I grew up and bought a horse

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FfionWinnie

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Gave up horses about 12 years ago but 2years ago started messing about bringing on ponies for my daughter to ride in the future. Then I decided I wanted a bigger version of our 13.1 welsh C. Saw this pure Welsh D mare advertised, agreed on a price and set off to Wales to view her (16 hour round trip). Watched her being ridden and thought she looked fine. Got on her and thought this is a bit of a bargain. Went out on a hack (she napped hence I had haggled a lot) and she was absolutely fine so I bought her. The napping was quite established but rather like sitting on a slow moving over stuffed sofa and I was hacking alone on day 3 with only a few battles. She is completely fine now.

She has lost about 100kgs and gone down three saddle fits and her 46" girth which would hardly do up 2 months ago is now too big. She was cresty, footy and according to my vet she wasn't far from laminitis. Feet are a lot better and I'm hoping to get the shoes off this winter.

She has a long way to go stamina wise, trotting is fine but she finds cantering hard work but her attitude and temperament are just lovely. Horse of a lifetime stuff, exactly what I wanted. Really chuffed.

The transformation over three months:

Week one
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Took her away on holiday week 3!

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Recently:

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Kati*89 said:
What a transformation! She's gorgeous :)
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Thank you I love her to bits :)

Capriole said:
Shes nice, I like her :) Tidy front leg as well.
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Thanks, she is very very careful. Funnily enough after riding a similarly careful 13.1, I don't notice her jumping double the height she has to over a jump. Nice to have something in front of me!

slumdog said:
Wow what a transformation! She's beautiful :)
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Thanks, she was a real lardy lady when I got her!

Nicnac said:
Wow - she looks so different even at week 3. Beautiful mare! Love her colour. Enjoy :-)
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Thanks, I'm a sucker for a palomino, she's very similar in looks to the 13.1 as well as colour. :)

j1ffy said:
She's beautiful and looks so much better. Well done!! What are your plans with her?
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Thanks :). I'm not sure really. She is 7 but had done nothing, I like the idea of some low level eventing (very low!) and RC type things. My SJ coach thinks I am mad having her instead of a very fast and talented 14.1 we also have (but are now selling) but I love the feeling this horse gives me and I'm happy doing things at top welsh speed rather than top quarter horse speed!
 
springtime1331 said:
How did you get so much weight off? She looks amazing. Can I send you my fatty connie x TB?
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Thanks!

Just put her in a field with no grass, fed her hay and worked her really hard! She's on adlib hay now and is getting a bucket feed as well as she doesn't need to be any thinner, but she's in reasonably hard work.

Daughter (5yrs) and I hack for three hours a day at the weekends and I ride at least an hour (mostly trotting and cantering) per day. We've bought another real fatty and she is looking much trimmer already as well. The weight just falls off them with all the hacking.
 
Absolutely gorgeous.

And the pony is lovely too!

Is the deal still on about the field shelter? If so, I'll pop my tool bag in the car and head off south after breakfast!:)
 
Gorgeous! And well done on getting the weight off her - lovely to see a native that can do a proper job, not the fatties we get in the show rings round here :tongue3:
 
She looks great. You have done a fabulous job in getting her in shape. There is a lesson there to those who say they struggle to get weight off their horses - if you work them hard enough then it is possible with any horse. I hope you have lots of fun with her.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Thanks!

Just put her in a field with no grass, fed her hay and worked her really hard! She's on adlib hay now and is getting a bucket feed as well as she doesn't need to be any thinner, but she's in reasonably hard work.

Daughter (5yrs) and I hack for three hours a day at the weekends and I ride at least an hour (mostly trotting and cantering) per day. We've bought another real fatty and she is looking much trimmer already as well. The weight just falls off them with all the hacking.
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What a fabulous job you have done she looks absolutely gorgeous - congratulations.
 
rara007 said:
Phew- you've still stayed with dark dark side with a big native pony :D
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Ha ha yes I love my welsh C so much, I knew nothing but a giant version of her would do! I got very lucky and she is very similar in every way (but is a bit more laid back I think which is a bonus!)

silv said:
Fabulous mare, can see why you are so thrilled with her, bet you have lots of fun times ahead.
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Thanks!

Dry Rot said:
Absolutely gorgeous.

And the pony is lovely too!

Is the deal still on about the field shelter? If so, I'll pop my tool bag in the car and head off south after breakfast!:)
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Drat just saw this DR. What was the deal again, if I marry you I get a field shelter, a mouse dun highland and all your millions??

Chirmapops said:
Gorgeous! And well done on getting the weight off her - lovely to see a native that can do a proper job, not the fatties we get in the show rings round here :tongue3:
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Thanks. She isn't exactly athletic yet but I am sure it will come. She's athletic in small doses then needs a rest lol.

Sprig said:
She looks great. You have done a fabulous job in getting her in shape. There is a lesson there to those who say they struggle to get weight off their horses - if you work them hard enough then it is possible with any horse. I hope you have lots of fun with her.
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Thanks very much. I am lucky as I keep them at home and I have cattle and sheep to co-graze fields with so its easy for me to keep their weights down. All of mine except one were obese natives when they arrived!
 
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Jenni_ said:
Wow... she is bloody lovely!
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Thanks I think so too!

ester said:
Looking fab, Frank had to have a similar weight loss regime when we bought him all those years ago too! How big is she?
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Thanks. She's just under 15.2

_GG_ said:
She is just beautiful and your happiness pours out of your posts :) xxx
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Thanks. Feel lucky to have her.

soulfull said:
wow she is lovely. just like my welsh mare she is called Ffion :)

hope you have a much fun on her as I do on Fi :)

how big is she?
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Thanks, my C is called Ffion and I also have a (now retired) sheep dog called Ffion who was also a brilliant dog so I really like the name. New horse is called Hallie.

Sprout said:
Wow, what an amazing transformation - I hope you have many years of fun together .... more pics please, she is stunning. :)
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Thanks, I will add some more pics :)
noodle_ said:
oh she slovely - her colour is stunning - well done with her :D
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Thanks. Love a palo.

LJR said:
Really, really lovely - she looks like a different pony :)
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Thank you. Really funny looking at the fat pics now!

Midlifecrisis said:
What a fabulous job you have done she looks absolutely gorgeous - congratulations.
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Thanks! Long way to go but I enjoy this bit a lot.
 
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