Here Come the Boys


The Adventures of Dylan and Pepper By Charley Snowdon


With legs that barely pass the saddle flaps, combined with the absolute, pure testing cheek of a 11hh, characterful Welsh cross, Dylan and his pony Pepper (7) are taking centre stage and enjoying the success and the pride filled rewards of learning together. “Dylan has to work so hard”, says Dylan’s mum, Jess Flack (28). “Pepper is definitely not a push button pony! I try and post the bad as well as the good moments on social media so people can see that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows!”


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This honest insight of observing the released potential and growth of the duo in such a short space of time, is an upliſting journey that has been embraced by the internet and has come at a time where the world needs a boost of wholesome happiness. “It started out as a separate Facebook and Instagram page to relieve unhorsey friends from the continual ‘me and my horse’ posts on my page”, explains Jess. “Before lockdown, Dylan would ride a bit on the lead rein or sit on a friends horse for a few seconds but that was about it, if I’m honest my riding took priority and if someone had told me then that Dylan and his progression on ponies would take over mine, I would have not believed them in a million years.”


Single parenthood and the importance of having an ‘outlet’ is well known and for Jess, her horses are very much that. “Dylan has always been around horses from a very young age. I had horses so he would have to come with me down to the yard and I suppose, he just had to get on with it”, continues Jess. “My friend had spotted an advert for an unbacked pony to loan on Facebook for Dylan. I ummed and ahhed for about 0.2 seconds, but I knew from the moment I set eyes on Pepper that he was the one. Dylan was also crazy about Pepper Pig at that time, so it was obviously meant to be!”


With their stars aligned, Pepper joined Jess and her expressive Spanish horse, Panearo at their shared yard in Sharnbrook. “In the


ylan Ward (5) and his pony Pepper are taking social media by storm and it’s not hard to see why.


Photo by www.TalismanPhotography.co.uk


beginning, Dylan took some persuading to ride and would get nervous quite easily”, explains Jess. “Once he did get the hang of something though, he would want to repeat it again and again. I never thought he would get off the lead rein with Pepper as Pepper was so green. Pepper had only been sat on by my friend a couple of times to see what he would be like under saddle and he bucked her off on their second attempt! Pepper, unlike a lot of ponies, has never been professionally schooled by an older child or small adult.”


When Dylan was four, he had just about mastered his ‘up’s and down’s’ and a determined Jess would tentatively ride and lead her son out on short hacks. “When we first started riding out together, Pepper was quite lazy and I would literally have to stretch my arm back and drag him along!” laughs Jess. “However, one day some- thing spooked Pepper and he shot forward at a million miles per hour, poor Dylan stood no chance and went straight out the back door!”


Dylan and Pepper were no worse for wear from their oops moment, but when it comes to falling off (which Jess admits happens quite oſten!) Jess, takes a very pragmatic and no nonsense approach to handling this inevitable part of kids and horses. “I try not to make a big deal of it and scoop him up and put him back on as soon as possible, I obviously check that he is okay first but as Dylan’s mum, I can always tell whether he is in any real pain or not”, says Jess. “The key is not to leave him too much time to dwell on it, the more he falls off the more he learns and the less it seems to phase him. Pepper is naughty though and will merrily trot away at the last moment when you try and retrieve him! Fortunately, he is


34 September/October 2020 For the latest news visit www.centralhorsenews.co.uk


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