Abbeygale
Well-Known Member
So I went and fetched back Abi from my sisters two weekends ago. Abi is an absolutely beautiful 15.2 chestnut welsh d x anglo arab mare, who stole my heart the first time I saw her. She also knows how to buck extraordinarily well - to a point of being quite dangerous. Around this time 2 years ago she managed to buck with me and kick me on my way down. This completely battered my confidence and after that I vowed I was not going to attempt to ride her again, as I will wanted to enjoy riding without broken bones on my other mare.
So Abi was put in foal (rightly or wrongly as may be). She had had a foal a couple of years before who was beautiful, and I had a long chat with her previous owner as to how good a mother she was and if she had had any problems during foaling before. But all was ok - so she went off to stud to My Eclipse, and has produced the most beautiful filly.
Once the filly was coming to time to be weaned, I had arranged with my sister to take Abi to her in Kent, to bring her back into work and sell her, as I was still intent on not riding her again. So she went to Kent and my sister almost immediately got on her - and had no problems at all with her bucking - or even offering to buck.
Unfortunately my sister then has had a change in circumstances a little - and didn't have enough room for Abi up where she is. So Abi came back, in a moment of me feeling incredibly brave, the words came from my mouth "I'm going to try riding her again"!!!!! The plan was that next weekend (easter) my sis was going to come down and take me out hacking on Abi, to give me a hand with my confidence.
Now last weekend Abi was looking mighty miffed that I was doing stuff with George (the rising 4yo), so yesterday I got really brave - and after a lot of building up I got on her and rode her down the road.
Now I know a lot of people might think that was a silly thing to do - but she does always seem to be better out on the road - and we've never had a problem with her on the road - only in the field.
It took about half an hour of me standing on the mounting block beside her doing deep breathing before I managed to build up the nerve to get on. Then we went poodling off down the village, and bless her she walked so slowly for me while I was busy panicking on her back. But not once did she tense up or get worried -even when she saw the horse eating sheep over the hedge
. I only went 5 minutes down the road, (didn't want to go too far away from home on our first outing, just in case) and on the way back I had eventually started breathing again, and I persuaded her that we could walk on a little more, and even had a couple of strides of trot.
I am so proud of me, and even more grateful than ever to Abi who blatently knew how to look after me yesterday. I'm sure I will have some testing days ahead when my confidence won't be so strong, but I am really looking forward to hacking her out.
Unfortunately she really does need shoeing, but managed to persuade my lovely farrier to come out mid week to shoe her for me, so me and sis can go out hacking next weekend
This mare is one the most lovely sweet natured horses I think I have ever come across - and I will be so happy if we can get along enough to go out hacking and have fun. If I can manage to do that with her, then I can keep her forever and I will never have to worry about who is looking after her. She is a bit of a sensitive soul, and needs to be looked after just so, other wise she goes into permanent panic mode - which is what I think was happening before.
Bottles of wine and cream cakes to those who managed to read this - I know it is really long winded but I don't have many horsey friends - so every know and again you guys have to share the brunt of my horsey ranting about one thing or another.
I still have a big smile on my face
and looking forward to more lovely hacks with my girly. Will try and get pics next time I am on her.
So Abi was put in foal (rightly or wrongly as may be). She had had a foal a couple of years before who was beautiful, and I had a long chat with her previous owner as to how good a mother she was and if she had had any problems during foaling before. But all was ok - so she went off to stud to My Eclipse, and has produced the most beautiful filly.
Once the filly was coming to time to be weaned, I had arranged with my sister to take Abi to her in Kent, to bring her back into work and sell her, as I was still intent on not riding her again. So she went to Kent and my sister almost immediately got on her - and had no problems at all with her bucking - or even offering to buck.
Unfortunately my sister then has had a change in circumstances a little - and didn't have enough room for Abi up where she is. So Abi came back, in a moment of me feeling incredibly brave, the words came from my mouth "I'm going to try riding her again"!!!!! The plan was that next weekend (easter) my sis was going to come down and take me out hacking on Abi, to give me a hand with my confidence.
Now last weekend Abi was looking mighty miffed that I was doing stuff with George (the rising 4yo), so yesterday I got really brave - and after a lot of building up I got on her and rode her down the road.
Now I know a lot of people might think that was a silly thing to do - but she does always seem to be better out on the road - and we've never had a problem with her on the road - only in the field.
It took about half an hour of me standing on the mounting block beside her doing deep breathing before I managed to build up the nerve to get on. Then we went poodling off down the village, and bless her she walked so slowly for me while I was busy panicking on her back. But not once did she tense up or get worried -even when she saw the horse eating sheep over the hedge
I am so proud of me, and even more grateful than ever to Abi who blatently knew how to look after me yesterday. I'm sure I will have some testing days ahead when my confidence won't be so strong, but I am really looking forward to hacking her out.
Unfortunately she really does need shoeing, but managed to persuade my lovely farrier to come out mid week to shoe her for me, so me and sis can go out hacking next weekend
This mare is one the most lovely sweet natured horses I think I have ever come across - and I will be so happy if we can get along enough to go out hacking and have fun. If I can manage to do that with her, then I can keep her forever and I will never have to worry about who is looking after her. She is a bit of a sensitive soul, and needs to be looked after just so, other wise she goes into permanent panic mode - which is what I think was happening before.
Bottles of wine and cream cakes to those who managed to read this - I know it is really long winded but I don't have many horsey friends - so every know and again you guys have to share the brunt of my horsey ranting about one thing or another.
I still have a big smile on my face
