6 months with Molly!! *pic heavy!*

[Cinders]

I cannot believe we've been together 6 months already, it's gone so fast but equally it feels like we've been a team for years! This has probably been the best 6 months for a long time and i feel like i've really developed as a rider since having molly, maybe not visably! but i've certainly learnt new tactics on how to deal with different problems lol

So back at the beginning of april we went to see molly on a bit of a whim, wasn't even looking for a new one, first thoughts, honestly, we're disapointment, she didn't look like this big, sleek SJer i'd imagined. Her schooling was pretty much non-existant and she went like a giraffe. Only thing that made me want her was seeing her jump, she only did a X pole but was so loose and athletic i thought she looked a bit special! Thought she was worthing getting if nothing more than making a nice project that could be sold on again hopefully making a small profit.

first few days..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/olfsafas.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/MonnaLisaarrives10409018.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/kifa.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/MonnaLisa11409003.jpg

she was a little bit of a live wire and her canter was so unbalanced she'd get faster and faster the more you did. Mum used to frequently ask if i was actually still in control lol!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/ijda.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/ijfasfa.jpg

lunging before i got on her was a regular occurance, as annoying as it was it was the only way to chill her!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/Molly2509018.jpg

got her going out hacking, she was a bit nervy and would jog a lot but generally she was good.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/Mollyhacking4509006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/Mollyhacking4509012.jpg

lots of consistent work and her schooling started to come good
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/kldsfsa.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/lkdgsd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/ushufas.jpg

had some lessons...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/kfdsg.jpg

jumped for the first time at home, was rather unbalanced, too fast and OTT for my liking!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/lkflsg.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/uhuoi.jpg

more hacking!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/klkdgsdg.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/uhdf.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/iojgsd.jpg

lots of bonding time :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/SDC11844.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/heyds.jpg

finally after 2 months of putting in the basics with the schooling we ventured to our first competition, she surpassed all expectations, behaving impecibly and coming 2nd!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/SDC11915.jpg

She continued to really hold her own in the dressage arena and bringing home the rosettes!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/efieoew.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/gyuikmh.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/isojpdgcxd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/oppkobf.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/SDC11959.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/iiuhui2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/hiudhfp2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/SDC12241.jpg

however, it hasn't all been plain sailing with a few comedy moments along the way :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/ikjdogfkgh.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/ijow1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/jhoj1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/jhif2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/ygdva2.jpg


she's always game for letting off steam :p
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/iokpogxfse.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/joopjfpdvc.jpg

she's now chilled enough to do this :p
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/udsd.jpg

finally, most recently showing her talent for jumping as well, which i really must get some more pics of as it's what she really excels at!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/horseygal007/General/fhfjui.jpg

As with all horses there's been the ups and downs but i absolutely adore this horse! She's by far the most talented/ athletic horse i've been lucky enough to own and hopefully in a years time she'll be really really good! :) Mainly so proud of molly, she's a completely different horse to the one we brought home, never need to lunge her before i get on anymore, she can hack out without jogging the whole way, snorting and napping at anything that moves! lol She's now a lovely chilled horse...well most the time anyway and a pleasure to be around!

I know most of you will have already seen these pics so sorry if it's a bit boring! x

[eeek]

That was a great read, thanks :)

Molly has come on SO MUCH. She really is great - so are you! She looks like a lot of fun, but I know how much work it has taken to get her under control...

[Welly]

She looks so so amazing Kirst!! Its like a completely different horse! Look at the neck she has now!! Special little mare - I loves her!! So proud of how far you've come and how well you've done with her, you've overcome so much in the years since Lizzie - v proud of you hun xxx

[hot.to.trot]

she si lovely. i think youve got a gem ther ;) x

[beks the artist]

Oh I am not a fan of TBs but she is lovely and your doing such a great job with her! She is a beaut!! xx

[flipper]

She's come on so well. You've done a marvelous job with her :) She's absolutley fabulous.

[WeeB]

i cant believe the change in her kirsty. you've donea grand job there do far.

I never really knew her story so interesting reading.

[Evening Star]

6 months! No way that has gone soooo fast!
I adore Molly, she is stunning and I'm really enjoying following your progress with her I really think you guys are going to do so well in the future

[I love my Haffy]

She is looking sooooooooooooooooooo well. What a fab horsey x x

[ness]

Wow! molly has improved so much! well done for all the work you have done!
Some really lovely photos- especially like the hacking pic in the rapeseed field?

[My Crazy Clan]

happy annie, shes lovely.

[coloredred]

She's so different to the horse you bought, didn't take to her to start with for some reason but i think she's fabulous now! I hope she keeps improving for you :)

[Cinders]

thank you for the lovely replies!

She is A LOT of fun and i think she's rather special although i am biased :p
She's a converted wild child lol i think actually it's just taken her a while to settle must have been unsettling coming from Italy to the UK and being passed round homes!

welly- hehe i can look back and laugh at the lizzie days now, i was incredibly novicey and naive back then! but it was all good experience lol

[Cinders]

lol coloured, don't worry! i wasn't her biggest fan in the beginning either, me and dad used to often think, what have we bought as molly caused yet more chaos on her hacks! hehe x

[Loony]

Not boring at all!! Its amazing to see just how far she's really come.. she's a real credit to you! It sounds like you were definately made to find eachother.

[smellycat]

shes looking so well since you've had her, well done. Just out of interest how tall are you?!

[gem]

You've done so wonderfully with her. Massive well done for sticking at it through the testing times. Your hard work is definitely paying off now!!

[Cinders]

thanks! really hope she doesn't revert back to being a brat once i'm back at uni :s

smellycat- I'm around 5ft9 maybe a bit taller! x

[Houndsfield]

What a wonderful story - really enjoyed looking at all the gorgeous piccys - and the 'naughty' ones too...... put a smile on my face - had a bad day with daughter and her horse - he naps badly on his own - so after a 10 minute battle just outside our yard gate - we finally managed about 3 miles around a block..... he got very chilled out half way round - then close to home napping back to the farm gate again..... with daughter on board and me walking alongside.... (looks rather silly as he's a strapping 17hh!)....... just hope he comes better like yours has done! We've had him 6 months too.

[CityLights]

from a rather ex race horse/pacer type looking horse to a lovely dressage pony, next time you feel dishartened with her just look at a few of those early on pictures she looks fab now

[Cinders]

Houndsfield- I know the feeling, sometimes i felt like i was hitting my head against a brick wall with mol and the hacking, even now if you go somewhere new or making her 'lead' she's a bit hesitant but touch wood we don't have any full blown napping anymore. Don't feel silly, dad often had to lead molly, i felt a bit stupid but i thought it was better than getting off her. Good luck with your boy, keep persevering and he should come good in the end :)

smile and wave- thank you! x