What's been your best horsey moment of 2011?

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

As title really.

OK so I'll start with mine; albeit trivial, but to ME and my boy it was one helluva achievement considering where we've both come from (long story!).

Suffice to say we've had our "issues" to sort out, and one of the issues was loading; he'd be fine to go in a lorry, but trailer was a resounding "no no".

Down here in the South West there was a day organised which was a mixture of Horse Agility and Winter TREC, back in February. So we went along just for the fun of it really, just to have a go at both.

In the Horse Agility, one of the "obstacles" was a trailer walk-through - you had to lead the horse through an open trailer; and guess what, we got ten-out-of-ten for that component, I was so darned chuffed I just cried Plus we got placed - sixth.

THEN we went and had a go at the Indoor TREC; and got a "clear round" rosette for that as well and he was SUCH a good boy with all the obstacles. Had his numpty owner understood what was required more, I think we would have been placed.

But it was SUCH fun: and as I haven't competed for over 25 years, I thought that was pretty damn good! Whilst not appearing particularly earth shattering to anyone else, it was just me and my boy just having fun and getting a good result - and achieving something we never ever thought possible.

Anyone else? However miniscule, it matters not.

 

[tubby1]

Getting my first horse at the grand old age of forty and all the ups and downs since then.:

 

[Batgirl]

So many to choose from, so I won't choose, I will list (not in order):

1) Developing a consistent contact and getting my boy on the bit.

2) doing my first ever ODEs
2a) Mickley - aaaaaaaawful dressage but clear round mini 2ft course (on 17hher!!)
2b) Northallerton Mini ODE 70cm, decent dressage and came 3rd!
2c) Northallerton ODE 80cm brill dressage came 7th!

3) Personal best pure dressage of 62.25% (sounds measly but he is 19yo, stiff, giraffe like stubborn hindenburg like creature)

4) Going out competing wthout my mentor/friend Lucy

5) Doing my first ever Hunter Trial

Best year ever for me and my boy!

 

[kinnygirl1]

Defo being placed 5th in the dressage with my baby boy (only 4yrs) who I got in March this year. He is my first horse in 12 years and was only my 4th dressage comp in my life. (I am 34!) I was so so proud and was walking on air for about a week! Well done to you all for your achievements this year!!!

 

[muffinmunsh]

Galloping the boy on Holkham Beach... And the girl at Newmarket ;-)

 

[fine_and_dandy]

Riding Bailey for the first time

I bought him at 5 weeks old, he came home at just over 5 months and ahad a lot of ups and downs [nearly lost his eye at 20 months old, sarcoids etc] but to see all the hard work, care, love and patience paid off and I felt I was rewarded tenfold was amazing.

I've also managed to overcome *pretty much* my confidence issues and nerves. I wasd so worried when it first started that I wouldn't be good enough for Bailey, but I've pulled myself together, and although have the odd wobble, feel so great when I'm going to ride my horse and I can enjoy it instead of getting so worked up and crying when I sat on a horse

Slightly soppy lol!

 

[mulledwhine]

Lost my boy in 2010

Daughter wanted a pony, said no to her as could not cope with another equine

Went to ( time waste perhaps) look at a pony, .... Just perfect, but on loan, so thought why not !!!!

Bought him 5 months ago, best thing I ever did, little git at times, but wf love him , he has brought a lOt of laughter to our house xxxx

 

[Janette]

Star getting her best dressage marks ever - 7 weeks after having her left eye removed. We showed those fancy baby dressage horses how a hairy, piebald, one-eyed pony can REALLY move

 

[kerilli]

either my lovely filly being born safe and sound (after a horribly long wait, she was v overdue and i spent over a month sleeping in the stable next door, ugh, never want to do that again!)
or
getting back on my last homebred, the rather feisty Fleetwater Opposition filly who managed to drop me badly enough to necessitate a knee op. having her back in work and being a (fairly) good girl now is a huge deal too.

roll on 2012, bigger and better things for all of us!

 

[TallulahBright]

Finally getting on my girl after the ups and downs associated with having a baby TB! She was a dream to back, about to crack on with long reining again and can't wait to get back on board!!!

 

[1Lucie]

Buying my first horse having wanted one since i was 10yrs old (now 27!) And he is the sweetest horse ive ever met in my life!

 

[mulledwhine]

Pic of why

Sorry for over lOad but I small snap shot of our year

 

[flower08]

jumping a 1.15 course in a training session

then jumping 1 meter AF and only getting 4 faults

 

[supaspot]

my magic moments were at the All Ireland miniature horse Championships in August , my stallion won All Ireland champion stallion and went on to take supreme grand champion of Ireland 2011
my foal won All- Ireland champion foal , took top place in the refined/TB type and then won Open Halter Champion 2011 (he was up against mature horses all of which were champions in their own classes)
and to top it all my gelding took first place in the falabella class and won Reserve All Ireland champion gelding

 

[Jesstickle]

Finally sitting on Nitty. I only just managed before the end of the year but I did it. After the year we've had that is plenty.

BH has been fabby this year too but having her mended is definitely my highlight

 

[Clofox]

Getting a pony on loan!
She is my everything and im so happy to have her, if you told me i would have her a year ago, i wouldnt have believed you!
And of course all the ups and a few downs which comes with it all but all worth it!
Most memorable times would be, My first time round the "big" woods (a longer hack apoosed to the shorter normal one) with my friend, it was a foggy day and i never forget her looking across a misty golf course... picture perfect! and she was an angel!
My first flat out canter down the straight! (long bit of land otherwise known to horse riders in our areas as the straight!)
And who can forget the day when i was feeling particually low and was nearly crying at the yard, she was tied up outside her stable, i went to brush her face and she snuggled her head in my arms and closed her eyes... then i did cry!
Wow i love my horsey so much! and would be lost without her.Looking forward to many more of theses special moments in 2012
Have a good one everyone!

 

[Hen]

The last 2 weeks, when I got to enjoy - away from competition and anyone who knows us - my two show horses all to myself. No amount of blue ribbons and awards can match that... it's been great just watching them relax and enjoy some downtime, play in the paddock and the round pen, and clop around covered in mud... and prove to me that they are just the nicest, easiest, most polite and fun horses anyone could wish to have .

 

[SavingGrace]

Finding Grace, look forward to spending 2012 getting to know her slowly and steadily x

 

[sheep]

Ooh, I've had a few.

Teaching my fat wee loan cob to jump properly- the time we made it over the half barrel straight, I was delighted

Getting my jumping confidence back and doing a 1m spread last night on my new loan girl.. this time a month ago I'd be cr*pping myself at the thought of even jumping 70cm.

Hacking out my friend's old gent today and feeling how much he absolutely loved it- had a sneaky canter along a grassy verge and he was like a tank the whole way home. Such a lovely big lad, he is!

 

[becky_bongoose]

Buying my first horse after asking/begging for one every bloody christmas and birthday since I was 8 or 9 and I'm now 23 - and she is lovely xx

 

[bumblelion]

Cutting my tbs mane with scissors! Such an achievement! Normally can't get anywhere near it and have to pull it with iv sedation. If I try without, he doesn't talk to me for days! Next year, my aim is to get him calm whilst being equissaged!!

 

[unbalanced]

My little 14hh 21 year old storming around RAF Halton and jumping an aeroplane was pretty awesome.

 

[Silmarillion]

My last hack on my mare before I lost her to colic. Back in early July I took her round the local fields and we tackled combines, tractors, a bloke firing a gun, pheasants and deer. She was VERY on her toes and felt about 18hh (she was 15.3hh!) We both had such fun, she felt fabulous and very sound (she had a bad tendon injury which left her marginally, intermittently lame). It was amazing

Worst moment was losing her at the beginning of September to colic, following a promising few days of recovery from surgery. One of the worst moments of my life.

However, I now have a lovely big ginger ex-racer to school (he's good at hugs, too ) and a cool little ginger pony to hack (she doesn't do affection, only eating and galloping - proper pony!) and I am planning on bringing my mum's smart little pony back into work next year to have some fun with. So after building to a high, then dropping to a low, I think my horsey life is pretty good - roll on March, sitting on Pottie, then reporting back many happy moments next year!

Some lovely memories and even pics in here

 

[tazzle]

Taz taking Matt to his prom


Only his third time on board . Taz is quite sensitive to the leg so we did not know how she would respond to tightly clamped twitchy legs ( Matt has cerebral palsy) ..... She responded like a seasoned RDA pone

we were all quite emotional


just out of shot are loads people applauding very enthusiatically in the quadrangle where.. it echoed around ...and a minute later so many people rushed to see when they heard us arriving they were behind the other barriers too. A bit like the winners enclosure at the races it was

 

[mirage]

Buying knobberpony for my girls.The eldest had been asking for a pony as soon as she could talk and mean mummy made her have 4 years of lessons before I gave in.

Also,seeing them both at the local hunt meet-they've been desperate to go for years,especially as great great grandad, great grandad and auntie all hunted with the same pack in the past and we are proud of them for following on in the family tradition.

 

[mirage]

tazzle,your post has made me go all leaky eyed.

 

[sheep]

tazzle,your post has made me go all leaky eyed.

ditto!

 

[tazzle]

its still gets me too

It was the fist time that all his peers had literally looked UP at him

I was just sooooooo proud of Taz that day ....


.... yet still she does not like it if my grandchildren put their legs on even a little too much then give contradicating aids One grandaughter who lives a bit away now has lessons on a stereotypical riding school pone that "needs a kick" to get him to walk ......... she visited last week and went out for a hack and I had to remind her a few times to sit still and keep legs relaxed as Taz was moving back /walking on fast / going sideways. Taz was just doing what she though J wanted according to what her weight and legs aids were saying .... as soon as she adjusted /relaxed Taz was more relaxed and doing what J actually wanted. Somehow she knows the difference between Matt and J ....

 

[ShadowFlame]

Can't pick between the two, I'm afraid. Rodney arriving, first horse who's ever truly been "mine", and riding him out for the first time (bought him unbroken). Both awesome moments, totally made up for the crap non-horsey year I've had lol.

 

[tazzle]

this is a lovely thread and I have gone back to re read it ....... its great to recognise / remember all the small special moments and not just the big /public ones. . Lots of my special memories are when I am alone with the herd ( not all my horses) and it might be something little like them all gathered round relaxing / sleeping right next to me.... brill

like chloe

i went to brush her face and she snuggled her head in my arms and closed her eyes... then i did cry!

brilliant