JoM and Dancer
Dancer is of unknown breeding, but there is defiantly Dales pony in there somewhere! He has got the hairiest, feathered legs I have ever seen on any pony! He stands at a full up 14.2hh, although once up there it does feel higher! He was bought in August 2003 as a stroppy 4 year old. He was purchased as a ride and drive pony, although I have never driven him and his ridden knowledge was, at the time, limited, but entertaining!!
Since then he has come on in leaps and bounds. We enlisted the help of an instructor that understands the wonderful minds of the native breed and there is no stopping us. As we have no papers, we can only compete at a local level, but have found this to be very successful, both in hand and ridden. We achieved our very 1st win this year, and it opened up a floodgate for a very triumphant season! We also compete at Prelim dressage, and have been placed, achieving scores we are proud of. He is a fantastic little jumper as well, (when he puts his mind to it) although the jockey is not so great! He is very intelligent and easily bored. When schooling you have to throw in something different in to catch his attention or his interest soon wanders. This can be anything from a placing pole, to sudden turn on the haunches, to leg yielding. Anything that re-sparks the interest.
D is a loving little chap! He loves to be in the company of people, especially if they have pockets, as he thinks with his belly!!! His favourite pass times are eating (obviously) and sleeping. He enjoys several siestas throughout the day, and is quite happy for you to go and sit with him whilst he is laid down and give him cuddles! He also loves to have his chest scratched, and will park his ample bottom in your path if he thinks you might scratch his back leg for him!
He is full of character and can often be seen chasing after my partner around the field, tipping over the wheelbarrow (when full!) or emptying the water out of his lower lip all over some poor, unsuspecting person! He is also a pro at dismounting the unsuspecting riders which he has had enough of! He usually picks on the novice rider, as he thinks he can get away with it! This is done with the perfected art of bucking! Although, he does occasionally have an attack of guilt at the last moment and try to save them!