Come and tell me to chill out-I may even need a slap

[Treblesallround]

I seem to have come over all pushy Pony Club Mum and have recognised that I've been pushing our new(ish) pony to do more than she's ready for (XC rally, Bunny Hunt and so on), and I think I've stressed her a bit, and got myself all hung up that we ought to get a more ready-made pony. Gd loves her pony and wants to stick with her.

Gd had such a great season last year on her old pony, and is doing really nicely with her new one, but she's still green (8 years old but been a brood mare so more like a 4 year old in her ridden work)

The worst thing is that GD (12) has said to me 'chill out grandma, there's more to life than rosettes, I've got to step back, go at her pace, and have small goals. I'm aiming to get her to camp this year and if we do that I'll be happy' How mortifying to be less mature than a 12 year old!

she sounds very sensible

Ah but it is easily done Trebles ,I have to get a grip on myself regularly at the minute and tell myself that we have all the time in the world to do rallies ect.I had planned to book DD1 in for a cross country rally at the end of the month but have decided not to just yet.

Your GD sounds very mature and sensible,a summer of them getting to know each other could make all the difference.

We'll perhaps see you at camp.

Chill out!
You are conforming nicely to the PC parent stereotype! She is a child. She loves her pony. Let her enjoy herself and her pony and do exactly what she likes. Do you really want her to become just one more PC robot?
We have a yard full of rejected ponies, 'it doesn't jump high enough' 'isn't good enough' 'they told me I needed something different', passed on to us, by PC parents. We have a tack room full of shiny tack because 'it was the wrong Colour' 'they said the stitching was frayed' 'i couldnt be bothered to clean it'! Dd is reaping the rewards of their idiocy, she can ride every one. She has learned how to get what she needs from them, and to ride ponies that aren't 'push button'. The ponies have lost their pelhams, Dutch gags, martingales and glazed expressions and enjoy themselves as well.
PC is great for lessons and training, but don't get sucked into the whole competitive thing unless GD wants to, and don't take away her pony if she loves her. She will learn far more schooling and bringing on her green pony than ever she would with a 'professional' pony.

Saggy - I wish there was a "like" button for your post

Spot on Saggy and everyone else, I said I needed a slap! Luckily Gd pressed the reality button. Lots of hacks coming up, lots of lessons, and loads of fun (and the odd potter round the clear round ring if they fancy it)

sad, isn't it saggy.

a friendly slap treble ........... the measure of horsemanship lies not in the achievements of prizes and rosttes or being the fastest, its in the how you get there and that it is a partnership.

the tales my friend who has a tack shop tells me are horrific.... the gadgets she is asked for, some of which she refuses to stock, are sooo severe and used in place of further training and devlopent,.

Its shcking too that many young people can canter/ jump/gallop in a school/ enclosed area but cant do something as simple as back up or leg yield.

your gd sounds wonderful