Emily’s Summer

I started off the summer with my mare Limit, who I’ve had in pony club for the past 4 years. It was probably going to be our last proper summer as a pair as we’d decided the following year we’d take things slower as Limit is getting older, but it had started amazingly! We had won a pairs 85cm show jumping with Kyla and Buckley, we’d got 3rd at Petley Wood Show jumping and 10th at Chilham Hunter trial and had starting training for my c+ test at the end of the summer. We both were having probably the best summer we’ve had in a long time. But unfortunately a month before senior camp Limit strained a tendon. I was gutted as I knew that would mean our summer plans were over and Limit wouldn’t be able to come to our first and last senior camp together. 

For a couple weeks I went with my friend Beth and rode one of her ponies on the downs which was great fun, I usually was either being pulled into a gallop or attempting to gallop! I also went to groom at a couple shows with them and at pony club summer rallies I went along on foot to help and keep up with my C+ stable management training. But I couldn’t help thinking that I wouldn’t be able to take my C+ test or go to camp.

However, with thanks to the Morgan family, I was lucky enough to be offered one of their horses, Jackson, to use for my training and then they said I was able to take him to camp! 

After a week at camp I was quite worried, because I knew I loved this horse! He really was the best horse I could’ve borrowed, we did everything together and he made the week at camp so worth while. 

After returning from camp we dropped Jackson back to his home, I was very lucky and Lucinda said I could carry on using him to take my C+ test. Georgina hacked out with me and helped me lots. I loved my time with Jackson and then we got the most generous offer …. The Morgan family said I could loan Jackson long term as they saw how much fun he had had at camp! 

We had to build him a stable so he stayed at his home for a few weeks but I rode him and took him to training days and then we did our C+ test. Even though he pulled a shoe off half way through the show jumping part of the test, he behaved his best and we passed which I was over the moon with.

Jackson then came to live ours and definitely made himself at home! We did a hunter trail and came 5th in the pairs with Beth and I’d like start hunting with Coakham Bloodhounds this winter as this was Jackson’s favourite thing to do with Angus. I’m beyond happy and grateful to have this very talented and loving horse who constantly keeps me entertained in so many ways.

I can’t wait for next season with Jackson and the Pony Club, hopefully competing at some qualifiers and maybe try for champs! As well as starting my training for my B-Test. 

Thank you to everyone who’s let me borrow their ponies and have fun on this summer and especially the Morgan family who made it possible for me to do my C+test and senior camp and letting me get to know and ride the legend of a horse that Jackson is. 

It’s definitely one summer I’ll remember!

In Pony Club, it’s never the end of the world when things go wrong as there’s usually some pretty awesome people to help out. 

Emily Sargent x