Written by guest Sydney Flashman
I have been showing as a hunter/equitation rider for about two and a half years, and I mainly compete in the pony divisions, particularly a green pony. I have never, in my entire pony hunter career, owned or leased a pony hunter that was not green, something that sets me apart from other riders in my zone. Usually, if a rider has a green pony, they have leased, owned, or showed a rated pony previously, to get show miles and learn on a pony who is not in the process of learning themselves. I, on the other hand, started my pony career on a small green pony, a little bay by the name of Snap To It, or Snappy. He was eight years old, and had more show experience than some other green ponies, as he had his status as a green pony reinstated, and showed as a children's pony, short stirrup only, and in a variety of other divisions where the jumps did not reach 2'3, the height of the small green and small rated ponies. Instead, his greenness was that he did not do lead changes. That was a challenge, because while he would often land the lead over fences when you asked, and sometimes of his own accord, there were times when he landed a jump counter cantering, and I would be forced to either counter canter the corner and break hair and then pick up the correct lead, whereas others would simply do a lead change and continue the course. This was a source of great frustration, and my trainer and I worked very hard to teach Snappy how to do a lead change. Some days, I would think that we nearly had it, and go home extremely hopeful that the next day would be even better. But often, the day after would be as difficult as it had been previously, with my pony acting as if he hadn't done a near perfect lead change merely a day before. It seemed that for every good day, there were five days that were not so good. But in June, our hard work paid off, and Snappy had lead changes that, while difficult, were possible to get on course. From there, it kept progressing, and by the time I arrived at Pony Finals that August, my pony was doing clean changes. My next pony, also a small green, was much more inexperienced than Snappy. The little chestnut, Bo, had never been shown under saddle in his life. He had been taught to jump, but barely, and hadn't been jumping for the past couple of years. I leased him, and along with my trainer, taught him everything. I jumped him over his first course, showed him at is first show, and basically taught him how to be a show pony. He was even more difficult to work with than Snappy, and for the first couple of months that I rode him, I couldn't fathom how on earth I was going to be able to jump him around a course, let alone show him even once that year. But I worked with him, and my trainer worked with him, and eventually, we got him going somewhat smoothly. By that time, we had taken him to two small shows, and the results varied from us stopping out at the first fence to him winning his first blue ribbon. But in December, once he was going much more smoothly, I took him to a smaller A rated show and he was champion. I was so happy. And just like Snappy, Bo improved little by little, and when we reached Pony Finals, he and I were putting down rounds good enough to jog tenth on two occasions at the Kentucky Summer Classic. My third green pony, who I still own and show, is a chestnut medium named Lanie, and she is not quite as green as Bo, but way more green than Snappy. She too, had no lead changes, and she rushed fences, ignored or purposely did the opposite of what I asked, and would take off on course if I had even a hint of a long distance when I first bought her. But she has a great mind, and is a very fast learner. I've had her for about five months now, and she now does controlled, lovely courses, rarely pulls through my hands or ignores anything I ask of her, and has almost got her lead changes down. Just like the other two, when we have bad days, they can be really bad, and sometimes I wonder why I don't just get a rated pony. But then I have a great day where she does one or two perfect lead changes, a beautiful course, or does everything I ask without fighting, and I remember why I love the green ponies. It is so rewarding for me to watch the babies grow and mature as I work with them. I learn so much from each of them, and I have learned more from each of them than I ever could have on a rated pony. They've taught me more than just riding skills- training young ponies has improved my patience, temper(how to keep my frustration at bay), persistence, and many other skills that I will use for the rest of my life. To me, it is so satisfying to take these ponies, who knew little to nothing, and show them and do well on them. Even taking one of these baby ponies to a show and completing a course feels like winning a thousand blue ribbons. It always amazes me to realize that last year, Bo had never been to a horse show, or that Lanie is learning and improving so quickly. There is nothing else like watching a pony grow, and knowing that you helped shape who they are, and that is why I love riding the green ponies.
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Written by guest Emily Lucibello
Showplace Fall Classic is a very fun horse show to participate in! It has everything from lead line to Grand Prix's! If you haven't been there before, I would highly suggest to come visit or compete in! Showplace Fall Classic is also known as IHJA Zone 5 Medal Finals. It has "kid jumps" near the Grand Prix ring and lots of shops too! Most of the top Illinois, and Wisconsin riders come and compete here over the years such as Caitlin Boyle, Gia Rinaldi, Olivia Markman (a great pony rider), Gia Gulino, Natalie Jayne! On Sunday, all the Medal riders compete in the IHJA medals that the people qualified in. All the medals go in the Grand Prix ring and the winners get interviewed on Chicago Equestrian. I competed in a medal and loved it! The courses are all really fun, as well as the jumps! I ended up 6. Some other results are...Children's Mini Medal Final Winner: Kaitlyn Van DykeAdult Mini Medal Final Winner: Felice HybertPony Medal Finals Winner: Olivia MarkmanFor more information about results, search IHJA and go to A circuit Division Awards As you can see, Showplace Fall Classic is a very fun show to visit or compete in! Hope to see you there next year! Written by guest Isabella Anderson
Ponytail Products is not a foreign name in the world of horse care products. Their classic colors, black and gold, make their look unique, and the quality of their products is phenomenal. I was sent their Foam & Frolic Sponge, Show Pony Shine,and Mane Stay. First I used the Foam & Frolic Sponge. The first thing I noticed about all of their products was the amazing smell. Even before I opened the package I could smell them! The sponge has a strong smell and it stays on your horse's coat even after rinsing the soap. This was great to me because it is definitely rare for soaps to keep their smell. I was pleasantly surprised to see this, but the real excitement came after she had dried. Her chestnut coat was very shiny and looked spotless! The sponge also helped with whitening her socks and stockings; the full package. I was more than happy with the results! While the sponge typically lasts about 3-6 uses, it is very convenient and a must-have for at the barn and at shows. Lastly, the shape is eye catching and adorable, not to mention easy to hold and grip! The next product I used was the Show Pony Shine Serum. Their sponge and gloss serum complement each other very well in making your horse look shiny and "squeaky clean!" The Show Pony Shine Serum can be used in the mane, tail and forelock and gives their mane a boost of shine and glow. It also adds moisture, making this not just a product for shine but also keeping their mane and tail healthy! I look forward to using this to make my mare look great in both the equitation and jumper ring! In addition to the previous two products, I was also pleased with the results and effectiveness of their "Mane Stay" spray. While I wouldn't normally use this on braids since I don't braid at home, my friend and I tried this one day at the barn when we wanted to learn how to plait. Even though we aren't required to know how to braid, we still wanted to learn and be able to braid our horses at a show if anything happened and they couldn't be braided. While learning to plait, we used the Mane Stay and our braids were strong and looked phenomenal. Mane Stay also adds shine to the mane and nourishes it too! Finally, the smell was amazing, as were all the other products! In conclusion, Ponytail Products is known for their high-quality and effective products. Anywhere from spot remover to saddlery-scented candles, they have made horse care easy and simple. Be sure to purchase your Ponytail Products by going to http://www.ponytailproducts.com/collections/all or logging on to Instagram and clicking the link in their bio at @ponytail_products! Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun
Mrs. Conns Shampoo Infused Sponge: These sponges are easy as well as extremely convenient! Mrs. Conns sponges also come in a variety of colors, each infused with a different shampoo and unique fragrances! Each sponge is also good for your horse in ways such as soothing your horses skin and relieving stress. My favorite is "Lemon Meringue"! Bubbles & Bucks Shampoo: This shampoo is great to add shine to your horses mane and tail! Not only does it make manes and tails look amazing, it also makes them smell great! I love this soap for many reasons, one being it makes my horse's relatively thin mane look phenomenal. SUDS Hi Glow Silver: This soap bar is ideal for white markings on your horse. From use on paints to simply my horse's socks, I can always count on SUDS to make any whites vibrant and bright! Written by guest Sydney Flashman
US National Pony Finals, the most prestigious pony event in the country, is every pony kid's dream horse show. To watch is a great experience, to compete is amazing, and to ribbon is a dream come true.This year, my second year of attending Pony Finals, I was able to live that dream, experiencing the pure joy one feels when ribboning at such an important event not one, but two times, on Miss Penny Lane, aka Nala, the large green pony I was lucky enough to be allowed to ride at Pony Finals, I placed 8th in the model and 10th overall.When I went into my model, it was pouring. Nala was soaked, and I was shivering. But the only thing I was thinking was that I wanted to go out, show Nala off, and just have this amazing experience with her. And I did- Pony Finals, even with the nerves it creates, is my favorite show, for so many reasons. And I loved the experience of just going out there and doing my best and smiling and playing with the pony while we waited for the judges to come. Nala happens to be a beautiful pony, and I was rewarded for that, but my main goal going into the ring was to have fun and bond with her. When I came out of my model, we started to tack up for the under saddle, and my mom called, telling me that Nala was first in her section. I was super happy, and even though at that point I didn't realize that I has a chance of placing, I felt like I had already won something. So I went into my under saddle with the same goals as in the model- have fun and perform well. And Nala hacked well, and I had another great experience and a ton of fun.It was only when I reached the bottom of the ramp after walking down after the under saddle that I found out that Nala was currently in fifth in the model standings, with a couple sections to go. I was ecstatic. If I hadn't been on a pony, I would have been jumping up and down.And when I led Nala into the ring for pictures with an eighth place ribbon pinned to her bridle, I couldn't believe that this was happening. It felt surreal- placing at Pony Finals had been my dream ever since I started doing the ponies. I was so happy.The next day was the over fences round, and because of how well Nala did yesterday, I was to enter the ring somewhere in the sixties. I remember that going into, I was in 20th place. I was so excited, because I knew that if I had a good over fences round, I could place overall, possibly in the top fifteen. For the same reason, I was super nervous.But I ended up going in and having a great round- I don't remember my scores, because that's not what mattered to me, but I remember the happiness I felt after nailing our final jump. Sure, scores are important. But my goal was to ride a good course, not to get an 85. I just wanted to ride my best, and wherever my best took me, that would be it. But I had great distances and an overall good round, so I was super happy. My mom took pictures, and the smile on my face reflected exactly what I was feeling inside.I ended up just missing tenth in the over fences round, which was a little disappointing, but I was still amazed that I had placed eleventh at Pony Finals. And then, they announced the overall awards, and I was so, so happy when they lined me up appropriately and handed me a ribbon- tenth place overall. Once again, I was living my dream. It was the most amazing feeling. Written by guest Isabella Anderson
Looking for a new set of ear puffs for your horse? Silly Sounds makes ear puffs fun, with a variety of colors and patterns to choose from! They come in horse and pony sizes so you are guaranteed to find the best ones for your horse. Who doesn't love a bit of color?! I was fortunate enough to receive 4 sets of Silly Sounds ear puffs and have been in love. Silly Sounds was started when Butters, the owners horse, was startled at the smallest and silliest sounds, hence the name Silly Sounds! The creators of this fun and original business wanted to create and off ear puffs that were just that- colorful and original. The 4 sets I received were the Key Lime green and Easter Egg colors in the horse size, as well as 2 pony sets in the colors camouflage and Rainbow Sherbert. They are all cotton, and very soft. I can imagine the horses love them as much as I do! My horse tends to notice even the quietest noises, not necessarily spooky but quite "looky". I used these and noticed a difference, in the sense that she wasn't nearly as distracted by other noises! They are perfect to have either with a bonnet or without, as I have had no problem with them falling out, as ear poms never should! Silly Sounds makes sure to keep your horse focused during rides and looking great with their amazing ear poms! Overall, SillySounds is a great source for all your ear puff needs. They have plain colors as well as several patterns/color combinations to choose from. Also, on their site they sell sheepskin ear poms in addition to the cotton ones, offering variety in color and material! Be sure to check out http://www.silly-sounds.com and order your ear puffs today! Your horse will love them, and that's guaranteed. Not to mention the plain colors can be used at shows! (And the colorful ones too in the jumpers!) Written by guest Isabella Anderson
SUDS is a small business that specializes in selling cold pressed soaps for horses. The 5 different types of soaps smell amazing and are beneficial to the horse, two of the best things! I received samples of each soap and have been obsessed with them ever since. Their soaps work extremely well and make my horse smell amazing. My personal favorite is Carrot Top. This soap smells absolutely amazing and has made my horses coat look shiny. The ingredients also aid in making the soap great for "reducing inflammation" and can be used as an anti bacterial soap. Black Beauty is another one of their phenomenal soaps. The true black color is topped with a bit of shimmer to make it so unique. With lavender and eucalyptus scents, your horse will smell great. In addition to smelling great, the little bit of shimmer adds a hint of sparkle to your horses coat. "Blondy" is a beautiful yellow color that is made with palominos in mind. The soap cleans the coat of palominos and makes it look healthy. At my barn we do not have any palominos but I used it on a few other horses and ponies and love the smell! This bar of soap also comes with a hint of blue to "aid in the whitening process". Next we have the Espresso soap. The essential oils in this make it perfect to energize and refresh with its phenomenal smell. Another benefit of this soap is the extra bug protection it offers. While it may smell amazing, it keeps the bugs away too which is great for the summer and during times when flies are bad. Lastly is "Hi Glow Silver". This whitening shampoo makes any white coat/socks/stockings/etc look bright white. This soap is ideal for use at shows so your horse looks their best in the ring, as well as everyday use to get the dark stains out and make them look great. I use this on my mare at shows and at home, and I will be purchasing this as well as all the others more so I never run out! Overall SUDS offers a great selection of soaps to make your horse look and feel amazing. The soaps have fantastic smells and really work. Soaps that work and smell great are always a must in your bath-time routine! Be sure to order yours today at http://www.springfieldstables.ca/collections/suds and @springfieldsstables on Instagram! Written by guest Emma Green
Bluegrass Festival is one of my favorite horse shows to attend all year. It was held at the Kentucky Horse Park from August 11-16. The Bluegrass Festival Horse Show includes the International Hunter Derby Championships, Pre-Green Incentive Finals, a World Championship Hunter Rider week, as well as large purses for the jumpers and all of the regular classes you see at the horse shows. The show is always very large (this year it was sold out!) and you can always count on a very exciting week with all the big names from the east coast coming to compete. If you are showing at Bluegrass you can take your horse for a hand-graze on Rolex field or you can even ride around the cross-country course that they use for the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event! The show always has great all-weather footing, and all of the show rings are beautifully decorated with plenty of brush everywhere, and great jumps and centerpieces in all of the rings. With eight rings running all of the time there is always a great variety for spectators to chose from. This year, Liza Boyd won the Derby Finals Championship for the third time, which is always an exciting class to watch where hunters show in the Rolex Grand Prix Ring under the lights, and the high options have to be over 4’3” (which they were way over when I walked the course this year!). Between the Derby Championship and Pre-Green Incentive Finals there is over $250,000 awarded just in stand-alone hunter classes! Bluegrass is a great show to both exhibitors and spectators, no matter what, there is never a boring moment! Written by guest Pearl Bensimoun
Huntley Equestrian is an equestrian company that sells a wide variety of products from apparel including adorable breeches to bridles to chaps to even grooming totes. They truly have a nice something for every equestrian. I received a pair of breeches from Huntley Equestrian called the Black Full Seat Riding Breeches. These breeches sell for $179.99, which is about the same price as any pair of breeches, if not cheaper! These breeches are very cute for schooling at home, or at shows. Their back pockets may be a little much for some, but for me I personally found them very cute. These breeches have a sock bottom, which as almost every equestrian knows, makes life one hundred times easier when in a rush. The fabric is very lightweight and flexible. These breeches were my first pair of full seat ones that I have ever ridden in, and I loved them! They were a bit grippy, but still allowed for a nice half seat. I would definitely recommend these breeches to anyone who is looking for a new pair of breeches to add to their collection! I personally found these breeches from Huntley Equestrian to run a bit small, so I had to go up a size in them. I normally wear a size 26 in Tailored Sportsmans, so I went up to a size 28 in Huntley Equestrian breeches and they fit great! All in all, I love these breeches and Huntley Equestrian! They only took about two days for them to arrive, and Huntley is very professional! |
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September 2016
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