Loxahatchee, FL – April 4, 2016 – Jill Frumin and Picollino 2, a 13-year-old German Riding Pony, drew on their 10-year partnership to successfully complete their first Prix St. Georges test March 25 at the Welcome Back to White Fences II show. A Maryland resident, Frumin is in Wellington this year for her first winter season. With wonderful trainers and plenty of opportunity to get exposure in the ring, she hopes to further develop her longstanding partnership with the gelding. Frumin trains with Jim Koford and credits him as being the link that has helped her jump up the levels.
“I have had him since he was 3. Good and bad, he is all mine,” Frumin laughed. “Jim has taken all of the pieces and helped me put it all together at home. There is no part of the Prix St. Georges test that is difficult at home riding it in pieces, but putting the whole thing together in the arena was really challenging. I had a fantastic time and a fantastic experience.”
Preparing for the jump to the FEI levels, Frumin has been working at home to get Picollino more reactive to her aids.
“We have been working on transitions and asking the correct way to get clean transitions,” Frumin explained. “We have been working on the itty bitty pieces. Being at White Fences competing at this level was a huge highlight for me. It was honestly so much fun.”
Traveling to Germany to purchase Picollino was a dream come true for Frumin. On her checklist of things she was looking for in a mount, a young horse or a pony didn’t make the cut. But Frumin has grown to appreciate training a young horse and developing a bond with him over time.
“When I purchased him, the fact that he was 3 years old was a disadvantage,” Frumin said. “I didn’t want a pony, but I fell in love with the way he moved. He didn’t get along with many people, but from the moment I sat on him we just had this weird connection. I tried not to buy him, but I kept coming back to him.”
Frumin and Picollino went through the young horse classes together, which gave the gelding a lot of show experience and positive miles.
“He is a little bit of an internal nervous horse,” Frumin said. “The young horse classes gave him confidence going into the ring. After the young horse classes we went back to the drawing board, and I waited to develop our partnership a little more before heading back into the ring.”
Frumin looks to continuing growing her 10-year partnership with the gelding, aiming to have more positive rides as she continues her progress with the goal of competing Grand Prix.
“The question is what can I do with this talent,” Frumin said. “My focus now has to be working to have him not shut me out in the show ring. It’s just about getting him used to being out there and performing in front of a crowd. It’s just about time and experience.”
Frumin continued, “We just knocked out our first Prix St. Georges; I feel great about it. Check off that box! I am going to continue to dedicate myself to working harder. The great thing is now we have a place to build from.”
