Welcome to my Amazing Equines page. There are many many equines out there and they're all amazing, but these are some equines
really amazing. This month I'm focusing on Stroller, one amazing pony!
STROLLER
This is the story of Stoller, the pony who thought he was a horse, a 14.2 hh bay, who became an Olympics champion. You
can call it luck that Stoller met up with his rider, they had a special partnership together. Stroller met his rider Marion Coakes in 1960, Stoller
was 7, she was only 13. Her father had been looking for a new pony for her because she had outgrown her old pony. As soon as she saw him
she knew he was the pony for her. Stroller wasn't too nice to people or horses but he was always nice with Marion. Marion took care
of Stroller herself and schooled every day with her father, who was a well know trainer. A way to desribe Stoller's jumping is to say he 'soared' over
every fence in front of him. He pushed himself into the air with such a jump he could clear every fence. He always jumped in good form, knees nicely tucked
and rarely touched a fence. Marion was always helping Stroller get his jumps right by sensitive riding. With another rider, a more careless one,
Stroller wouldn't have been so successful. With Strollers talent Marion was a top junior rider in England. Stroller jumped clear in the rounds and the British juniors
ended up in 6th place. By the time that happened Marion decided to regsiter him as a horse so she could show in adult classes when she turned
17 in 1964. Then they went on to national and internation championships. Whenever people saw Stroller come into the ring for a class in an international
show people would say there was no way that little pony could do it, and they ever got a surprise! He would launch into his smooth, silky
rocking canter and fly over fences as a 17hh horse would. Stroller was such a brave and spectacular pony wheever he cae out of the ring
people cheered and clapped and groaned if a pole fell, or there was a mistake, which happened rarely. They even competed in the Royal Winter
Fair in Toronto once. Despite all of Stroller's success people couldn't belive that such a small pony could become a top jumper, but they had
qaalified in enough shows, they made it onto the British Olympic Show Jumping Team and went to the Mexican games in 1968. The pre-olympic
trials were made harder because people doubted Strollers ability. They thought 'How could a pony jump a 6 foot stone wall!?' BUT in the trials
Stroller jumped cleanly and beat some of the best horse show jumpers and even timed in jump offs. Stoller's biggest triumph hadn't happened yet,
it was to come at the Olympic games in Mexico. Stroller came through with flying colours and defeated teh best of the best to win an Olympic
silver, just narrowly missing gold. Stroller proved to the whole world what a great 'horse' he really was!
Here's a picture of Stroller jumping!
Any questions or comments on this section? Then email ME with any!
All images on this page are © Sandra Glover, please ask PERMISSION before use!
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