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| Pantydwr Ronaldo 3rd June 2012 5th M&M Ridden Large Breeds. |
When a former college companion of mine agreed to step in
and show my Welsh Section C Pantydwr Ronaldo (Ronnie for short) this season I
doubt she realised just how much of a field ornament he had actually become
since the last time she visited him a few years previous. Ronnie had been out
of work for the best part of a year and only in light work previous to that due
to my ever growing work commitments and now, pregnancy! He had become more a part
of the field than just grazing on the field and by May 9th (the time
of said visit) was still throwing his fluffy winter coat.
Week One
Never the less Jemma (my friend) hopped on and road him
around in walk and trot learning to get a feel for him and working out his
little “quirks” whilst Ronnie tried desperately to work out just how to wrap
her around his little .. Hoof?
After the initial first ride the real work began, Jemma road
just the one time that week and me and mum got to work lunging and long reining
him with no gadgets. Three days after the initial ride my step father hopped on
and gave him a pop around under saddle to help get him back in work until Jemma
could return the following week. Week Two
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| Ronnie with my step dad on board! |
The next week came and Jemma returned ever more determined
to get Ronnie going in time for Messingham show on the 3rd of June.
The grooming was continuous as we desperately tried to rid him of his remaining
winter woollies. We decided to swap Ronnies bit from a French-linked Wilkie
Snaffle to his single joint rugby Pelham (a Pelham with a floating “bradoon”
ring to give the impression of a double bit) the results were marvellous! He
instantly stopped nose poking and began working from behind him into the bit
(though admittedly he still occasionally goes on the fore hand and over bent). 
Week Three (Show week!)
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| Pantydwr Ronaldo - week 3! |
Jemma was riding two to three times a week and Ronnie was
being lunged and long reined in between the days when he wasn’t being ridden
with a day or two off here and there. Show
week came round and the mad dash to find show attire such as a tweed jacket for
Jemma to borrow and other such equipment saw us at R&R Country the day
before the show.
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| Pantydwr Ronaldo - approx 3 weeks into work |
Saddly when we finally arrived at the field laden with new equipment
to try out we found that Ronnie had rubbed out part of his mane near the base
(due to sweet itch), but all was not lost, after washing only his mane and tail
and rubbing his body over with a damp cloth with cider vinegar to remove any
excess grease we realised that his mane blending quite nicely once laid in the
correct manner with brylcreem!
Show Day
Show morning came and Ronnie was transported the short
distance to the show ground by a friend in his horse box. The morning was wet
and dreary and many classes were delayed meaning that poor old Ronnie was
waiting around for ages before his class; luckily he had use of the lorry as a
loose box and happily munched his hay.  |
| Pantydwr Ronaldo's First time out under saddle |
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| Pantydwr Ronaldo - First Ridden Show |
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| Pantydwr Ronaldo - First Ridden Show |
This was both Jemma and Ronnie’s first ever ridden show
(Ronnie having only ever been shown in hand, the last of which was in 2010 )
and he behaved impeccably once tacked up with just a few spooks and a bit of
impatient napping whilst waiting around to go in the ring. He did however go on
the wrong leg in his individual show though I wasn’t too phased by this as this
was really just for experience and we wasn’t expecting anything out of it other
than a day out.
Result!
However Jemma was pleased as peaches when they were pulled
in 5th and received a beautiful orange “Diamond jubilee” rosette and
got some lovely comments from the judge.
All in all a great yet very wet day out was had by all, and
I was very pleased with the transformation in Ronnie in just three short weeks!
-Abbie
