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Post by Fi on Jun 26, 2015 20:03:07 GMT -1
Hi all,
my friend is trying to persuade me to enter the Handy Pony at the Performance Show.......I'm kind of thinking there's no way I'll be ready to bring the pony along (especially as I said I'd help at the show this year), but I'm now wondering what sort of obstacles are involved in it?? I've never actually done a Handy Pony class!
I vaguely remember some scarves, tea-cups and a dummy sat in a chair a couple of years ago, but I could be wrong!
So................what sort of things are there?
Fi
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Post by valerie n scout on Jun 27, 2015 14:30:40 GMT -1
Scarey things to walk on like plastic sheets, I remember the girls trying to fill something from watering can.. After picking the watering can up from a table top or something like that, opening and shutting gates...and am sure I remember seeing a teddies picnic !! Best of luck x
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Post by Debbie on Jun 27, 2015 14:42:32 GMT -1
Chat with the others that will be helping too, I'm sure they will help to cover if you'd like to try something with your pony  I know the Handy Pony can be daunting, but others have always said how encouraging the Perfomance show is. It's worth giving it a go. |
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Post by mikea on Jun 28, 2015 10:16:36 GMT -1
Any other tips greatly received here too. It looks like I'll be doing a handy pony next month too. Bertie and me have booked up to the Lindum Endurance weekend, and one of those rides involves doing a dressage test, then a 15 mile ride, followed by a handy pony test. I'll need to get some practice with those bendy poles - all good fun I'm sure
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Jun 28, 2015 11:27:15 GMT -1
That sounds like fun Mike, good luck, are you going to camp for the weekend?
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Post by harveydales on Jun 28, 2015 15:29:30 GMT -1
Any other tips greatly received here too. It looks like I'll be doing a handy pony next month too. Bertie and me have booked up to the Lindum Endurance weekend, and one of those rides involves doing a dressage test, then a 15 mile ride, followed by a handy pony test. I'll need to get some practice with those bendy poles - all good fun I'm sure Brilliant! Look forward to seeing you there. I'm doing the 12Km on the Saturday and fancy the dressage and handy pony too but not sure Harvey is up to doing 2 consecutive fast rides.  Are you doing the in hand agility on Sunday too? I've never done anything like that but fancy having a go. By the way, Harvey is absolutely rubbish at handy pony - he's the least handy pony I've come across and we always used to come bottom of the class at the Performance Show.  |
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Post by mikea on Jun 29, 2015 18:54:15 GMT -1
Any other tips greatly received here too. It looks like I'll be doing a handy pony next month too. Bertie and me have booked up to the Lindum Endurance weekend, and one of those rides involves doing a dressage test, then a 15 mile ride, followed by a handy pony test. I'll need to get some practice with those bendy poles - all good fun I'm sure Brilliant! Look forward to seeing you there. I'm doing the 12Km on the Saturday and fancy the dressage and handy pony too but not sure Harvey is up to doing 2 consecutive fast rides. Are you doing the in hand agility on Sunday too? I've never done anything like that but fancy having a go. By the way, Harvey is absolutely rubbish at handy pony - he's the least handy pony I've come across and we always used to come bottom of the class at the Performance Show. I'm going there on Friday Andrea and staying untill Sunday,corralling Bertie whilst I'll be camping close by. It'll be great to see you there Pam, but I don't think I'll be doing the in hand handy pony, I reckon I'll have enough on with the stressage and ridden handy pony, as thats that's on the Sunday also. I'm not yet sure how "handy" Bertie is yet as were a relatively young partnership - I guess it's one way too find out - LOL I think I may be on the same course on Saturday - but we're doing the treasure hunt rather than the pleasure ride. |
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Post by maggie on Jun 29, 2015 21:14:01 GMT -1
The dummy sat in the chair was, in fact, HM the Queen, it was the course for the Jubilee year  .I think the rider had to collect a crown and wear it. The Teddy Bears Picnic was one that I did, it included laying the table by collecting items from around the course to put on it - the tablecloth from a washing line etc. Last year was 'The Summer of Sport', so it involved swimming - walking up a narrow, blue carpet runner; shooting - velcro darts onto a target from a pop gun, lots of other 'sports'. We've borrowed the RDA Countryside Challenge course a couple of times - posting a letter, collecting eggs, picking apples, opening a gate and riding through etc. To be fair, Dales are usually pretty good at handy pony because nothing much phases them, but you can practice at home by doing things like walking on tarpaulins, opening umbrellas, carrying stuff  , draping things over your saddle - really, anything scary you can think of! I laid a course of frightening things out and left the ponies to it, they very soon figured out there was a small treat in each of the obstacles!  |
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Post by harveydales on Jun 30, 2015 4:57:05 GMT -1
LOL Maggie, I used to practice at home with various frightening objects but on the day, Harvey still "said no"! In the early days of the PS there were always these d**n yellow plastic ducks which Harvey refused to go near. Then I bought some and practiced at home. Of course the following year, no ducks!
Mike - will look out for you on the treasure hunt! It's a lovely route.
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Post by maggie on Jun 30, 2015 18:57:05 GMT -1
LOL Pam, sods law isnt it? Still, you never know when some terrifying plastic ducks might ambush you, then you'll be glad you did that training!  |
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Post by nedales on Jun 30, 2015 23:58:26 GMT -1
I thought last year's course was very reasonable and help was well available, patient and untimed. I'd def say give it a go--nothing a Dales shouldn't be saying oh THAT, oh well to?
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Post by Fi on Jul 1, 2015 8:49:19 GMT -1
Thanks for all the responses! Still undecided about it, but by recent experiences we'd be ok as long as there are no live cows in the ring.....
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Post by mikea on Jul 1, 2015 10:17:34 GMT -1
I thought I,d get a little practice in last night whilst out hacking. I knew Bertie was a little wary of gates and occasionally fences, so I thought I'd have a practice at opening a gate at the end of a track. He started snorting and going backwards @ 10 feet away from the gate - I think we,ve met our nemesis- I'll swop you gates for cows Fi - LOL
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Post by colmworthdales on Jul 2, 2015 12:23:10 GMT -1
Mike - take no notice of Bertie being scared of gates - he used to open the wooden gate to their yard all the time! However, on one of our regular bridleway rides round here there is a very nasty narrow metal gate (an official horsegate) which will not stay open and swings back hard in the ponies' faces unless you get the timing just right. Not sure if he got caught in that one out on a ride with his previous owner. Just persevere - if necessary get off and lead him through a couple of times, and then try when mounted. Sure he will soon learn which gates he can trust!
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I know the Handy Pony can be daunting, but others have always said how encouraging the Perfomance show is. It's worth giving it a go. 
Are you doing the in hand agility on Sunday too? I've never done anything like that but fancy having a go. By the way, Harvey is absolutely rubbish at handy pony - he's the least handy pony I've come across and we always used to come bottom of the class at the Performance Show. 
