Erehwemos
Well-Known Member
...my Mickey was delivered to our house in a rattling old cattle trailer. We'd been to try him just two days before, and although he was everything we'd have never looked for, there was no way I wasnt going to have him. Beaten, overjumped and then abandoned by his owner, the lady who owned the yard where he was kept took it upon herself to sell him to recoup the livery fees she was owed by his absent owner.
Mickey was absolutely terrified of people to begin with, but after days and days of patience, he gradually he learned to trust me. I spent ages with him just talking and petting him, and the day he actually whinnied to me when I walked into the yard, I burst into tears - for a long time I never thought he'd ever look forward to seeing anyone.
A few weeks after we got him, his nasty ex-owner got in touch to say he wanted him back, and for a while I was devastated at the thought we were going to lose him. A short legal wrangle followed, but Mickey stayed with us. His future, however, was uncertain - everyone at Pony Club said he was dangerous, and Mum was given a lot of grief by instructors and other mothers about the fact that Mickey was sure to cause an accident one day
Deep down, I was a bit frightened of him I guess - but I never let on to anyone the fact that he regularly bolted when out hacking (and I DO mean 'proper' bolting - not just grabbing the bit and tanking off). I was so scared that he'd be sold if anyone discovered how unpredictable he could be - it wasnt his fault he was scared, after all. I remember one time when he took off with me and only came to a stop by cannoning into a gate which a farmer had blockaded with his truck after seeing us galloping madly up the track - I pleaded with him not to tell Mum what he had seen
I count myself so lucky that in all the while I had him, I never actually came off or hurt myself - for it surely was an accident waiting to happen.
Mickey's luck ran out just seven months after he came to us, and he died of an apparent heart attack in his stable on 21st May 2000. I cannot believe it is ten years ago since I first saw him; such a lot has happened since then - you could say my life has turned around completely.
Where do the years go? It seems like yesterday that I was stood there with him in the field, that very first day, whispering to him that he needn't worry any more, that he would be safe and loved with me. I cannot believe that was a decade ago
Mickey was absolutely terrified of people to begin with, but after days and days of patience, he gradually he learned to trust me. I spent ages with him just talking and petting him, and the day he actually whinnied to me when I walked into the yard, I burst into tears - for a long time I never thought he'd ever look forward to seeing anyone.
A few weeks after we got him, his nasty ex-owner got in touch to say he wanted him back, and for a while I was devastated at the thought we were going to lose him. A short legal wrangle followed, but Mickey stayed with us. His future, however, was uncertain - everyone at Pony Club said he was dangerous, and Mum was given a lot of grief by instructors and other mothers about the fact that Mickey was sure to cause an accident one day
Mickey's luck ran out just seven months after he came to us, and he died of an apparent heart attack in his stable on 21st May 2000. I cannot believe it is ten years ago since I first saw him; such a lot has happened since then - you could say my life has turned around completely.
Where do the years go? It seems like yesterday that I was stood there with him in the field, that very first day, whispering to him that he needn't worry any more, that he would be safe and loved with me. I cannot believe that was a decade ago
