A little tribute to my old girl

nikicb

nikicb

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Was Surrey, now West Berkshire
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Sorry a little self-indulgent, but.....

I went to see my old girl today. We moved a couple of years ago and now live about 90 minutes from where we used to live. I moved the ponies, and they are kept at home, but my old girl has stayed with my friend in full livery. I don't get to see her very often, but think about her lots.

She's 34 and a bit of a quirky mare. She doesn't like change, isn't great out hacking and can be a bit 'trippy' on uneven surfaces (always has been, but I am extra careful with her now she is an old lady). I don't have a school at home, and we also have shooting and low flying helicopters round here, which the ponies are fine with, but I just don't want her to have to deal with these at her time in life. It was hard to leave her behind (as well as costly), but she owes me nothing and her happiness is important to me. I have another friend who has had a gentle lesson on her once a week for the last 20 years and still does (friend is nervous and my girl still 'scares' her after all these years by giving a little buck in canter or spook every now and then!), and she is hacked out round the block once a week as well or lunged. It's all enough to keep her ticking over on top of daily turnout.

I got her when she was 5 (I was a teenager), and we have done a bit of everything - jumping, showing, dressage, Riding Club teams, etc. In our early dressage tests we were frequently eliminated for leaving the arena, but she always managed to show a nice canter half pass, whether or not it was asked for! She has taught me so much and has been a school mistress to many other people. You can ask for lateral movements, but unless you ask correctly, she won't do it (and I swear she knows exactly what you want, but tests her riders!).

Today, my eldest son rode her. I never imagined he would get to his teens and still have her 'at his disposal'. It was so lovely to watch him trying out shoulder-in, leg yielding etc, on a horse that knows what she is doing. For me to watch them together is wonderful and quite emotional, and a reward for all the hours spent teaching her, then him on his naughty pony and now they are trying things out together.

She may not be an Olympic medal contender, but she is truly my horse of a life time. Thank you Tiff! (Just Tiffany).

ETA I nearly lost her when she was 25 years old to pedunculated lipomas when she had major major colic surgery with 5 hours on the operating table, 30' (yes, 30 feet!!) of gut removed and a very poor prognosis - but she came through thanks to Liphook, lots of TLC and her attitude!

TiffGareth21-10-10a.jpg
 
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Wow, she looks in cracking shape for 34 - well done to both of you.

ps - nothing wrong with a little self indulgence!
 
WOW! Looking at that picture you wouldn't think she was 34! She looks so much younger than the two 34 year old horses I have known.

She sounds like a fantastic horse. Hope you still have several quality years left together. It's not often horses have a home for life- it's really nice to hear about this :)
 
How lovely to read a tribute to a horse still with us - its too easy to forget the wonderful stuff until they are gone. Your horse looks in amazing condition, and you obviously still love her to bits. I sympathise with your joy at having your son on board - I'd feel the same if my daughter was able to get on one of my now long gone favourites. Here's to you for keeping her future secure, and to a happy and healthy future for her. x
 
Thank you for posting that. It's a timely reminder that not every horse owner moves the oldies on or gives up at the first hurdle. Unbelievable that she survived pedunculated lipoma colic and surgery nine years ago Not many owners would have gone for that option in the belief the horse would get through, let alone still be around at 34. She's in amazing shape. Well done both of you.
 
What a lovely post :).

I think it was very selfless of you to leave her on full livery as you deemed it best for her, she's a lucky lady to have you as an owner.

She looks very well for her age :).
 
So nice to see someone telling everyone how ace even the oldies can be we have a couple of pensioners not as old as yours but tbs in their twenties still doing allsorts and going to be hunting this winter keeping up with our young ones.
Your one looks in amazing condition and i think it is down to keeping them active and happy and involved.
Nice to see a lovely post like this.:)
 
timefort said:
Wow, she looks in cracking shape for 34 - well done to both of you.

ps - nothing wrong with a little self indulgence!
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liannexsx said:
wish there was a facebook style like button!
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Echo Bravo said:
Now that is what I call true horsemanship and a happy relationship with your horse, it's a pity there isn't more rider/owners like you.:):):)
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Queenbee87 said:
WOW! Looking at that picture you wouldn't think she was 34! She looks so much younger than the two 34 year old horses I have known.

She sounds like a fantastic horse. Hope you still have several quality years left together. It's not often horses have a home for life- it's really nice to hear about this :)
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natalia said:
She looks amazing for 34! Well done you, lovely to see an oldie getting the best of care and thriving.
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badgerdog said:
Thanks for sharing your lovely story. She looks fantastic!
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Thanks everyone - feeling quite emotional now, she really is the most wonderful horse I could ever have had. xx

Izzwizz said:
She looks lovely and very smart. Nice to see a "mature" lady with a clip.
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She would be a woolly bear without it - ever since she was five she's been the first on the yard to be clipped (so nothing to do with cushings etc). September 1st was her usual date when she was competing, now we try to hang on as long as we can, but she is just too hairy to work like this, and I think she is better not having to carry all that coat around.

Angelbones said:
How lovely to read a tribute to a horse still with us - its too easy to forget the wonderful stuff until they are gone. Your horse looks in amazing condition, and you obviously still love her to bits. I sympathise with your joy at having your son on board - I'd feel the same if my daughter was able to get on one of my now long gone favourites. Here's to you for keeping her future secure, and to a happy and healthy future for her. x
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I still have to watch her every step as she is certainly not a novice ride and even now is very elevated.

brighteyes said:
Thank you for posting that. It's a timely reminder that not every horse owner moves the oldies on or gives up at the first hurdle. Unbelievable that she survived pedunculated lipoma colic and surgery nine years ago Not many owners would have gone for that option in the belief the horse would get through, let alone still be around at 34. She's in amazing shape. Well done both of you.
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We didn't go on holiday that year because of her surgery. Of course, having paid for years and years of insurance, she was no longer covered when I needed it. I cried my heart out for days when she was in the equine hospital and every day I have had since then is a bonus.

quirky said:
What a lovely post :).

I think it was very selfless of you to leave her on full livery as you deemed it best for her, she's a lucky lady to have you as an owner.

She looks very well for her age :).
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Thank you - I felt so guilty leaving her behind and some people I know made some quite nasty comments, but she is in the right place, and as much as it would have been my dream come true to wake up and see her out of the bedroom window, she belongs where she is now.
 
Trinity Fox said:
So nice to see someone telling everyone how ace even the oldies can be we have a couple of pensioners not as old as yours but tbs in their twenties still doing allsorts and going to be hunting this winter keeping up with our young ones.
Your one looks in amazing condition and i think it is down to keeping them active and happy and involved.
Nice to see a lovely post like this.:)
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Thank you - I regard my 17 and 18 yr olds as 'spring chickens'! These oldies are under-rated sometimes, and still love to be out and about. :)
 
I should also add a post of appreciation to my wonderful friend/YO. It was her who got my horse on the way to Liphook before she had even got hold of me, when Tiff went down with colic, and she is the person who makes sure my lovely girl gets the best care and attention. My instructions to her are to do what she would do if the horse was her own. I have known my friend since we were children learning at the same riding school and if I have one criticism of her it is that she puts the horses' interests above her business. What better YO could you have?
 
claireandnadia said:
Wow, she looks fantastic at 34 years old.
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Fire_Fly said:
What a lovely post, it really shows just how much you love her. She looks amazing.
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Thank you, that means so much. I adore her and if I could change one thing about her, I would rewind 30 years and start all over again with everything she has taught me. Just wish I had started dressage with her at 5-6 rather than 15-16 when it started to come 'into fashion'. She would have been amazing, I am yet to find another horse that gives me that floaty feeling in trot (that is affordable in my price bracket!)!
 
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