DressageCob
Well-Known Member
I also was a pony mad little girl. I helped at my local yard in exchange for free lessons, and did so through university until I was 21 and got my own horse.
In my case there was good luck to balance out the bad. In my last year of university I was given a polo pony who was retiring from the team. I was going to have her as a riding pony, just to have fun with. I started riding her and reschooling her before ownership transferred to me. Unfortunately she had to be put down just before I was going to take her home, due to the idiocy of someone who I hope knows the pain they caused.
I was so upset and was on holiday at the time. I'd just had surgery on my shoulder as well, so was unable to ride. During the period before my holiday she remained at a yard being looked after until ownership transferred and I could take her home. It wasn't to be. I found out what had happened and returned to the pool in tears. My dad asked me whether one could buy a horse for £1,000. I said yes. He said he'd buy me a horse then
Of course, I then couldn't find one for that price and ended up shifting the budget up a few times, but ended up with a lovely little horse. He hadn't done much; he was a rescue and had then done some driving. I have done loads of work with him over the past 5.5 years and he now does elementary dressage and has qualified for some national champs. He also did the masters series dressage champs at Hickstead last year. He's my horse of a lifetime and I will always be grateful for having him. I've also paid my dad back now
My horse is on full livery at a riding school. We have loads of 12 year old pony-mad girls helping out. They still exist Because I remember being one of those girls, I do try to encourage them. A couple have hacked my horse over to a local competition venue to compete, and he's been in other hacks and farm rides with others. It makes me proud, firstly that I can do for these girls what I wished for when I was their age, but also that my formerly bonkers pony has come on so much that you can trust him to look after them
In my case there was good luck to balance out the bad. In my last year of university I was given a polo pony who was retiring from the team. I was going to have her as a riding pony, just to have fun with. I started riding her and reschooling her before ownership transferred to me. Unfortunately she had to be put down just before I was going to take her home, due to the idiocy of someone who I hope knows the pain they caused.
I was so upset and was on holiday at the time. I'd just had surgery on my shoulder as well, so was unable to ride. During the period before my holiday she remained at a yard being looked after until ownership transferred and I could take her home. It wasn't to be. I found out what had happened and returned to the pool in tears. My dad asked me whether one could buy a horse for £1,000. I said yes. He said he'd buy me a horse then
Of course, I then couldn't find one for that price and ended up shifting the budget up a few times, but ended up with a lovely little horse. He hadn't done much; he was a rescue and had then done some driving. I have done loads of work with him over the past 5.5 years and he now does elementary dressage and has qualified for some national champs. He also did the masters series dressage champs at Hickstead last year. He's my horse of a lifetime and I will always be grateful for having him. I've also paid my dad back now
My horse is on full livery at a riding school. We have loads of 12 year old pony-mad girls helping out. They still exist Because I remember being one of those girls, I do try to encourage them. A couple have hacked my horse over to a local competition venue to compete, and he's been in other hacks and farm rides with others. It makes me proud, firstly that I can do for these girls what I wished for when I was their age, but also that my formerly bonkers pony has come on so much that you can trust him to look after them