Thoughts about Trying New Things

I have not, historically, been what you would call a “jumper”. And yet I somehow managed to earn a blue ribbon in hunter-jumper at Equus IPPE 2019.

This was unexpected.

My Equus IPPE 2019 experience included a number of firsts.

• It was my first Equus IPPE
• I performed my first Pony erformance.
• I participated in my first Dressage event (Dressage Test 1).
  • Related: I earned my first Dressage ribbon, 4th place ❤️.
• My Handler and I were awarded our first leather title.

This last item is probably the biggest, capital ‘B’ thing to happen in the entire weekend, as I have written about before and will write about again. There was another first, however, that while small by itself, packed a tremendous emotional punch which I’m still processing.

I won my first blue ribbon.

I am not competitive by nature. I enjoy the company of ponies, but it’s only in the last couple of years that I have been interested in competing with my friends. (All in good fun, of course! Pony play is fun above all else 🏇). I have never felt the need for external validation as a pony.

That said, there was something powerful about being awarded a blue ribbon. It joins the handful of red, yellow and white ribbons I’ve earned in the last few years. That it was in a game for which I had low expectations only made it more surprising.

I’m not sure that there is a broader message in this post, but if there is, it would be “don’t be afraid to try new things as a pony, and also don’t take any one source, myself included, as the source for Pony Play opinions and thoughts.” Even Ponies who have been doing this for a long time can be surprised and learn new things!

Your pony friend, Tromper ❤️🐴!