Our Sandy Girl – “Sandy” (Tommy’s half sister)

Foaling Date: 05-Dec-2003

Sex: Mare Sire: OUR SIR VANCELOT NZ Dam: BLUE VAULT

Colour: Brown
Height: 14.2h
Country of birth: AU
Prizemoney: $8,462
Starts: 49, Wins: 1, Seconds: 2, Thirds: 2, Best Winning Mile Rate: 2:02.3MS

Last raced: 12-Mar-2009 GEELONG

Sandy is my daughter’s pony, added to our herd in October on the same day as Tazzy. I purchased Sandy sight unseen from an online friend because I liked what I saw in the photos and because she is an Our Sir Vancelot mare. She is not the prettiest mare, but she has such a sweet, affectionate and gentle nature that she has quickly become a much loved member of the family.

Sandy had been ridden before I got her, although is still very green. Groundwork and a couple of long trail rides around the property has improved her responsiveness and lightness tremendously, and she quickly learnt in our first ridden session that lots of one rein stops will stop jig-jogging and now has a lovely forward walk on the buckle:) On our second ride yesterday we worked on her confidence with strange things and places, during which time we also (unintentionally) practised our collected trotting and some lovely canter pirouettes;) Sandy is now responding to voice and leg/seat cues for halt/walk/trot and is starting to realise that leaves and honky nuts hitting my helmet (an intentional de-sensitising excercise) is not a horse eating monster on her back. In between our two ridden sessions, Sandy has also behaved beautifully in her role as lead line pony, and every moment that I spend with her re-assures me that she has the steady and calm personality to proceed to be Brit’s ‘first ridden’ pony in a couple of months time.

Sandy on her 'gotcha' day October 2009

First time lunging

1 November 2009 finally loosing that winter fur

First time working in running reins and roller

First time I've ridden her - 14 November

Sandy at Eagleburra

Tags: horse, standardbred