Well-Known Member
Where do I start? My troubles started about two years ago when I had to move my horses from the yard I'd been happy at for 17 years. At this time I had 3 horses, my welsh D Flyer, my 16.2hh Ralph and William a coloured part bred aged 2 years.
I was give a weeks notice to move all three horses as the new owners of the yard did not like the fact that I was looking to move! So I started to look in sheer panic as we are all aware finding the right stable for one horse is hard enough, let alone 3. I found a yard out in the sticks which could take all of them.
I was nervous about taking the youngster as he had put me in hospital a few weeks before, having kicked me and catching me full in the face, luck would have it he was unshod, but I still ended up with a facial fracture, but kept my teeth, thank god.
My friend said she would take him on loan for a while, but I did not want to unsettle him, so she bought him from me, one problem solved, now I only had to worry about the older boys.
We moved out into the country and what I thought would be perfect!! The location was, but unfortunately the yard (8 stables) was not. After only a few weeks, we had a break in and I had a few bits taken, but my pony was deeply disturbed by the whole thing. I stuck it out for 6 months and enjoyed the excellent hacking, then the 40 min journey became too much, so I started to look closer to home.
We moved back to a yard just 5 mins away in September 05 and despite being very noisy and bigger than the previous yard, we all settled into the yard well and met some great people. The yards had its ups and downs, but for me, its been more down than up.
Everything started to go wrong in the December when my beloved Flyer died of a heart attack in my arms. Ralph was devastated by his death and his personality has completely changed, they were best mates. He started to get better after about 6 months, but still has a tendency to attack other horses if I greet them in the field and god forbid I have to catch one.
The following year October 2006, Ralph became lame with a tendon sheath injury, after box rest and gently resuming work, Ralph picked up and then the next blow in November, we had a break in with a loss in excess of £20,000 of tack, which 4 saddles were mine, I could not bere to move Fly's saddles, I so wish I had.
I kept Ralph ticking over with lunging and then a friend lent me a saddle and it fitted well, so I was able to hack out and get Ralph fitter in order to have a new saddle fitted and start lessons again.
My sister treated me to an air ticket to Thailand for a 3 week holiday in December, just what the doctor ordered! My cousin looked after Ralph and I was oblivious to what was going on at home until I turned my phone on at the customs lounge at Heathrow. A voice message asked me to call ASAP and it was from a friend who was overseeing my young cousin. Panic stricken I called her to be informed that Ralph had Strangles and was really poorly...........
Six weeks of box rest and then Ralph was back to normal and I could get my saddle fitted. All was going well this year, until 3 weeks ago when my friend and I were involved in a near fatal Road Traffic Accident. Both of us are lucky to be alive according to the police/surgeons and the rest of the medical staff looking after us. My dog is a miracle and got out with one scratched paw, not sure that she will want to get back into the car again though.
I have got off lightly, fractured ribs, head injury (again), knee prob and both shoulders, along with bruising in areas I did not know you can get them? My friend, also into horses has not she is still in hospital and will be there for sometime, bless her.
Ralph I am told has gone back to being aggressive and is very depressed. I have managed to see him once since I came out of hospital, but could only tolerate a few minutes with him.
I know that we will bounce back and get going again, but, how can someone have so much bad luck? I'm sorry if this has bored you, but I needed to get it off my chest and share it. Will it get better?
I was give a weeks notice to move all three horses as the new owners of the yard did not like the fact that I was looking to move! So I started to look in sheer panic as we are all aware finding the right stable for one horse is hard enough, let alone 3. I found a yard out in the sticks which could take all of them.
I was nervous about taking the youngster as he had put me in hospital a few weeks before, having kicked me and catching me full in the face, luck would have it he was unshod, but I still ended up with a facial fracture, but kept my teeth, thank god.
My friend said she would take him on loan for a while, but I did not want to unsettle him, so she bought him from me, one problem solved, now I only had to worry about the older boys.
We moved out into the country and what I thought would be perfect!! The location was, but unfortunately the yard (8 stables) was not. After only a few weeks, we had a break in and I had a few bits taken, but my pony was deeply disturbed by the whole thing. I stuck it out for 6 months and enjoyed the excellent hacking, then the 40 min journey became too much, so I started to look closer to home.
We moved back to a yard just 5 mins away in September 05 and despite being very noisy and bigger than the previous yard, we all settled into the yard well and met some great people. The yards had its ups and downs, but for me, its been more down than up.
Everything started to go wrong in the December when my beloved Flyer died of a heart attack in my arms. Ralph was devastated by his death and his personality has completely changed, they were best mates. He started to get better after about 6 months, but still has a tendency to attack other horses if I greet them in the field and god forbid I have to catch one.
The following year October 2006, Ralph became lame with a tendon sheath injury, after box rest and gently resuming work, Ralph picked up and then the next blow in November, we had a break in with a loss in excess of £20,000 of tack, which 4 saddles were mine, I could not bere to move Fly's saddles, I so wish I had.
I kept Ralph ticking over with lunging and then a friend lent me a saddle and it fitted well, so I was able to hack out and get Ralph fitter in order to have a new saddle fitted and start lessons again.
My sister treated me to an air ticket to Thailand for a 3 week holiday in December, just what the doctor ordered! My cousin looked after Ralph and I was oblivious to what was going on at home until I turned my phone on at the customs lounge at Heathrow. A voice message asked me to call ASAP and it was from a friend who was overseeing my young cousin. Panic stricken I called her to be informed that Ralph had Strangles and was really poorly...........
Six weeks of box rest and then Ralph was back to normal and I could get my saddle fitted. All was going well this year, until 3 weeks ago when my friend and I were involved in a near fatal Road Traffic Accident. Both of us are lucky to be alive according to the police/surgeons and the rest of the medical staff looking after us. My dog is a miracle and got out with one scratched paw, not sure that she will want to get back into the car again though.
I have got off lightly, fractured ribs, head injury (again), knee prob and both shoulders, along with bruising in areas I did not know you can get them? My friend, also into horses has not she is still in hospital and will be there for sometime, bless her.
Ralph I am told has gone back to being aggressive and is very depressed. I have managed to see him once since I came out of hospital, but could only tolerate a few minutes with him.
I know that we will bounce back and get going again, but, how can someone have so much bad luck? I'm sorry if this has bored you, but I needed to get it off my chest and share it. Will it get better?
