5 years ago... (sorry long and rambling!)

[Grey_Eventer]

sometime around now (July 2004) i bought my lovely 13.2hh pony. I can rember going to see him, he was down a long lane with black fencing all down the side with spikes on the top and at the end there he was, all on his own in a bare field. he was such a mess, but he looked so helpless...

i tried him out and he was preety cr@p tbh! he had no schooling what so ever and was terrified of jumping anything bigger than about a 2ft straight bar- no fillers etc. but that was fine for me at the time. we had him on a months trial and although he was so far from perfect for a 10 year old girl, i loved him so so much. i used to spend hours trying to catch him, get his bit in, pick out his feet, get near a trotting pole... he was just terrified!

that year i took him hunting for the first time in his life and he was fab. he loved it, that was the first time he really jumped, he wasnt scared, he just flew and i loved that feeling. he just jumped anything that season and carried on doing so for the 4 seasons i hunted him! his showjumpign was a completley different matter though. he was truelly terriffied. he would either just not go anywhere near the fence or he would charge at the fence and then take off, but would some how end up not going over the fence and run out, this usually ended up with me being on the floor (thanks to him i stick now

) it took a very long time for him to stop being scare of jumping, numerous lessons with instructors and pony club but we did just about do it. underneath the hairy outside was a truelly terrified pony...

we beleive he had been fairly badly treated as he had whip marks and white hairs on his nose and behind his ears where we beleive a very tight headcollar had cut into him..

he had been used for a disable rider which used to yank very hard on his mouth while he had a pelham in

put him straight in a snaffle and he was as good as gold

i taught him to play polo and he won numerous best playing polo pony awards as he truelly was insane at it! my sucess with this pony was built entirely on trust, once i had earnt his trust that was it, we could do anything. he would follow me anywhere....when i grew too big for him- i literally hung onto him for as long as i could we decided to sell him. we had plenty of offers but they just werent the right homes :/ finally the eprfect family came along. they tried him out- all 4 kids and fell in lvoe with him.. hes now happy with 4 kids riding him as a totally bomproof pony that does anything from surtees polo to jorrocks polo, from hunting with a 4 year old on a lead rein to hunting with a 10 year old with the hutsman. he does pony club up to 3ft competitions and he now really is loving life again....
im so happy that it really worked out for this pony as when i got him no one thought he was suitable and many people told me that, but because i was the stubborn, cocky sh|t that i am i wouldnt give up.... wish him good luck for a happy future, he really does deserve it as he has been through it all

here he is:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=2347904&id=717886276

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

Awww bless

 

[LauraWheeler]

Reading your story bought a tear to my eye it sounds very similar to my pony lucys story. She was abused in her first 2 homes and i paid meat money for her when i was 15 as she would attack anyone who went near her i was told to have her shot as she would never be safe but i am also stubborn and if i'm told i can't do something i blooming well will!!! It took me 6 months to get in the field with her without being attacked then another 6 months to ride her. I used to fall off her every day but i refused to give up. That was 11 years ago I still own lucy and we hunt every week starting the day leading a 5 yr old on her shettie then we have fun on our own she has even whipped in in the past. we also do dressage, sj, xc, showing and endurance rides of up to 80km. you name it we do it. We have an amazing bond and she truly is my pony of a lifetime i can't imagen life without her she's only 13.2hh but i'm only 5ft 2 so i won't out grow her. It's good to hear your story and to no theres someone else out there who didn't give up and ended up with an amazing pony to who everyone else would have given up on. I truly hope he enjoys the rest of his life in happyness he deserves it.

 

[Pixxie]

bless you sweetie, thats such a lovely post made me well up, having heard the story of Toffee over and over it never ceases to amaze me what you did for that little pony, he was so lucky to find you xxx