Jimmy our veteran pony
Jimmy has been our veteran pony at the MC Riding School for many years. He is a 13.3h paint pony. Originally Sarah McVicker’s (Dee’s daughter and respected coach at MCEQ) first pony and a strong eventer. Sarah rode Jimmy for 3 years, eventing him to 90cm.
Sarah described Jimmy as an absolute legend, who has a strong sense of fairness and he would always sense if she was nervous and keep her safe. She laughs recalling that Jimmy would also school her if she was being a brat of a child!
They competed at Nationals twice, 80cm and 90cm. Once when they were down in Melbourne at Nationals, Sarah was moving her other horse to a new stall and Jimmy started freaking out that he was being left behind, so he tried to jump over the chain to the stall. He ended up getting stuck half way with the chain under his belly and his legs not being able to touch each side. They had to enlist the help of two really strong men to physically lift Jimmy off the chain so they could unhook it! He then went on to compete in the 80cm and placed 4th in Combined Training! (Jimmy & Sarah pictured below).
Jimmy was then bought by the McCarroll’s when Sarah outgrew him. Tilly McCarroll, who has since been named NSW Young Eventer of the Year, then rode Jimmy for 4 years.
Tilly described their relationship as “a little volatile”. She said “Jimmy taught me patience and discipline”. She laughed that “when I’d come home from school in a bad mood and ride Jimmy, taking it out on him, that he’d race around the arena to try to calm me down”. Tilly comments that “she wishes she could clone him, he was a super smart pony and taught me the basics of eventing”. (Jimmy & Tilly pictured below)
Tilly recalls fondly some of the great memories the two accomplished . At interschools Coonabarabran North West Equestrian Expo they jumped 1.2m in the 6-bar, a great feat for a little pony! He competed in all the sporting events and polo cross. He was a true all-rounder and they had many fantastic years riding together.
When Tilly McCarroll outgrew Jimmy, the McCarroll’s didn’t want to sell him, but wanted him to be able to help so many other young kids learn to ride. “We felt the perfect place for him was with MC Equestrian Riding School. He would be close by so we could visit him, and we knew he was in good hands with Dee and Sarah McVicker, both knowledgeable horse women. Jimmy will be kept in regular work till it’s time for him to retire, when we will take him back”. Comments Tilly McCarroll.