20/06/2026
Super proud of Oaks and Pip today. 💫We’ve not managed to get Pip around at a show until today. She gets extremely over whelmed and green with the atmosphere and just completely freezes up in the ring. But today we tried a different tactic and that was to expect a bad time and not care, and also to try and stay really quiet and calm which Oaks did beautifully. 🥺
Pip was overwhelmed in the warm up and threw some shapes but Oaks just stayed soft and kept talking to her and almost ignoring the behaviour as the more pressure you put on Pip the worse she gets until she gets so tense that she freezes and shuts down.
Oaks walked her calmly into the ring and just walked her around talking to her and patting her trying to keep her as relaxed as possible. The bell went and Pip did have a moment but where before Oaks would’ve battled with her she just almost ignored it and stayed calm. Then once over the first fence they jumped around brilliantly and confidently. We were over the moon as though she’d won HOYS! 😂
We did exactly the same for the 90 and she warmed up more confidently and less anxious. Walked her into the ring again and there was no planting and they just got on with the job.
Pip is a very sensitive young mare. You really have to work with her and try and understand her. It’s not easy for a child to always do that but I’m so proud of how hard Oaks has been working to bond with the mare at home and how mature she was with her today. What comes with these tricky ponies are a lot of valuable lessons. And yes a lot of tears. But today we have progress. We are not saying every show will be like this with her but hopefully the more these 2 get to know each other the more consistent they will get. 🙏🏻
Pip wore her new soundproof ears from Fenwick Equestrian today.
Staying safe in her Helite_UK air jacket.
📸 - SBM Photographic
