First horsey love

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FionaM12

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I found a photo in the back of a drawer just now, having a clear out. It's of a horse called Mildred, and there's a story behind it.

In 1970, when I was 13, small for my age and with no horsey experience, I became a "helper" at a riding school. The YM was a 19 year old girl, a bad tempered bully who I was terrified of.

Each of us claimed a horse or pony as "ours" and undertook the care of that horse and rode them when allowed. The smarter horses had all been previously claimed by the more experienced staff or helpers and I hadn't chosen "mine" yet.

One day, the YM was in a foul mood. I asked her what jobs I should do, and she shouted at me that I could groom "that horrible horse", but to use a dirty old grooming kit, she didn't want the good stuff ruined. :( The horrible horse in question was an aged mare, about 16.2hh, who appeared to be covered in pink spots and was known for her sour nature. I was rather scared of her.

The trouble is, I was more scared of the YM than I was of Mildred, so I dutifully chose a shabby kit and headcollar and went into sour-faced Mildred's stable. She towered over me, ears back. I tied her up and began to groom her. As I worked on her, she began to relax, and a bond started to form.

Then suddenly Mildred's ears shot back and she kicked the back of the stable. She wasn't looking at me though, but out of her door. As I looked too, I saw she could see the YM passing, and the aggression was aimed at her, not me. I told Mildred I agreed with her, and I chatted away with her for the next hour or so as I thoroughly groomed her.

We were great pals from that day on. She would call to me as I cycled into the yard each day. I came to realise that her sourness was possibly due to being a little unsound, maybe arthritic, who knows. :(

I of course chose her as "my" horse, to the great amusement of the other girls. No-one had ever chosen Mildred. Working with her was a task usually given by the YM as a punishment, a joke or for helpers she didn't like. :( Apart from anything else Mildred was considered to be hideously ugly and common.

I grew to love her appearance and her strange pink spotty roan colouring. :o

The riding school eventually closed and the horses were sold. I tried to persuade my parents to buy Mildred, but they refused. She was too old, too big and not sound. I never knew what became of her. :(

And 43 years later, a photo is found in the back of a drawer, and my heart melts looking at it. Mildred, my first love:

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What a lovely story! Thank you for posting!
Reminded me of similar when I was at the riding school before I got my first pony at 13. He was called Jake - a big ugly cream thing, but I loved him!
 
Bless what a lovely story! I fell for a gorgeous chestnut thoroughbred at my first riding school called Khan. He had dodgy legs and spent more time on box rest than working bless him. Loved him to bits though!!
 
Awww thats lovely! My favourite riding school pony was as 12.2hh grey poss Welsh Sec A with a pink nose called Crystal, she was a monkey and would regularly bin kids but I thought the world of her! :o
 
What a lovely story.

I've always had a soft spot for the grumpy mares! They're usually sweet underneath. I always did the mares nobody wanted to do while at college. And while working in Italy I spent a lot of time with one of the riding school horses that everyone had written off, and built up a nice relationship with her, getting her going quite nicely. I went back to visit five years after she left, and the next instructors retired her to a field up the mountain on her own, so I never got to see her. I wish I could have brought her home.

I was lucky, when my first riding school closed, I was lucky enough to get my fave pony. We had land, so it was easier..
 
Lovely story FM12.

My first horsey love was a donkey called Black Jack. I used to spent the summers with a aunt who lived in Connemara. The old farmer next door gave me black Jack when he wasn't needed for collecting turf off the bog.
Back Jack was a wily character but a dear boy who probably enjoyed having a little girl to shower him with attention. He'd happily let me ride him bareback around the lanes and even let me think I was driving the cart laden with turf home from the bog. Of course, the donkey was perfectly capable of taking his load home without anyone driving, especially a small 7 year old girl.
I think because I was away from home and the days in the remote village were long, he became my best friend and confident.
 
Mine was a grey pony called Lucy who was lovely when I rode in the lessons we had to choose who we wanted to ride and we were all in a height line I was in the middle and no one ever wanted her but to me she was my best friend and I use to share my lunch with her and tell my problems too, god bless her there was another grey called Polo, I know original but also a real sweetie, I always had a fondness for greys which is funny as I have a massive black beast now!!
 
Oh, lovely thread! My first horsey love was Oliver - a big quirky bay horse who I used to share - although his owner never rode him so it basically felt like he was mine. He was a very proud, aloof creature, leader of the herd with lots of funny little ways! He didn't like men, he was a nightmare to catch, he couldn't be stabled, he had to be sedated to be shod, the list goes on. But I built a wonderful relationship with him and frequently saw his softer side - he was the most wonderful horse to ride, a real schoolmaster, he taught me so much. I had all of my first experiences with him - my first canter, my first gallop, my first jump, my first hack, my first PC rally, my first PC camp, my first show, my first rosette. I loved him with all my heart - still do actually - and there's not a day goes by that I don't miss him terribly! He had to be pts about 13 years ago due to old age and various issues. Will always miss him. I've never found another who I've had quite the same connection with I have to say.
 
There was Fred too who was I think about 18hh and he was a lovely gent. He was the reason I gave up working with horses as it broke my heart when he was PTS.
I then fell back in love with horses in Ireland when I was asked to ride a green Friesian and she was lovely another one that no one would ride but we got each other, oh dear I feel old now!!
 
Hehehehe green Friesian that could be a wonderful mix hehehe could maybe turn into the horse from the wizard of oz...

Yes it does seem so long ago Fionam12 but then when you think about it seems like just yesterday!!
 
oh what a lovely story FionaM12 - gave me a tear in my eye! Glad Mildred had a bit of love in her life. Makes you remember how brilliant it is to be able to own your own horses so you don't have to leave them to the mercy of people like your nasty former YM.
 
Lovely story Fionam12. My first love was a donkey called Neddy. I first managed to climb onto him when I was 4 by stacking some stones up. I promptly fell head first over his side. I was then banned from trying to get on him but that didn't stop me and I must have spent a large portion of my childhood riding him around the fields. Most of it he tolerated quite well as I tried to make him jump and gallop. He however only ever galloped when he was left untied and found an open gate to escape through. He was such a character and remained my horsey substitute until my legs got too long aged 13 or so.
 
What a lovely idea for a thread - and a great opening post too.

My first horsey love was a riding school pony called Twinkle. I'd guess he was part Exmoor, bay with a white star about 12hh. I helped at said riding school and he was definitely my favourite. I liked riding him too though I moved onto bigger ponies fairly quickly
 
Peter Pan was my first love, he was about 12.2 and would in todays standards be classed as a section 'something or other!' He was black so everything I had for him had to be red! I would spend all my time down the riding stables, weekends, holidays .. everything revolved around him. He taught me to ride, he would tank off on a whim, his favourite was to buck, stop and put his head down to graze whilst I slid down his neck (yet again) and then he would lift his head and I would fall off the side. He freaked out at cows and bronced down the field having snorted at them from a distance!

I remember his neck, it was massive and if I close my eyes I can still picture us standing in the hot stool in a barn he used to be in and he was my world :o Being the only boy down a yard full of girls who always opted for the pretty ponies and left me out of pretty much everything (except when we got to the snogging stage and then I came in handy .. ironic really looking back, lol) :D I just spent all my time with him weather he liked it or not. Obviously he is gone now, I'm 34 and this was so many years ago but I will never forget him, he was my spark into the horsey world :o
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Another riding school pony, mine was a 13.2 hh bay with 4 white socks and a blaze called Foxy.

He used to be so lazy with the beginners but he used to move when I rode him, especially across the fields! !

He was good at jumping but if he didn't fancy it would run out at the last minute

He was bombproof out hacking

I now own another ex rs horse after he had all but a nervous breakdown, he's a tit but when he's good he's very good, when he's knobbing he's convinced everything is going to eat him!
 
what a great story OP:)Mildred sounds great, and what fantastic memories to have.

My first love was a small bay pony, section a i think, who looked just like elsiecats pony. He was called jaunty, he lived up to his name and apparently i would cry if i didnt get to ride him. I stayed at the riding school for a few years, until my dad lost his job and couldnt afford my lessons anymore:( Then one summer holiday when i was 12 i went back and managed to get a holiday job, I worked all week just to get 1 free ride. Just being there was enough to be honest. The yard owner had a morgan mare that was in foal, i remember thinking she was the most beautiful horse i had ever seen. But she was his pride and joy, and no one could ride her. i was alllowed to turn her out though. she was truly stunning. I promised myself i would have one just like her one day. Roll on a few years:o and finally got my Aria. My homebred yearling. Who is actually nothing like her, but is just as lovely.
 
Antw23uk said:
if I close my eyes I can still picture us standing in the hot stool in a barn he used to be in
Click to expand...

... :eek:

:D I learned on the 'beginner' pony, Mr Perkins. He was a lovely solid little grey thing, and he must have been a saint, though he'd gladly go for the grass given half a chance (bailer twine grass reins, anyone?!)

The next step up from him was Harvey, who I remember was put to sleep while I was there (but I don't remember why) and then Tuppence, a minimally-marked bay coloured pony who was very swift and unbeatable at gymkhana. After them I graduated to the 'big horses', being tall. I do miss those guys :) There won't be a single one of them still alive now :(
 
http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab192/mvongerard/img087.jpg. Pluto was an absolute git. He was bought by a racehorse trainer as his wifes hack . Pluto was sacked quite early on from this job. He then entered employment training apprentice jockeys to ride before they were alowwed onto the "more dificult" thoroughbreds. Unfortunately since Pluto was considerably more dificult to ride and took no prisoners ,again he got the sack. About this time ,I entered the scene ,aged about 12 /13 , . My mother,an accountant ,used to do the books for the trainer ,and being horse mad,I persuaded her to let me come with her to the yard. And that is how it all started , spotted Pluto languishing in the paddock . (perhaps not languishing because he was damn certain that no one was going to catch him and put him back to work). Pluto was duely rounded up and I was allowed to ride him (with the warning that when he chucked me off ,not to get straight back up because he would aim a double barrell at me . If I stayed low it would go harmlessly over my head.
We spent so many weekends and holidays together. I would cycle to the yard for 7 am and muck out ,sweep feed groom , and then for three glorious hours of lunchbreak I had the freedom to take Pluto anywhere and everywhere. We explored ,got lost ,got back late , met new friends, got in trouble ,but we were a team . Every boy needs a friend and accomplice like pluto.The picture is of me taking him to his one and only mock hunt with the Surrey Downs. (possibly the best trail they ever laid). He even put in a sterling performance for me at the area ponyclub tetrathlon. I really never knew he had it in him. Bless him ,the git.

I do feel bad about how it all ended. My parents bought me my first horse and so as kids do,I deserted my old friend. I later found out that the yard farriers daughter had taken to "riding "him and had cripled him . Not my fault but I still feel guilty 40 years later.
 
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A beautiful story and photo :(

My first horsey love is similar to yours! A spotty horse that was a pity purchase and could never really have been described as beautiful, or was ever really sound, but had the most wonderful character and had the biggest impact on my life out of any horse I have ever known! He was put to sleep last summer due to arthritis, but I think of him every day. He was my best friend for six years, and will always have a special place in my heart.

My lovely Ozzie -
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And this is the picture that melts my heart, just sums him up completely, even down the pink hair scrunchie in his forelock.
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Thanks everyone for adding your stories. There's something so special about the first bond you make with a horse, even though some of them didn't end happily.

Pigeon, Ozzie was lovely. Love the pink scrunchy! :D
 
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