I apologise now for the length this is going to turn out to be. I really have no idea how long it's going to take me to write, but after putting off doing it for so long I thought it was better to get it over with.
Ziggy arrived in my life with a bang, quite literally. In February I wasn't really looking for a new pony but Mark and I had been starting to discuss that if I wanted a youngster it needed to happen sooner rather than later so I had time to bring it on and get it to atleast Novice level before Ceaser was out of Novice points. Scrolling Facebook one night I saw an advert for a 14.2h grey gelding, called Ziggy. He was stunning and looked just like the pony Granddad and I had always talked about me getting many years ago. I badgered Mark to see if we could take the long 3 hour journey to go and see him, but Mark disagreed
now wasn't the right time and I should wait until summer when I had more time and more money saved up. So, I tried to put him out my head...
Then I was sat at work back in March with very little work to do because I had just handed my notice in and so I did what most do and clicked onto Facebook to see what was happening in the world at the moment. When of course Ziggy popped up for sale again, and at a severely reduced rate with the words "must go, someone make me an offer". I quickly typed a message out to the seller asking several questions; why so cheap? what's wrong with him? etc etc... I wasn't told much, but the seller was honest with me. He said he didn't know much about Ziggy, he'd recently come over from Ireland, was a sweet boy but wary of men and hated people getting on him. Once on you were fine, but it was the getting on that was a problem. Okay I thought and rushed to the toilets to phone mum. I won't repeat her words, but I think she knew she couldn't stop me. Something was attracting me to this pony and I honestly don't know if it's because he was dapple grey and that was Granddads favourite colour or what, but I had to have him.
So, I made a silly offer and as they say, the rest is history. Ha! If only...
Ziggy arrived at a "half way" stop the following Saturday - which also happened to be a year to the day I had my beloved Dougie put to sleep. Was it fate, had I subconsciously planned it this way... I honestly don't know, but I was sure Dougie had something to do with it all.
Mark and I then drove the hour to go and pick him up. He was in the field, wouldn't be caught and when we did was nervous, however seemed interested enough in human contact. I spoke several times to the seller who agreed to keep in touch and even offered to take him back if I didn't want him. I outright said no, I wanted to do this.
I told everyone Ziggy wasn't long term. I had told myself he wasn't long term. At only 14.2h he was smaller than what I had set my heart on, but he would be a good summer project and hopefully would sell for a little more than what I had paid, so it would give me enough money to buy something bigger. Yeah right!
Upon arriving home Ziggy was ridiculously jumpy, to the point of if anything fell on the floor etc he would literally jump out of his skin. He couldn't continue thinking everything was going to eat him so I put him in the stable near the door, one that he would have to watch almost every single client coming through our gates pass by. The barn he was in was also the busiest and during weekends could get quite loud and hectic. At first he stood there almost quivering but soon began to walk towards his door and take an interest in what was happening. I put a sign on his door letting people know he was wary but not to treat him any differently, just be careful he might shoot back and not to run to his stable. The kids that came once a week with school all ran to his door that Monday several times and by the time they left he was happily stood letting them stroke him. In fact I think he was quite enjoying the fuss.
The following week it was the time to try and attempt to get on to see what we were dealing with. The kids at the yard all stood in the canteen watching. They thought I couldn't see, but I could.... Louise came down to help me so one could hold him whilst one attempted to get on. We jumped around, he hated that. We put him near a mounting block, they were clearly monsters. However when it came to lunging he was fantastic and went off every voice aid. Louise held him and I slowly put my foot in the stirrup, to which he was fine with until I started to bounce, then bam and he was gone... I tried to hold him then and Louise tried what I had, she managed to get a little further but within seconds he had reared up, bronced and Louise was dusting her self down. I decided we couldn't take it any further and lunged him again, now wondering what the hell I had done and why I hadn't waited like Mark had said. Hindsight is always a wonderful thing!
Next I contacted my friend from the Heavy Horse Centre, she has a way with horses that is fantastic to watch and one afternoon she came to give me some advice. She lunged him, got him near the blocks and then said he had a kind heart, but just didn't really want to let us in. With that she had to go but told me in 6 months time I'd have a fantastic pony on my hands.
So, I tried lunging again and bouncing up and down to no avail. He was fine until I went to bounce myself up. A friend of mine suggested literally bouncing around near him until I was blue in the face. She told me to jump up and down, flap my arms and then bang my hands on his saddle whilst getting someone to hold him, so that if he spooked they stopped him and I carried on - hopefully making him realise he couldn't get away from it and the flapping wasn't going to hurt him.
Mark and I spent days in the arena flapping, bouncing, shouting good boy, everything... Even Mark had a go. We felt stupid, but looking back on it now it needed to be done. Finally I managed to hoist myself so I was sat on him sideways. It was one of the best days in our journey together and honestly I could have cried. For the next few days Mark and I continued doing the same and soon we noticed Ziggy would follow Mark anywhere and everywhere he went, even with the lead rope unclipped. It was one of the best things to watch and finally a step in the right direction, however soon enough everything came crashing down again.
Ziggy at this point started to kick. It started with a small leg in the air where he would threaten to kick, and within a week it got worse to the point of being dangerous. We had to stop anyone from leading him, going near him and doing anything with him. If you tried to do his rugs up he would double-barrel you. We tried using raised voices to tell him off, but nothing worked. I didn't want to smack him, so we then just ignored the behaviour, however one particular bad day I realised this couldn't continue and I put him for sale, writing the most honest but heart-breaking advert I'll ever have to write.
During this point I also contacted a lovely lady, Jane Hunt who had regularly been to visit Ceaser to give him Reiki heeling and focuses on animal communication. After we nearly lost Ceaser two years earlier and sorting his loading problems Jane has kept in regular contact with me. Some are sceptical about Jane's work, but honestly I believe every word. She had transformed Ceaser from a pony that wouldn't go in a lorry without a fight, to one that happily loaded first time, every time. Her work was magical and I needed her advice with Ziggy. So, I sent her ample photos of Ziggy and didn't really say a lot. Less than an hour later she phoned me and told me to sit down, she had connected with him and the truth was gruelling. To cut a long story short she said Ziggy had been passed from pillar to post and was petrified. He'd been left to get cold several nights and although he was showing her images of him being ridden he told her it wasn't comfortable. One of the soul destroying messages she sent me was this one:
"I feel he has tight mussel tension on his off side hind and his near side hip feel painful and slightly more forward than his off side one. He says he has often been backed into a corner in the past because of the handler wanting to show authority and Also he has been treated not good around that area."
Two people phoned me about him. One came to look at him but wanted him as a project and then something to sell on. They offered me a reasonable price and told me to think about it, which to be honest I nearly accepted but didn't because I couldn't bear for him to be passed around again.
Secondly arrived a lovely lady who had recently lost her horse and had all the time in the world. Instantly you could see she loved Ziggy to bits and he was so gentle with her. She made me an offer and as I was about to accept something told me to phone Jane and see what she thought. I didn't want to rush into it and I knew I would regret selling him. Jane sent me one of the longest messages I've ever received from her and I'm sure she won't mind me sharing part of it with you. It will maybe give you an idea as to why I was branded a time-waster amongst other things that evening when I phoned the lovely lady back to tell her I had changed my mind about selling Ziggy and swiftly removed all of his adverts. It may also give my yard friends an idea on what exactly changed my mind. My communication with Jane had always been kept a secret up until...well, this very moment.
"Although he would be happy to be somewhere where it's fairly quiet and not so many horses and ponies around he's not really unhappy that he's in a yard where it's quite busy either. He is frightened to move on, he's very attached to you and trusting if you. Because of his past he is frightened and apprehensive of more new owners. He feels his time with you is not over and finished with and even if he goes now he feels he will be back with you again one day. I feel this is because where he goes may not work out as expected.......sorry but I have to tell you the truth in what I'm getting. He is happy learning but worried he's not good enough and may not be good enough for some one else. He feels you understand him but fears others may not and he may not be able to cope with what's expected of him and frightened things will go wrong. Too much has gone wrong for him in the past and he fears for the future. He's going back again to the fact he feels very strongly he will be back with you and saying it's too soon, it's too soon and I interpret from this he's picking up on the lady and hes not feeling shes the right one? He feels he tries hard to be a good boy and tries hard to please. I really do feel he feels very sad deep down but trying not to let it show. I feel he is not ready to move yet and that the time isn't right. He's has too many homes and wondering why he has been passed on from home to home in the past, and wondering why he will be passed on again. He's tried hard to please because he wants you to be pleased with him so he's not moved on again. Is this enough for you? So sorry it's probably not what you want to hear but I have to tell what I'm getting."
No one knew about my messages to and from Jane, not Mark, not Mum, not anyone. I kept it all a secret and simply told everyone I could see potential in Ziggy and wasn't ready to let him go yet. I had every faith in Jane that she would only give me the feedback she was getting and I knew I needed to go with my gut instinct.
So, at this point I phoned his previous owner whom I'd been in regular contact with and told him everything was fine now and I wouldn't be looking for a new home for Ziggy. He promised to keep in touch and if I needed anything, from a crash test dummy to taking ziggy back then to just call. That was the last conversation I had with him as I thanked him for being so kind when he could have just turned his back on us, but everything was going to be ok.
After getting off the phone from the previous owner I then phoned my equine back lady and dentist. I booked Ziggy in for both a massage and his teeth doing and completely changed my mind set. Ziggy would be rewarded for his good behaviour but told off - not badly, or excessively, but our voice raised at him for bad behaviour, so he knew the difference between the good and the bad.
The session with the back lady was awful. Ziggy barely let her massage him without trying to kick, stamp his feet and dance around, but she said his muscles were that tight it would explain why he was kicking and was so touchy when we tried to get on or even brush him. It made me feel a little better but I was so apprehensive about trying again, just in case we were trying all these things and none of it was going to work.
After this came the introduction of "Onzo". One night whilst laying in bed going over and over in my head ways to help Ziggy learn humans didn't hurt when riding you, I thought back to the time Louise and I first tried to get on. He had reared and reversed so quickly that he had gotten away from the rider so quickly and we hadn't tried again that day. I needed to show him that whilst riders didn't hurt they also didn't go anywhere even if you misbehaved. and so, Onzo was born.... quite literally.
I found an old onsie I didn't wear much anymore and much to everyone's amusement filled it with straw and stones to make it reasonably heavy. Next I attached it to Ziggy's saddle and set about lunging him. He bronced, spun, went quickly, then even quicker when Onzo dropped to the side, but after 10 minutes and getting it all out his system he happily lunged the best he ever had. For the next week we attached Onzo in different ways to the saddle. So one day 'he' would be dropping to the left, then the right, then sat up tall, then leaning up Ziggy's neck. Surprisingly Ziggy didn't react like he had that first day with Onzo on again. In fact it was that particular week we noticed a big difference in Ziggy's attitude and it was time for his second massage.
His back lady came out again to give him the second massage of his treatment and much to my surprise discharged him of needing to be kept a close eye on. She couldn't believe the difference in his muscles and how much looser he seemed. It was like watching a different pony be massaged. He didn't try to kick or spin and just stood there enjoying every second, even falling to sleep. I've got to share the photo I took of him after he'd had it done, as I think it was truly the first photo I look at Ziggy and didn't see fear, but instead saw a pony that looked calm and content.
At this point we were at the end of May and it was time to start getting back on him again. We had done lots of desensitising work up to now, including jumping up and down, running up to him, jumping off blocks, on blocks, lunging over blocks; you name it we did it. Mark had also spent lots of time with Ziggy in the ménage, just simply getting Ziggy to follow him whilst unclipped. It was a truly breath-taking sight watch a once scared pony trust someone enough to follow them wherever they went. I could see Mark getting more and more attached as days went on and truly so was I, but I kept telling myself and everyone around me he wasn't long term. He wasn't big enough and he wasn't the warmblood I had once dreamed of owning and riding down the centreline in top hat and tails on.
The day arrived where it was time to get back on. I was a shaking nervous wreck and was doing everything in my power too put off the inevitable. Part of me was nervous and part of me knew that within minutes we would know if the last 2 months had been worth it not. A livery, Jackie helped me get on whilst keeping me clipped to the lunge. "I'll just sit sideways" I said. "No, you've been sitting sideways for 2 months, now sit on properly" Jackie replied. I don't know how I could hold my reins I was shaking - this was it. Leg up, one leg over and slowly lower myself down. It's as if all my Christmases had come at once. Ziggy stood like a little lamb with his head down, half asleep. Before I knew it Jackie had us trotting around on the lunge and my superstar Ziggy was the happiest I had seen him in months. When it came to getting off it was obvious he was still nervous of sudden movements as he shot back when I landed on the ground, but we had done it. I'd ridden my pony!!
"Well, that's it, he's ready to sell" said Mum that afternoon. However, how did I tell her I was growing more and more attached to this pony that I'd told everyone wouldn't be staying. I ignored it. I ignored the "have you found a buyer", "are you keeping him" comments, and simply carried on, whilst telling everyone he wasn't long-term. But what did long-term mean?
Ziggy went from strength to strength and it soon became clear he loved his jumping. In fact back at the beginning of April I was convinced to take part in the yards clear round show jumping for the riding school. Again I was a nervous wreck riding in front of all those people, but Ziggy went into the ménage like he had been doing it all his life. Instructor, Fiona helped coach me round and before I knew it we were leaving the arena to a mass of clapping - Ziggy had just got his first (of many, I'm sure) clear rounds. I keep saying it, but that day was one of the proudest days of my life. No one could believe the difference in Ziggy, especially as it'd almost happened overnight - it was just surreal. For the first time since arriving he was beginning to look like he was enjoying everything. His ears were forward in all the photos and he was a gem to handle on the floor, it was like I had got that kind, loving pony back.
After this it was time for the dentist to visit him which would be interesting as we had never really got Ziggy's true age. The seller believed he was 6, but Jane had thought 4/5, so I was interested in seeing what James our dentist had to say. Funnily enough, he said by looking at his teeth he would put him as rising 5 ish, maybe a little younger. On the whole Ziggy's teeth weren't very good, he had excessive sharp bits and it took James a while to get them back to how they should be, however he did it and said following that session he would be a much more comfortable pony as a whole.
After this I continued doing what I was doing and couldn't help the niggling feeling in the back of my mind that as everyone saw him progressing it would be time to let him go soon. We were well into summer and the plan had been to keep him for summer and then let him go to a home where he'd be loved and enjoyed by a little girl.
I remember the rides I had on him in the week leading up to before I went on holiday. We jumped the biggest we ever had and I literally couldn't stop smiling. We also pushed him out of his comfort zone and started to ask for an outline now his muscle was building up nicely. I was having a fantastic time with him and I had started to ask the more confident riders on the yard to just get on him, sit for a few minutes and then get off so he could get a feel of different riders getting on and off rather than just getting used to me.
But it was also the turning point for us which I needed.
I never expected to feel any different when I went away. I always miss Ceaser and Sara like crazy and often find myself lying on the beach thinking what Ceaser is doing and whether he's had his mud fever treatment, or if he's okay, whether he's being looked at like I would expect him to etc. But, I started to also wonder what Ziggy was doing. I began to think over and over in my head if he wondered where I was or if he was okay and if he was being looked after as good as I would look after him. Whilst I was enjoying the holiday I couldn't help but long to get home to ride him again. So, at that moment whilst on the beach I took my sunglasses off, turned to Mark and said the thing that I never expected myself to say. I told him I wanted to keep Ziggy.
You're probably thinking this is obvious, because to be blunt, all of my friends said it took me longer to realise than them - but honestly, I never intended for him to stay, I didn't think he would be big enough, I'd been told I needed a warmblood for dressage if I wanted to get to the level I did and so on.
Mark simply looked at me and said "I know, I've known for ages. I do too".
So when we got home a lot of my focus went on getting him ready to be a dressage pony. My instructor told me I was bonkers and that Connemara's were difficult, quirky and basically not easy. By this point Ziggy was going well in walk and trot and seemed to love his jumping. In fact, no, he adored his jumping. He was a star to be around; the kids loved him and he loved the attention the kids gave him. I've always thought it and still do - he would make a fabulous pony club pony.
By this point I was eager to show him to the world and blog about what a fantastic time we were having, having gained this ponies trust and the journey we were on together. One day I even caught myself walking into the barn and shouting "Dougieeee", until I quickly stopped myself and wondered what the hell I was doing. Ziggy wasn't Dougie and why had I just made such a silly error. Looking back on it, I do believe Dougie had some part in sending Ziggy to me and it just happened he sent him a year to the day he had to leave me. Ziggy reminds me so much of Dougie for various reasons I'm sure it's the reason I find myself getting more and more attached to this gorgeous boy.
After a couple of weeks we were now well into August and I was reflecting on the summer I'd had. Ceaser and me had, had some fantastic dressage results together and possibly were having the best season we had ever had. However, I couldn't help but think that if Ziggy was going to follow in his brothers hoof steps anytime soon then he needed to go and see the world, and so that's what we set about doing.
It was at this point the dreaded canter became a problem. For the life of me I couldn't get Ziggy on the correct canter lead on the left rein. No matter what I tried or what I did we just couldn't get it. On the lunge we were able to get it after a few attempts, but back under saddle we still struggled. Everyone told me to stop overthinking it because like everything with youngsters it would come in its own time. That wasn't good enough, I wanted it to happen now, I wanted to show him off at dressage competitions and in my head I had all these big plans for him.
The following evening I had a lesson with Amy so she could try and help me. Just as I had got Ziggy
she had announced she was pregnant so although she was chomping at the bit to get on him, she couldn't, so it was all down to me. We had a good lesson to start with and Ziggy really started to come down onto the bit which showed the hard work over the last few weeks had been worth it, however as we attempted canter it all began to go wrong. The right rein was perfect, I sat, popped my outside leg back and off Ziggy hopped into canter. However on the left rein we tried and tried for an hour straight. Whatever I did - or didn't do - nothing was going to make him canter on the correct lead. In the end Amy said I should get off and at least get it on the lunge so he knew what we wanted. As soon as I got off he did it and I was feeling suitably low. Amy suggested I take the pressure off us both and go and have some fun hacking in stead.
I on the other hand had different ideas. I asked Megan, our long-term livery and someone I've known years whether she wanted to take her youngster out with Ziggy for their first ever trip out away from the yard.......and to cross-country. I know, I'm mad.
Megan happily obliged and together we set off early one Saturday morning to a local cross-country course to have some fun. This was a real turning point in our journey I think as it made me learn to trust Ziggy that bit more when we were faced with some difficult situations mid-course!
I like going to places with Megan as although she's only 16 she isn't silly and understands completely about my reserves with Ziggy because of the journey she's also been on with her new pony, Jenny. All we wanted was to go out for a quiet morning stroll around the cross-country course and anything else we did would be a bonus!
Despite only being 3, Jenny led Ziggy through the water jump and Megan and I had the time of our lives. We happily had a trot over some of the smaller jumps and around the field where there was space. All of a sudden we heard the thundering of hooves and screaming coming from behind us when we saw two holiday makers who had also hired the course going for a mad gallop! Both Megan and I literally gripped on for our lives, expecting both Ziggy and Jenny to shoot round to look at what was going on, however much to our amusement neither pony was bothered and I think it was a case of the riders thinking about it more than the ponies!
Ziggy acted as if he had been trotting around cross-country courses all his life, he was so well behaved and didn't put a hoof out of line all morning. To finish we decided to jump up and down the steps which was fabulous! I hate jumping up, whereas Megan hates jumping down so together we encouraged one another to face our fears and do what we both didn't like. It was great fun having someone there with me to encourage me along and I saw that it gave Megan so much more confidence with jenny after having a tough few months with her too. Of course Mark took photos for us both and on the way home we simply looked at one another and said "he's a keeper!".
After a few weeks of having fun I was still beating myself up about canter leads and not being able to get it, that by this point I was very frustrated. I decided to book Ziggy into a combined training event just to see how he got on. Mark and I had decided that if Ziggy was going to stay then he needed to behave out competing and do everything that Ceaser does.
We entered for the smallest class of the day which was the intro A dressage test and 2ft show jumping class. The plan was to do the dressage test and just see how Ziggy behaved. If he was chilled then we would do the round of show jumping, if not then it would be no loss.
The morning of the show I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into the barn and there was Ziggy, out of his stable having eaten everyone's breakfast. All 12!!! After a quick chat with the vet she said he should be fine but to keep an eye on him. I couldn't believe it and was dreading how full of energy he would be!
We arrived at the show with plenty of time to give Ziggy time to take it all in. Ceaser doesn't like standing on the lorry once we arrive at a show, so the big thing for us was to make Ziggy learn that he wouldn't necessarily be coming straight off the lorry when we pulled up somewhere. We opened the doors upon arrival and gave Ziggy time to realise we were some place different. However I think whatever happened he would have stayed chilled! He really wasn't bothered we weren't at home and when it came to bringing him off the lorry he acted like he had been to a million places before.
He warmed up like a little lamb and although I was a little nervous about my dressage test I was confident Ziggy would look after me.
The test started off well however when it came to entering the dressage arena Ziggy became a little unsettled. He was scared of the white boards around the arena and would only happily walk or trot about a foot away from them. Something in the hedge made him jump half way through the test which resulted in me nearly going out the side door, but thankfully I stayed on and kicked him on forwards.
Eventually towards the end of the test he managed to relax and to my surprise we were awarded 8's for most of his trot work!
When I went to see the judge afterwards to ask for feedback she said I needed to be more stern and it looked as if I would have carried him round that test to protect him had I been allowed to....
Well, she's not far wrong!
So, next up was the show jumping. Ziggy and I had never jumped fillers, let alone attempted to, so I was apprehensive about what he would be like. Mark said I needed to just go in and ride like I was on Ceaser and forget that Ziggy had ever been nervous.
Our round wasn't the prettiest but it was lovely to have old friends in the riding club that I hadn't seen for a while at the sidelines cheering us on and giving us the encouragement we needed. Unfortunately we had three refusals, but following that Ziggy did a lovely round I got glimpses of visions of what his future was going to be like if he carried on the way he was. I was so proud of how well Ziggy coped and although a little tense when first getting on, he soon forgot all about that!
Following this my instructor Amy was about to go on maternity leave so I asked her for another lesson before she went. I wanted to achieve my canter lead in our last lesson and so I had something to pick me up and stop me beating myself up over it. I still hadn't got it and Amy said clearly we needed to try something different as whatever we were trying just wasn't working.
So, we set about warming up and doing lots of change in the paces to keep Ziggy forward and thinking. Amy noticed he tends to almost drop to sleep if he isn't challenged and gives the impression he isn't really trying, so without him realising we popped him over some trot poles and that soon woke him up! Finally it was time to canter and sure enough we got it on the right rein first time without any problems and then suddenly he popped in a flying change so he was on the left canter lead. Baffled we asked for trot and then picked up canter again and sure enough he hopped a flying change in and was on the lead we can't get. With this Amy said to put him on the other rein and if he can canter on the "wrong" let correctly, then he can canter on the left rein correctly! In my head I had worked myself up quite a lot that I
needed to get the canter lead, rather than anything. I knew it was my last chance before Amy wasn't teaching for a good few months and so I sat, asked and something amazing happened! Yes, you guessed it, he cantered on the correct lead!! I couldn't believe it; both Amy and I were whooping and cheering whilst trying to keep him going, it honestly was fantastic and a major break through for us!
Since then we've met another Amy who also adores Ziggy to bits. She is Ceaser's new massage lady and I asked her to have a look at Ziggy too. She noticed quite a few traits of his that would explain he isn't built up as much one side which would explain the canter lead issues and set about treating him with two massages in the space of 5 weeks.
The difference in Ziggy is simply mind blowing. Watching him stand and let Amy massage him with no problems and fall to sleep is simply one of the best things in the world. It's amazing how much more trusting he is nowadays compared to those weeks back in April when I thought I was going to have to give up.
Fiona, whom helped coach us around that first course of jumps back in April/May time came to see us 2 weeks ago and she was shocked at the difference in Ziggy, from appearance to how he is on the ground and being ridden. The plan was for her to bring her camera and take some photos of me jumping. Initially I said I wasn't going to jump anything too big but sure enough Fiona kept on putting the jumps up and up before we got to a height we haven't jumped before!
One thing that has always worried me since I've been riding Ziggy regularly is what would happen if someone fell off. Would it scare him? Would it worry him, someone swiftly dismounting? Well, I was about to find out!
Whilst jumping with Fiona I got a little ahead of myself and just as we were about to go over the biggest jump I shouted Dad to watch me and with that, the cat ran out of the hedge, Ziggy shot sideways and I shot out the side door. I couldn't get up for laughing and looked up to find Ziggy looking down at me like I was fooling around. However, he didn't panic, he didn't flinch and when it came to getting back on he stood like a lamb and went over the jump again no problem!
Following this came the introduction of the arena lights into Ziggy's life. Now that the dark nights are here and I usually ride after work I wanted to ensure he wasn't bothered about the ménage lights and having to work under them in the evening once I've finished work. Of course, Ziggy wasn't bothered and acted like we were riding in broad daylight!
Following this it was the Halloween clear round jumping competition at the yard. I had purchased lots of spooky fillers for all of the jumps, cobwebs, masks, capes - everything! I wanted to make the jumps a little daunting but in all honesty, completely forgot I had agreed to ride Ziggy over them.
The yard was very busy that afternoon. The arena was surrounded by over-excited mums, brothers, sisters, young children shouting and running about and we were all shouting words of encouragement to the riders. Ziggy came out wondering what the heck was going off and when I got on was a little tense, so I had to walk round for a good 5 minutes to get him to calm down, but after that he was fine. Soon it was my turn to jump and once Ziggy had realised what I wanted from him went at the jumps like he was going to touch a pole if his life depended on it!
I felt like he was backing off quite a few of the jumps, but once jumping felt bold, so after I had finished I went over the same three jumps several times whilst focussing on asking him to go forward and keep the flowing pace rather than back off my leg. Like everything I throw at him, once he understood he did the most perfect job and I think the picture proves this boy is going to be contesting workers classes one day!
So, that brings us to November and 7,000 words later. Our journey isn't over yet and quite honestly it's only just beginning. In March when this young, frightened pony arrived on the yard I never expected to be where I am with him now. I honestly don't think he was necessarily scared of much, I think it was more the pain he was in with his tight muscles because once we got those sorted we've been well away. That doesn't mean he isn't scared. Some days when I'm riding he feels more tense than others and you can tell the ride is going to need to be spent on getting him to relax into the frame before working.
Last weekend I had my first lesson on him with my new instructor. She loved him to bits and thinks there is definitely potential there. Throughout the half hour we focussed on keeping him going forward whilst trying to engage those hind legs. He tends to drop off my leg a little if I don't nanny him along and really looks to me for encouragement, so the focus for now is to show him he can do it by himself and he doesn't need me every step of the way. I honestly cannot believe the difference in him; both in appearance and way of going. Every time I stop to think about it, it makes me emotional, just thinking about how far we've come together. I'm no longer apprehensive about throwing something new at him and he's much more relaxed in anything that I ask of him.
I do truly believe that back in March when I saw his advert I was supposed to, and I'm a big believer in fate. I believe we were sent on this journey together either to stay or just to help one another along. Right now I have no plans to sell Ziggy and I've told Mark several times I want to prove everyone wrong that doubted me in those first few weeks that he can become a superstar and is going to be a dressage pony.
We're far from perfect at the moment - anything but. The canter leads are still a little hairy, but most of the time we get it. He's still a little spooky and on Sunday we had a testing ride after he'd had a week off. He will sometimes work in an outline but other days he just outright says no - but it's all to be expected from a 5 year old!
The pictures showcase the journey we've had together and each photo is placed on here in order of when they were taken so you can see the difference in him bit by bit. Now I'm looking forward to a winter of getting to know one another that bit more and who knows, by spring we might be doing dressage with him.
I've also just met a lovely girl on twitter who also has a Connemara of a similar age, build and height to Ziggy. She has been a godsend to me this last week offering advice on what worked for her and what didn't when things got tough. Fiona has also been a huge help over the last few months - from telling me Ziggy is going nowhere back in April, to offering valuable advice and listening to my rants.
I never want to replace Dougie and never intended to and deep down I think that was why I told everyone Ziggy wasn't here to stay, but I think I know now that fate took over and Ziggy was always going to end up here no matter what.
I'll leave you with some photos of our photoshoot from last week, which were taken by the fabulous David Nutt.
If you want to contact any of the people I've mentioned in my blog then please feel free to click the following links which will take you to their page. I can highly recommend each one.
Amy Lambley - Equine Sports Massage -
Link
Jane Hunt - Holistic Therapy for animals -
Link
David Nutt Photography -
Link
The canter felt bigger, more connected and in the mirrors looked such a
different cAnter to what I'm used to from him! My instructor said it was
definitely the best work she had seen from Ceaser since meeting him and I think
the pictures prove this!
Anyway, I got on and he was difficult from the moment my bum touched the
saddle. He was spooky, and every slightest noise around him made him fly 10
feet in the air. A livery came into the arena to ride with me and when her mum
started to move jump blocks and poles around he was flinching at every movement
- I honestly thought we were over this. I didn't want them to stop as he's got
to get used to it, but after 15 minutes of flying backwards and forwards I
realised we weren't getting anywhere and so got off and took him in. Que... A
week of lunging with blocks and poles scattered in the arena!! 
She also said I couldn't expect him to be perfect after having a few days
off and I need to be more consistent in his work. So slapped wrist for me and
him....and this week were both going to try harder!
