Two years...

rosiesowner

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Two years today since this Thoroughbred fool came into my care. Poor ******! Endless thanks to her owner for letting me have pretty much a free rein. So long as Chills is happy, she's happy. It only seems appropriate to share a few pics from the last two years. Most of which plenty of you will already have seen but oh well! For context, I took her on after she'd been chilling in the field for a few months, getting unfit, hairy and just generally enjoying herself!

One of the first days. Crazy to think it was warm enough to fully bathe. Also, look at those dapples!
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The first time we ever went anywhere, (this was before I she lived at work with me). I remember she was ridiculously excited.
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The first competition we ever did, look at that tweed! Nearly went out the side door after the last fence when she turned one way and I went the other. I remember walking the course and changing from the 75 to the 65cm class because I thought they looked big. My confidence was really quite low at this point when it came to jumping.
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Look how dark her legs were! She was still so obviously dappled when I got her.
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I was quite excited to have a horse who didn't bat an eyelid at arrowheads.
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My technique leaving a lot to be desired, but having fun! Though this was the day I discovered just how excited she can become when competing haha.
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Ah, yes. The fateful day that I discovered that waiting/start box type environments and standing still do not mix for her! Before this round she managed to nut me, nearly sit on me and leave me on the fence on the floor which she had taken out while running off!
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We used to enjoy jumping
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We even wanted to try our hand at eventing as she's done a bit in the past. We got so far...
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But unfortunately this kept happening
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She is a very sharp horse and we soon ended up in a pattern where we'd have a great jump and then things like this would happen.
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In between all of this I moved her to where I work. In short, I lost interest in jumping:D And decided to give some dressage a go. Now, looking back, I genuinely think all of that was some sort of divine intervention to set me on the path I'm on now, having fallen in love with flatwork and finding what I truly feel I'm good at. So in the February of 2017 we did our first ever tests.
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And we continued trying to get a bit better
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My upper body and core were SO weak
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Several months in and things were starting to look better... We also entered the world of matchy!:D
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We also welcomed a Stübben baby into our lives! The saddle I do not take for granted for one minute...
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As for now... We've done a bit more competing and are gearing up for a summer of fun! We look so different, too
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She ripped her leg open, but we won't go into that as there is a whole thread on the subject. She's been back in full work for nearly two weeks and feels brilliant all things considered. The time off riding was like a study break for me, and I've come back to riding feeling inspired to be as good as I possibly can be.
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She feels great.

Chills has taught me so many things over the past two years. How to lose with grace, how to enjoy the small victories and most importantly how to ride! How sometimes the things you plan don't work out and doors close so that better ones can open. She's given my life routine when it needed it most and certainly given me a reason to keep plugging on. What a legend!

God knows what the future holds, but I'm determined to enjoy every second. Two years! Here's to many more.
 

milliepops

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awww lovely thread, I love these kinds of posts where you can really see a difference over time.

Glad she's made a good recover, wishing you all good luck in 2018 :)
 

Embo

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The love you have for her really shines through in your posts, you have a fab partnership. I really enjoy reading your updates and following your journey. Also love all the pics, she's so pretty! Shame about the jumping, but you have to pick your battles lol :)
 

Rumtytum

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Lovely pics and lovely story, Chills is gorgeous, I think you have both learned a lot from each other and long may it continue :). I really enjoy threads like these (especially with lots of photos).
 

DabDab

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Aww, love your Chilli posts. In this mad mad world we really are lucky to have our equine friends aren't we
 

Asha

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lovely post. You clearly have a great bond with her, hats off to you for listening to her , she didn't want to jump. Too many people carry on trying. Well done x
 

pixie27

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Ah I love your posts (on here and Insta!) - you two are so fab together. I get such matchy envy following you both!
 

rosiesowner

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MP, thank you. sometimes it is good to take a step back and see all you've done

Embo, totally agree you have to pick your battles and in the end with my fraying confidence it just wasn't worth it. I'm sure with a rider more talented that I it would have been fine but it just wasn't working out for me!!

horsekaren, thank you! I'm glad people enjoy reading about her

BR2, i know she is!! and yep, lovely to think about the progress we've made

rumtytum, Chilli is just beaut-i like to tell her that if nothing else she is at least pretty... i too love photo filled threads and also making my own

dabdab, we really really are. i genuinely don't know where i'd be without her. i dread to think, in fact!

Dave's mam, i can't help but love her too...

asha, i have no clue if it would have been different with a rider who was at the time better at riding a sharp horse but i suppose we will never know. either way, we're having a great time doing what we do now and that is something to be endlessly happy about.

pixie, i probably do follow you but let me know your username and i will be sure i do!
 

Dave's Mam

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The 2nd photo of you mid air on your way out seems a touch like my exit on Tuesday. Part of me wishes it had been on film, for the comedy value, like.
 

Northern

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Great photos :) You've both come so far, I love reading your updates (as the owner of two TB mares). Hope you can continues your partnership for many more happy years!
 

JJS

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Chilli is genuinely one of my favourite HHO horses of all time. I always so enjoy seeing your photos and reading your posts, and always look on with envy at the wonderful partnership the two of you have :)
 

rosiesowner

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suechoccy, thank you so much. just being able to get out and about and enjoy it is enough for me. anything else is a bonus!

dave's mam, what i forgot to mention is that the pic you're talking about is no less than the 3rd time it had happened during that session, at that fence...

northern, thank you. i have her for as long as i want. i know she'll tell me when she's ready to go home to retire in the gorgeous countryside!

jjs, you flatter us!! thank you, i enjoy making the posts. it forces you to sit and think for a few minutes. the partnership has certainly changed a lot and come on in the past year or so i'd say.
 

Mule

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She's so pretty. Well done to you both. My grey had dapples two years ago aswell. He's gone fleabitten now. They're growing on me :)
 
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