Meet my new project pony and horse :)

[pony hunters 101]

So heres the new additions to our barn! They came for training and who to try them out first better then me! So, not knowing what I expect and my trainer finishing up a lesson in the other ring and watching me, I get on Gibb first ...
http://www.alpineglenfarm.com/gibbest.jpeg

...so far so good. I get on him walk around. A little spooky at somethings but not that much. Start trotting. Can this little pony trot! He was going ok but his head needed work, ok, so i starting working him into a frame and engaging the hind end. Thing pony didn't know what any leg aids meant. He is only 5 so I didn't expect much. So I work on the leg aids and finally he got what some aids meant. Ok, now that we were ok on the trot, time for the canter. Well let me just tell you that this pony was horriable at the canter. He was a speed demon. I have ridden many speedy horses in the past so one more couldn't hurt. I started half halting and sitting back. I was in a half seat and went down to a full seat was doing anything I could to slow this pony down. Finally after about 20 minutes I got to a point where it was slower so I was happy with that and then we went on to jumping. My trainer was there and put up the jumps and the owners where watching in the stands. I thought this pony was going to be tired and but was I wrong! I think this pony was meant for the track. He didn't listen to any seat or hands. He just went right threw it. I heard the owners and my trainer talking and the owners said, "i think he needs a new bit" all I was thinking to myself is "you think??" so off to the store I go to get him a new bit because the regular D-ring isnt working.

They had another horse that they brought named Nova...
http://www.alpineglenfarm.com/nova55.jpeg

... he was an also good mover but he listened way better. He is also 5 and still green. He was really good and the one that needed a little woah but at the same time a little push. His ride was not as interesting as Gibbs so I am not going to share it. lol. Anyways, just wanted to know what you thought about the horses and to share my story :) lol

[Maxers]

Gibbs and Nova are gorgeous! Good luck with the little wild Gibbs too! Nova seems like with the right training she'll do good anywhere!

[pony hunters 101]

Yea, I am thinking Nova has a handful of choices. She is still young and we are working on the flat at the moment and getting that down back. She is really pretty and could easily be a nice hunter because she has the right strides and is a pretty mover with nice scope and such. But she could also be a jumper with a little more push and she can jump the moon if she wants to. I am tending more of a hunter because that is what she seems like she would like the best. She does go faster and more like a jumper when asked but if you dont ask for anything really she goes like a hunter. We will see with more training.

Now, Gibbs, we have no idea what we are going to do with him. I want him as a hunter since he is really cute and a cute mover with a gasp taking jump. It is like he doesnt have to try when he is not speeding over it. With time and structure I think he will become something unlike now, were he is really just nothing.. haha

[Maxers]

Lol with some kinds words, hard work, and a pat on the neck I think Gibbs would do great! He's really cute and looks like he has a way to go but after all the hard work I think it really pays off!



Yea, I am thinking Nova has a handful of choices. She is still young and we are working on the flat at the moment and getting that down back. She is really pretty and could easily be a nice hunter because she has the right strides and is a pretty mover with nice scope and such. But she could also be a jumper with a little more push and she can jump the moon if she wants to. I am tending more of a hunter because that is what she seems like she would like the best. She does go faster and more like a jumper when asked but if you dont ask for anything really she goes like a hunter. We will see with more training.

Now, Gibbs, we have no idea what we are going to do with him. I want him as a hunter since he is really cute and a cute mover with a gasp taking jump. It is like he doesnt have to try when he is not speeding over it. With time and structure I think he will become something unlike now, were he is really just nothing.. haha

[DixieGirl]

them both are really pretty! What knid of horses/ponies are they?

[pony hunters 101]

Nova is a Hannovarian mare and Gibbs is a welsh x.

I rode them both today and I saw a HUGE improvement. Gibbs is settling in and has calmed down a bit. He isnt rushing as much as he was before. We worked a lot on on flat and worked on being collected. We put a running on him so we could pay more attention on the speed. So nobody doesnt freak out at me, my trainer was working with me and he isnt going to go in it all the time, just once in a while.

I then rode Nova and she was really good. She just needs a confident rider because she isnt confident herself. I could feel that she was really trusting me and didnt hesitate when I would ask her to do things. I jump her! We did a 2 foot/18 inch course with lead changes! She was really good. We just missed a hind change once and the rest she got. She didn't really look all that much. She was iffy on the flowers but she was ok once you gave that little "push". They are coming along really nicely!

[Comanchegurl14]

Good!! Those horses are beautiful!! Eventually Gibbs will get a LOT better at the speed thing. It just takes time.

[pony hunters 101]

I think he is going to make one cute pony for some cute little girl when he is done! I went out to the barn to ride my guys because this morning I only rode them and I went into his stall and he just loves to be groomed and loved on. I cannot wait until we are done with him so he can make some little girl happy!

[bethfornow]

Nova looks like a great mover. Good luck with them both!!!

[Skip_n_Hide]

They both look like they will train up great! Good Luck! :D

[pony hunters 101]

Just got back from the barn and so today wasn't a good day for Gibbs ...

Like always, I ride him first because he requires the most energy and my first ride is when I am fresh and ready to go. Well lets just say, he was a crazy pony. I dont know what he had for breakfast or lunch but it must of been full of oats. I got on him and straight from the start he was acting crazy. He wouldn't walk, all he wanted to do it run. He tried to take off with me but that didn't end up well because I spun him in a circle and that was the end of trying to take off. I got off of him and lounged him because there were other people in the ring and I didnt want to be rude and go around crazy and such so I lounged him. He did nonstop bucking for about five minutes and then he tired himself out. We checked the saddle and everything that would rule out that he was hurting and everything was fine. He has been turned out and so it wasn't like he was in a stall forever. I got back on him and he acting somewhat better. He still was a bit speedy. We worked on the transitions and he was ok with them but gets speedy when asking to advance to a faster gait. We ended with a somewhat nice canter so we ended it there!

I went to go get Nova and she came trotting up to me when I opened the gait, as usual. I tacked her up and gave her some loving. I just found out from my trainer that she was abused and was just left at the barn. I guess the people that abused her dropped her off at the owners barn now and put her in an empty stall and left. She was very scared of humans and still sort of is. So we worked on trust for about 20 minutes. I got on her and hacked her around. We did a small course on her and she was great. We worked on flying changs and she got 80% of them. She always got her front but sometimes missed her hind. I then bathed her and hand grazed her and then put her in her stall.

So that was the interesting day at the barn.