EternalVetBills
Well-Known Member
Okay, I've probably come to the completely wrong place for this, but here it goes...
I am categorically NOT looking for another horse. I have fallen out of love with it all since my mare retired last year. I ride professionally, and am lucky enough to have the ride on a couple, but nothing has quite filled me with the same joy I had when I had my lovely Grace to ride, and thus was thinking of scaling down, moving away from it all, and just having my retired girl as a pet.
Fast forward to today, I was scrolling through Instagram and what looked like a very familiar face popped up on one of the RoR pages I follow. I showed it to my mum, we both had a chuckle and went 'bl00dy hell that looks like Grace'. I jokingly said to mum, 'it's a Thoroughbred. They're all inbred, he's probably related to Grace somehow'. Well, I've clicked on the link, and bugger me, he's Grace's full brother! He is the absolute spit of Grace, it honestly could be the same horse.
If you'd asked me before I saw him, I would have sworn blind I didn't want another one, and TBH if you offered me anything other than him, I would still say I don't want another one. There are so many reasons why I shouldn't get another Grace. She has cost me thousands in vets bills (nothing that could be considered genetic, she's just a calamity, but I do know a couple of people who have had half siblings, and someone who had one of her foals, and the clumsiness does seem to run in the family), is neurotic, and suffers from extreme separation anxiety.
On the other hand, I can think of so many reasons why I absolutely die for another Grace. She is the sweetest kindest mare you've ever met, she has movement to spare and floats everywhere, having ridden since before I could walk and having worked in the industry since I was 16, and been lucky enough to ride some Olympic horses, I can still hand on heart say she is absolutely my most favourite horse I have ever sat on, and anyone else that has ever sat on her has said the same. She is a dream to handle 90% of the time, had the most amazing work ethic, and always gave 110% to her ridden work.
Now I know there is absolutely no guarantee that he would be even remotely like Grace in any way, but I just cannot get him out of my head. I have left them a message this morning, and I can't decide whether I want them to come back to me saying he's sold and then the decision is out of my hands, or if that would just break my heart! I've looked at his race records and, much the same as Grace, has spent more time off than he has on. Whether that's due to injuries, or just general clumsiness like Grace, I won't know until I speak to them. Everything is screaming at me that it's a bad idea, but that seems to be getting drowned out in my head by the little kid jumping up and down in glee at having another Grace.
My mum is no help as she is just as irresponsible as I am and is planning on driving the box to gey him at the weekend
. So please people of HHO, talk some sense into me and tell me this is the worst idea I've ever had!
I am categorically NOT looking for another horse. I have fallen out of love with it all since my mare retired last year. I ride professionally, and am lucky enough to have the ride on a couple, but nothing has quite filled me with the same joy I had when I had my lovely Grace to ride, and thus was thinking of scaling down, moving away from it all, and just having my retired girl as a pet.
Fast forward to today, I was scrolling through Instagram and what looked like a very familiar face popped up on one of the RoR pages I follow. I showed it to my mum, we both had a chuckle and went 'bl00dy hell that looks like Grace'. I jokingly said to mum, 'it's a Thoroughbred. They're all inbred, he's probably related to Grace somehow'. Well, I've clicked on the link, and bugger me, he's Grace's full brother! He is the absolute spit of Grace, it honestly could be the same horse.
If you'd asked me before I saw him, I would have sworn blind I didn't want another one, and TBH if you offered me anything other than him, I would still say I don't want another one. There are so many reasons why I shouldn't get another Grace. She has cost me thousands in vets bills (nothing that could be considered genetic, she's just a calamity, but I do know a couple of people who have had half siblings, and someone who had one of her foals, and the clumsiness does seem to run in the family), is neurotic, and suffers from extreme separation anxiety.
On the other hand, I can think of so many reasons why I absolutely die for another Grace. She is the sweetest kindest mare you've ever met, she has movement to spare and floats everywhere, having ridden since before I could walk and having worked in the industry since I was 16, and been lucky enough to ride some Olympic horses, I can still hand on heart say she is absolutely my most favourite horse I have ever sat on, and anyone else that has ever sat on her has said the same. She is a dream to handle 90% of the time, had the most amazing work ethic, and always gave 110% to her ridden work.
Now I know there is absolutely no guarantee that he would be even remotely like Grace in any way, but I just cannot get him out of my head. I have left them a message this morning, and I can't decide whether I want them to come back to me saying he's sold and then the decision is out of my hands, or if that would just break my heart! I've looked at his race records and, much the same as Grace, has spent more time off than he has on. Whether that's due to injuries, or just general clumsiness like Grace, I won't know until I speak to them. Everything is screaming at me that it's a bad idea, but that seems to be getting drowned out in my head by the little kid jumping up and down in glee at having another Grace.
My mum is no help as she is just as irresponsible as I am and is planning on driving the box to gey him at the weekend
. So please people of HHO, talk some sense into me and tell me this is the worst idea I've ever had!
! Two have gone already 
(possibly not the most sensible thing to do to try a new horse with a bad back). She was an absolute star for the rest of her life. 