JJS
Well-Known Member
Just a quick update as I've had a couple of HHOers message on Instagram to ask if I'd be making a post. It's been quite an exciting month here for me and my trio, with Flower going away for backing on the 1st and Mary's five-year anniversary on the 11th. It's very much been a period of firsts, which has been made all the more exciting by my Timehop flashing up lots of memories of Mary at the same age. It's crazy now to look back and realise how much of a baby she was when I got her!
Flower has made me proud from start to finish. Despite never having seen a horsebox before, it took less than five minutes to load her and she travelled like a pro. She called a little for the first couple of days after arriving but was pretty quick to settle in and has behaved impeccably. Lunging was the thing she struggled most with - as the lady who's breaking her said, "she's a horse who likes to live in your pocket". She's always struggled to see why she should walk around you in a circle when she could stand next to you and have cuddles, but she didn't take too long to get the hang of it, and then she was off.
Mary has coped surprisingly well with Flower being away - in fact, she hasn't given it a second thought! Because our pony comes in overnight, she's been stabled next to him and is loving her home comforts. We've been doing plenty of hacking to keep her occupied (not that she's bothered), which she's enjoyed immensely. It's crazy to think my brave, enthusiastic turbo cob is the same nappy four-year-old who arrived, but somewhere along the way she really has morphed into my dream horse.
These are just a few of our recent hacks. Those gorgeous, pricked ears say it all, don't they?
To really show you the transformation, here she is at four (I love seeing these pictures next to the ones of Flower at the same age) and now aged nine.
Now onto the most exciting stuff! I've officially had my first ride on Flower! After being led around with a rider for the first time on Friday, she had a rest day on Saturday, and then I was invited up for a turn on Sunday. Despite vastly too short stirrups (the lady breaking her is about half a foot smaller than me!), I felt so at home on her. The feeling of sitting on the horse you've bred for the first time is honestly indescribable - I don't think I've ever had a bigger smile on my face. Here she is in all her grown-up glory.
Apologies for the essay, but I know there are lots of you who are quite invested in her progress!
P.S. I hate to be that person, but please no criticism or unnecessary comments. This is a happy thread, and my last one of those derailed into a discourse on the dangers of long manes I know their manes are long. I also know they're not the slimmest, but I try my best and that's all you can do. What they are is happy, well-loved horses with an owner who couldn't be more proud of them
Flower has made me proud from start to finish. Despite never having seen a horsebox before, it took less than five minutes to load her and she travelled like a pro. She called a little for the first couple of days after arriving but was pretty quick to settle in and has behaved impeccably. Lunging was the thing she struggled most with - as the lady who's breaking her said, "she's a horse who likes to live in your pocket". She's always struggled to see why she should walk around you in a circle when she could stand next to you and have cuddles, but she didn't take too long to get the hang of it, and then she was off.
Mary has coped surprisingly well with Flower being away - in fact, she hasn't given it a second thought! Because our pony comes in overnight, she's been stabled next to him and is loving her home comforts. We've been doing plenty of hacking to keep her occupied (not that she's bothered), which she's enjoyed immensely. It's crazy to think my brave, enthusiastic turbo cob is the same nappy four-year-old who arrived, but somewhere along the way she really has morphed into my dream horse.
These are just a few of our recent hacks. Those gorgeous, pricked ears say it all, don't they?
To really show you the transformation, here she is at four (I love seeing these pictures next to the ones of Flower at the same age) and now aged nine.
Now onto the most exciting stuff! I've officially had my first ride on Flower! After being led around with a rider for the first time on Friday, she had a rest day on Saturday, and then I was invited up for a turn on Sunday. Despite vastly too short stirrups (the lady breaking her is about half a foot smaller than me!), I felt so at home on her. The feeling of sitting on the horse you've bred for the first time is honestly indescribable - I don't think I've ever had a bigger smile on my face. Here she is in all her grown-up glory.
Apologies for the essay, but I know there are lots of you who are quite invested in her progress!
P.S. I hate to be that person, but please no criticism or unnecessary comments. This is a happy thread, and my last one of those derailed into a discourse on the dangers of long manes I know their manes are long. I also know they're not the slimmest, but I try my best and that's all you can do. What they are is happy, well-loved horses with an owner who couldn't be more proud of them