBreeze]

He looks SO good!

What are you plans for getting him started o/f?

[mytega]

He is so cute! What breed is he?