How happy are you with your horse?

Well, better do all 3 of ours.

The old girl: I love her to bits, have had her 10 years and even though we never did half the things I had planned (due to initial mad bucking issue, then navicular, then a fracture to a hind leg, then arthritis), she has taught me so much over the years (not least how to sit a buck!). She had a nasty upbringing before us, but over the years has turned into the sweetest natured mare ever, and she and my lad are totally devoted to each other. So yes, I'm happy with her, even though in retrospect she was too much for the 15 year old I was when I got her, and has had numerous soundness issues! What would I change? She wouldn't have arthritis, and wouldn't be so heavy on the forehand to school! But if she'd never gone lame, I'd never have got the boy...

The boy: Happier with him than I ever believed I could be! He is certainly not perfect, but has the best personality you could ever wish for and great stable manners. He is turning into a really nice allrounder now as well, and gets lots of compliments both on his looks and ability! What would I change....I'd have got him when he was 4 not 7, so he'd be reaching this level at 8 not 11. I'd make him 2 or 3 inches bigger, and a mare so I could breed from him one day. But, like the others (even more so perhaps) he will never be for sale.

OH's mare. Is perfect for him! He is very confident but not yet that experienced, but would get bored with a really safe, sensible horse. She is lively enough to keep him interested, well schooled enough to compete straight away, challenging enough for me to enjoy too, and easily talented enough to keep him interested for a good few years, if not forever. Pretty rare thing, a horse that can safely be ridden by a (relative) novice but will do a good novice test and go round 3'0 + xc and SJ courses. In fact we'd like to do some BE with her ultimately and she def has the scope for it, has jumped 1.30 with old yard. What i'd change? She can be a bit headshy and spooky (again, dodgy history), and has NO respect for electric fences. Wouldn't mind her being 8 or 9 rather than rising 13 (but wouldn't have been able to afford her if she had!) Oh, and her poo's are the size of MOUNTAINS!

Sorry, went on a bit didn't I?!
 
I am absalutely over the moon with Tara, she is all i could have wanted and more and wouldnt swap her for the world, as we have an amazing connection already! Obviously she isnt 100% perfect, if i could have another horse it would be exactly like her but less headshy and doesnt pull faces when you put the saddle on, and with a better canter on the right rein, but these are things i can improve on with her as we have a long future together
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harry on the other hand..dont get my started!
 
Yup
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I probably wouldn't have said that a few years ago as Louis hasn't been the easiest horse in world...he can be very excitable and strong willed, but he has taught me the world as far as riding is concerned. He can still be strong and excitable but to compete he is so well behaved and since we have started competing he has started my passion for dressage, something that is now there for life
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He can be quirky and a little grump sometimes but he has so much character and versatility. I would buy another like him in a flash as he's a horse in a million for me.

If I could change anything it would be to have a little more brakes and for him to be a little bit more sensible when jumping/XC
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We went through quite a lot in our first few years because he was very riggy and therefore quite strong willed
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However I stuck with it for 2 years and he did come out of his "teenage" years and i'd never ever sell him...he's stuck with me
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Over the moon at the moment. Her training is going so well and for a 3 year old with limited handling she's a star. Now i'm doing a little more with her I can now remember why I bought her. Her paces are wonderful. Lets just hope I'm still saying this in 6 months when I start becking her!!
 
I know this sounds really daft, but I wish my horse would put his ears forward more when we are in the ring! He worries a bit, and looks quite grumpy and fierce, and he is not like that at all!
 
I'd like not to have to dodge teeth and legs when she's in season...and knock about 2 hands off her height but that's it!
 
I love Gen to bits. Had him from a few weeks old and he is 6 now. However, he can such a pain to hack on his own and can spook for England, causing little fat me to plop off. Saying that he is a very talented dressage boy so I guess you cant have everything and for the most I can cope with his antics.

No I would NEVER buy something like him again. He is sharp and quirky and im old and arthritic and fat lol. I would buy a nice cobby plod. But then I didnt know when I bought him as a foal that I was going to have health issues (and weight issues now thanks to the health issues) and he was never bought to be anything other than a 'nice' all-round horse.

I wouldnt ever sell him. I would give him over entirely to my friend Mike who competes him (and has known him since he was a foal as well).

I take a HUGE amount of pleasure from watching him and Mike working and competing.
 
I couldn't be happier with Castle
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He will jump anything for me out hunting, size isn't an issue for him, he'll just go for it. When I first got him over two years ago we went through a few rough patches, but he is going unbelievably well for me at the moment
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100 % happy, used to think I wanted something zippier until I moved him and he showed his other side. Bucking is the only niggle but easy to sit too and not all the time
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Very happy with Moon, right now I couldnt want for anything more as she does everything I want and has all the scope to progress in time
 
I'm ecstatically happy with rocky atm - we still have a few minor problems, like him leaning on my hand when jumping and also jumping indoors hes got a tendency to back off spreads a bit and not make the distances because of this - but hes come on leaps and bounds, especially his dressage and im just so so happy with him
 
Almoost totally

My lad - his hocks were not full of arthritis
Son's pony - two hands bigger
Old pony - 20 years younger
Daughter's pony - NOTHING - and she was the only one I really didn't like at all to start with!
 
I have a few horses but with regard to the 2 main (ie. competition) ones. One of them is pretty much perfect, it hasnt crossed my mind to sell him or even think badly of him! Whereas my other one I am often mixed..... Love him to bits as he has the most amazing personality - he's like a person! But he's quite a difficult horse to handle and ride. On bad days, I do want to give up and sometimes do think maybe I should sell him and buy something else. Like Ive been wondering if he's up to jumping the level I expect of him. Day before yesterday, I jumped him and he was brilliant! Yet yesterday I went to a SJ lesson and it was terrible..... I wish he was more consistent!
 
My wee boy is the bees knees. He's only been with me for five weeks so is early days but came with full history (from both of his 2 previous owners) and I'm happy to say is everything he was described as. He is the kindest, gentlest horse I know. I came back into riding last year after about 15 years and when I decided to take the plunge looked at loads of horses. Min was the first to just click- he has the WOW factor and manners and temperament to match. He windsucks a little after feeds (never been down with it) but I'm prepared to put up with that for everything else he is. He's unspooky except occasionally in very windy weather and rather than blindly panic at things when out- he stops, looks and thinks about things for a minute before moving on. He is a very kind, forgiving and loving horse and we're building a stronger bond every day. Work has been stressful lately but as soon as I see him waiting at the fence for me, I switch off from that and chill completely. He follows me around and chases his companion Sheltie away when I first arrive (although they're attached at the hip the rest of the time). I owe so much to his previous owners who looked after him for six weeks while we arranged to get him here (I live on an island and responsibly the ferries will not take horses in bad weather). He def has a home for life with me!
 
I would change absolutely nothing about my 9 year old 13.3hh heavyweight cobb. I love him more than anything!
Hes great, I can't really say anything negative about him.He has NEVER bucked, kicked out, bitten or done any other usual horse thing like that , which i find surprising as he is a horse at the end of the day. He is an extremely kind pony.

Pulls a trap. Also helps me do jobs like help us move haylage balls with his harness. Hes a very handy horse for a small girl to have around!

In fact sometimes I refer to him more as a rideable DOG than a horse lol!

Has a home for life with me... I love him more than life itself!
 
mine is pretty useless...hates schooling, hates change, is 85% of the time grumpy...if i didnt think he was amusing, and he didn't stick his head down and work hard during the show season between may and october, i'd make steaks from him.
 
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