Decisions on my horses....

]



Im thinking of going to london for a posh supper - do you fancy celebrating together?

[/ QUOTE ]
Lol - I was thinking of burying myself in a dark hole for the day
grin.gif
Sounds fun though I'll speak to you nearer the time
laugh.gif
 
What do you enjoy doing the most? BE, BD or BSJA - truthfully, ignoring what horses are involved.

If its BE you should reg Snoop and find someone else for Winston. It might sound harsh, but sometimes you do have to think about yourself when it comes to horses and what you enjoy doing. You would find someone else for Winston who would enjoy him, maybe not at the same level as you but does it matter if he is enjoying himself?
 
Without giving you a solution to what to do with the other two - I really, really think you have to keep Snoopy.

You are passionate about competing and have a horse who could put you on the map.

Not sure what else to say, other than hope you find a solution on how to keep three.
crazy.gif
 
Truthfully I enjoy it all... thats the problem HELL i even enjoy SJing (unless this weekend goes badly).
I love eventing, the thrill of pulling all 3 phases together, but get really frustrated if any of the first 2 phases go badly.
SJing I just dont like the hanging around for 3 minutes. But I do like the technical aspect.
Dressage love the fact that you get given a time but just doesnt have a huge amount of thrill in it for me - although if its a qualifier or championship its fun
smile.gif
or you get to ride fancy movements.

I am being totally selfish I guess, I should sell winston to a dressage home but cant bring myself too - equally one season away from eventing may do him good - my god, atm hes never looked so fit and really could do with a run!

Snoop needs to go xc schooling and dressaging before i register him - he jumps the ditches and splashes through the ford and jumps off banks etc but havent actually jumped a solid fence yet
crazy.gif
although hes getting cocky and eyeing up the post and rail fence around the arena when we are jumping at home
smirk.gif
 
Agree with Dieseldog about Winnie, I managed it with F and he meant the world to me. He is being spoilt rotten and has been managed in a way I simply never could have afforded. I also would have been unhappy just doing flatwork on him when I know what his jump is like, whereas his loanee is more than happy with the cracking horse she didn't have to buy. I loaned him out locally but then I moved, and I haven't seen him in a year I should think, which has bothered me very little. I know he's looked after so out of sight out of mind sort of.

Also think you shouldn't insure Bertie. If anything happens to him that would require a large vet bill then see it as the end of the road. Have you really worked out what you spend every month on them, and then added the "one-offs" like registration fees and so on? 1 competition horse would be a lot easier, and then you would be able to afford the training that you and Snoopy deserve, rather than skimping on it which is what I have done with William and which will follow him forever....
 
I agree with Dieseldog, you should do what makes YOU happy. Winston is not getting any younger and will probably never event on the hard ground due to risk of lameness but could bring lots of happiness to someone who enjoys pure dressage. They are out there.
You sound as if you don't want rid of snoopy and think it is because you want to event! Therefore snoop should be your priority and go xc schooling and take it from there. By the sounds of things he will be a star cross country and a star to event.
 
See Vic I need to find a home like you found for F. She sounds perfect!!

Maybe I will put some feelers out at the weekend.....

Arghhhhhh why does Money make the world go round
frown.gif
SULK
 
Did you see Forrest's Tweseldown pics and my kind of report in the thread? Had v cool time. See, just the sort of thing yoiu could do if you sorted yourself out
wink.gif
. I will keep an ear open for something for Winnie - all these dressagey ppl I am meeting atm, you never know. I know he goes nicely, what would you say he is schooled to - elem, med, or adv med?
 
Ahh I saw them briefly late last night - looked so much fun!!
I want all the goss, how was my boy Willie? and L too, was he good boy? and got over ditch fobia yet?

Gosh yes, I forgot you are all into your dressage now....... well we've only done Novice at BD (2 classes and 7 points
grin.gif
) but we have ridden unaffiliated Novice and Elementary and won everything we've been in.
Hand on heart his Medium/Extended trot is ropey lol sometimes (like if at addington in big arena) he will do it, btu at home i can only get him to do it in a field arghh! apart from that he does all the fancy stuff standing on his head.
 
W was contemptuous to begin with, certainly wasn't going to listen to me telling him what to do, but by the middle he was just fab. Am a little concerned about riding them both at events, their stride and way of going is so different I'm going to have to be really on the ball and maybe do more warm-up than I normally would to get ,my eye in. Liberty didn't actually stop at all. But Sorrel cracked me up, he was lurching all over the place spooking coming into fences (and at leaves, and different coloured sand, and everything else) and when I patted him after jumping our first fence like this she went KICK HIM!!! And after doing this about 5 times (lurch towards fence, jump it, then proper pony club style boot in ribs) I suddenly had a bold horse
shocked.gif
laugh.gif
!She didn't let me do any skinnies on him as she felt his steering wasn't reliable enough yet, and she wouldn't let us do the ditches as she said they weren't suitable first time ditches. If I'd been there by myself I would have been happy to start him over the one in middle of the coffin tbh, he's jumped a few on hacks and I didn't think it was too bad. One or two more outings before first BE and he'll be fine.

Right, got to go, some horses to sort before wasting two hours of my life on the M25 on way to towerlands.... poss also ought to find out how to get there....
 
There are lots of us older ladies about who have been there and done it, still capable riders but prefer to hack about and do a bit of dressage. Also many have there own facilities at home and have the time and money to do BD.

Not everyone still gets a thrill from XC so some of us don't miss it any more.

From the little I have seen of Snoop on here you would be very very stupid to sell him on, unless it was for a huge amount!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
There are lots of us older ladies about who have been there and done it, still capable riders but prefer to hack about and do a bit of dressage. Also many have there own facilities at home and have the time and money to do BD.

[/ QUOTE ]

See that would be ideal do BD have like an adverts page?

[ QUOTE ]
From the little I have seen of Snoop on here you would be very very stupid to sell him on, unless it was for a huge amount!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes Im not about to part with him unless its worth my while tbh!
If hes anything like Bertie I am in for a lot of fun indeed, and Im still *just/hanging on in there* young enough to enjoy him lol

Mmm Maybe Ill ask Hils, she may know someone in the area who would be interested to loan the big man for dressage
smile.gif
 
Hey I'm still here, got someone else to tuck mine up in bed
grin.gif
. Each region has various newsletters, might be worth getting in touch with your BYRDS person to see if some spratling was looking for something like him. Kim Moloney is your regional rep, she is very nice, could ask her too. *get me and my BD wisdom
tongue.gif
*

Tbh, I advertised F in a local weekly country paper type thing, specificly said ex-advanced eventer looking for confident, fun rider for dressage and hacking, then specified on the phone that there was to be no jumping or mad galloping.
 
You are Northamptonshire aren't you? Try an add at Keysoe, Manor Farm (huntingdon) and any other local places, you could word it that he could stay with you or move if suitable. You don't have to go through with it if you don't like the people.

Also ask any dressage trainers you know, lots of mature ladies have regular training.
 
I had this situation apart from i was lucky as i own my own yard so now have 7 of my own !!

shame your big eventer isnt a mare you could of bred a lovely foal !!
 
HEHE See i thought you'd gone so didnt reply.

My specifics could end up putting ppl off lol Im sucha perfectionist he can ONLY have the best
grin.gif


PMSL at your BD knowledge!!!

I may do a card and put it up in my local feed merchants.

But a mature, rich lady would be ideal for him...so he can be spoilt completely! he loves all that sort of thing lol
 
[ QUOTE ]
I had this situation apart from i was lucky as i own my own yard so now have 7 of my own !!

shame your big eventer isnt a mare you could of bred a lovely foal !!

[/ QUOTE ]

I dont need to add to my problem LMAO!!!

Yes would be easier if we had our own place - i have land at home, but not enough and he would hate being on his own
frown.gif
 
how about getting a rescue pony for your retired horse and having him at home ??

sorry about before but i didnt have time for my mare with working so i either had to sell her her have a foal i chose the foal option after people had looked at her i couldnt bare to give her up !!
 
cant really add anything about keeping/selling whatever but your plan sounds like a good'un.

re: insurance, only a though but what about dropping his market value on his policy - that should reduce the premium but still keep him covered for vets fees?
thats how i have my mare done - ok i'd only get 250 squids if she dies - but it covers fees if she is ill/injured.
just a though?
 
you really could find someone for winston.....this would free you up a bit!!

The old owners of my ex grade A didnt want him going to anyone who would abuse his ability, at 16 he had done a lot over the years and needed some fun and relaxation.

They saw loads of peeps and were VERY fussy where he went to. He came to me for peanuts, home was more important than money. They could have been greedy and made a killing on him, especially as such a schoolmaster.

I am still in touch with them now, and they say that they are still happy with the decision they made even though it was tough.

As I am sure you are well aware, you just have to bite the bullet and BE VERY FUSSY, if people care about an animal and understand how you feel, they wont mind you being fussy.

I think the old owners of mine actually sent several people away during their "try out" of the horse in question as they didnt like the way they were riding/treating it!!

But their patience paid off and it was agreed that he had a home for life, or they had first refusal, he was never to be BSJA registered again.

He is now 26 has taught me everything, and is now teaching my partner to ride, like Winston, he is my horse in a lifetime and they probably felt the same as you do about winston going elsewhere.

My boy isnt always an easy ride, he is grumpy as hell on the ground, BUT they waited for the right person to come along. It can be done!!

That would mean you could concentrate on snoop who sounds fab!!
 
V
Cheeky, I started eventing at 40 so you have years left
tongue.gif

Sounds like your plans are the right ones for the moment and can always be changed. So glad you are going to keep Snoops, he is stunning and hopefully you two will have a fantastic time together
smile.gif
As for Winny I have seen him do a dressage test WOW can see you getting loads of points
smile.gif
 
Sounds like you've come up with a plan - don't pout yrself under any pressure! If Winston was any closer I'd help you out with him and I could do some stressgae with him - but then he might need to be a hand smaller for me!!!
grin.gif
However new mare (only a ride for the spring/ summer) is 16'3 and a fabby ride - she's lovely - will have to get some pics to you!
laugh.gif
 
V I really really think that you should try and put everything into Snoop and give yourself a fair chance at doing well with him out eventing as you know you could both do really really well. We all want to see you guys out on the event circuit having a proper event season!!
I think that it would be highly possible that you could find the most super sharer for Winston, put up a few adverts and suss people out on the phone and meet them a few times and then see how you feel...it will be heartbreaking I know but Winst will be very happy with the right person- and then think of all that money that is freed up for spending on Snoop!
 
[ QUOTE ]
W was contemptuous to begin with, certainly wasn't going to listen to me telling him what to do, but by the middle he was just fab. Am a little concerned about riding them both at events, their stride and way of going is so different I'm going to have to be really on the ball and maybe do more warm-up than I normally would to get ,my eye in. Liberty didn't actually stop at all. But Sorrel cracked me up, he was lurching all over the place spooking coming into fences (and at leaves, and different coloured sand, and everything else) and when I patted him after jumping our first fence like this she went KICK HIM!!! And after doing this about 5 times (lurch towards fence, jump it, then proper pony club style boot in ribs) I suddenly had a bold horse
shocked.gif
laugh.gif
!She didn't let me do any skinnies on him as she felt his steering wasn't reliable enough yet, and she wouldn't let us do the ditches as she said they weren't suitable first time ditches. If I'd been there by myself I would have been happy to start him over the one in middle of the coffin tbh, he's jumped a few on hacks and I didn't think it was too bad. One or two more outings before first BE and he'll be fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah that was why we did not do any ditches I was wondering about that ! I've just entered Cheeko for the hunter trial at Tweseldown on the 11th Feb, did you get a schedule for that?Am going to need more ditch practise though!
Liberty was so funny with his little buck and you guys shot off into the bushes many a time- I kept wondering wether I was going to see you again!!
tongue.gif
 
Same as me, I got Touchy no interest in jumping at shows but a lovely lady who anyone can ride. Then Sov my big hope for making the step up to intermediate, and then Emerald who was a back up to Sov but after making myself ill trying to keep 3 of them fit all winter, Emerald has now been rehomed c/o HHO forum and I feel like a new start as I only have to concentrate on Sovereign. Granted I have just been to look at a 3 yr old TB! But I will deal with this next year!
wink.gif

Do what is right for you, it sounds like your on the right lines.
 
Right, just caught up with this thread

Knowing you, knowing your horses and knowing your set up this is my view!

Firstly I wouldnt bother insuring Bertie now, or if you do for as low as you can simply to cover vets fees, although in reality do you really need that cover?

Snoopy - keep with it! You light up so much when you talk about him and you really enjoy riding him, you look grand together and even if you DO end up selling him you havent done enough with him yet to warrant the profit that warrants a sale!

Winston - OK the tricky one! I do know how absolutely you adore him, hell I adore him too! He will, without doubt, shine doing straight BD - He MAY stay sound to resume a whole season of eventing - He MAY stay sound and happy doing a whole season hunting - as for BSJAing him, I see a total difference in you when SJing W and SJing S and I really do think that S is better for you if thats the direction you decide to go in for reasons you know as well as I do! I would ask round and see if you cannot get a loaner that is willing to leave him on your yard and hence you will have the best of both worlds; failing that I would certainly look to placing him further afield in a home like Tiger_eye's F - and I am sure that you would find one easily enough

If you are serious about being serious in the ring, I really think you should throw all available resources at S, and that includes funds for training, fnds that can come from the money you save in W's upkeep xxxxxxxxx
 
[ QUOTE ]
Send Winnie to ME!!!!!

Seriously - if you need someone to take him off your hands for a bit to aleviate the stress, and keep him ticking over for dressage.....

JB xx

[/ QUOTE ]

JB I would love you to have him, again tho, parents (see my thank you post Im about to write) say I may as well sell him arghhhh!
Are you coming this weekend to put him through his paces?
 
Glad you have it sorted out hun, though I didn't know Snoops was bought to be sold. I reckon if he is going to take you places then hold on tight, and if someone offers you a "can't refue" amount then have a think.

xx
 
Top