Super-safe ‘super-ponies’
HOW many times have you heard someone say, “Where are all the wonderful hunting ponies like the ones we had when we were young?”
In happy reminiscences, perfect ponies seemed to arrive gift-wrapped, as if by magic at exactly the right time in a child’s riding education. Although, of course there was some clever work going on behind the scenes to ensure that this was the case.
There are wonderful hunting ponies around, but they take some finding and you need to be on the ball – or just plain lucky – to get hold of them. First hunting ponies seem to be the most elusive.
To secure them you need to stake them out while the future jockey is still in the womb, add your name to a waiting list as long as a phone directory and hope that you will pass the test as a suitable home for “Super-pony”.
Sarah Austen first spotted 11.2hh Ellen when she
