Throughout this website you will see pictures of the loveliest dapple grey pony and wonder "where is he"? I aim to tell you his story and you can follow his progress. "I" by the way am Sue, Paddy lives with me you will hear more about how Paddy and I met as you read on.
Paddy was born in Ireland in 2000 and from information provided to Garron his owner, his first home was a trekking centre. For some reason as yet unknown, (but as you read on you may work it out) this did not work out. By Spring of 2007 Paddy had been shipped over to England, looking quite forlorn. He was for sale, probably hoping not to end up on a trekking centre!
Along came Garron, accompanied by his Mum setting eyes on Paddy he fell immediately in love with him and the deal was struck. Of course Paddy did not realise that Garron his saviour had just started a business, a trekking centre no less. This was to prove a mixed blessing.
Garron needed a pony just the size of Paddy 14.2 to take smaller adults and he seemed perfect for the job. Back at base Paddy was put through his paces in the menage, he has beautiful paces but an obvious aversion to working in a menage...we can only guess he has had a bad experience. Anyway Paddy freaked out and jumped out and over the 3 foot railing with a 17yr old experienced rider on his back. This was not good, but allowances were made. He bonded brilliantly with Chester, Lucas and Bobbie, the latter was his best friend and he quicky settled.
Cracks appeared from time to time when he appeared very anxious, this would manifest in what we call Paddy "fast walk", and "fast trot" and just occasionally "fast canter" ignoring signals to stop. More often than not he was very good.
In August 2007 Karyn, Mark and I met Garron. We were asked our preference for our mounts...looking at the HUGE other horses, my eyes fixed on Paddy. I declared him perfect and closer to the ground if I fell! As I knew no different I did not pay much attention to the fast walk and trot until he failed to stop and I had to turn circles with him. We had a wonderful day and cantered over the fields near Spains Hall. Being used to South of the County riding, this was a real treat. We resolved to return, and pictures were duly taken.
We were back in September, again my choice being Paddy. This time Garron told me that Paddy had been taken out of client riding while he worked on a few issues with Paddy. As he rated me a very competent rider I was going to be allowed to ride but I was tutored in quite a ritual before mounting...this had been recommended by Melody, a horse behavioural specialist and consisted of placing foot lightly in stirrup, taking it out, stroking neck and repeating exercise several times . Then gradually increasing pressure on stirrup with attendant stroking and then after a minute mount. Why?.....well apparently Paddy developed a serious aversion to being mounted after moving to the new centre....according to Garron he had one of his most frightening experiences while preparing to mount with his foot in one stirrup and the other just off the ground Paddy put in a generous buck and then roared off leaving Garron hanging round his neck without stirrups before regaining his seat and control. This story failed to put me off my intention to ride my favourite pony and I was sure he would be more sensitive to me than his owner.
Between September and December I had decided that I wanted to own my own horse...or pony. I duly trawled through all the Internet sites, got to understand the jargon and even phoned a few owners. Some were clearly unsuitable, some had been sold, I even applied to our local Horse and Pony Protection Society....for one reason or another my plan was not coming together. Christmas came and went and my next ride with Garron was due.
Again Paddy was my only choice, this time I was instructed to just "get on, but with very light reins"....this time I asked "Why", BEFORE committing myself. Ah, last ritual has worn off and this is the new one. Basically mounting still required skill. New ritual embraced and off. Unfortunately after three beautifully controlled canters Paddy decided that on the next uphill run he wanted to continue in fast canter mood and I needed to replay my circling moves to move him down through the gears, a challenging experience. The other sure fire stop routine was to point him at the hind quarters of Bobby, the large Irish draught and his field companion who volunteered to act as a buffer if needed . This pony must have experienced lots of anxiety in his previous life. Given Paddy's "issues", his owner who is a smart guy obviously formulated a plan which could deliver on all levels....
He knew of my plans and tells me he had a flash of inspiration, January was a monsoon with uninterrupted rain and only the hardiest of riders were appearing...."How about you look after him for a few months". You could school him. "Yes I could, I could calm him down but I have never schooled a pony before!".....brief discussion and agreement reached. Garron said Paddy needed intensive one on one. He craved for an owner who would give him constant reassurance, adopt him as part of the family, put him to bed at night and be there at the stable door with a bucket of food first thing in the morning. I was told I was ideal for the role and would be rewarded with a model pony capable of anything
Pick up day arrived. "Bring your jods, I want to see you ride in the menage"...now that is not my favourite word and I anticipated problems. Garron of course demonstrated his horsemanship despite some anxiety from Paddy. Then my turn, on with the normal light rein routine. Paddy was clearly anxious, of course he was, he was in a menage! He would not walk straight and was practically leaning on his owner, then took off cantering around the menage, nearly unseating me with his quick manoeuvres. Garron explained that I had to experience his menage behaviour to decide whether I still wanted the responsibility of taking him to his new home under my custody.
and after playtime................the work begins.
