Hi Everyone!
Can you believe it’s nearly the end of the year? It’s been a big year for me, I thought I was too old to learn new things but here I am at 19 learning a whole new job! I still have a way to go but I’ve had a blast so far (well mostly but we’ll get to that later) working with some awesome people and ponies and am looking forward to honing my new skills in the new year.
Ok, let’s start at the beginning, shall we? This time last year I was finishing out the polo season, looking forward to my Christmas spell when I met some new humans, the next thing I knew my spell was getting cut short and I was apparently on my way to being an RDA horse… Not that I knew what that was – I’ve been a polo pony my whole life. RDA life is a lot slower than polo life but I found that a very easy transition to make, in fact if I never trot again, I think it will be too soon. Jokes aside, I think I’ve settled in quite well, 11mths in and I’ve learned so much and met some really cool people and have participated in clinics. I event trained with the SES! I also competed in a mounted games day (I heard my rider got herself a blue ribbon or 2!). Not bad if I do say so myself.
Mounted games was fun, all up I think there were seven of us horses competing, some with more than one rider, we had to make certain patterns around barrels and poles while someone timed us with a stopwatch. I was told that this was a smaller day than normal but judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces that didn’t matter one bit! Congratulations to everyone who competed, I think you were all amazing.
Well, there has been one unpleasant experience since I moved in. Can someone please explain to me what the strange creatures that moved in next door are??? The humans call them camels but I – and my stable mates – still don’t understand what they actually are, they look funny, walk funny, smell funny and they stare at us a lot which is really creepy! Yes, I realise they are here to stay and we just have to accept them but the more I research them the more I think them to be untrustworthy and believe we all need to run every time they approach. They have clearly brainwashed some of my herd mates who don’t seem to care about their presence much anymore but I will stand strong and make sure my concerns are repeatedly noted in order to protect my friends!
As my first year as an RDA horse comes to a close, I want to say thank you to everyone- horse and human -who have helped me along the way, those who have taught me new skills, those who have encouraged me with kind words and the riders who have been patient with me while I learn what it takes to be awesome at the most special job in the whole world. I couldn’t have done it without you!
Merry Christmas everyone, I can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Luv Spark
