“PLEASE CAN I HAVE A PONY"

I was like most little girls - "please can I have a pony".   After a few years my dad was over it, so much so that one xmas  he put a red shoe box under the tree for me, on opening it with great expectations, alas to my dismay in it was some horse poo with a note from father xmas "sorry the pony got away" . Not sure where my dad got the contents of the box,  as his only contact  with horses would have been from the stand at Trentham race course.  Not funny at the time but gives me many a laugh and story to tell now.

CHEYENNE

I was 13 when my harping  " I want a pony" paid off and my 14.2 pony Cheyenne was purchased with the conditions "you wanted one you look after it".   No car in our family so it was a long haul to the paddocks for me to be with Cheyenne,  30 minute train ride then 30 + minute walk to the paddocks,  not mention the gear I had to carry, my dream had been realised and  worth every minute of it.  I would spend many hours being a cowgirl riding on John Cottles fathers large farm in the Horokiwi, stopping to watch John and his sister Kaye practice for the shows wishing I could be just like them.  I loved going to pony club when I could at the Onslow club where Granny Gray (John Grays mother ) was the instructor and  I must admit she scared me to death .  I have wonderful memories of those days also buying up a few other horses along the way as you do.

I was forced to give up riding after a serious car accident when I was 17.

As the saying goes what goes around comes around.

SIR FREDRICK

My daughter Trinatte started at a young age "please can I have a pony"   so it began after a lot of pleading with her father ,Sir Fredrick was purchased.  Unlike my long haul to get to ride,  Freddy was in our back paddock.  He was your typical naughty 13.2 pony  when he got the chance, but nothing that pony club and a few private lessons could not sort.  I had two daughters and the second daughter was not that interested in taking up the sport, but I knew I need all my eggs in one basket , so sent her away to a week long fun holiday  involving riding, explaining to the organisers that I need her  to have the very best pony available so she would come home saying  " I want a pony"  and she did.  Mission accomplished Freddy was passed down the line.

FLYING COMET

Second  pony  for Trinatte Flying Comet  14.2 was purchased as a complete novice (bred by Sharlene Workman).  Trinatte and a group of Plimmerton pony club girls  would  spend the next few years riding free on the farm across the road Coroglen . Comet competing to B grade show jumping  & open pony ODE , representing Wellington  in Show Jumping & Eventing over many years.

In the  collecting pony stage now.

MAH JONG

 Our third pony was acquired for Melanie , Mah Jong (Spook) 14.2 (bred by the Grays who named their ponies after board games ).   Spook  was a freebie grey Arab mare with issues, what a combination.   She was a stopper, would not go through water , came off the float at 100 miles an hour, hence “free to good home”.  She came with standing martingale, pelham and every other sort of control accessory known  to man. Melanie  quickly jelled with Spook changed all her gear to normal and never looked back, representing Wellington for over 5 or so years both in Show Jumping  & Eventing.

Girls grew out of pony's,  Trinatte gave up and Melaine continued on, going from a 14.2 pony to a 17hh gentle giant gelding  Budweiser bred by Maurice Beaston, I believe he was a full  brother to Minalinka winner of the Olympic cup in  1991.  Buddy was such a gentle man and great school master. Buddy and Melanie  also represented  Wellington at show jumping and eventing.

BUDWEISER

All good things come to an end it was time for university for Melanie

After spending many years as a  groom / general dogs body come events helper it was my time again.

Took up a racing share in Scott and Judy Preston's home bred mare Playing Thing.   What a time we had traveling to race meetings even getting to the winners circle a few times.  Two of her offspring are racing at present  “Needs to Play” & “ Letsavafling”  both having wins and placing's  to date, so keeping the interest going. 

  Still go to the occasional show following some of my BFF's  kids ride.

Now here's the thing   -  Trinatte & Melanie my daugthers now have daughters and the "I want a pony" starts again