Been There Done That Pony Lease Cost?

[McGurk]

My favorite naughty pony name? Hobson. As in, Hobson’s Choice. If you don’t want to Google, it essentially means you get this pony or no pony.

Hobson the pony was revered among other small ponies for dumping children multiple times in a single schooling session and for making little girls cry…often.

Back in my day, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, there were certain ponies that pretty much guaranteed a kid qualifying for Pony Finals, and those ponies leased for astronomical sums for a 1 month lease. They’d get one kid qualified for the Eq Finals, and then go to the next kid that needed to qualify.

[skydy]

I remember that thread. The photo was of an 8yr old Lillie Keenan on the cover of the Dover Saddlery catalogue. I think it was started by someone who couldn’t ride nearly as well but found it necessary to critique an 8 year old’s equitation.

New Dover Catalog Cover Photo

I am really bummed to have to get this off my chest. I love Dover Saddlery, and always look forward to getting their new catalog in the mail. Literally a Wishbook and loaded with scrumptious photos. However, the one I got today is really bothering me. The cover pic is an adorable little girl on a TDF grey pony. Very determined & darling expressions on both their faces. What is bothering me so much though, is the little girl’s leg is off the saddle and horse, the little gal’s toe is turned…

[MHM]

I remember that thread all too well.

I wonder how many of those critics have ever represented the US in international competition, much less won the Nations’ Cup at multiple major shows against the best in the world.

[Alterrain]

@Tha_Ridge

Let’s remember that Lillie Keenan, whose riding helped pilot our Nations’ Cup team this weekend, was Best Child Rider on a Pony at Devon — and her family wasn’t exactly just scraping by on hand-me-downs. Every time I think adults have outgrown the 'ole trope of “you never learn anything on a pushbutton horse,” I have COTH to bring me down to Earth

and lets ALSO remember the complete VITRIOL that came out on this very forum, when she was on the cover of Dover (I think it was Dover?)
Some things never change…

To answer the question, I believe Rico Suave is 250/ year, for just one example.

ETA: I see now I am late to the party. (And yes! My memory isn’t totally sh!t yet)

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Does anyone have a link to the OG photo? To be fair to the aghast posters, maybe it wasn’t terribly flattering, even though she was always a terrific rider?

I did a Google, and found some photos of her from 2007 riding ponies:

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/keenan-continues-her-winning-streak-pony-finals/

[Renn_aissance]

I don’t have a photo, but if I recall correctly, it was a lovely photo of the pony but the child, who was eight years old at the time, was pinching with her knee and her lower leg was back of her body, so as a result her hip angle was quite closed.

As children (and adults) may do, especially when they are maturing and figuring out their bodies.

Naturally this was everything that was wrong with the sport all in one picture of a child.

If Lillie Keenan’s development as a rider is everything wrong with the sport, I’m not sure we want to be right!

On a totally different note, I am gobsmacked (and I probably shouldn’t be) that for low-mid six figures you could lease a winning division pony for a few months or alternatively you could buy Cooley Quicksilver.

I’ll grant you that I could probably ride one of the ponies but I doubt I’m good enough to ride the horse!

[junesj68]

I read the original thread and I’m pretty sure it’s this one. It was on a dover catalog cover but I couldn’t find the actual catalog. However, based off descriptions, I think this is it.

[Tackpud]

@junesj68

I read the original thread and I’m pretty sure it’s this one. It was on a dover catalog cover but I couldn’t find the actual catalog. However, based off descriptions, I think this is it.

Stunning picture - then and now.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Wow, thanks for digging that up! I agree it’s a beautiful photo.

I do think 20+ years ago there was more of an emphasis in the hunter world on jamming your heels down in a more extreme way, but that has been talked about in many other threads!

[TheDBYC]

Easily $100,000, minimum. I work in commercial insurance. Somehow became the brokerage’s default “farm insurance” account manager – aka “give it to TheDBYC, she probably knows what she’s looking at”.

My colleagues are continually floored when I attempt to describe the factors contributing to the insurable value of a lot of show hunter pony:

“BUT, BUT, IT’S AN ANIMAL!!! MY HOUSE COST LESS THAN THAT!”

Yes, I know.

Eta: Briefly breathed the same air as Mr Magoo at Upperville a few years back. It felt like what seeing Timothee Chalomet must be like . DD18 always frames it as: “Mr. Magoo got a new kid this season.”

[Renn_aissance]

@junesj68

I read the original thread and I’m pretty sure it’s this one. It was on a dover catalog cover but I couldn’t find the actual catalog. However, based off descriptions, I think this is it.

I recall a bay pony and pink bows. But the basic position was the same. Darling pony jumping well, child showing age-appropriate skills. Pass me my smelling salts and a strand of pearls to clutch.

[axl]

I re-read that old thread.

I could do more good with Aunt Esther’s purse. My pearls are in no danger

[Alterrain]

That’s not the photo, it was a bay pony, a 3/4 shot, and LK was MUCH younger

[junesj68]

Ohhh ok. I wasn’t actually around for the thread itself. I just saw someone in the thread say it was a “tdf gray pony”

[MHM]

Definitely not the same picture. But the picture on the catalog was quite cute.

And more to the point, it was a young child who did not post the picture herself or ask a bunch of random strangers on the internet for a critique of any kind.

[supershorty628]

I’m actually 99% sure that the photo was on Aspen Spring, who was a small grey pony who lived to be approximately 1000 years old. Lillie is wearing an olive green/tan-ish jacket. It was a nearly head-on shot.

However, I am struggling very hard to find the photo. It is not the one that was posted above - I don’t think that’s even Lillie riding.

[supershorty628]

My searches keep showing me a photo of her on Beau Rivage and that is only DEEPENING MY RESOLVE TO FIND IT because I CAN PICTURE IT IN MY HEAD

[supershorty628]

I FOUND A LINK TO THE PHOTO IN QUESTION but it doesn’t work so I’m gonna trawl through some internet archive sites to see if I can recover it.

I’m a woman on a mission now.

[supershorty628]

I GOT IT

I GOT ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

[MHM]

Impressive search skills!!!