rosiesowner
Well-Known Member
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!
The first time we ever went anywhere, (this was before I she lived at work with me). I remember she was ridiculously excited.
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.
Look how dark her legs were! She was still so obviously dappled when I got her.
I was quite excited to have a horse who didn't bat an eyelid at arrowheads.
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.
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!
We used to enjoy jumping
We even wanted to try our hand at eventing as she's done a bit in the past. We got so far...
But unfortunately this kept happening
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.
In between all of this I moved her to where I work. In short, I lost interest in jumping 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.
And we continued trying to get a bit better
My upper body and core were SO weak
Several months in and things were starting to look better... We also entered the world of matchy!
We also welcomed a Stübben baby into our lives! The saddle I do not take for granted for one minute...
As for now... We've done a bit more competing and are gearing up for a summer of fun! We look so different, too
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.
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.
One of the first days. Crazy to think it was warm enough to fully bathe. Also, look at those dapples!
The first time we ever went anywhere, (this was before I she lived at work with me). I remember she was ridiculously excited.
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.
Look how dark her legs were! She was still so obviously dappled when I got her.
I was quite excited to have a horse who didn't bat an eyelid at arrowheads.
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.
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!
We used to enjoy jumping
We even wanted to try our hand at eventing as she's done a bit in the past. We got so far...
But unfortunately this kept happening
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.
In between all of this I moved her to where I work. In short, I lost interest in jumping 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.
And we continued trying to get a bit better
My upper body and core were SO weak
Several months in and things were starting to look better... We also entered the world of matchy!
We also welcomed a Stübben baby into our lives! The saddle I do not take for granted for one minute...
As for now... We've done a bit more competing and are gearing up for a summer of fun! We look so different, too
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.
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.