Poor Big Ears

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Crosshill Pacers

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My old man came out with me to check on Big Ears tonight, he wanted to see how she's doing conditionwise.

Conversation turned to what the plan was for next year, as I kind of have him coming round to the idea of me keeping her (yay!). So I told him my first target for 2013 was to take her to the next Standardbred show near Stoke, and his reply was 'I doubt you'll win much with her, she's too ugly' :(

I explained that dressage tests and showing didn't tend to look at the size of her head (which is actually perfectly in proportion to her body AND true to her breed), but poor Big Ears and I took the comment badly.

To me she's beautiful and I wish the people who are so quick to slate her appearance would do one, because she's turned my riding life around in such a sort time.

Rant over! Would post a pic but on my phone, will get one on here later of her lovely face :) thanks for listening!
 
I don't think it helps that his new horse is a pretty little thing. I keep pointing out that until his wins two races and is quiet to ride, she's not as good as my girl!

She got an extra big cuddle tonight because she looked a bit sad after he insulted her.

Unfortunately he's not the only one to say it...out hunting a couple of weeks back someone rode up beside me and said 'god your horse has got a big head'. What do you say to that?! It's one thing to slag off my horse, it's quite another to slag it off to my face, whilst I'm riding it! What he failed to comment on was that at 15'3 (compared to his 14hh pony), she also has a big body!
 
How rude!!!!

Teds has ears like a seaside donkey....he loves having a scratch of them now and then, probably a bit long in the back, he's cow-hocked too if we're being picky

...oh yeah and he's a Grade A showjumper with manners to die for, I'm sure your baby is perfect too xxxxx
 
Well if we're being picky then Big Ears is stands cow-hocked, her ears are (surprisingly) too big, she's too deep in the jaw, my boss used to say he disliked her eyes (?!)...but when I sit on her I feel safe. Even when she's a bit sharper than normal. And being a baby, who knows, maybe one day we'll do more than hacking and hunting. The world is our lobster, big ears and all!

People have picked picked picked at me all my life for being too tall and too gawky and too slow, so I know how she feels! Match made in heaven methinks :)
 
I've switched to computer to I can upload my current favourite photo of the big-earred beauty:

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I guess you can see where she got her name from...
 
She's lovely. She can be a real old grump and she's the master of having a paddy and sometimes she gives me a real look of disdain when I'm fussing over her, but I wouldn't change her for the world.

There's days when I think she deserves more and she'd be better off with somebody who will do more with her in the near future. And then I go for a quiet ride and think I'd be mad to let her go because I don't think I'll ever find a horse as laid back and trustworthy as her if I searched all over and back again.

I'm having one of those evenings, think I'm starting to sound a bit soppy and emotional! Sorry guys!
 
They're talking rubbish, she's absolutely beautiful! I'd have her in a second! Don't listen to them!

Or if you do decide to listen to them let me know and I'll pm you my address and you can send her to me!
 
She's got a lovely honest face. I read somewhere that the Queen moaned that every horse she'd ever bred had huge ears so she's in good company.
 
Big Antlers said:
I explained that dressage tests and showing didn't tend to look at the size of her head (which is actually perfectly in proportion to her body AND true to her breed), but poor Big Ears and I took the comment badly.
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I think that is what would be described as a noble head. As you say, in dressage no-one will care about the size of her head. But I must say that showing WILL certainly look at the shape and size of her head, the judge is looking at conformmation and way of going.
 
I think she looks very noble and intelligent!! Certainly not at all ugly.
Next time you get any detrimental opinions of her just tell them ' Handsome is as Handsome does'.
I remember when i had a big gangly horse- at the age of 3 he had a huge roman nose stuck onto a skinnyish neck and just about a leg at each corner. By 4 you could see him growing into himself, and by the time he finished maturing he was admired by all and won numerous classes in working hunters. His forte was jumping tho and xc was his speciality....never had anybody say he was ugly after he was 6!!
 
Thanks everyone, I'm glad you all agree :)

I can confirm however that she is NOT intelligent. Although some days I think she's so intelligent that she's fooled me into thinking she's not...

I was told by a lot of people when she was racing that she was lazy (I used to jog her myself and it's true, she'd do everything as slowly as possible), but this summer just gone I watched her going and over the period of 4 weeks she came second, second, second and then finally first, all off a handicap of 20 yards, and always being beaten by a neck/half a length. I watched the videos back on tinternet and realised that for six furlongs she'd completely switch off and dawdle at the back, and then suddenly she'd realise she only had two furlongs left and miraculously whizz by everyone. I came to the conclusion that she'd realised that 99% of pacing races were over a mile, so for the biggest part of it she didn't have to do much, and then all she needed was to put in some effort at the end. She must have figured out that each circuit was half a mile (standard on the grass tracks), so after one and a half circuits she knew to make a move. It's not even as if her driver would ask her to go at the 6 furlong post, he'd have been chasing her from the minute the start car pulled away and she'd ignore him and quite merrily amble along behind everyone! Pretty sure I was the only one that thought she was that clever!

I wish I could post the videos of her racing, she just comes storming past them all up the home straight, big head first!
 
You should see the size of the ears on my Quarter Horse and they have curly tops as well. I think she is lovely, I hate delicate spindly horses that look like they are going to snap! So there.
 
R.A.H said:
I think she's got a nice head. Don't part with her you will wish you hadn't afterwards :)
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Don't worry, she's not going anywhere! Well, apart from to Scotland with me when I move! I've offered my old man the asking price that he wanted when he initially put her up for sale at the end of the summer. Can't say fairer than that!

OH has got plenty of room with his lot, and is quite happy to take on another one. He's already been checking out his local area for bridleways for me :) plus he has a track that he trains his horses on so I can still chuck a cart on her and drive her should I ever wish to. It feels like we're going on a big adventure!
 
I think your horse is beautiful - nothing ugly at all! Looks, as someone else said, very noble and proud!
My little one has a head which is too big for her body and the ears of a mule, but I don't care.
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I actually really like horses with big ears!
 
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