Have you ever been so proud of your horse?

[Green Bean]

Silly thing really, but I have battled with my horse's nervousness, anxiety and flight before fight and every little thing is a challenge. I have taken the journey with her with every achievement a source of great joy. Our latest battle has been getting her to walk onto the walker at the yard. I can understand her hesitance as it can be a feeling of being trapped.
I tried a few times with no success a few months ago. Decided to leave it for a couple of months as I was looking into finding a feed that didn't trigger her anxiety (she is very reactive to most cereals and changes her mind about eating a particular type of feed every year so it is a challenge). Yesterday, as the weather was foul, I decided to give it a go again. Oh my word, she just walked on, we walked around together, walked off, walked back on, changed direction. Next step is to have her on her own, but I was so proud of her, I couldn't stop smiling. I put her in her stable and was talking to others and she was looking at me and whickering, it was like she knew how proud I was of her needless to say, copious treats were dispensed

 

[SEL]

Mine was when baby cob went to a polework clinic and acted like a grown up pony from the off - no silly bucking or other nonsense he just cracked on. I was over the moon with him.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

That just shows that if you put the effort in and take baby steps, you get there in the end. Your horse trusts you.

 

[Rumtytum]

Silly thing really, but I have battled with my horse's nervousness, anxiety and flight before fight and every little thing is a challenge. I have taken the journey with her with every achievement a source of great joy. Our latest battle has been getting her to walk onto the walker at the yard. I can understand her hesitance as it can be a feeling of being trapped.
I tried a few times with no success a few months ago. Decided to leave it for a couple of months as I was looking into finding a feed that didn't trigger her anxiety (she is very reactive to most cereals and changes her mind about eating a particular type of feed every year so it is a challenge). Yesterday, as the weather was foul, I decided to give it a go again. Oh my word, she just walked on, we walked around together, walked off, walked back on, changed direction. Next step is to have her on her own, but I was so proud of her, I couldn't stop smiling. I put her in her stable and was talking to others and she was looking at me and whickering, it was like she knew how proud I was of her needless to say, copious treats were dispensed

Doesn’t matter if you are human/horse/any other animal, getting over fears is a challenge and your girl did so well, I bet she did know how proud you were of her and I bet she was proud of herself too !

 

[Peglo]

I’ve been insanely proud of me wee lass on so many occasions but the one that stuck out was when we were learning to jump I took her to a competition on grass for the first time. We were just doing poles or cross poles. Previously we had been doing courses in trot and cantering into a few single jumps. She stood and watched other horses before we had a try and she popped herself into canter and just did what they did. She was amazing. I was smiling like the Cheshire Cat although i pretty much do all the time when I ride her.

 

[doodle]

Yes. When I got mine I was told he was difficult to clip and you couldn't go above mid neck. He also couldn't deal with tractors.

I can now clip without sedation everywhere. He has had some vet treatment needing bist clipped and he hasn't batted an eyelid.

Tractors he now dosnt see why we have to get out of the way and goes past without a look.

 

[Pippity]

Pretty much every time I ride her!

A few months back, we were escorting a nervous friend on her horse, when her horse had an anxiety meltdown. Blue stayed absolutely calm and rock solid. Even with the other horse bouncing off her and tying himself in knots, she didn't bat an ear. At the point when I had to get off and lead the other horse, while his owner led mine, Blue plodded along without even diving for some grass. When we finally made it back to the yard, she let out a big sigh, gave me a, "What an idiot!" look, and fell asleep.

She used to be so bad with having her legs handled that she needed two doses of IV sedation for the farrier. The first time she stood perfectly with no sedation, no fidgeting, and no worrying, I just wanted to give her an enormous hug. (I gave her treats instead, which she appreciated far more!)

 

[AmyMay]

Yep, came face to face literally with a paraglider and thought ‘oh sh!t’. Horse didn’t bat an eye lid

 

[Abacus]

Our little horse has always worked very sweetly and is lovely to ride, but was nervous and almost uncatchable - goodness knows what had happened to him. It took a year to be able to walk to him in the field without him cantering off, and now after a couple more months he walks up to me - looking happy and calm with his ears pricked and a nice soft look in his eye. The first time he did that I was crying.

I did something just before that year was up, which was that I sat next to him on the yard and just talked to him for ages, I promised never to hurt him and asked him to try and trust me. I'm generally quite cynical but there was a difference the next day. I struggle to admit this, feel free to laugh! Whatever made him give it a go, I am so proud of him for trying.

 

[dottylottie]

bless her, what a little clever clogs!

i too have a very nervous mare, we’re currently rehabbing from an injury - hacked out with another livery yesterday, who forgot mine is limited to walk/trot. her horse shot off into canter, lily was well up for a good blast but i pulled her up and she did a tiny buck and came back whilst i shouted ahead for them to please slow down the first time i’ve ever actually ridden her in an open space as she went lame less than 2 months after i bought her, and she’s been cooped up on restricted turnout for months, super proud mum moment! poor livery felt awful for forgetting, but was very complimentary that my little sweetheart stopped for me and didn’t blow her top

 

[Julia0803]

I’ve felt so proud of mine so often this year!!

He was previously a kids pc pony (and my, then, nervous nelly son’s first pony). So he didn’t ever hack alone, only in company or with a walker.

A few years ago I had got to the point where we could hack ‘locally’ just around the village, where it was busy- he really didn’t like the quiet, felt much happier if there was hustle and bustle.

But this year we have changed all that! If you had told me in January what we’d be doing now I wouldn’t believe you!

We now happily hack solo, further afield, up to 12.5miles completely alone.

A lot of it in isolated (to him at least!) parts. We have remained calm and had no dramas with big machinery, horses cantering in the fields next to bridleways, meeting other horses whilst out that were loosing their marbles.

We have done several graded endurance rides on our own, up to a max of 33km- being overtaken and overtaking other horses.

I’m SO SO crazy proud of him. He makes me beam pretty much every time we go out.

 

[smolmaus]

Every "big" occasion, first dressage outing, first time on an xc course, first fun ride or pony camp I have come away so proud of her I could burst. She always tries so hard, she's sensible, acts likes she's been doing these things all her life when she certainly has not. She is so so cool.

Sometimes it is the small things that really get you though, she walked past a clatter of cows standing at a gate last week without scuttling sideways like a crab or trying to scoot off as she would have done even a few months ago and I could have cried.

 

[Polos Mum]

Watching my 10 y/o have her first proper lesson with him. She was having a good go at rising trot but not quite perfect, toes down, hands up, no steering and a touch too much shouting (we were all there once!) and he carried her around with utmost grace.

He was an ugly yearling colt 6 years ago and because of covid he ended up getting broken by me (not something I'd planned to do at all). So the fact I can take him XC or win a prelim dressage is lovely - but to have him take care of a learner and be so patient with her was really what made me proud of him.

 

[NinjaPony]

My connemara won our local dressage series, as both overall champion and veteran champion, having won all three classes he entered with over 70%. I have never been so proud as when he got his shield and sash. It felt like he had finally got the recognition he deserved after many years of dressage competitions with decent scores but not world beating. He was the most fantastic pony to compete, wonderfully behaved and tried his heart out every test and it was really emotional for me. It turned out to be the last tests he did before his lungs started to go downhill and I’m still incredibly proud and grateful that I got to share that moment with him.

 

[little_critter]

Yep, came face to face literally with a paraglider and thought ‘oh sh!t’. Horse didn’t bat an eye lid

My girl is pretty bombproof, but when we met a crop sprayer unfurling it’s spray booms like a malevolent alien I was stunned (and proud) that she was fine with it.

My boy is currently on box rest and we are doing some clicker target training to keep his brain busy. It is wonderful watching him figure out the problem and getting the answer right.

 

[Goldenstar]

My horses don’t have to do much to make me proud of them like a very partial parent I am easily pleased .

 

[Snow Falcon]

Yes, one particular occasion. Good old Benji, he carried a groom up a driveway with a crowd of people throwing money at us, jumping, cheering and clapping all around him. He was so steady and brilliant, it made me cry with pride.

 

[ihatework]

Pretty much any time I look at any of mine I’m proud of them. I’m lucky to have such smart, kind and generous horses. It’s amazing what they do for humans.

 

[Boughtabay]

When I took my Spanish dragon to his first group lesson - donned my body protector … took it off after 10 mins as it clearly wasn’t needed

 

[McFluff]

Was very proud of my boy tonight. a few months ago and he was taking ages to load (usually 20-30 mins, worst was 2 hours). We’ve been working hard and now he just has a wee hesitation at bottom of ramp to leave the yard and usually walks straight in to come home.
Tonight, in the gloom, walked straight on to leave the yard. And a slight hesitation to load coming back, in the dark. It’s the first time I’ve taken him out in the dark. Such a good boy.
I do love those small moments where you realise that these gorgeous animals are trusting you to look after them.

 

[Green Bean]

Was very proud of my boy tonight. a few months ago and he was taking ages to load (usually 20-30 mins, worst was 2 hours). We’ve been working hard and now he just has a wee hesitation at bottom of ramp to leave the yard and usually walks straight in to come home.
Tonight, in the gloom, walked straight on to leave the yard. And a slight hesitation to load coming back, in the dark. It’s the first time I’ve taken him out in the dark. Such a good boy.
I do love those small moments where you realise that these gorgeous animals are trusting you to look after them.

McFluff, totally with you, I had the same issue as you (and still have, dependant on the situation) and when my girl loads within 5 minutes, I am smiling non-stop for ages and acting like a proud mother, telling everyone how brilliant she is

 

[leflynn]

I am frequently insanely proud of my darling little horse, most recently for behaving himself with a friends daughter round their first few rides and subsequently their first local dressage comp (they placed first too) and again yesterday as he was out to nanny a new horse on the yard being turned out for the first time, he was calm as a cucumber while it whizzed round excitedly, never flickered and just seemed to chill his new friend out

 

[millreef]

Yesterday was a proud owner, my mare escaped from the paddock then broke back in again looking all …“what”?

 

[Gloi]

I was really proud the first time anyone else but myself rode him. He behaved perfectly and I was like a proud mother.

 

[Unicorn]

With my horse of a lifetime. Would freeze in the arena gateway and shake, absolutely terrified, when I first got him. A few years later we were working in a strange arena on a clinic, cool as a cucumber and showing off flying changes
Yes, there were tears. Most awesomest horse ever

 

[Sprogladite01]

Took my mare for hack a couple of weeks ago, I live opposite a farm with a very large front garden. They had a huge bouncy castle in the garden, loads of screaming tiny people having a blast (2 of whom ran at my horse with the family dog bounding behind them), on the other side of the road my neighbour was jet-washing his driveway (later learned to remove moss - who knew?), behind me was a tractor rapidly gaining on us and in front of us, walking towards us, was 5 humans and 3 dogs. I thought for sure I was a goner as my girl is only 5. She looked at the bouncy castle, gave a fantastic side eye to the dogs but otherwise just got on with it. Me on the other hand - I was a mental wreck by the time we got past it all and the tractor turned off the road!