Things you will look back on as your horse gets older and smile at...

[MochaDun]

That when he's going slowly in his mid to late 20s I'll have to confess that pace is fine for me at that point as I'll be approaching 60 myself though some forward-goingness would have been nice in his teens

That being the ultimate of good do-ers, while it was a continual battle with weight gain winter and summer when he was younger, I'll look back and think bless him how little he cost me in feed then and how little I had to worry about poor condition and skinny bones and harsh winters taking their toll...

That pushing the boundaries when he was younger, while it was sometimes a challenge then and a bit hairy a few times, as he ages I'll only see the sparkle and thought in his eye to do it but wish he would give it a go just to make me laugh in mild annoyance at him and his wonderful cheekiness.

And yours are?

 

[Crazydancer]

That when he was a youngster, I spent hours trying to get him to trot out in hand NICELY!!!!! please......
Now he is 19, I sometimes, just for the fun of it, run with him down to the gate so he can trot next to me, get that wicked twinkle in his eye..... and NIP my sleeve!
He still finds it a great game, but now I just laugh, and he's never actually bitten flesh in all the years, bless.

 

[Kat]

Ahhh that is making me appreciate my mare's babyish behaviour, must remember it for when she is all grown up.

 

[SnowandSunshine]

Don't count on it that he won't get speedier, chubbier, cleverer and cheekier as he gets older and he can play the 'I'm old so I can do what I want and get away with it' card.

I've had my mare since she was 5 and very quiet and sensible. She's now 23 and if she goes I can't stop her, she sometimes pretends she's old and potters like an old lady when I leave the yard. 10mins later she's jogging along and if she sees a jumpy log she pulls my arms out to get at it.
She batters the door down if she's not turned out on time and if I don't bring in on time she puts her head down, takes the leadrope and trots off to her stable. She will do approximately 5mins of lunging before she's had enough and rips the lunge line out of my hand. Schooling, dressage tests, SJ etc are now classified as 'dull & too much effort', only charging about in large fields and XC fences will do!!

 

[Spotsrock]

I remember the times she used to put her head down and naff off on hacks. Like the time she did it up the a6006 quite a busy road. She still bangs her door if i'm late or if I don't feed her first and she will still boss coz babies or newbies and still grooms me back if I scratch her. She did this the 1st time I tried her. At 31 her naffing off days are pretty much over. Less twinkle in her eye more gentle kindness and understanding. Always lottie I seek after a tough day.