noblesteed
Well-Known Member
WARNING - SELF-INDULGENT POST!!!!!!!!!!
Today I have owned my horse for 3 years! He is brilliant and has taught me so much.
It took me until I was 29 to be in a position to buy my first horse. The day I went to try him he threw me off and I got concussion. It didn't put me off and after 2 more visits and vetting he came to a nice livery yard near me. We didn;t get on very well and he kept bucking me off after jumping so we gave that up straight away. He wouldn't hack out alone, he would try to smear me against trees, throw himself into walls. He spooked and spun at anything and I kept falling off. He was bargy and rude on the ground, wouldn't stand and would throw himself around in the stable. He was lovely to ride when he was behaving and we had lessons and got to be fairly good at dressage!!! Several times I came close to selling him, I lost all my confidence to the point where it would take me 10 mins to mount in the school. After 18 months of struggling I fell off and broke my arm.
I moved yards to a quiet farm and didn't know if I would ever ride him again. However things got better and I realised how much I loved riding, that he was a fabulous horse and I had to give him a chance. My friend helped me regain my confidence and he seemed to settle down, got better on the ground and was willing to hack out again. I joined the local RC and was encouraged to start jumping again. Even though I was terrified I learned how to face my fears and that I can do all the things I was afraid of, like riding alone on the beach, hunting, xc, sj. We do ok in competitions and me and horse now trust each other 100%. He is now pretty much bombproof and we have a great bond. My horse has taught me SO much about horses, myself, and other people and the experience of hitting rock bottom has changed my whole outlook on life. I am now much more laid back, and massively more self-confident.
So here's to a great future together, me and my horse. He is ace!
Today I have owned my horse for 3 years! He is brilliant and has taught me so much.
It took me until I was 29 to be in a position to buy my first horse. The day I went to try him he threw me off and I got concussion. It didn't put me off and after 2 more visits and vetting he came to a nice livery yard near me. We didn;t get on very well and he kept bucking me off after jumping so we gave that up straight away. He wouldn't hack out alone, he would try to smear me against trees, throw himself into walls. He spooked and spun at anything and I kept falling off. He was bargy and rude on the ground, wouldn't stand and would throw himself around in the stable. He was lovely to ride when he was behaving and we had lessons and got to be fairly good at dressage!!! Several times I came close to selling him, I lost all my confidence to the point where it would take me 10 mins to mount in the school. After 18 months of struggling I fell off and broke my arm.
I moved yards to a quiet farm and didn't know if I would ever ride him again. However things got better and I realised how much I loved riding, that he was a fabulous horse and I had to give him a chance. My friend helped me regain my confidence and he seemed to settle down, got better on the ground and was willing to hack out again. I joined the local RC and was encouraged to start jumping again. Even though I was terrified I learned how to face my fears and that I can do all the things I was afraid of, like riding alone on the beach, hunting, xc, sj. We do ok in competitions and me and horse now trust each other 100%. He is now pretty much bombproof and we have a great bond. My horse has taught me SO much about horses, myself, and other people and the experience of hitting rock bottom has changed my whole outlook on life. I am now much more laid back, and massively more self-confident.
So here's to a great future together, me and my horse. He is ace!
