Thoughts

Equus Leather

Equus Leather

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www.virtualdressage.co.uk
I'm going to try out a horse on Saturday that I am hopefully going to have on loan from Christmas and it has got me thinking, so please bear with me!

I'm 28 and my introduction to horses was through my best friend. Her Grandma lived in Cumbria near a mad old woman who had a yard and treated competition horses using laser therapy. Every weekend and holiday was spent there and I learnt an awful lot and got to meet many famous eventers and owners, go to shows and competitions and general fell in love with the whole thing.

My family weren't horsey at all. In fact my mum was single, we lived in a council house and we struggled to put food on the table, never mind indulge in my horsey fantasy, but my mum appreciated what experiences I was getting and actively encouraged me, for which I am most grateful.

Because my link with the horseworld was through my friend, I always (and maybe wrongly) felt like a bit of an outsider. Never through how other people treated me, it was always a self thing, I think. I have never had my own horse, always grooming and working for other people. I'm sure many of you have been in the same boat.

So, now the opportunity has arisen where the possibility of having my own horse (be it on loan) is nearing and I'm very excited, but also slightly of the thinking that having horses is what 'other people do'. Certainly competing is what other people do. I can't quite get the thought into my head that it's hopefully going to be me. Does that sound odd??

I don't know, even if no-one replies, it's been good to get my thoughts down on paper!
 
And how does the potential loan horse feel about living with an ex council house, non horsey familied, first time horse carer?
Are you intending to abuse the loan horse severely?
Just wondering?
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That all makes perfect sense, not odd at all! Up until over a year ago, everything I did with horses was for somebody else! Once I got my mare on loan it was the strangest thing to go out to a show, prepare everything and then get on and also ride!! Took alot of getting used to!

You'll soon get used to it and be enjoying it as if you have been doing your own horse for years!!
 
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Shila, you do make me giggle! I shall love it like it's my own, and probably overindulge it with things like purple rugs and pink boots
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Happyhack, do let us know how you get on. It's scary yet exciting isn't it?

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Yep!! Really looking forward to it!
 
i think that when he arrives,you will be so busy that this thought will go completely and you won`t be able to imagine life before him.
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My family werent horsey at all either, I started riding at 12 using my pocket money to pay for lessons, when i had left college I went to work at a p2p yard and loved it, ater getting that 'real' taste for horses I neededto have myown, although i did find it hard adjusting to just having 1 or 2 as opposed to being around 15 that youg et to know so well.

There is nothing like having your own though.
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I cant really see what there is to worry about at all .. get on with it and enjoy it all
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thats what horses are meant to be about
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Good luck.

Hb
 
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:) Thanks Gina. How are your boys getting on?

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They are great thanks, Beau is almost finished his bute.That friend I was telling you about is coming to ride the horse we have available for loan on sat, so looking forward to that.
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Shila, you do make me giggle! I shall love it like it's my own, and probably overindulge it with things like purple rugs and pink boots
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My point was that your loan horse won't give a flying f*** whether your family live/d in a mansion or a council house...as long as you care for him properly...and have fun.
And at the risk of a barrage of abuse from PC alumni, often children that don't have ponies make better riders...because they learn how to ride anything and everything, rather than just one precious pony.
So stop worrying, and have fun.
If you want to build horse keeping experience quickly, I could send you my three for the winter?
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I've had my horse for 2 1/2 years now and I still have to pinch myself sometimes. I look at her and can't believe she's all mine.

Hope it works out. Good luck.
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I think all this confusion running around your head is because the dream that you've had so long, of owning your own horse, is finally becoming a reality.

I think it's really wonderful, and look forward to hearing all your updates.
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Only 28?

My parents weren't horsey either and I was in my 30s when I started sharing and over 40 when I fulfilled my childhood dream and bought my own horse.

It's so much easier than you think, go for it
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There does seem to be this trend of being horsey when you're younger, not so in your early 20's and then coming back to it later on.


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Thats quite true, I started riding at 8, first pony at 11, first horse at 13.... and kept that horse till just after I had finished uni when I put it on loan (so I was 23 at the time, I was there 5 years)..... he was put down when I was 26......... had a 4ish year break and now have a share ... who you know The_Psephologist... you've ridden him"!!"!

Hope the get this horsey on loan.... good luck!!
 
I know what you mean - I bought my first horse when I was 21 but I was around horses since I was 5. For the first few weeks it was really strange getting up, feeding, mucking out etc but now it's become such a habit I've got another one!!!
 
I never owned a horse throughout child (parents couldn't afford it) and only had first horse on loan while at college and finally bought my first horse myself when I was 22.

I think it did me the world of good as I got to learn a variety of horses and wasn't 'set' in learning how to ride one pony.

Good luck with everything - I'm sure you will spoil the horse with love and you will never forgot your 'firsts' with your horse
 
Psephologist you sound like an exceptionally nice and intelligent person - any horse would be very lucky to have you!

(Totally irrelevant, but it's also so nice to see correct grammar and spelling for a change - you obviously spent at least some of your ponyless childhood getting an education!)
 
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