nikicb
Well-Known Member
Thank you to all those who commented on my previous thread. I thought Maddie deserved a thread of her own - new start and all that - so here it is.....
Her advert popped up on my trainer and good friend's FB newsfeed, the day after I lost Cassie, purely by chance. She was advertised on a very new horse selling website, so the chances of that were pretty low. I didn't really feel ready to go and see another horse, but I have a few friends who have been looking for literally months, and given she was a 14.2 bay part Welsh mare and only 15 miles up the road, I screwed my head on, messaged the sales agent, watched some videos, and booked a viewing. I also booked my trainer/friend to come with me as I am usually pretty decisive when I first view.
The day dawned - it was chucking it down, and very windy. I thought she looked tiny when I first saw her - she's around an inch taller than Cassie by eye, but a lighter build. She trotted up nicely and seemed a sweet pony. The sales agent (pro rider) then tacked her up and put her through her paces. At this point I was feeling somewhat sick - I haven't ridden any horses other than Cassie and a few trail horses in Montana in the past five years and I get really nervous in these sorts of situations. But I got on board and she was an absolute sweetheart. Walked, trotted and cantered both ways, and seemed to be waterproof, so said YES!!!
That yes was subject to two things..... she was coincidentally booked in to compete at my trainer's yard two days later, and I was stewarding so able to attend the competition in an official capacity. So as long as she behaved safely at that competition, and passed a 5 stage vetting with X-rays, then I would proceed. At this point it was still very much a 'head' decision. I was still feeling steam-rollered by Cassie's sudden loss, but I knew I would get another pony, she was my type, and she ticked all the boxes. She met both criteria, and that was it - I bought the pony!!
She's now at my trainer's yard for a month in livery whilst we get to know each other, then she will come home. Touch wood, everything seems to be going to plan so far. Yesterday we had a lesson, and for the first time I felt like I was riding 'my' pony, rather than someone else's. She is slowly helping to heal a broken heart. ???
Her advert popped up on my trainer and good friend's FB newsfeed, the day after I lost Cassie, purely by chance. She was advertised on a very new horse selling website, so the chances of that were pretty low. I didn't really feel ready to go and see another horse, but I have a few friends who have been looking for literally months, and given she was a 14.2 bay part Welsh mare and only 15 miles up the road, I screwed my head on, messaged the sales agent, watched some videos, and booked a viewing. I also booked my trainer/friend to come with me as I am usually pretty decisive when I first view.
The day dawned - it was chucking it down, and very windy. I thought she looked tiny when I first saw her - she's around an inch taller than Cassie by eye, but a lighter build. She trotted up nicely and seemed a sweet pony. The sales agent (pro rider) then tacked her up and put her through her paces. At this point I was feeling somewhat sick - I haven't ridden any horses other than Cassie and a few trail horses in Montana in the past five years and I get really nervous in these sorts of situations. But I got on board and she was an absolute sweetheart. Walked, trotted and cantered both ways, and seemed to be waterproof, so said YES!!!
That yes was subject to two things..... she was coincidentally booked in to compete at my trainer's yard two days later, and I was stewarding so able to attend the competition in an official capacity. So as long as she behaved safely at that competition, and passed a 5 stage vetting with X-rays, then I would proceed. At this point it was still very much a 'head' decision. I was still feeling steam-rollered by Cassie's sudden loss, but I knew I would get another pony, she was my type, and she ticked all the boxes. She met both criteria, and that was it - I bought the pony!!
She's now at my trainer's yard for a month in livery whilst we get to know each other, then she will come home. Touch wood, everything seems to be going to plan so far. Yesterday we had a lesson, and for the first time I felt like I was riding 'my' pony, rather than someone else's. She is slowly helping to heal a broken heart. ???
