Twiglet
Well-Known Member
I don't get on here much anymore but thought would check in with news of Buzz, and reports of new horseness.
Some of you may remember Buzz and his cancer battle....very sadly, in February the evidence of a secondary growth showed that it was likely the cancer has returned. There were limited options available to us (very experimental, invasive chemo, more surgery, neither of which would be curative), so with a very heavy heart the vet and I (both in tears) decided to stop treating him. He was a trojan throughout multiple radiotherapies and surgeries, and for a while he was able to return to 'normal' but as soon as things started to go wrong, I knew that it was time to stop. However, he is still comfortable, and still very much his happy, perky, cheeky self. I retired him to grass a couple of months ago, and he is now living the life of Riley....not sure what will happen medium to long term, but my only goal is keeping him happy and comfortable, which he is at the moment. I still see him as much as I did before, but it's bittersweet after everything that's happened. He is looking amazing though, which is reassuring.
He doesn't quite get this 'roughed off' thing
Around the same time, prompted by the empty stable, and an opportunity to take my 7.5 ton test and buy a lorry, I set out looking for horse number 2. My list was quite specific, mainly as whatever I bought had enormous shoes to fill, literally and emotionally. So my search for a young-ish schoolmaster (!) was on. Obviously I fell in love with the first one I tried He'd wintered off, and didn't look great (my first reaction was 'yuk') but riding him made me smile. The sellers weren't entirely ready to sell (he wasn't actively for sale), so we agreed on a 6 month loan with view to buy, and the owner doing a few events on him throughout the summer while I'm busy and getting to know him, to keep him active over the big stuff.
He's a 17.2hh selle francais (Quidam de Revel lines), 10 years old....went intermediate at a relatively young age when he was pro-owned, then went to a pony club home where he did everything from Open teams to rallies, chase me charlies and hunting.. He's one of these charming chaps who just seems happy to be alive....he lives to jump, and is easy to do in every way (I know that's said very often, but he really is).
He's eligible for BE downgrade, so once we've sealed the deal I'll apply, but in the meantime it's been a fun couple of months getting to know him, and getting my jumping legs back (which, it turns out, includes a spectacularly errant lower leg???!)....have even jumped my first ever hedge!
Some of you may remember Buzz and his cancer battle....very sadly, in February the evidence of a secondary growth showed that it was likely the cancer has returned. There were limited options available to us (very experimental, invasive chemo, more surgery, neither of which would be curative), so with a very heavy heart the vet and I (both in tears) decided to stop treating him. He was a trojan throughout multiple radiotherapies and surgeries, and for a while he was able to return to 'normal' but as soon as things started to go wrong, I knew that it was time to stop. However, he is still comfortable, and still very much his happy, perky, cheeky self. I retired him to grass a couple of months ago, and he is now living the life of Riley....not sure what will happen medium to long term, but my only goal is keeping him happy and comfortable, which he is at the moment. I still see him as much as I did before, but it's bittersweet after everything that's happened. He is looking amazing though, which is reassuring.
He doesn't quite get this 'roughed off' thing
Around the same time, prompted by the empty stable, and an opportunity to take my 7.5 ton test and buy a lorry, I set out looking for horse number 2. My list was quite specific, mainly as whatever I bought had enormous shoes to fill, literally and emotionally. So my search for a young-ish schoolmaster (!) was on. Obviously I fell in love with the first one I tried
He'd wintered off, and didn't look great (my first reaction was 'yuk') but riding him made me smile. The sellers weren't entirely ready to sell (he wasn't actively for sale), so we agreed on a 6 month loan with view to buy, and the owner doing a few events on him throughout the summer while I'm busy and getting to know him, to keep him active over the big stuff. He's a 17.2hh selle francais (Quidam de Revel lines), 10 years old....went intermediate at a relatively young age when he was pro-owned, then went to a pony club home where he did everything from Open teams to rallies, chase me charlies and hunting.. He's one of these charming chaps who just seems happy to be alive....he lives to jump, and is easy to do in every way (I know that's said very often, but he really is).
He's eligible for BE downgrade, so once we've sealed the deal I'll apply, but in the meantime it's been a fun couple of months getting to know him, and getting my jumping legs back (which, it turns out, includes a spectacularly errant lower leg???!)....have even jumped my first ever hedge!
