Journey To Splodge - Toby
By Splodge
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17th Aug 2011 •
2,740 views
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16 comments
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As many riders know, finding your perfect horse isn't easy. In this story, I will be writing up all my disarsters and my triumphs before I finaly found my perfect horse, Splodge Mo-Jo.
I ride in a stables called Hampsley Hollow, which is a countryside stables in Calne, England. Before I started riding there, my aunt gave me free lessons on her horse, Monopolly. When Monopolly died, my mum decided to send me to Hampsley Hollow.
Because I wasn't really a good rider three years ago, they put me on a more basic horse to begin with. He was a sweet palimino called Toby. Like most beginner horses, he was slow, lazy, but so gentle. He was perfect to learn on.
After a month of private lessons, I joined a group. Laura, Molly and Sophie (sophie p on ponybox) were already pretty good riders and I struggled to keep up with them. But all through my struggles, Toby was a total star.
That was before we started jumping.
When our instructor announced that we were going to start jumping, I was thrilled! I had spent years watching badminton horse trials on TV and wishhed that it was me getting a clear round on the show jumping courses. Until I was told Toby had some 'issues' with jumps.
When I say issues, I mean he doesn't actually jump them. If they are high, he will either refuse, or just trot through them. If they are low, he will just trot over them. With me being a beginner it was a bit of a problem. My instructor tried me on a new horse, Smarties, who was just like Toby except he actually jumps. Even though I was perfectly capable of riding Smarties, I still felt like I should be on Toby. I spoke with my instructor and he agreed to at least let me try and do my first jump on Toby.
The others went first. Molly was the most experienced and had jumped before, so she went first and had no problems. Laura struggled a little with the position, but stayed on. Sophie had just started riding Smarties, so she had it easy. And me? I trotted Toby to the lowest possible crosspole, legged him on, felt him leap to the left, away from the jump, and felt the sand inside the school meet my face. A lovley start to my jumping career!
Lucky Toby was a fairly small pony, so it wasn't a long way down and didn't really hurt. Sophie and Laura said it was the funniest fall ever, and laughed their heads off - don't worry though, I got Sophie back a month later when she accidently did a semi-backflip off a horse when it stepped forward.
Even though I got back on Toby and regained my confidence, my instructor decided I better start jumping on a horse that I could stay on. |
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Cruisin Past Curfew
Awww, Toby is such a cute pony! This is a great story :D
Awww, Toby is such a cute pony! This is a great story :D
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Aug 17, 2011
• 2,076 views
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Soul Horse
That's ok all riders have their days! It's good that you got back on and continued riding. :)
That's ok all riders have their days! It's good that you got back on and continued riding. :)
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Aug 17, 2011
• 2,107 views
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Aug 17, 2011
• 2,105 views
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FreeRein
That is the exact reason I don't jump this little pony named Harry.... The only thing you did different from this other girl was get back on.... Next time she jumps she's not going to have any confidence sinc she didn't get back on and jump it.
Great article!!
That is the exact reason I don't jump this little pony named Harry.... The only thing you did different from this other girl was get back on.... Next time she jumps she's not going to have any confidence sinc she didn't get back on and jump it.
Great article!!
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Aug 17, 2011
• 2,073 views
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Simplicity
Toby is adorable and its good you got back on.
Toby is adorable and its good you got back on.
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Aug 18, 2011
• 2,074 views
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Splodge
Oops, forgot to add in the article, that the picture of me and Toby was taken a few months ago, not when I was riding him (:
Oops, forgot to add in the article, that the picture of me and Toby was taken a few months ago, not when I was riding him (:
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Aug 18, 2011
• 2,099 views
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My Paper Heart
Tiby is so cute! Great article!
Tiby is so cute! Great article!
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Aug 18, 2011
• 2,075 views
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Raychel
Great story, Toby's a cute pony! Glad you got back on!
Great story, Toby's a cute pony! Glad you got back on!
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Aug 18, 2011
• 2,093 views
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All That Jazz
Toby is so cute :) Great article!
Toby is so cute :) Great article!
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Aug 19, 2011
• 2,079 views
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Aug 19, 2011
• 2,111 views
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DustMoon
Aw, what a great story! :)
Aw, what a great story! :)
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Aug 19, 2011
• 2,103 views
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Milly
Aww bless Toby. He sounds sweet :D
Can't wait for the next part
Aww bless Toby. He sounds sweet :D
Can't wait for the next part
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Aug 20, 2011
• 2,113 views
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Aug 20, 2011
• 2,083 views
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Aug 22, 2011
• 2,081 views
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Sep 3, 2011
• 2,109 views
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Sep 4, 2011
• 2,082 views
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