Horse of a Lifetime, your tributes.

Daisychain

Daisychain

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Do you, or have you ever had a truly special horse, one that you think you could never replace, wether top competition or happy hacker. Probably the most special horse in my life has been the mother of my super 5yo (who will hopefully follow on) she has never put a foot wrong, has always jumped like a stagg, infact she has never refused, very sucessfully competed, bred 3 lovely foals. Who is your special horse and why?
 
My special horse is my boy Dreamer.

In 2003 I left the yard (when it was a riding school) because I didn't have time to go up there anymore. He was always my favourite pony there and I was so sad to leave him behind!

In September last year yard owner asked me to do some photography for a show she was doing (we were still friends and at the time I was doing photography as a job) so I went up and he was still there (yard was now a livery yard) and I realised just how much I'd missed him! Went up once or twice a week and did some poo-picking in turn for riding!

In Nov 07 she offered me him on loan in return for work 4 days a week and I took it! No longer working for her as insurance played a major part and we're at a new yard, but she's let me keep him on loan on the condition that I poo-pick and help her mum on a Sat when she has a day off herself!

It's a great arrangement and he is my superstar pony and I would NEVER give him up now!
 
My special horse is my mare Polo who I got 6 months ago after my confidence took a severe bashing with my last horse. She has helped me to get my confidence back and will always be my special girl
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My 12.2 pony. I've had her for nearly 21 years and she is just a little angel. She has the best temperament anyone could ever ask for.
I can honestly say I've never met another like her.
 
Mine was alittle mare called Pip,only 14.2,but one pony with a big heart.....Arab x N/F and she would hack all day and hunt,and still be as'fresh as a daisy' at the end........was a real handful,but I always felt safe on her....I so miss that little mare!
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Henry, a show cob and the love of my life. We had such a special bond. My first horse, I was young and naive but he was such a generous and loving gentleman I have never met another like him. We lost him to injury after only having had him 1 year. RIP my gorgeous lad x
 
Kilamanjaro - 18hh Cleveland Bay - sparked my passion for the breed when I was 13

Pinto - my first own pony - would do anything for me

Stinkerstonker (Nelly) she left this world too soon to see what potential she had, but I think she had loads.
 


My Sunny. She is my horse of a lifetime. A handful at times, can be fizzy but so trustworthy & kind that it is unbelievable.

When I've had bad days with my legs, instead of prancing about on the end of the leadrope as she is prone to do sometimes, she has walked by the side of me allowing me to lean on her shoulder for support & walking so slowly, sometimes stopping for me & listening to my voice only. She could quite easily act the fool but on those days she doesn't. She seems to know when I need a bit of help.

She is just a star, a really gentle girl. She is a pleasure to be around & I love her to bits. I could go on forever but I won't bore you all. She is my girl & 1 in a 100 million xx
 
I'm greedy and got two horses that were exceptional for me.
Sovereign was a 14.2 arab x welsh who we bought cheap as although he had won loads doing BSJA, hardly anybody who tried him out could stay on him - he was just too whizzy for most kids to cope with. I clicked with him straight away and within weeks we were regulalry clearing up to 5'6" jumps together! Sadly Sov had DJD so his BSJA career ended within months of me buying him, but he came to me at a point in my life where i was very close to giving up due to a few too many bad experiences. Sadly Sov went to the big green field in the sky on 25th October 2000 - happy hunting up there Sovs!

Fox is my 22 year old anglo-arab that I have owned for 16 years now. He is still pyscho and will rear until I let him gallop, but if I could stretch him to 16.2 and turn back the clock so that he could be a 4 year old again, I would happily sell all my other horses. On an off day he wouldnt jump a stick, on a good day he was unbeatable and we beat quite a few famous names together. Playing around at home, I could (and still can!) get him to do canter pirroutes, one time changes, piaffe & passge - and he has never had proper dressage training! Fox has been a true friend to me and saved my neck on quite a few occasions and I dread the day that he becomes too old to canter sideways bucking down the road.
 
Can we have more than one? F, who has challenged every single fibre of what I thought I knew about horses and quite a lot of what my instructors thought too, but who is worth his weight in gold for being Just Perfect when things do magically come together, that the problems, frustrations and tears are all worthwhile. He has taught me such mind blowing things.
 
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Florin. Google Silver Florin Equine Welfare. You will find part of the story. Still unable to talk about it.

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This makes my heart ache. What a story.
 
Mine was my old girl Rema who we lost when she was thirty.She was the biggest pain in the butt.I could have quite easily have throttled her on more than one occasion.We got thrown out of so many veteran classes because she couldent keep her feet on on the floor and would buck,rear,flybuck you name she would do it.the day she was being delivered to me she came 7 hours late because she wouldent load in the trailer even under heavy sedation so they walked her the 12 miles to my home with the fella sat on the back step of the minibus leading her.I couldent catch her and when i did she would throw me off and then i couldent catch her again for two days with all her tack still on.BUT she had the nicest temp you could ever ask for and i loved her to bits.She was my equine soul mate.I still miss the old cow to this day and there will never be another like her.Rest in peace you old bag.
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Sparks is my horse of a lifetime a beautiful piebald mare, full of character who is kind and generous with kids, novice or disabled riders, but still an 'interesting' ride for a more competent rider. Can, will and has turned a hoof to anything she has been asked to do. Loves being with people and will stand all day having a scratch.

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i've been lucky enough to have quite a few wonderful horses, but Doris (Skylarker) stands out.
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she had the most amazing jump and absolutely loved her jumping, was so forgiving of my misses and mistakes, went from baby-Novice to Advanced and 3*, was just unlucky and never got to 4*, although i am convinced she'd have eaten up the biggest course. she would have jumped off a cliff for me. impossible at dressage, beset by chronic atlas problems and sarcoids, then retired sound and still eager to event due to a cataract, she was the biggest tryer in the world. i was so lucky to have such a wonderful horse, will probably never sit on anything as good again.
r.i.p. my wonderful forgiving Dottie.
 
Silver Florin, I am sitting here in tears after reading the story. You have my utmost respect. Thank god for people like you. You know when the sun streams down through the clouds like in biblical stories? Well that's when I like to think of all the animals I have had and loved and lost are smiling down on me saying thanks and that they are happy. Believe it, it helps, and comes at unexpected times, best of all on the greyest of days. Bless you x.
 
My horse - or rather, pony - of a lifetime was the most perfect little lady, who taught me so much and who I will never forget. Tragically she was taken at the young age of 11 years when she developed acute Grass Sickness. The words in a poem in the video were written especially for her by a friend.
You can read her story HERE
and watch a Tribute Video here...
 
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Florin. Google Silver Florin Equine Welfare. You will find part of the story. Still unable to talk about it.

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That is one of the saddest things I think I have ever read. I am so sorry for what you and her went through
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Sorry to have upset some people. Thankyou for the very kind PM's. Still makes me cry, thats why i put is as i did to google.
If it were not for Florin i would not be doing what i do today in her memeory, my beautiful Florin.
Florin is the Grey below enjoying her summer.
When no-one was about she would lay her head on me, i would wrap my arms around her head and she would go to sleep. A special memory i have.
 
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Florin. Google Silver Florin Equine Welfare. You will find part of the story. Still unable to talk about it.

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That's so sad...Brought a tear to my eye.

I think I'm lucky to currently have my once in a lifetime horse. She drives me halfway round the bend sometimes, as she can be so difficult, but I love her SO much, and somehow I just know shes the one...
 
I have just absolutely broken my heart reading that story, I'm not surprised you can't talk about it. How you managed to write it I'll never know. I can't stand the thought that one day, probably not too far away, I will have to say goodbye to my mare. I don't know if I can ever help you Silver_Florin but if you need help please ask and if I can do it, I will.

Respect.
 
Oh yes my lovely mare i had for 22 years pts last year, miss her dreadfully achieved a lot with her competing etc. I do have another one, but just quite the same but i do love him to bits in his own way and have to tell him in case he knows i loved her more. I think any horse is special in your life, but when you have owned one for a long long time there is so much more between you.
 
I've always wanted to do a tribute to my little horse Millie. She wasn't a competition horse, she did not win lots of rosettes but she was a very sweet, kind soul who was grateful for everything I did for her. She had a bad start in life before I got her and had a few health problems but we had hours of fun hacking out and I trusted her 100%. When we went to shows it was always a bonus if we did not come last! My proudest moment was when she came second in a family horse class . Six years ago this may she was PTS due to Cushings related laminitis at the age of 13. I still miss her even though I have another horse. RIP Mills.
 
My first and only pony Mr. P Bear , the cutest, cheekiest boy ever. He always adapted himself to his riders abilities, truly one in a million and I still miss his party tricks! He was PTS at home at 26 years old.x

My first horse M.Star, the prettiest girl with the biggest heart. I loved her so much, it nearly broke my heart when she was PTS at home at 30 years old. x
 
Dan is my horse of a lifetime, he's the pally in my signature. I had to retire him last year after surgery on his annular ligaments didn't work - he remains slightly lame after 2yrs off work now and is resigned to a happy life stuffing his face and flirting with his girlfriends. I didn't get him till he was 15 and he went lame not long after with PSD, but nursed him through that and got him back to full fitness. I knew nothign when I got him, never competed, hardly ridden any lateral work or in an outline. He had been to the Riding club champs at novice and really knew his stuff. We got to Medium, were 4th at the AF Finals at the BD Winter Champs at Novice (ironically his best ever score, 70% from a List One judge, and his last ever outing as he went lame shortly afterwards). We got 81 BD points, went to the Regionals 3 times, were L&SE dressage to music champs and costume dressage to music champs, plus area DTM champs, appeared in Horse mag and Rider mag, BD mag and H&H. And when he wasn't excelling at dressage, he was enjoying sponsored rides, jumping 3ft at home, competing HT, ODE, SJ, combined training and showing and bringing home rossies every time. He was a fabulous all-rounder and my best friend and gave me amazing opportunities - I owe all our results to him - he was truly a superstar and deserves a happy retirement while I work on getting the new baby to live up to all that!
 
Corroy, the horse I have now. After a complete nightmare and loss of confidence she has taught me everything. She hasn't always been easy. I am just a very lucky girl to have such a special horse.
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