What are you proud of with your horse?

H

Hovis_and_SidsMum

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 January 2007
Messages
2,711
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
We are all guilty of doing ourselves down and focusing on the negatives so lets have a post to focus on the positives!

I'm proud of the fact as a pants novice rider I broke most rules, bought a baby horse and haven't totally ruined him.

I'm proud of the fact he loads like a dream, stands to be mounted, is easy to tack up, will lift his feet when asked, will try anything once, will go in the wash room, stand still for the vet, if great to worm or do anything to, doesn't nap, spin, rear, spook or buck (most of the time!!).

And I'm proud of the fact whilst i am still a mane clinging wreck of a nervous rider I have taken him xc, sj, dressage and hacking.

Most of all I'm proud that i have a loveable, gorgeous horse who everyone who meets him thinks he's great!
grin.gif
 
I'm proud of the fact my one-eyed pony who is a hand too small for me and fizzy as hell has given me the confidence to do my first dressage, my first sponsored ride, my first clear-round showjumping and my first show class......only a year after getting her. And all this from a pony that is referred to as the 'nut-nut' at my field.

I'm also proud that my 28yo stressy toast-rack has turned into the most chilled out contented and (dare I say it) fatty boy. It has been one hell of a journey but it is worth all the tears to see my Monty enjoying his twilight years.
 
Even though its taken me nearly three years, I'm proud of the fact Mattie is now a happy up to weight horse whos rideable (not at the moment though, he's hurt his back again!) and everyone said he'd never be rideable and should be shot.
Its taken a year and a half of physio appointments with no riding and then another yar of limited riding for his back, but we've done it!
Mattie when he is in work, is now jumping just under 3 foot with lots of bright scary fillers (one point he wouldn't go near a pole) and is working well on the flat including shoulder in/turn on the forehand/leg yeild/canters without trying to bomb off/extends his trot etc.
He might never be the average horse but he is my horse and I love him
laugh.gif
 
I bought a fat unfit cob that I was told wouldn't canter, you couldn't catch, lead or hack alone as my first horse and she has become anyone's ride.

She is good to catch and lead. You could put your elderly nan on her. She will hunt all day, we've been placed at dressage, won SJing and we're learning to go xc. She loves hacking alone, we can go out for 4-5 hours and she will spring along happy with her job and is never strong. She might not be as flashy as some horses but she's the easiest, most relaxing ride I know and to me that's priceless.
 
I'm proud of the fact that I bought a two year old, oversized highland who turned into a fantastic, well mannered, totally trustworthy, bombproof, incredibly beautiful horse who is now 17 years old. I would trust him with my life and can honestly say that apart from a few handstand bucks, he has never put a foot wrong, bitten or kicked. In fact he's perfect!!
grin.gif
 
Im just proud i owned her. We did everything ourselves with no help, going from a riding school trip over her own feet to a aff sj.

Im proud that everyone that meet her thought she was lovely and didnt have a bad word to say about her.

Im proud that she had the best maners and didnt have a bad bone in her body.

Im proud that when more proffesional riders/trainers saw her it only took 5 mins before they loved her for her honesty, talent and ability to pick things up easliy. Even though she was only 14.3 LW cob and people looked down at her abit at first.

Im proud that she gave me everthing she had and never let me down. When others rode her they where amazed that she could look so easy but was very sensative to they way you rode. she would have them sussed in no time, the nervous where taken care of and the more experienced challaged.

Im proud that it wasnt all plain sailling and about the amount of hard work i put in. i hope it helped make her that horse she was along with her temperment.

Im proud she made the person and rider i am today.


Sorry that was long, as you can tell i miss her
frown.gif
 
I am proud of my 4 year old because her behaviour and manners are second to none.

She could/should be lacking in trust due to the start she had in life, being shipped over from Romania whilst still suckling on her Dam, at an age when she shouldn't technically have been travelled.

I don't care what we achieve in the future, she is now and always will be the perfect little horse for me.

After losing my first pony after 15 years of ownership, I never thought I would feel the same about another horse .... this one has proved me wrong and of that I am glad.
 
I'm proud of the fact that we can now hack on our own when a year ago we could barely go out in company!!
We've had rearing, spinning, bucking, loads of tears and contemplation of selling
frown.gif

He'll never be perfect, but he's mine and I love him
grin.gif
 
I'm proud of the fact that we've come so far. A year ago I was too scared to ride my horse in the school, let alone anywhere else. He would spin/nap/rear, I couldn't smack him as he would buck, I couldn't load him, I couldn't hack him even in company, he would refuse trotting poles (because I was so nervous jumping!) and was generally horrible.

Now, we can hack out on our own or in company (I never thought we'd get there), I take him showjumping over 95cm courses by myself on a regular basis, we came 5th in our first ODE
grin.gif
and scored 64% in our first dressage comp. I'm so proud of how far we have come - still a way to go, but when youlook back it does seem like a big achievment!
smile.gif
 
I'm proud of my crazy arab who was very much a speed freak when i got him, and after a few months of hard work is now only half, the crazy arab he was and doing our first dressage tomorrow as he now does steady.
 
Stinky - my first (and probably only) baby horse that from a yearling is now turning into a strapping 5 year old. He has never given me any real problems, is very very affectionate and I know him so well. He is looking like he will be a great all round little horse - master jack of all trades and very good looking.

Best moment to date - reserve champion at Herts County and being in H&H with him.

Farra - yes we bought her too soon after Cairo's death - a year next week since she came off the lorry but not seen anything like her since for sale. She will never be a replacement for him, but she probably is the nearest thing to what he was and has such a gentle temperament.

Best moment - OH finally admitting Cairo is gone, and she is his baby girl whilst she stood there with her huge head over his shoulder cuddling up to him. He has yet to ride her due to her being so young and him being heavy, but the plan is next year to be able to ride out together when she has filled out and built up and he has lost some weight - another stone to go.
 
Well where do I start

When we got my horse he was a nervous wreck terrified of everyone and everything I was 11 he was my 2nd pony/horse cue terrified me as well!! I refused to ride him at all so he only got ridden by mum who only had enough time to ride when she wasnt at work so he started getting progressively worse but then something clicked and he started getting used to being with us. That is one thing that I am definitely proud of I was so scared of him and he was getting to the stage of being dangerous and no-one was allowed in the stable with him unless someone else was there at the time but now he can still be quite tricky to ride but in the stable he is so dopey to the extent you can sit on the floor underneath him to groom his tummy
laugh.gif


Also he is an amazing SJer but not great across country so me on top of him didnt used to be a good combination but going to PCCamp and doing XC with an instructor constantly telling me what to do I found the way to get him going how I wanted albeit not always having breaks but I jumped some Intermediate fences on him and he is just under 15hh so I am really happy.

And now we are on a PC eventing team and he is definitely one of the family
tongue.gif
 
That after a lot of time and patience I can now brush and maul my hairy cobs legs to my hearts content without him taking pot shots at my head!!

That he is slowly learning that the mounting block is not an evil being that will attack at any minute!!

And that I can now hack (thanks to him!) pretty much anywhere trouble free - He is fab and scared of nothing!!!!
 
I'm proud of the fact that my horses - because I keep them in a way that's as natural and stress-free as possible, and allow them to live out 24/7/265 in their stable herd - are just so very, very good at being happy, friendly, sociable, playful, healthy, stress and vice-free horses.

I am also proud of the fact that I never gave in to the pressure from others around me to put shoes on my boys once their working lives started. All three boys, aged 9, 9 and 7 respectively, have never been shod and are worked regularly both hacking (yes, on roads too!), schooling, in dressage and endurance events - and have never yet encountered any foot problems.
 
I'm proud that although Jack scares the poo out of me, I am slowly starting to ride him more. I can get him into a lovely outline in walk, will canter in the field, and I'm starting to teach him to jump. I'm proud that I no longer want to get off as soon as he starts to speed, and I can get him back to a sensible speed without yanking on his mouth.

I'm proud that I can sit to Renos rearing, and I don't fall off when he takes stupid jumps.
Last time we went over Waskerley, after laughing at some cyclists trying to negotiate a big muddy puddle, then at my sister trying to coax Jack through, before he put in a massive leap, causing me to losse both stirrups before he took off at a gallop. =S
 
i'm proud of the fact that in 4 months my grlie has gone from been a nappy stroppy minx who just stood on her back legs when u picked up a contact and zoomed of if u put your leg on her to now been a chilled out relaxed mare who has come on so well and tries so hard. her flat work is unrecognisable she's soft and light and balanced ... all thanks to Ellejs on here
smile.gif
smile.gif

We went sj and x/c schooling on monday and was a star never touched a pole. And we r going to our first show on sunday to do dressage and sj.
And i just cant believe how willing and trying she has become i just love her much she amazes me on a daily basis
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
 
I'm proud of lots of things, although some people might think my horses are nothing special....

Desi is 22, was an emaciated weaving/box-walking stressy wreck when I got him...now he is in great condition, happy and calm (unless at a show!) and we have a great bond- he is a safe fun ride and despite breaking a leg a couple of years ago we are now back jumping and having fun.

Toby is 5....bought a year ago just backed...first ever young horse I have had to bring on and school and he is going great- he has been out to several shows this year for the first time, he's chilled out, well behaved and has never not been placed.

Storm was a bad-tempered git when we got her- anti-social with people and horses....don't really know how it happened , just consistent calm handling I suppose but she is now a happy relaxed and social horse....but thats really down to the bond she has with my OH who owns her + loves her to bits.
 
I am proud that my first pony was a lunatic and is now the sanest pony any Mother could wish for (but he's mine!!!). I'm proud that a pony once scared of logs will saunter through any situation unfazed, including the cows ambushing us on the NT land last night.

I'm also proud that a pony came to me with reports of 'the farrier had to give up after 3 feet' and stood yesterday for her second trim with me - both of which she's been an angel for (and my farrier is sure I'm telling porkies, lol!). Gotta love clicker training! I'm also proud in a funny way that she's so confident, she tries to break into the feed room after me and gets into mischief, whereas before she was too nervous. The very fact she's questioning things and investigating is brilliant.
 
I am quite simply proud of the fact that he is mine! I will show him to anyone who shows even the slightest bit of interest! I waited 30 yrs to have my own horse and 2yrs later I still have to pinch myself that he really is mine!

I am also proud of the fact that he now does things that he didn't do when I first got him:
stand quietly to be mounted
stand anywhere if I say 'stand' even if he isn't tied up
work in an outline
score 60% plus in a prelim test
nudge and nuzzle me if he thinks I'm sad/not well.
 
similar to gorgeous_george, i'm proud of the fact Raff is mine.

i talk about him to anyone and everyone. he's such a big part of my life. and the reason he's so special to me is linked to what else i'm proud about.... he's given me back my confidence (well, is starting to)

i'm proud of the fact i can get on him without wee trickling down my leg... and that i no longer jump off him as soon as he pricks his ears... and that he has never ever tried to take advantage of my fear... and that i chose him myself, and my 'gut' feeling paid off.

after owning him for a week, my non-horsey (and tight with money) husband said "even if he went lame now for the rest of his life, he'd be worth every penny we paid for him, because of the change in you".

and now i'm actually crying. gad, must be those hormones.
wink.gif
 
I'm proud of my girl (Jazz) because even though she has been badly treated in the past she is fantastic to handle and just loves everyone, i am proud of the fact that we have got 6 rosettes together and it hasn't been easy and mostly i'm proud because she is mine.

and as for the old git (Joe) i am soo proud of him becuase he over came his lameness problems against all odd (and him coming sound again was against all odd but its the chance we had to take lmao) the fact that even though he is getting older everyday he still i getting better and i'm most proud of the fact everybody loves him nearly as much as i do
grin.gif
 
I'm proud of Genie because she helped me through a very rough time, coming the day after we lost Mazzie. We've achieved an awful lot together....

Best two moments are both very recent....

This on Sunday, winning Reserve Champion at the WPCS Show at Leyland Court
5333_563524971290_200900908_33894406_8173192_n.jpg



And this last night... taking a flyer over a jump that just 2 months ago I wouldn't even have attempted (and the two of us not parting company on landing!).
5333_563706976550_200900908_33905933_1654635_n.jpg
 
I'm proud of the fact that when I was at Pony Club, I was officially known as a useless rider - always falling off - yet Ellie and I went on to win some classes I had never even dreamed I would be up to participating in. The greatest moment for me was going in for our final round at Stoneleigh (we ended up Reserve Champs) and hearing a lady I used to know from PC shout, 'Gosh, isnt that Georgie? The one who was always falling off? When did she learn to suddenly ride so well?'
laugh.gif
That has stuck with me ever since
laugh.gif


There's a lot to be proud of with Ellie. Everyone said Mum was mad getting me a baby when I was fresh off of ponies and not much of a rider - but we made it work
laugh.gif
 
im so proud of my pony! she has had some ups and downs in her life but i know every time i look into her big brown eyes i could never ever sell her!

Im so proud of how much she trusts people despite evil people using her for their own ends
mad.gif
 
Aawwww - these posts are great! I have tears in my eyes - that's what horses do for us - we should think of all these things when we are tearing our hair out with them!
I am SO proud to own such a beautiful and kind horse ....and I am so proud of the way he will come when I call him, even leaving his friends in the field!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top