Do you enjoy riding your horse?

Yes I do - I sell them if I don’t enjoy riding them!

I like my horses intelligent, forward thinking, not boring but fundamentally safe. They need to have a degree of natural athleticism and enjoy the things I like doing. They also need to be ‘nice’ people.
 
My darling Lou Lou, now retired, is still the most wonderful horse I've ever ridden. She just suited me down to the ground! I have a great picture of me hacking her, that my Dad took, with the biggest grin you've ever seen splashed across my face. I dream of finding another horse I like riding that much when I'm finally in a position to buy a new one. But I doubt I'll ever find something quite like Lou Lou - we have been together for over 16 years, since she was 8 and I was 11. I don't think either of us can remember what life was like without the other!
 
I have 2 I ride (2 are retired). One I worship the ground he walks on. He has done everything I ever asked him. Home bred and coming up 21yrs old. He's my heart and soul (as was his mother).
The other, also homebred, not so much. At times I have hated the sight of him, contemplated pts, and hit rock bottom with him. BUT, over the last 8 months things have changed. I enjoy his company, I like riding him, and things are starting to come together. I now have a horse I love and dislike on occasion ( when he does something idiotic), rather than a horse I hate and like occasionally.
 
I love riding my pony. He's the first pony I have owned & probably was not the ideal pony for me, but we are a team, we've been together through it all. I was the first person to sit on him & so far only 2 others have. We are on a journey together. One that started a bit rocky & with some huge doubts, but on days like today when we had a lesson & rode through our first Intro test practice with determination & lots of lovely comments from our instructor, even in an absolute deluge.
I love my pony. He's fab.
 
There are times when I haven't enjoyed Ned, especially before he was mine and YO MADE me ride him :P But, over time I came to love him. I have come home in tears more than once, but I've always learnt something. I miss riding him so so so much, but he's happy in semi-retirement.

There were a few moments when I haven't enjoyed Serenity, but those were in the first few weeks of owning her and I was just nervous. She's a delight really!
 
Red-1 said:
Sadly I lost Jay Man last year, but I felt privileged every time I even sat on him. Six years of worshipping him.

Getting on him felt like coming home.

I loved that I am no natural athlete, but when I was on him I combined with him and could explore balance, power, speed, agility. He gave me wings.

I loved our adventures out and about. I loved that a tractor could come at us and I felt bullet proof. I loved boxing up and going off on adventures, taking a picnic. I loved rhythmic cantering through the woods.

I loved that he was sensitive so I learned to control my own stress and breathing.

It was like a shared secret, language in nuance and unspoken words.

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What a lovely description of your relationship with your boy. So sorry it was cut so short.
 
Love riding them. Diva, I would ride her into battle, I trust her that much. She is a powerhouse and when she arrived she often used her strength to take matters into her own hands. The previous owner had sold her to me because she was too much for her daughter, but with schooling and time, she was easily sorted. She is the other half of me, she knows what I’m thinking and we almost read each others minds. I pinch myself everyday that I was lucky enough to find her, she is incredible and copes with the most horrific disorder in a way that I dont think many others could. If I could pave the ground she walks on with gold, I would.

Polly, we are still getting to know each other, but I enjoy riding her and I hope that trust will continue to grow. This last few months we have started to really click with each other and I genuinely think we are developing that bond that I tend to only get with mares. She is quirky and her opinions can be more explosive than Divas, but not in a dangerous way. She’s the type of pony who needs someone to understand her, both in the stable and under saddle. I think I’m that person.

I wouldn’t want any other two horses in my stables.
 
I lost the love of riding mine after twelve months of repeated rehab for one thing after another. Walking up and down the same lane every day - and especially when's it's rehab, and it really ought to be EVERY day - is soul destroying. Not a position where you can move them on, and never bad enough to call it a day. She's now turned away to see if time and rest help - I simply couldn't carry on (mentally or emotionally) trying to keep riding when I wasn't enjoying it or, frankly getting anything out of it.

For riders who just haven't clicked, or where the horse just doesn't meet their needs, I agree - people should move on. But people frequently buy the wrong horse in the first place, so ..
 
Ceriann said:
What a lovely description of your relationship with your boy. So sorry it was cut so short.
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Thank you. He was actually a very naughty boy before he came, but it was all a misunderstanding and he just needed a mother as opposed to a professional. He was a soul mate. 6 years was great. 4 years of him fit, 18 months of light hacking and 6 months fully retired. I wish he could have stayed longer, but wobblers is a creeping and horrible thing.
 
Love riding Red - had her 10 months and she is a joy. As a default nervous rider I’ve ridden her in the rain, wind, sub zero temps this winter because riding her just cheers me up - every time. She’s easily the best money I’ve ever spent.
 
I had the Older Appy from the age of eight up to the age of 22 in January of this year, when we had to have her pts. I always enjoyed riding her, she was absolutely traffic proof, but could spook for Britian, once because a garden had a lot of white flowers in it :D She was great on her own and brilliant in company, didn't like water but was prepared to wade across a river with me on board. She loved a party and shone at her breed show, she particularly enjoyed the gallop. We have a super pro photo from her last show, you can see the grin on her face :) She thought that indoor venues were for showing , which made dressage interesting, but we were still both smiling. I knew from the second I sat on her when we went to try her that she was going to be mine and she knew what I wanted her to just by me thinking about it. I have a younger Appy to bring on and hope that she will be as much fun as the older girl was :)
 
Some days. But most of the time it's a soundness battle. Winter it's heels running away, thrush and soggy feet. Summer it's an unending battle with lami these days.

But I've had him 14 years, and although it's been lameness and rehab for the last 7 it seems, he's not going anywhere. Mostly we ride out in walk (boots atm to avoid soggy feet soreness).

I still get guilt if I don't ride every week (although I'm more sitting than riding) but I've a young family and I'm trying to get over that. I'm getting more joy bringing on a WHW pony, hopefully for mini sf if she needs a 2nd pony one day, he's not novice material, at least not yet! I do sit on him, but need to lose more weight before I do more than walk.
 
Love riding my boy. I struggle to give him a day off as I want to ride even in crappy weather. He is a lovely and we have good fun together.
 
Yes, even when she is being a bit of an opinionated baggage. Just sometimes her sassy attitude and know it all opinion frustrates me, but there is never a time when I don't either enjoy her at the time, or look back and enjoy what she has taught me. Cassie came to me at a very dark stage of my horse owning life. She was vetted the same day that I was told by my vets that they could do nothing more for Cam and he was to be retired at 8 years old. I feel unbelievably lucky to have her. This was the day I tried her, and I didn't want to get off her. My eternal thanks go to Ester for finding her for me..... even though she is a Welshie!!! xxxxx

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nikicb said:
Yes, even when she is being a bit of an opinionated baggage. Just sometimes her sassy attitude and know it all opinion frustrates me, but there is never a time when I don't either enjoy her at the time, or look back and enjoy what she has taught me. Cassie came to me at a very dark stage of my horse owning life. She was vetted the same day that I was told by my vets that they could do nothing more for Cam and he was to be retired at 8 years old. I feel unbelievably lucky to have her. This was the day I tried her, and I didn't want to get off her. My eternal thanks go to Ester for finding her for me..... even though she is a Welshie!!! xxxxx

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She's done you a world of good, has Sassy Cassie. I love seeing your posts.
 
Dave's Mam said:
She's done you a world of good, has Sassy Cassie. I love seeing your posts.
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Thank you - you are absolutely spot on. The person who sold her to me said, many months after I bought her, "Everyone needs a Cassie in their lives". She was right. I went to try her and said on the day that I would have her subject to vetting. The seller turned down the person who was booked in to view Cassie the next day. He was looking for a pony for his daughter. He said that he would come with his lorry and take her without vetting her if daughter got on with her. J (seller) said no. Man said she was a complete idiot, but J held her ground and said that she wouldn't let her go on that basis anyway. I bought Miss Sassy. Nearly a year after I bought her, her seller J came and groomed for me at Area Festivals, arriving at Welly at 7am to do so. She is still very much in touch, even though she is now Carl's yard manager (yes, the Carl). Miss Sassy is a special girl, and I feel privileged to have her, and the person who sold her to me who is now a friend, in my life. :) xx
 
nikicb said:
Thank you - you are absolutely spot on. The person who sold her to me said, many months after I bought her, "Everyone needs a Cassie in their lives". She was right. I went to try her and said on the day that I would have her subject to vetting. The seller turned down the person who was booked in to view Cassie the next day. He was looking for a pony for his daughter. He said that he would come with his lorry and take her without vetting her if daughter got on with her. J (seller) said no. Man said she was a complete idiot, but J held her ground and said that she wouldn't let her go on that basis anyway. I bought Miss Sassy. Nearly a year after I bought her, her seller J came and groomed for me at Area Festivals, arriving at Welly at 7am to do so. She is still very much in touch, even though she is now Carl's yard manager (yes, the Carl). Miss Sassy is a special girl, and I feel privileged to have her, and the person who sold her to me who is now a friend, in my life. :) xx
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Perfect, so perfect.
 
Riding, what’s riding?
I’ve manage s to ride mine for 2 weeks since mid December due to saddle issues followed by a leg injury, then just as that had healed up she gave herself a tread injury on Friday.
But yes, when the stars align and I can ride, I do enjoy it.
 
I absolutely loved riding my first horse, once we'd built a relationship and understood each other. It felt like being a centaur - I only had to think it, and he'd do it. Sadly, he was pretty broken before I got him, and hard to keep him sound. Now he's retired and happy enough pottering about.

I like riding my other horse very much, but it's not so effortless - I have to do more work to keep him doing what I want, which isn't to say he's not forward, he is - he's just easily distracted, can grab for food, want to tank off, slouch rather than step out. My biggest problem with him though is he has a huge swinging movement behind because he has a big fat backside and swings it from side to side, especially in walk. Long walks cause me proper lower back issues. He has a lovely canter though, and the trot is much improved over the years.

That said, I love both my old boys, they are great and easy horses, and they have a home with me for life.
 
Red - I'm Sorry, I hadn't realised you'd lost Jay. Your love for him always shone through in your posts about him.
Niki- I was wondering how you were getting on the other day, it's so lovely to read a positive update :)

This time last year I hated riding mine, we were rehabbing for the third time in as many years- she broke for the first time only 6 weeks after buying her. It seemed like I had hit a brick wall and couldn't do a thing with her.
I've been having lessons with a fantastic lady I found through HHO. And she has turned us around, now more often than not I get off smiling. I've invested a not insignificant amount of money, and now the capital has run out I'm taking on more work so we can continue with the same momentum or near enough but it is absolutely worth it. She's still absolutely green, but is so far improved on this time last year and generally a pleasure to ride now.
 
Everytime I ride her she makes me happy. Whether it is a pootle around the lanes, schooling, a lesson or hunting. In fact I love just being with her.
 
I love riding my mare 99% of the time. Sometimes I just want to ride along on the buckle and I cant see her ever being like that so riding her can be exhausting sometimes. she has this zest for life and work and just wants to get on with it which is what I love about her.

My gelding, as I've previously written on here did an amazing job with my confidence and restoring my faith and improving my riding but he bores me but i just cant bring myself to part with him so when they come back into work shortly I am making an extra effort with him to get our mojo back because quiet frankly he is an awesome horse and one of those very rare finds that everyone wants but for me .. meh! not so much! But on a sponsored ride for example I watch someone else ride him and I think ... god I wish i was on him right now because he literally lights up .. a little too much sometimes but that just makes me want to get on him all the more, lol!

So yes and no is my answer :)
 
stormox said:
IMO this sort of attitude, which is fairly common not just this poster, the attitude of 'i dont enjoy owning my horse but have to keep him because no one else would be as good at riding/looking after/ handle him as well as me' a tad big headed. Of course there would be others just as good. Its a matter of advertising honestly in the correct places. As I said earlier, one persons nightmare is anothers dream.
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I think this is far too common.

Sadly mine is utterly worthless :D
 
I kind of don't right now if I'm honest. Find her difficult and frustrating to school but it's me not her. Mostly just feel upset that I can't ride my old mare anymore and that upset kind of blocks my ability and enjoyment of the young mare. Husband loves her though so she's not going anywhere. So I need to get over myself eventually.

I like hacking her but we don't get to go often cos I can't hack from the yard as it is a busy road and she had a couple of spooks which I just can't risk... it really is a road where they have to be 99.9% in my view. Im hoping we'll be able to get out in the trailer lots over the summer and build up our relationship with lots of nice hacks.

I do love her on the ground, and I know I'll get there with the riding so we wouldn't sell at this point even if hubby wasn't a rider.
 
I only really learned to ride in my early 40s after many years of being my daughter's groom/driver. My first "own" horse really was one in a million, she knew more than I did so all I had to do was keep out of her way. The minute i sat on her I knew I could trust her and we formed an agreement- I looked after her on the ground and she looked after me when we rode. She was older, had a few conditions that limited her to mostly hacking but she was amazing, I felt privileged to have her and I wouldn't have traded her for a stable full of the finest horses in the land.

A few months after I lost her to EAM (horrible) I was gifted a very handsome, older gelding who also needed a quieter life. He's a good horse but can be strong, a bit spooky and if feels he can, he will extract the urine :) but nothing nasty. I love him to bits but if I am honest I don't enjoy riding him as much as I did my mare. This is totally my fault, he does best with a confident rider, which I am not always- then I feel like I've let him down and on it goes... My daughter got on really well with him, he's her sort of horse, they did quite a bit together the first couple of years but his arthritis and a couple of things mean he's limited to hacking nowadays, and the ground has to be good.
 
I loved riding my older mare when I first got her, she is brave, bouncy, opinionated and sitting on her for the first time I knew I had to have her. I don't love riding her anymore as we've had almost 2 years of soundness battles, she has navicular and every time I sit on I'm panicking over whether she's sound or not.
My younger mare I don't really enjoy schooling. She's green and spooky and everything is a frustrating chore. I like hacking her though and riding her during outings.
I don't sell them because I love them, and they give me so much more pleasure than just riding. I love looking at the two of them in the field and knowing that they're all mine. Plus I got my older mare during the worst period of my life and she was pretty much the only thing that kept me going so she stays for life.
 
I absolutely love riding my horse. He’s safe, smart, responsive, and we just go together! I’ve decided he will be my last horse because I honestly don’t think I would be able to match him and the thought of trying to exhausts me. I’m so lucky to have him, plus I only rode him for about 15mins before I bought him lol my 2 longest friends knew we would be a good match so that sealed the deal!
 
Previous horse I worshipped the ground he walked on (most of the time!) and trusted him completely. He was also naturally quite forward, uncomplicated and in his jumping days if you pointed him at a fence he'd work it all out for you. Never bucked or reared under saddle and was just generally a really nice, easy to deal with "person" but with a cheeky pony personality to go with it (I didn't love following him around the field for hours on end whilst he cantered rings around me so much!)

Current horse we seem to go in cycles... When everything's going well he can float along feeling lovely and his lateral work surpasses anything the previous pony could ever manage (ditto the things I can get him to do inhand... previous horse never saw the point in any of that!), he's generally quite pleasant to hunt and when we're in the zone he's just about unbeatable around a PTV course (we do TREC). When things are going badly we tend to get stuck in a cycle of tension and frustration until either someone else gets on and figures out what's going on, something snaps and we have an argument or I accidentally stumble across what it is that needs sorting out (or occasionally I get off and give up for the day). Even when things are going well if I'm brutally honest I don't enjoy hacking him (especially alone) as much as my previous horse as he never totally relaxes and enjoys himself (he does sometimes in company and out hunting oddly he tends to relax a lot more, I guess he figures the monsters have plenty of other food to eat!) which means I can't totally relax either in case he suddenly sees a monster and he's also naturally short striding so we do a lot of trotting / jogging to keep up and I can't totally give him his head when we step it up a gear as he has a habit of leaping in the air at funny looking patches of grass. He's does have a few health issues that I have to fight to keep under control and he does take up a lot of time and expense managing which I guess makes owning him that bit more stressful. He's not going anywhere (see health issues!) and owning him has taught me A LOT and brought me into contact with a lot of people that I wouldn't have met otherwise but I don't think that I'll ever reach a point with him where I can just relax and enjoy him if that makes sense?
 
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