Post by sepia on Sept 18, 2010 1:24:50 GMT -6
Show Name: Bowland Grit
Barn Name: Grit
Age: Eleven
Gender: Gelding
Color: Black
Breed: Dales Pony
Height: 14.2 hands
Personality: As stocky and as straightforward as Pel herself, this pony is exquisitely matched with his owner. Both incredibly stubborn, incredibly forceful animals, they frequently get into battles of will about just where they're going next, usually won by Pel only because she has had fifteen years of out-stubborning her parents to draw on.
Perhaps not the most elegant of animals, Grit definitely has - appropriately enough, given his name - enough 'heart' to keep going through almost anything, stubbornly giving his best to whatever is asked of him... if he's in the mood, of course. If he's feeling awkward, it's incredibly difficult to get him to walk in a straight line, but when he's on form he and Pel can - and will - outcompete animals twice their size, mainly through a combination of sheer nerve, neither being the type to back away from a challenge, and an utter refusal to admit defeat.
History: Bred and born in the Pennines in the UK (and named appropriately for the region) Grit moved to the USA when his owner did, when he was five, and has been on that side of the Atlantic ever since. Though pigheaded, he was eager to learn, and so turned out to be a very versatile pony for his young owner, only being sold on when he was outgrown, at which point he entered Pel's life.
Bought from an auction by her when he was nine, as part of her rebellion against her parents, though also because she fell in love the dark pony when he stomped on the foot of his handler, got loose, and took off across the auction grounds. Pel was the one to catch him - having sensibly brought along bribes of carrots - and was lost to the defiant spirit she saw in Grit, much like her own. Her religiously saved pocket-money was soon spent, and she rode the Dales Pony home, inordinately pleased when his only reaction to traffic was to look rather annoyed.
Though her parents did her level best to get rid of him, Pel persevered, and being allowed to attend Blue Ridge, trusty Grit at her side, is one of her greatest triumphs. Now, all they have to do is show everyone how awesome they are...
Discipline: English - dressage, jumping, cross country, gymkhana, endurance riding... He's very versatile!
Owner/Rider: Pelliwen Archer