Horses - THANK YOU!

C

Crosshill Pacers

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I'm in the process of packing an overnight bag, including my riding gear, to go and stay with a very good friend of mine for the night. Unfortunately she hasn't been very well recently. I knew she was having a tough time of it but didn't realise quite how bad until her mum got in touch to tell me what was going on. Fortunately she seems to be slowly improving and I know a huge part of her recovery is down to her horses. They have been the only thing getting her out of bed in the morning. For that alone, I want to thank them! It would have been a lot easier for her to give up and not leave the house at all, but knowing that they were there waiting for her was enough to keep her going through the worst of it.

Tonight we're getting our glad rags on and going out to celebrate the start of a brand new year for us and our horses. But what we're both looking forward to most is going for a ride tomorrow. My friend was given a horse to bring on (ex-pacer) and she conveniently needed a horse to practice on in order to do her BHS exams. He has been an absolute rock for her and tomorrow she is allowing me to ride him! She has started work on a youngster, and it's so good to see she still has confidence in one aspect of her life. So we're going exploring tomorrow, her on the young lad and me on the big old boy! I'm really nervous as the only horse I've ridden since starting to get my confidence back has been Big Ears, but this big grey chap is as safe as houses, only a long way from the ground! Plus I know how important it is for my friend that she has someone to go for a ride with, and who 'gets' horses. It's just a shame we live so far away from each other.

Anyway, in my usual style this was an entirely pointless post but I am so excited/nervous that I couldn't keep it to myself! I shall endeavour to get photos of my friend and I tomorrow to show you all what fun we've had and how lovely my friend's wonderful horses really are. They'll be getting an extra big hug from me for looking after my friend in her time of need!

Happy New Year to you all and all of your lovely horses too :) I wish you all the best for the forthcoming year!
 
Have a lovely time. You sound like a great friend!

I think animals play a huge part in people's motivation and wellbeing. They are a tie and a financial burden of course but I for one couldn't be without them :)

Here's to a better year for you and your friend x
 
WelshD said:
Have a lovely time. You sound like a great friend!

I think animals play a huge part in people's motivation and wellbeing. They are a tie and a financial burden of course but I for one couldn't be without them :)

Here's to a better year for you and your friend x
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Thank you :) I myself am feeling really positive about next year, people keep telling me what a lovely quiet horse I have and not to let her go, to which I am reassuring them I won't! She's stuck with me for life I'm afraid!

I also visited my old boss this morning who runs a racing yard. He's asked that if I'm not too busy from March onwards could I go back to help him. I jumped at the chance :) just being around horses sorts my head out when things are getting too much, they are completely therapeutic! I'm hoping some of my positivity will rub off on my friend tonight now!
 
Thought I'd better return to give an update on today's riding. The weather couldn't have been nicer for us to start with :) my friend took the big grey out first around her track to take the fizz out of him as he hasn't done much for the last few weeks other than go on the walker (due to friend's problems). Then she let me have a go :o I haven't been that nervous for a long time! The big fella is 17.1hh, and an ex-racing Standie. My friend warned me that he puts in little bucks when asked to trot when he's feeling a bit fresh and I think that was combined with the fact I must have felt nervous on him so the first couple of laps he took the pee with me. Unfortunately I let this get to me so my friend got back on and took him around a few more times. Then we decided we'd put a small jump up for him, which he LOVED! She then convinced me to get back on him and have a go at cantering. I managed three laps of walk and trot, with several stretches of canter, and reverted to singing to relax (nice bit of Tom Jones!) - it felt great :D

Then we got the youngster out. Today was only the second time he's been backed. He's a racehorse but my friend wants to add another string to his bow/keep herself busy. It will undoubtedly sound mental to everyone but I felt quite privileged to be part of the whole process and completely in awe of my friend. She has gone through so much and lacks so much confidence in her abilities, and there she was getting onto a horse that she only sat on for the first time on Saturday. I led her around the yard a couple of times before letting her loose, and when Kippers was settled she took him around the track for a walk. He was a big baby so I had to walk in front of him to show him that the bushes and trees that he's passed a hundred times before in the cart were not going to eat him today! He managed the second lap with me watching from the middle so already much braver :)

All in all a fantastic day for myself, my friend, Kippers and the big grey lad :)
 
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