A little blog for the best pony in the world

So I shall warn you already; this blog is probably going to be a bit cringe worthy and cheesy and a little bit all over the place but it really is very rare that I take a step back and appreciate the little things in life. The first point of this post is that the outdoor season has officially gotten under way! Jack went to Stafford Show on Sunday and was an absolute delight and a pleasure to be around all day. I intended to do the 2ft6 but the classes were running really late and I was on quite a hectic time schedule so dropped him down into the 2ft3 so unfortunately we are yet to really challenge him. He jumped two clears and then just had a couple of lazy poles in the jump off for 6th which is a shame as he would have won his class otherwise! He felt so so much better and flowed so nicely round the course, no pointless flying changes or going disunited! I don't feel like I'm exaggerating by saying he gets better every time out; onwards and upwards I hope, can't really fault his effort at the moment :)

Then Monday was my birthday, happy birthday to me! Me and Lottie took the S Team (Sparkie & Star) to Someford for the farm ride and they literally had the best time, I swear they had more fun than we did they bloody loved it! Sparkie literally flew everything I pointed him at and I just had the best day. Afterwards me and my mum were just talking about what he was like when we first got him and it really got me thinking. Whenever I have a bad day with Jack, or I think about how he's not quite where I want him to be or perhaps he won't load or is an idiot for the vet I need to take a look at Sparkie and remember that he is living proof that hard work pays off. He is honestly the most wonderful pony to work with and be around every day and yes, I know he is my pony and so I am bias and will say that but in my eyes he is perfect, he tries so hard for me and no matter how shit a day I've had, a hug from sparkie or a good bareback gallop makes me feel miles better. It seems crazy to think about what he used to be like, it doesn't even seem like the same pony. Back when I had to pin him against the wall to tack him up, he used to rear and strike out when you bridled him and mounted him, he had to be led in a bridle because he used to plow people over or bronc and rear at the end of the lead rope, he refused point blank to load (the longest being two hours!), he used to bite people and charge at them in the field, bolt as soon as you asked him for canter, try to jump out of show rings to the point where I had to retire him one time because he was a danger to everyone at the show... in no way at all was he suitable for a 12yo and I spent many a time in tears wondering how the hell I was ever going to be able to control this wild pony I'd brought. I never, ever in a million years could have imagined he'd be the way he is now, I mean the fact that we've done two ODE's together last year is absolutely mind blowing to me. He is just a complete and utter star and I am so, so lucky to have him, however it has taken so much hard work to get him there so I guess in a way, I am kind of proud of myself for a change for sticking with him. I'm very sorry for how wordy this is and how cheesy it is but I had to write it down somewhere and I guess I wanted to say this as a little reminder to anyone who maybe isn't having the best patch with their horse at the minute; it is so, so worth the hard work!