First Ride & Jump on Bridget! | GoPro

Thank you so much Maddy for letting me ride your gorgeous horse! Bridget (Connemara x ISH grey mare) is a livery at the yard and I was very lucky to have a lesson on her a couple of weeks ago. We did a little bit of pole work, building up to some bounces and grid work which both Bridget and I really enjoyed! This was all fairly easy for Bridget as she's experienced, but obviously as it was my first ever time riding her we didn't go too crazy with the exercises! I loved how quickly she picked up on my cues for things like transitions, as obviously it took me a little while to work out her buttons and vice versa as it was our first time meeting each other. A great example of this is our first canter transition, where I asked for the canter in my normal way and Bridget went 'huh? You talking to me??' until she finally realised what I was asking, but by the second time we tried, she got it straight away and had obviously figured out what I meant really quickly, and she was straight off my leg & seat each time after that!
The canter poles and bounces were also really good fun on her because she's got a lovely powerful back end and rounds her back nicely over a jump with little effort, which is always a nice feeling and also means you know they can get themselves out of trouble if you get the striding a bit wrong! Although I probably won't ride Bridget again, it was really nice to have a little pop on such a lovely horse and see what she's like to ride!
🚨For a bit of balance, I would appreciate it if anyone leaving rude or negative criticism/tips/advice would also donate at least £1 to a charity of their choice 😊
QOTD: Mares or Geldings?
Ponies/horses:
Bridget - approx 15.2hh grey mare
Helmet Cam: GoPro Hero 6
Follow me on social media for extra clips and photos!
💜 Instagram: / pony_cam
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⬇️ FAQs ⬇️
🔵 DO YOU OWN THE HORSES & PONIES IN YOUR VIDEOS?
No, all the horses & ponies belong to a lovely riding school, or are working liveries at the same yard.
🔵 WILL YOU EVER GET YOUR OWN HORSE?
I would love to own a pony one day, but for now I am more than happy having weekly lessons on the fantastic riding school horses & ponies.
🔵 WHY DO YOU ALWAYS JUMP THE SAME HEIGHT?
These riding school ponies usually jump more than once a week, and sometimes more than once a day, so we don’t jump ‘big’ except on special occasions to ensure the ponies stay sound and live long, happy lives. Fence height has very little to do with jumping technique or experience.
🔵 HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING FOR?
I’ve been having weekly lessons in riding schools for 16 years now!
🔵 IF YOU’VE BEEN RIDING FOR SO LONG, WHY DON’T YOU COMPETE?
I have no personal interest in competing or jumping huge tracks. I ride for fun, simple as that!
🔵 WHY ARE THE HORSES ALREADY TACKED UP WHEN YOU APPROACH THEM?
This is a busy riding school & livery yard and so the lesson horses are tacked up by the staff who work there to ensure they are ready to leave the yard on time and have been tacked up correctly.
🔵 DO THE HORSES STAY TACKED UP 24/7?
No. The horses are only tacked up right before their lessons and spend the rest of their time turned out in grass fields.
🔵 WHO IS ROBIN FROM YOUR VIDEOS?
Robin is my mum and she rides with me in my lesson every week. She's 64 and fearless as ever!

[@PonyCam]

👇 This is the number of times I say ‘gOoD gIrL’ in the video

[@tobythetiger8034]

LOL!🤣

[@Lucythehorserider]

I used to lean more to geldings , but I share a lovely Dark Bay Warmblood x mare and she is lovely. Aww she looks so sweet to ride.

[@ahqgamer5702]

Lol

[@snail7333]

gOoD gIrL, Claire 😂

[@sarahdevincentis8483]

100th like! Yay!

[@imogenprice7870]

Claire: “Sorry I’m going to be your rider!” 😂😂😂😂 Bridget: (thinking) whatevs! 😂😂 She’s such a sweet girl!

[@sarahdevincentis8483]

"I am going to be your rider" .... "Sorry"

[@ilovehamilton2987]

she looks gorgeous!

[@maddyhafferty2763]

tysm :)

[@thisequinehannah8336]

@@maddyhafferty2763 why are you saying tysm?

[@maddyhafferty2763]

@@thisequinehannah8336 shes my horse hah, read the desc I'm Maddy :)

[@imogenprice7870]

Wow your so lucky to have such a sweet mare! Do you compete her regularly? 🥰🥰

[@maddyhafferty2763]

@@imogenprice7870 I dint compete yet but I plan to in the future x

[@everestissomeone3670]

The way you act around horses, it's just so wonderful to watch. I love the way you "greet" yourself to horses you haven't ridden either.

[@maddyhafferty2763]

ayyy that's my horse :))) glad she was good for you, yeah we do canter transitions a bit different ahah, her walk to canter is amazing though

[@PonyCam]

She was a star 🌟 It’s always funny getting on other people’s horses and seeing how they respond to my ‘normal’ cues and how I need to adjust my riding accordingly! x

[@jasleengyani5136]

You own her? Shes beautiful! So u let others ride her or what?

[@maddyhafferty2763]

@@jasleengyani5136 This was just a one off as I was away on holiday

[@jasleengyani5136]

@@maddyhafferty2763 oh shes gorgeous You're so lucky oml

[@chacharealsmooth9113]

She seems so sweet 🐎

[@emilie6573]

I love how you say hello to the horse in the start 😍

[@gracemcnally8753]

QOTD, I love a good mare but have to say a gelding 😂😂💖

[@rosie-pj4dp]

Question: Definitely mares!! Love them and I feel like I get on with them more than geldings! And I love a good, crazy pony mare (they're usually devils but also the absolute best!!) Bridget looks so fun to ride and it looks like you did really well with her!! X

[@sineadbarrett3194]

The people who we're saying that you should be jumping is wrong be proud of you're self because your amazing

[@saga6634]

You two are just a fantastic duo!!

[@TheJmack78]

He canter looks so smooth!

[@dorothycoaleventing1567]

QOTD: That's hard, but I'll have to say geldings since my horse himself is a gelding 🤣🤣

[@jasleengyani5136]

Hahhah same! My pony is a gelding, acts like a mare

[@bellahuey8032]

QOTD: so from a personal standpoint I own a mare. I love her to bits and wouldn't trade her for anything. But I have also owned a gelding. Mares, I feel like, and much more relaxed and and calm. And geldings are much more rowdy and hyper. Just my opinion so I guess both😂

[@snail7333]

I have never owned a calm mare in my life 😂😂😂 But yeah, both is better!

[@meganhoover3851]

I think you got the descriptions of mares and geldings mixed up there!

[@zlm9922]

@@meganhoover3851 haha honestly! gelding is the def of I will listen to you if you are nice to me and mare is the def of I am gonna do things my way wether you like it or not!

[@tobythetiger8034]

Same, I have a mare and she is super calm and she lets my friends and neighbors pet her. And then there's my apendix gelding and he's SUPER crazy he get scared by the littlest things.... One day we were going for a walk around my property and he heard something in a bush and then a squirrel come running out and he flipped out he pulled the lead rope out of my hand and almost got away. I am lucky he didn't run away. But I still can't say which I like more, it just depends.

[@cutecacti8039]

Bridget is adorable 🥺

[@maddyhafferty2763]

Ty x

[@jasleengyani5136]

QOTD: geldings all the way!!

[@dinosaursgreatgrandson360]

OMG VUTE CUTR CUT CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE

[@masha_yo]

OMG this was amazing

[@jess-ve7kt]

You and Bridget are so good together😊

[@alcequestrian]

What a lovely video! I am in love with Bridget, she seems like such a sweet mare! AOTD: I don't really mind but I typically ride geldings so I do prefer to ride them. It just depends on the personality more than their gender to me!

[@kizziplayz4194]

QOTD: I’m gonna have to be different and say mates i think they have more character than geldings and you can build a better bond with them 💗

[@vikkiclarke2900]

Yo Yo i wouldn’t say you could build a better bond with them but they deffo have more character, i feel like building bonds is if the rider and horse work together

[@maddiemiskimmin1212]

I’ve always preferred mares ! :)

[@marsy6359]

Used to ride all the time and i miss it so much, but ive gotten really excited as in a couple years im planning on riding again in uni :) Ive watched your channel for years. Love from the US

[@stellaotto5052]

She’s so cute!!

[@taylorcollison3862]

QOTD: I can't pick! I love and adore both!

[@user-fj3pp7xv4t]

It’s so amazing

[@2.welsh.ponies522]

She looks gorgeous!Hope you had fun!QOTD: geldings!We have to and they are lovely and I had to say them!But I’m not saying I don’t like mares too!☺️

[@tobythetiger8034]

Aww she's so cute! I have a mare and a gelding and I can't say which I like more.🙂

[@ahqgamer5702]

I live seeing these types of vids

[@basilsbunnyroom__9400]

Aww you did amazing

[@user-lf4rp6wd7p]

The horses is so cuteeeeeeee

[@Jiyooncore]

I love your video's❤️😍

[@didalysquat466]

she looks beautiful absolutely stunning 10 out of 10 also 10 out of 10 on the saddle pad

[@maddyhafferty2763]

hehe I love matchy, and tysm

[@snail7333]

Bridget looks beautiful! She looks like she'd be a fun ride. QOTD: Difficult question- I'll say gelding just because the gelding I normally ride acts like a mare but less mareish? He's sassy but not so sassy, ig. But I do love both!

[@siracastro7281]

I love her jumps ❤

[@maddyhafferty2763]

ty

[@siracastro7281]

@@maddyhafferty2763 your pony is so good i hope that in the future are good jumper 😃

[@user-pj8hd1xk6i]

Beautiful❤🥰 Horse cute😚🐎

[@hellothere3270]

There's only one gelding at my barn now, all the mares are in heat. It.. was eventful to say the least.

[@tetudocommaisumpoucocomtet2395]

I Love horses

[@nodrill7908]

What a cutie❤️

[@miriam.blanarova]

🐎

[@paaugdp]

I love Bridget

[@andreatardioli634]

Wow

[@gracemcnally8753]

Omg first!!! 💖💖💖

[@Rachelvehiclespotting]

Great video. QOTD: Tbh I like both Mares and Geldings. I've been able to ride both and I like both.

[@lillianwalker2307]

Good job, she seems like such a lovely mare and a great new horse for you to ride! Speaking of new horses I’ve had the go ahead to try some of the thoroughbreds at my riding school as the ponies are a bit small for me now 😂

[@maddyhafferty2763]

this was just a one off because I (her owner) was away x

[@lillianwalker2307]

Maddy Hafferty she’s a lovely horse, you’ve done a great job with her ❤️

[@kateb7250]

QOTD: Either! I love how mares can give you a hard time being all exited, but so can geldings. I don’t have a lot of experience on mares, because the only mares at my barn are either western horses, or a bit too small for me, and I am a tall human :) So I usually ride the geldings :) Ahh I wish I could have a LeMieux saddle pad!!! They’re so beautiful, they’re actually less expensive than most saddle pads, but I need a large saddle pad because I have a super long drop on my saddle, and I need more coverage since I use my saddle on multiple different horses :) Amazing lesson! She’s so beautiful! Crazy that she’s not piebald or scewbald 😂😱

[@maddyhafferty2763]

I have a lemieux addiction haha 💕😂

[@eliess1527]

She is so pretty 😍

[@maddyhafferty2763]

ty

[@jodie-leighgeddes-me5xx]

Where u go is it in hull ???

[@rosieferguson75853]

aww

[@hanniras]

QOTD: In the riding school I ride at there is actually only one non-pony mare. And since she is fairly new and seems a little to unsteady for me, I've never ridden her. I grew out of the ponies during the 2019 summer break and since then, I have only ridden one mare, my riding instructor let her mare go to the school for a few weeks when she could not stay at home. I really loved riding her since she was a little more exciting than the riding school horses, she's the only horse I know that has kicked back two times with me on. But, like I said, all the horses I ride are geldings including my favourite. So I'll have to go with them. 🐎🦄

[@charlotte-xq7sl]

What boots are you wareing as it looks like a pair of Brogini I could be wrong just want to know

[@PonyCam]

They’re Mark Todd long leather field boots 😊

[@amy_xo637]

QOTD: I don’t know! I don’t really ride mares only on hacks an they have been fab. When schooling I have only rode gelding an they also r fab so that is to hard🤣💗

[@lisianeklein969]

que legal alguem brasileiro

[@Tigger783]

She is so cute! I stopped riding 2 and a half years ago. Should I go back?

[@joudy3739]

if you feel like you wanna go back GO BACK Don't let anyone change your opinion

[@Tigger783]

Amber Gaming Thanks for the advice 👍. Just I was totally forgotten once new people came and it wasn’t the same.

[@joudy3739]

@@Tigger783 it's fine I think that I always find horse riding a stress relief place for me all the time I think you should go back and not care about anyone else

[@Lillymae310]

She looks the exact same as my horse

[@okayhi2594]

QOTD geldings for sure

[@Isobel201]

QOTD - mares can be more opinionated sometimes, but then I've ridden some good mares, and some bad ones. Same with geldings, so not sure being male or female makes a difference, until the mare comes into season lol.

[@elysiaeves5321]

For the question I have a gelding at the moment who I loan but we are buying a mare called suri soon so definitely mares but they have more of an attitude than geldings 😂😂💕

[@myeventinglife4808]

She is so pretty hopefully you will rose her in the future

[@PonyCam]

Thank you, but riding Bridget was a one off as I was just having a lesson on her while her owner was away 😊

[@roselainealmeidapereira2854]

Você é muito boa

[@tocaimmy4136]

do they sleep with their tack on?

[@PonyCam]

No, they’re tacked up just before their lesson - there’s a FAQ section in the description box that might answer any more questions you might have.

[@tocaimmy4136]

@@PonyCam alright, thank you!

[@Montyequine]

:O a horse that isn’t piebald or skewbald!

[@PonyCam]

I know! The horror!! 😂

[@foxworthypepper1667]

FIRST YES

[@leeangus1839]

What a beautiful girl Robin you did really awesome with Brigit

[@JoergMom]

QOTD: that's a hard one. I love my gelding but I have to say mares XD

[@miah7]

QOTD: geldings unless the mare is nice ❤️ But obviously either are amazing

[@user-fq4um4ww6h]

Везет у вас специальная подставка для того что бы залезть на лошадь,мы практически запрыгевае на нее

[@larkynhendren9854]

qotd: i personally would rather a mare since i feel any bond created with a mare is stronger especially if they have given birth

[@tauma_the_goat7156]

For some reason this is the first time in ages one of your videos have popped up on my recommendation page! I have some catching up to do! I thought you just hadn’t posted!

[@aussietv2000]

I have the same girth but why don’t u use a matin gale

[@PonyCam]

This horse doesn’t need a martingale! 😊

[@aussietv2000]

PonyCam but when jumping and you have a martingale does it give them a disadvantage to jump?

[@PonyCam]

@@aussietv2000 A correctly fitting running martingale is fine to jump in, but a standing martingale should never be jumped in. The only point to a martingale is to stop a horse from putting their head too high or throwing their head up/back which can be dangerous or means the rider has little control - some horses work better with them, and some horses naturally carry their heads lower and just don’t need them.

[@aussietv2000]

PonyCam i know that but when ever I canter my horse tilts his head side ways his not even a Arabian horse it’s a throw bread

[@maddyhafferty2763]

Hi! Bridget is my horse and she is very chilled out and I only ever use a martingale for XC because she's so calm and well behaved :)

[@equestrianOda]

Early!

[@syrine1823]

I do not know too much about riding but is it normal that there is no straw in his box? 🤔

[@PonyCam]

The horses are turned out on grass 24/7 until the fields get too muddy in the winter. The stables are just used for tacking up/untacking when the horses are being ridden, not to stay in long-term.

[@syrine1823]

@@PonyCam oh ok c:

[@meganhoover3851]

QOTD: I prefer geldings. If you have ever owned an older mare you will know exactly why...

[@tobythetiger8034]

Ik, I have a 15 year old mare

[@meganhoover3851]

When I took lessons as a little kid, my trainer kept putting me on a little mare called Snowflake. Let’s just say that every ride was a scarring life experience.....

[@snezanakrizic1096]

Blago se tebi radis ono sto volis znam da ovo ne razunes ni ja ne razumem tebe ali te obozavam jer volim konje i ti si profi u tome dragomi je sto snimas i sto ja mogu da gledam tebe i na neki nacin da dozivim kako je to biti na konju svaki tvoj video me inspirise da ne odustanem od svoje zelje da imam konja i da budem dobar jahac kao ti mnogo te volim - I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

[@StinkLikeCheeze]

QOTD: both

[@jasleengyani5136]

Hey I had a question. Are all the riding arenas in UK this small?

[@PonyCam]

This is a standard size 20x40m arena, it’s not small at all! just not one of those giant ones where you can have multiple lessons going on at once! 😊

[@jasleengyani5136]

@@PonyCam I'm so sorry if that sounded rude! Because I was just curious🤦🏽‍♀️

[@jasleengyani5136]

@@PonyCam oh so our dressage arena here in Asia is 20m×60m(the original size) And jumping is I think 35m×like 80m

[@PonyCam]

No don’t worry! 20x40 is the standard size in the uk and is the Dressage arena size for BE (British Eventing) and also some BD (British Dressage), so a lot of places have an area this size for schooling or lessons, then possibly a larger second arena or a separate paddock for jumping. Lots of riding schools / yards in the UK will either have a few separate smaller arenas / jumping paddocks, or one much larger one for everything 😊

[@greenleaf4570]

"I'm gonna be your rider, sorry" she indeed looked very unimpressed at first haha Do you have a preference for riding mares or geldings? edit: how haven't I read the description box before and accidentally asked you the exact same thing? haha For me it's geldings though, don't know why, I just click better and easier with them.

[@PonyCam]

I honestly like them both equally for different reasons! I’d rather ride a mare on a regular basis/more than once to get to know them a bit more slowly, whereas I’m happy to just hop on geldings and not feel like I need to ‘test the waters’ as much!

[@maddyhafferty2763]

She always looks like that 😑 😂 💖

[@greenleaf4570]

@@PonyCam yeah you're right!

[@greenleaf4570]

@@maddyhafferty2763 haha she's gorgeous :D

[@alyssapayne7444]

Well at least you have a nice horse instructor Mine is flat out mean

[@NIFNIF14]

:33

[@ruthwebb258]

I am gonna be your rider, sorry ~ MEEEEE

[@cleo.brooksffion7354]

mares

[@xxgachalemonxx1343]

QOTD: gelding def

[@bridgetgreca9786]

Bridget is my name

[@miasworld5386]

Geldings

[@samcampbell6411]

Hi , first

[@hanakinsidewalker]

Mares lol

[@susan2962]

Czemu w boksie nie ma ściółki?

[@PonyCam]

Because the horse is only in there to be tacked up / untacked, she’s not in there all day.

[@basilsbunnyroom__9400]

What’s the highest you’ve EVER jumped

[@jomonk7346]

What riding school is that

[@equestrianashes6564]

Turpin Lodge Riding School

[@Butter_-]

First

[@soph._.equine175]

is it just me or is there a troll in trolls called Bridget??? Just me ok.

[@L.C123]

QOTD: Gelding is my preference as two mares out of four that I’ve ridden have been “mare-ish” and they would have a tantrum or buck or both😂 with everyone who got on them but I have ridden two that were never like that and they were gentle giants and taught me a lot 🥰😊 but I do prefer geldings though I feel they are a lot more chill in every which way possible 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

[@lulu_legend]

You horse is cute 😍😍😍

[@hayaelachkar8162]

Do you have your own horse and if not are you planning on getting one?

[@haileycampbell5472]

She doesn’t but she said maybe in the future In a long time she might get one

[@TanTrance]

good girl good girl good girlllllllll

[@asimplyfan7309]

Hi uumm can you do a barn your on your next vid pls

[@haileycampbell5472]

A barn what??

[@martynamazur2605]

Its a riding school so I think it would be quite awkward

[@haileycampbell5472]

a simply fan she can’t. She not aloud

[@ItsMe-pz9yh]

If i had a dollar for every time she said gOoD gIrL i would be rich!!!!

[@vgeniia_1236]

Я одна сдесь русская

[@hannahequestrian0915]

You said good girl 32 times

[@leandradosing5223]

Oh no so sad😅😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ilsebatten8028]

Is it just me or does GoPro footage make you kinda feel sick