When did you fall in love...

About 5 minutes! Unfortunately he was supposed to be a project so instead of selling him I bought another one :o now had him 7 years and love him to bits, at the risk of sounding a bit airy fairy he's my soul mate.
 
I think as soon as I brought him home :-) started off loaning him then after 8/9 months my parents bought him for me for my 21st birthday. He is a grumpy sod but i still love him. He is such a good boy, the calmest most laid back TB i've ever met in my life. Can hack him on the buckle knowing that he won't be fazed/spooked by anything, it's great not worrying that my horse is going to have a p*ssy fit and bxgger off with me whilst i cling on for dear life!
 
This may sound stupid but i fell in love with mine when i first went to see him he had such a kind eye i loved him there and then and just riding him sealed the deal :-) 9 years later best thing i ever did
 
As soon as I saw the blob on the scan. I was wanting to breed a filly and a colt was going to be sold but once I saw the blob that was it HE is staying forever.
 
As soon as I'd seen him. Saw his advert in a newspaper and he didn't look like much, hairy and cobby which is the opposite of what I was looking for but mum made me go as it was close by, 4 years later and I am even more in love with the little s**t than before :D
 
I have loved my horse from the moment she was born - we bred her and as a foal she was just the most gorgeous, sweet little thing. We built up a good bond on the ground which meant she was very willing to embrace all the new experiences I threw at her (first time travelling in the box, first time being shod, being broken to harness), however the moment I realised that I could never let her go came in February of last year (2013).

She was five years old at the time and we'd retired her from racing because she wasn't fast enough (stamina was out of this world but 99% of races are over 1 mile and this was too short for her stamina to be enough of an asset). My dad had told me to advertise her for sale as a rider, and I had started hunting her at the end of 2012 in order to add another string to her bow. A couple of weeks before the day in question, we'd been hunting on a hill that I didn't know very well and I had a panic attack when we came to steep ledge. People were jumping down the 3ft drop and carrying on and Star seemed to be struggling with the concept of getting down it, and before I knew it I was shaking and crying and couldn't even get off her to try and lead her down it. Ten years previous to this I'd come off on another hill at speed when misjudging a bank similar to this and had landed on my neck/back which resulted in me knocking my skull off balance on my spine (was only diagnosed eight years later!) and I can only suggest this is what triggered it, seeing as I'd avoided similar terrain and been out of the saddle for four years while in uni. Fortunately somebody offered to ride back to the box with me, but my dad kicked off and told me I wasn't a good enough rider as all the rest had managed it, and the horse was to go to the first person that came to see her because she was just as useless what with not making an effort to climb down the bank.

I was naturally very upset about the whole thing, but a fortnight after I decided to go hunting again because I didn't want to lose my confidence altogether. That was the day I realised that she was going to look after me. She must have been able to tell that I was a bit nervous, but she never reflected my nerves in her own behaviour. We exhausted every one of her five gaits (she's a pacer), and I realised that all the times before when I thought she was flat out in gallop I was mistaken because she excelled herself speedwise. She was perfect, and I had the most amazing day. I knew when I got home that I couldn't sell a horse that gave me such confidence as a rider so I removed all the adverts I'd placed without telling my parents. When nobody called to ask about her I told them it must be because she was overpriced. I was told to drop the price on her, at which point I offered them the price they wanted.

Star is now officially my horse (I even managed to negotiate tack and rugs included, and not for the asking price!). We've had another fantastic season hunting, with another couple of meets coming up in the next few weeks. We've started doing a bit of jumping and I think we'll do a bit more of that this year because we both enjoy it, although we're going to start small and build our way up because my confidence is still growing slowly! She's moving to Scotland with me when I go in May and she'll stay with me until her final days, whenever they may be, because bit by bit she gives me back the confidence that disappeared somewhere along the line. I love the bones of her, even though her lack of affection towards me has me convinced she merely tolerates me!

Sorry for the ramble, I guess I didn't realise I felt like that until I put it into words!
 
When i decided to buy my new horse i had aword with myself and said ' Dont buy the first one you see!!'

First one i saw......Billy!

I forced myself to try others, but non came close to how much i liked billy.

As soon as i saw him standing outside his stable a little voice in my head said 'O dear i like him already'.

Sometimes i could kill him.....but then he will do something (like jump a 120cm fence from trot) and i remember why i love him so much! ha ha:)
 
I'm not sure if its love or not, but they have to have a 'thing' that I can't explain for me. Murph had it when I first saw him, despite the fact he was a hat rack and a nut-job. Best horse I will ever have and he was my soulmate and I adored him from day one (although some days could have happily shot the git...). Percy and Ludo didnt have that 'thing' but were both excellent prospects so I bought them. Couldn't get on with Percy, although I adored him, and Ludo was a psycho who went back to the dealer after 3 months as he was a dangerous lunatic (both warmbloods - lesson learnt, I don't do warmbloods). My 2 TB's both had 'it', one was too small and too scrawny, the other a miserable, grumpy git. Fell in love with both of those after about a month. New horse I like very much, but not sure I love. He had that 'thing' too but becuase he essentially was Murph's replacement, I think it will tajke a while for me to love him as I still miss the ginger ninja so much.
 
I first came across my horse when helping a friend with hers but I was more preoccupied with this wild looking, skinny warm blood that was hooning around looking thoroughly stressed out, next thing I was asked to go back a few weeks later to see if I could load him, he was a nervous wreck but after a bit of tlc he walked on and off the trailer, so then I started riding him and dealing with his issues, before I knew it I was hook, line and sinker and 5 years on I still love him. I've sold him when money was non existant but 2 years and 5 homes later, arguing with dealers over him and me chasing him around the country trying to keep in touch he was finally given back to me 4 months ago, its not easy, his issues have got worse but I'm working on it, one thing remains though, no matter how much he stresses me out I love him unconditionally.x
 
Only very recently have I felt love for my horse. I only bought her as felt sorry for her and she had passed through so many owners, each one neglecting her more and more. She was so far off my dream horse, hairy, fat and very aloof but I knew that she would have a home for life with me. As the months have passed and she has got fitter, less hairy and less wild I had come to like her. I had taken some pictures of her one day after I had spent hours sorting out her mane and tail, i uploaded them to facebook and everyone was commenting about how gorgeous she is and I really looked at the pics and couldn't believe she was mine. She recently had to have 2 weeks box rest and I think that going up there 3 times a day and just spending time looking after her, no riding, nothing other than just being with her has made me realise what an amazing horse she is. She is not affectionate in the slightest, she tolerates my cuddles and me generally fussing over her but she is still aloof. I do think we have now bonded more as there were a couple days last week where my friend had to bring her in and feed her and she got herself in a right state, sweating up and not eating her hay or dinner but as soon as I got there she completely calmed down, it may just have been a coincidence but I like to think she missed me!
 
Biglets Mummy said:
I fell in love with Boo about 3 hours after he arrived on my yard....This gangly,leggy, skinny,terrified 3 year old fell off the lorry and into my life. I got him into his new stable even though he could hardly walk for shaking and tried to comfort him. He was so frightened. I stayed with him for a few hours quietly doing chores and fussing his new stablemates. When he stopped shaking and started to have a little munch I went in to give him a little groom to relax him. He gently grabbed the back of my jacket and pulled me right in and wouldn't let go. My heart just melted and 13 years later and more adventures than I care to remember he still uses me as his comfort blanket if he gets worried...Never bites...just takes hold and pulls you in....I am so lucky to be loved by him.
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That is just the sweetest story.

:)
 
I really enjoyed reading these stories - very heartwarming!

I think I've just fallen in love with my new girl over the weekend; I've had her since October. I didn't want a coloured. Didn't want a mare under any circumstances. I liked her, but I bought her with my head because I knew she was going to be what I needed, and she really is. She calls me when I get to the yard, waits for me, calls me when I go past her gate, and smiles at me all the time (ears forward, happy face!). She even 'cuddles' me when I get off her (putting her head around my waist). She's fixing my worries and I can hear her 'talk' so I talk back! I never shut up now! I never said a word really to my old lad, it felt like we didn't hear each other. It would be hard not to love her back.

Lots of stories here about those of you who saw a frightened horse in need and the love has sprung from that - well my girl has seen a frightened human in need and has made it her mission to fix me! I've liked some horses over the years, but I haven't loved one since my gymkhana pony. It's a novel feeling and has really surprised me.
 
When I saw his little face when we drove onto the yard when we went to try him. Honestly, I just thought he was so sweet and cheeky-looking that I thought there and then that if he didn't do anything stupid when we tried him and he passed the vetting, I would buy him.

I remember looking at the image from the onboard camera as we drove him home and having to pinch myself that he was really mine . . . I really, really liked him straight away (he's a very personable and friendly chap) . . . but I realized that I had fallen in love with him when we moved him to a little yard and he became truly unhappy - spooky, barge-y and pretty much unrideable. It broke my heart - so we moved him again.

I know it sounds like a cliche, but I honestly can't imagine my life without him . . . he makes me smile every day - even if sometimes he also makes me cry.

P
 
From the moment I went into his field to try him out and he put his nose on my shoulder and nuzzled me. I was told he was a 'nasty piece of work' and 'only good for meat' He was as daft as a brush really and I ended up with a really really lovely horse. I had him until the day he died like I promised him that day in the field and still miss him everyday. There is and never will be a horse quite like him, he was my very own Black Beauty.
 
From a field in Ireland as a foal ! bit of a roll-a-coaster and a steep learning curve not the easiest to deal with as a baby, but wouldn't change anything we now have a great bond, she can be quite quirky but we trust each other
 
This is a really nice post! :)

I guess for me i'd always had a soft spot for my boy before he was mine, he was my ex boyfriend's showjumper and although he was always a very honest horse he never expected or gave any attention because he was just used to being trained or competed then stuck back in his stable... the ex was never a very affectionate person with him (or me! ;)) I always used to feel a little sorry for my boy, liked his cheeky side (he's an escape artist!) so was always softer with him than my own horse.

When i took him on after the ex and i split i was worried we'd not bond because my last horse was so affectionate and craved attention constantly. I guess the change in how i felt about him was when we moved to a very small DIY yard and in the evenings i'd let him wander around the enclosed stable area while i was doing my chores... he loves snooping around but always used to come back to check on me... i think that's when it started :) now he's a fat, part time and cuddly girl's horse who i adore... he always looks after me in whatever silly things i want to try (like side saddle, ouch!) and he now trusts me enough to work his heart out at dressage shows which used to terrify him. i feel so lucky to have him and wouldn't change a thing about him (even though he's a numpty to clip, shoe, with vets, etc etc!)
 
I hadn't had much to do with Jeff at all in the yard before I took him racing to Huntingdon. The daft begger fell, put his foot through his chest and severed his heart off all bar one artery. I stood in the vets box holding his head up whilst he was quite literally dieing in my arms. The vets sedated him, stuffed the hole full of cotton wool, stitched him over and thats all they could do. The floor was running red with blood - more blood than you could think possible. And thats where I had to leave him. He was given a 2% survival rate. If he survived half an hour they would move him to the box next door. He moved and then collapsed. The owner, bless him, said don't put him down if he can get himself back up. And thats what the big lummox did! 3 times at the races, twice in the box on the way to Newmarket vets, he fell down the ramp when he arrived. Got punted onto the operating table - 8 hours, 14 surgeons (not all needed but out of noseyness at 2am!) he had his heart stitched back in place. When he came round from the op he stood, walked back to his box and collapsed again. Got up, fell over, got up and that was the last time he fell down.

2 months later he came home to Scotland looking like hell. He spent a further 2 months out in the hay fields and came back in looking like a new horse.

The boss gave me the chance to ride him to see if we clicked and we did. 4 years more racing, another near fatal racing injury, 5 wins, dozens of places and tons of bto's he retired to me sound at the age of 11 to become a show horse.

Jeff is my world. The one horse I will keep for all eternity. You can't stand holding a dying horses head promising to look after him no matter what and not hold that promise. He is the most awesomest, bravest, kindest, gentlest horse I have ever met.

He is one in a million and that's why he is called The Hocamaffe!
 
Jeez, what have you all done to me, having to hide my face at work and i've gone through a box of tissues...
I do hope one day when I get my first horse I will be able to feel the same as you all, and have a very special bond with it.
Some lovely stories from you all :-)
 
A matter of weeks for both my true loves. Both bay welsh partbred mares. Don't think it was anything in particular for my first mare, she just always tried so hard for me. My current girl was when she sidled up to me for comfort when going towards something scary. And then after that the calling to me and trotting up to me in the field when I call her. She's never really had human contact before me so this is really rewarding and makes me love her. Had intended to sell but don't think I can now.
 
Oh gawd, I'm a sucker for soppy horse stories, some of you have gone through so much with yours. Mine didn't really give me any choice but to fall in love with him, two months of staring at his for sale pics and I was totally obsessed with him. I brought him home but I wasn't ready to fall in love with him. I suffered terrible depression, an emotionally abusive relationship and the loss of my two lifelong best mates (old pony and dog died within months of each other after having been my best friends for 16 years) all in the first year of having him. And yet somehow, gradually it dawned on me I was smiling at least once every day, laughing even...and that was a pretty big deal! Thanks to the daft, ridiculous, crazy (sometimes frightening) antics of the bonkers black pony I get a big grin on my face every single day. And he needs me too, he is quirky and sensitive and we understand each other. So I don't know when I fell in love, but it definitely happened!
 
My current pony who I share with my stepdaughter I like and see her as part of her family but my relationship with her is very business like as for me she has a job to do in looking after my stepdaughter but they totally adore each other and yes love each other which makes me happy.
I loved dizzy from the moment I saw her. She was in theory not right for me and she was a broken baby :( but for the year I had her I loved her desperately and we had a very strong bond. I would read for hours in her stable and we spent huge amounts of time together on the ground. I always got that "happy face" sadly though my heart was broken in September last year when I decided to have her PTS after her problems just became too dangerous and unpredictable and there was nothing more I could do for her. One of the most devastating days of my life despite it being the right thing to do. I miss her and doubt very much I will love a horse the way I loved her again.
 
King walked through all the other horses in the field and practically thrust his head into the baling string headcollar I'd been given to catch him. He came with me and really didn't want to go back in the field after I'd looked at him. That was it, he was going to be mine. Complete heart decision, although I did get him checked by a vet before I brought him home. I turned up for him with a trailer and was told he would never go in, he took a look and you almost saw him take a big breath and rush up the ramp. He stood there trembling and put his head on my shoulder and that was the deal done, he wanted to come with me and I would look after him. I've never felt such empathy for a horse as I do for him which is lucky for him as it gives me the patience to deal with his (many) issues. He will still follow me anywhere :-) love him to bits
 
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