Simon is a slightly slower learner than previous ponies I have had. He tries his best, but things just don’t sink in as quickly. With most of the previous ponies I have trained for games, they seemed to pick up a skill or pattern immediately. With them I would start their first time through bending poles at a trot and by the time we turned around the end pole to bend back, they were already cantering through them.

Not Simon. Granted he is built more like an 18 wheeler and weaving is harder, my previous ponies were more like Moseratis so it was a tad easier for them, it’s been a year now and he still seems a bit confused going through the poles. After we complete a run through them I imagine his brain, “so you want me to change which side of the pole I am running on? Are you sure about that?”

Simon's first competition last April - Bending poles end turn, not pretty

I righted the poles and tried going through them again and we did a bit better, managing to leave all the pole standing, although I don’t know if it was physically possible for Simon to go any slower and still maintain the three beat canter. He often trots faster.

His end turn has really improved over the past year though. I give him that. He is developing a nice turn on the haunches. I even had to grab the pole to keep it upright when we turned around it the second time. Go Simon!

Next we worked through litter race some. This is another race that has been a particular challenge for Simon. In litter, the rider starts at the A line and rides up the field to a neatly lined up “pile” of cartons. For MGAA we use water bottle like containers with the end cut off. The open end is facing away from the A line. So the rider must ride behind the containers, turning to face the A line, and using a little stick (4 foot dowel rod), scoop up one carton. The rider then rides back to the A line, dropping the litter from the stick into a trash can that is sitting in the middle of the field. (up and back).

Simon's first competition last April - walking his turn to face the litter

May 2011 - Pick and Run

We have been working on this pretty rigorously for the past month and are getting mixed results. Most days, the first four or five times through the race Simon does not quite understand that I am asking him to turn completely and he turns half way. Eventually he gets it and continues through the turn although then we are still left trying to get the size of his turn perfected, which is disconcertingly inconsistent.

Spring 2011 - Stand and pick

I am told that this is a draft brain. That drafts are generally known for their willingness and interest in pleasing their rider, but are a little slow on the uptake.

April 2011 - He knows to gallop home at least!