Have you achieved all that you hoped for with your horse?

[Erehwemos]

From both a competitive point of view, and on a personal level

I'll start

On a competitive front - perhaps not.
I was always the kid at Pony Club who couldnt face jumping bigger than 2'6 (they used to call me CantShantWont

) When we got Ellie, she had such an amazing jump that she filled me with confidence, and having been bitten by the showjumping bug, we started BSJAing quite soon. We competed up to Newcomers - beyond my wildest expectations - and were Reserve Champs at the Trailblazers finals in 2002

I had high hopes then that we might one day get to HOYS for the Newcomers Finals; we were also going to try some Young Rider classes and maybe head for the amateur championships. However, we suffered a nasty training fall towards the end of our best ever summer, and I lost all the confidence that had grown over the past few years

So as a result, we gave up jumping and I would have to say that there are certain things I'm gutted we never got the chance to do. I cant really protest too much though - winning affiliated classes was a far cry from the girl who couldnt face a 2'6 course without falling off just three years earlier!

On all other levels - yes.
Ellie is my soulmate, and in finding her I have found my 'forever' horse. All my friends from Pony Club have bought new horses since I have had Elz - we're the only partnership who have stayed together after 9 years. And that isnt because we couldnt afford another, or because I felt 'stuck' with her - it truly is because I wouldnt change a thing about her. Basically, she is all I could ever want and could have been much more, had I had the guts to go with her! But I think that in achieving the partnership we have, we have surpassed any expectations I could ever have had at the beginning

I always wanted a 'forever' horse, but everyone warned me that at 12 years old, I was unlikely to find one! They were wrong, thankfully!

Your turn!

 

[Gorgeous George]

Competitive
Definately, when I bought George I said I didn't want to go to shows and never would..........but then I had the opportunity and once I got my shocking nerves sorted out I really enjoy it. We have got quite a collection of of rosettes over the past 2 years, ok all from local unaff shows and pride of place is my 1st place one from a prelim class against 15 others - never ever thought I would win something! We have also started jumping and one day I would like to be placed in a sj comp.....................

Other
Yes yes yes! George means the world to me, he is the horse I thought I would never have, and despite some rather sticky moments, we have come on together, and I think he has improved my riding (a bit) and also my confidence. He has a home for life with me.

 

[Chico Mio]

Competitively, nothing as we don't compete, much as I would love to, between us we have too many health and logistical issues

Otherwise, yes. He is such a sweetie and I am pleased that a bit of thought and effort on our part has made him a totally different horse from the one I first met.

 

[clairefeekerry1]

competitvely- no
personally - no

4 years wasted hence looking for new horse!!!!!!!!

 

[rara007]

Pip - Competitively- Far far far more achieved than expected. He was my first outdoor driving pony and if 2 years ago you told me he would have taken me to a placing at the junior world champs, reserve national novice champ indoor and heading for the 'adult' national champs I would have laughed. He was only partly broken to drive singles, nothing special to look at and boring paces, yet somehow he has done it. As we were both so novice I had no aims other than competing some PN events, which we did 2 of, winning the regional championship. My best results dressage have been with him too, qualifying trailblazers and winning a few. In a way, because of this I have even more aims, but if we don't achieve these he has already done so much more than predicted and given me so much.

On other levels, yes and no. He is fab, and we know each other better than we know ourselves. He puts up with me, my late night riding, at times crumby riding, only being driven every few weeks abdis the most fantastic hack. He has developed diva tendancies and needs alot of rest time between events which can make me hate him, as when he is bad he is very bad! It is only fair though as doing 2/3/4 day events off grass is taking it out of him. I'm hoping he will cope with being fed next year.
Ginga- Competively again done more than his job, bought him to start off driving and he took me to the the national champs in my first year, so did that well. Is also a much better riding pony than I expected, great confidence giver and has had his share of dressage combinded training and whp wins and placings. I am feeling he has run his course however, and should go teach another person...I can't say on other levels he is my soul mate, for whatever reason, sweet as he is we don't have that conection I have with Pip where we know what each other is thinking.

Tally is a work in progress

Good signs at the moment however.

Must also mention Ajay- Who I got when I was 4. He has given countless kids years of fun showing racing and ponyclubbing, and is now doing well driving. I love him! Not sure what the hopes for him were, but he is a legend.

 

[BEX9095]

Competitively - we're on our way. We have won ODE championship in our first season and usually in the ribbons but I only compete for fun.

Personally - yes I only had my boy a few hours and he had an accident which left him with two operations on his leg. We didnt know if he would ever come right but on the positive we got to know each other inside out (all the box rest). Ive never had such a conection with any other animal. Love my boy to death.

Feel really sorry for you clairefeekerry1, good luck with the search. My boy chose me! I didnt even go to see him and I certianly didnt like the look of him - I was used to thoroughbreds and he is more like a carthorse haha

 

[Arabelle]

Competitively - more than I knew was possible. I just wanted the fun of bringing on a green youngster and a nice riding club type pony, I had never heard of endurance as a sport. We have won 160km race rides and competed consistently at 80km plus for 4 seasons. Remarkable, thrilling, incredible.

Personally - words are inadaquete. My pony is so special to me and a part of our family. I just love spending time with her, she is like horsey valium and makes everything in life just a bit easier to cope with. Plus, she is fantastic with children, really careful and gentle. This morning, my 6 year old daughter went for a ride on her pony, lead reined off my mare. We were out for over an hour up the hill, walking and trotting and she was so calm and good. But out with me, she is a pocket rocket. She is a complete angel and, as far as I am concerned, pony perfection.
A

 

[cheekycharley]

Competitivly - yes and no, we have come such a long way from always picking up a 20 - whatever height we were jumping on the xc to winning at PN level and going clear xc round a pn3d. I had dreams of getting to novice level (which we did in a fashion) but arthitus in my horsey has put a stop to that dream.

Personally - yes, my horse is just perfect and my horse of a lifetime, I have had her 7 years since i was 14 and i would never sell her - she is such a huge part of my life

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Competively - not yet

!! I am starting stressage on my boy this year and will do some showing with my girl next year. Just to survive the classes will be a bonus!!

Personally - yes

! my girl is from a rescue and has been with me for 9 years now and is now a happy relaxed horse - we have had our moments but she is with me forever and I also have the satisfaction of knowing I had done everything with her. My boy also found me - was sour in the school and had untreated ulcers - but after a year of changing his managent etc he is getting there and is like a different horse - even prepared to do a bit of schooling now!!

They both give me the stress relief and sanity check I need from my work and I just love spending time with them, the smell of them, the funny little noises they make etc etc its all very therapeutic and I can feel the calm seeping through me when I'm with them.

(Have just read that back and feel a bit sick

.............)

 

[Nannon]

Competitively - Nearly, my boy Jerry and me compete at unaffiliated showjumping and xc at 3ft plus and he has never failed me and never been disqualified (unless it was my fault). Hes in the ribbons all the time, done numerous riding club nationals and we even got seventh at the BRC national huntertrials when we hadnt done any xc before! Hes an absolute star - we did our first ODE last weekend, even though he has never ever done dressage he tried for me (i think it was entertaining to watch a irish cob that lives to jump trying!)
I would love to go affiliated with him, but at 17 its far too expensieve, but at 16 hes getting on a bit and i would love to do it before we run out of time.

Personally - we have our moments where we hate eachother, but hes the best shoulder to cry on... ever!

 

[destiny11]

No not yet with either which I love.

One is 7 and we have had a lot of setbacks, just starting competing her and loving it, still got a massive amount of improvement to come and I am really enjoying getting there with her.

Other is my home bred 4 year old, she is hacking out and basic schooling but in no rush with her and really looking forward to slowly taking her out etc.

Edited to say I love them both dearly and could never be without them, they are my best mates

So, lots of hard work with two younger horses but it is so nice to see the improvement in them and slowly achieving goals with them

 

[SpruceRI]

Yes - in all ways.

I bought Rosie 14yrs ago in the hope of at last owning a horse who would have the temperament and ability to allow me to compete XC/SJ at 2ft 6", 2ft 9" at a push as I was nervous XC. And Prelim Dressage.

We have taken years to get there but have achieve way way more.

BSJA upto Newcomers. BD and several shiny points.

Best of all, Eventing. Regularly compete at PN (BE100) and are competitive..... can't believe that we did it!

1st Reserve Champion Trailblazers 2001, BHS Hunter Trials Champs, RC Champs, Qualified for Scope Festival, Dressage at Hickstead......

And all this on a 14.3hh Welsh Cob bought from a stud with a few hundred quid.


And on a personal level, if it weren't for her and my lovely Shettie I'd never have got over the death of my beloved Mum, having to move out of the family home and survive with little money for several years working every waking hour to pay for it all.


Great hunter - I never dreamed in a million years that I'd have to guts to hunt my own horse!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Kind of, with Luca my warmblood I have achieved a lot. I got him as a complete nutter who had no schooling and used to bolt everywhere. He is now a lovely allrounder who regularly goes double clear showjumping and cross country and has qualified for a few dressage champs. However due to various reasons we never get to go to them so would like to actually go to one this year! Also I have yet to do a one day event on him which i would really love to.

On other levels yes, I love him to bits, he is my dream horse and my best friend, we have so much fun together, I wouldn't swap him for the world.

With my other chap, my old boy Roscoe yes I have achieved what I hoped for competitively as getting him at 9 I never really expected anything from him I just wanted to give him a nice home for the rest of his life. So the fact that his dressage is still improving now (aged 21) and he is still full of life and energy who loves jumping and has taken me hunting when my other boy's been off (and been the nuttiest horse out there) is all an added bonus (apart from the nutty part)! Our proudest day so far is when last year I took him out to some dressage not really expecting much and he won both his classes beating all the proper horses

On other levels it took me awhile to connect with him like i do Luca but now we have a really good bond and I am very pleased to have him