Anyone who knew Schuyler, knew he was generally a grumpy pony. However, all that would change if you took him to a horse show! He LOVED to go to shows! And he was good at them too! I remember at one show, we were allowed to see the judge’s comments afterwards. She wrote that Schuyler was “cute and business-like”. She couldn’t have been more right about him, when it came to showing. In almost all his show photos, you will see his ears up and pointed at his job, whether it was jumping, or driving obstacles, or a dressage test, or a hunter flat class. This pony could truly do it all, and do it all well! He was one of those rare ponies that was exactly the same at shows as at home – no extra fireworks, but perhaps some extra dedication. .
He was also an excellent listener. If you watched closely in the hunter classes, you could see him respond to the announcer’s commands before his rider had a chance to tell him what to do. I never realized just how good his hearing and understanding were until I was with a student in a driving class. The young students had to have an adult driver with them in their classes. In Carriage Pleasure Driving, the teams will be asked for a walk, a working trot, a slow trot, and a strong trot. We were going along at a working trot, and the announcer said, “Slow trot, please. Slow trot”. Before his driver could send him the cue, Schuyler had already brought himself down to a lovely, collected, swinging, slow trot. My jaw about dropped!
He was also often named the pony obstacle champion at driving shows. I barely had to help guide him through an obstacle course. All I really had to do was show him which obstacle was next. He would always find the middle on his own. His favorite obstacle was the one in the Gambler’s Choice classes, where the driving team had to trot up to a jump obstacle, turn around, back up to it, knock the jump pole off the standards, and then trot on to the next obstacle. It was usually worth many points because it could take a lot of time, and most horses wouldn’t back very straight. Schuyler was a pro at it, though. He knew exactly what to do and was FAST! He would get really close, turn, back up perfectly straight, and as soon as he heard the pole drop, he was off like a flash to the next obstacle!
He was just as good in his jumping classes too! He never hit a pole or knocked one down, whether at home or at shows! In fact, the one time he did stumble and hit a pole at home, I knew he was ready to stop jumping. It was so unlike him, and he looked so frustrated that it had happened. I hope Katie chimes in to tell her version of the time she was riding Schuyler in a stadium course at a horse trial. Her helmet had slipped down over her eyes, and she had to do almost the entire course blindfolded! They still went double clear! I’m sure other people have more stories about him at horse shows, so I hope they all contribute their memories. Schuyler took so many people, young and old, to so many horse shows. He helped them win lots of ribbons, but he also helped them gain joy and build confidence that would last a lifetime.
