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xspiralx
Guest
Bit of a sad post, as I found out today that my first pony was PTS at the weekend at the age of 19 after colicking badly. 
I got Twiggy when I was 14 after years of begging my (non horsey) parents for a pony, and only after saving up all my pocket and birthday money for a couple of years and promising I would pay half of his upkeep by getting a job.
I found him on a riding holiday down in the New Forest where he was my 'pony for the week' and blinded by love decided that 'he was the one'. With hindsight, it wasn't the greatest of ideas. He was 8, but very green and had no manners and a really bargy attitude, though he was perfectly safe to ride.
Things didn't start off that well, as he started to take advantage of my inexperience, but I found a trainer who took us under his wing and showed me how to handle him, and after that we had a great time. We went hacking, jumping and I took him hunting - on Boxing Day for the first time - unwise! I had absolutely no brakes, but he jumped everything, stayed out all day and I had a whale of a time.
He never lost his cheeky streak and he had a very big personality, but he was always safe and I had so much fun with him. After a while I started wanting to compete more seriously, and I was lucky enough to find the absolute perfect home for him. He must have known that too, because he behaved like a complete saint when they tried him out - and he went on to show successfully at county level and gave them years of fun hacking and being an allround family pony.
The people I sold him to have always kept in touch, and very kindly phoned to let us know that last weekend he colicked badly and had to be PTS, poor lad. And it's sad, but I'm so happy to know how much he was loved and looked after for the last 10 years, right up until the last moment. Here's a few pictures..
Ready to go hunting
Jumping - he was very good at it when he wanted
Posing (he was good at that too)
More posing
And finally, this is him in his new home the last time I went to visit him about 3 years ago
So RIP Twiggy - see you on the other side of rainbow bridge...
I got Twiggy when I was 14 after years of begging my (non horsey) parents for a pony, and only after saving up all my pocket and birthday money for a couple of years and promising I would pay half of his upkeep by getting a job.
I found him on a riding holiday down in the New Forest where he was my 'pony for the week' and blinded by love decided that 'he was the one'. With hindsight, it wasn't the greatest of ideas. He was 8, but very green and had no manners and a really bargy attitude, though he was perfectly safe to ride.
Things didn't start off that well, as he started to take advantage of my inexperience, but I found a trainer who took us under his wing and showed me how to handle him, and after that we had a great time. We went hacking, jumping and I took him hunting - on Boxing Day for the first time - unwise! I had absolutely no brakes, but he jumped everything, stayed out all day and I had a whale of a time.
He never lost his cheeky streak and he had a very big personality, but he was always safe and I had so much fun with him. After a while I started wanting to compete more seriously, and I was lucky enough to find the absolute perfect home for him. He must have known that too, because he behaved like a complete saint when they tried him out - and he went on to show successfully at county level and gave them years of fun hacking and being an allround family pony.
The people I sold him to have always kept in touch, and very kindly phoned to let us know that last weekend he colicked badly and had to be PTS, poor lad.
And it's sad, but I'm so happy to know how much he was loved and looked after for the last 10 years, right up until the last moment. Here's a few pictures..
Ready to go hunting
Jumping - he was very good at it when he wanted
Posing (he was good at that too)
More posing
And finally, this is him in his new home the last time I went to visit him about 3 years ago
So RIP Twiggy - see you on the other side of rainbow bridge...
