When you realise you own 'that' horse

[lottiepony]

The one who has a reputation at the vets so the sign is there ready saying 'this horse may kick'

The one who despite being only 7 has been to the vets wayyyy too many times due to wayyy too many problems

The one who won't be caught or handled by your friends offering you the favour of doing him for you

The one who will look 'colically' on the one day you get someone to turn him out so you can have a lay in

The one who will find that tiny hidden danger that you hadn't spotted and manage to hurt himself

The one who makes you do what seems like strange things but you know it means less stress for you both so that's how you do it

The one who was backed late but has probably now spent more time out of work than in work

The one who literally costs you thousands in vets bills and medication

The one who needs a dash of sedation to get through the daily walking rehab in a sensible manner

The one who potentially could put you off ever wanting to own a horse ever again

The one who you just can't help but completely and utterly adore and you live in total hope that it will all turn out ok and you might get to see what it is actually capable of...

If any one also owns this type of horse how do you cope???

 

[cauda equina]

You cope by looking at that beautiful face!
What's his breeding?

 

[lottiepony]

You cope by looking at that beautiful face!
What's his breeding?

We discuss regularly about how his good looks save him every time lol. He's a PBA 50%, I'm told that's where his 'one person only' attitude comes from, never had/known a horse so tuned in to 1 person before!

 

[GrassChop]

He is stunning. Can I ask what bridle that is? It is so shiny!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I think you struggle through, bang your head against the wall and then look back with rose tinted glasses, missing them awfully when they’ve gone.



My late mare.

My vet described her as effectively two legged - either the front half was on the ground or the back half was but she was never on four legs at the same time.

Colicky, ulcers, ate a poisonous creeper, skinned both hind legs, did two tendons, hated friends, didn’t like being alone, hated turn out, didn’t like being in, didn’t want to eat hard feed, couldn’t keep weight on her, appalling in traffic, appalling to load, revolting to shoe - gave up!- hated the vet and required vet regularly, impossible to worm, dangerous to clip, hard to sedate, horrible to hack, embarrassing in the warm up ring.

Fantastic in the arena, super to jump and unbelievable at a gallop around cross country. She was so affectionate and loving on the ground too, and just the most entertaining character.

I miss her so much, constantly.

 

[MissTyc]

Unfortunately my BOGOF home born mare is also "that" horse and now seems to have successfully retired herself age 11 after many years of trying to reach that gold standard. SIGH. Mind you, if she hadn't now gone neurological, I think she'd be OK. She sort of grew out of the worst of everything by age 9. So we had two good years!

 

[lottiepony]

He is stunning. Can I ask what bridle that is? It is so shiny!

I'm bias so will always agree lol! It is made by LME Bridlework, had it for years now and it is actually brown patent on the noseband.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Beautiful horses LP and LG.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

You buy a second one, so it takes the pressure off the first and you can make the most of the best times with them but stop relying on their consistency..

 

[SEL]

Oh that's my Appy mare - and you can add totally neurotic into the mix as well. Threaten to turn her into sausages on a regular basis but she knows I don't mean it. I got her a non ridden companion in the early days so following ASBMO advice above I am now up to 3 in order to try and have something to ride. Plus I bought fields so I can keep collecting if something goes wrong with that one.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Oh that's my Appy mare - and you can add totally neurotic into the mix as well. Threaten to turn her into sausages on a regular basis but she knows I don't mean it. I got her a non ridden companion in the early days so following ASBMO advice above I am now up to 3 in order to try and have something to ride. Plus I bought fields so I can keep collecting if something goes wrong with that one.

I like the way you think!

 

[SEL]

I like the way you think!

OH doesn't!!!

4 maximum he reckons

 

[Poingsettia]

OH doesn't!!!

4 maximum he reckons

Permission given then! Have you started shopping yet for #4? ?

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Beautiful horses LP and LG.

I think we have a type ?
@lottiepony - I am very envious of yours.

 

[stangs]

OH doesn't!!!

4 maximum he reckons

Buy another, give it some time, and then he’ll say max 5

 

[lottiepony]

You buy a second one, so it takes the pressure off the first and you can make the most of the best times with them but stop relying on their consistency..

ah ha! slightly ahead on that one, spent the summer taking Frank the Shetland out (he's the companion and doubles up as my nieces pony) I've just broken him to drive and plan on competing him (if the big one leaves any money to buy a proper carriage) I adore him also and I do think he has helped me not have a complete meltdown lol.

And as we all love a piccy here he is winning his long reining class

 

[Birker2020]

My previous horse was like that, did a number of suspensory branches on different legs, did her tendon sheath in and had to have it medicated, had coffin joint, neck and hock arthritis (all were treated and she was comfortable and happy), was very colic prone at one time, did a check ligament and I nearly lost her with a bone chip not long after I'd had her. Spent at least 30K on her over the 17 years I had her. I rehabbed her at least a dozen times over the years and spent hours sat on my little stool icing her leg with ice cups, long reining her down the lanes to get her back into work or spending time every day without fail doing carrot stretches and brushing her teeth! She'd always come right again and we go off and do 'our thing' for a few months before she'd encounter another problem.

But I perservered and we had many, many happy and eventful years together, sometimes we went three or four years without injury and we did everything together, she was very nice with dressage but incredibly spooky show jumping. I ended up on a spinal board probably 3 times but I used to compete every weekend practically. She was brilliantly talented, clever and intuitive, sensitive and loving.

Sadly I had to let her go in June this year. I'd already resigned myself to never riding her again but was happy to keep her going for as long as she wanted. She had navicular that had gone undiagnosed, and it got bad, very quickly and I couldn't keep her paddock sound on 2 bute a day so I decided to pts. Even when she was hobbling up the field on her last morning she managed to find it in her to do a hop and skip when I took down her strip grazing for the last hour of her life and she found herself with grass up to her pasterns!

She always came to call and when we came back off our holiday this year it totally broke me when we drove past the yard without stopping for the first time in 17 years and I didn't run down to her paddock, give her the familiar whistle and have her come up to me ready for a hug off her old Mum.

But you know what, despite everything she threw at me, I'd not have given up on her, I worshipped the ground she walked on.

That's what we do when we love our horses. You are not alone. Your horse is lovely by the way, very attractive.

 

[BBP]

Stunning horse.

And oh yes, I own that horse. He’s never mean and doesn’t kick, but he has been the most challenging horse I’ve ever met (and I was a pro groom around the world). But I love him with the same besotted adoration that I have for my dog. And the idea of my life without him, although it would certainly have been easier and I might have broken less parts of myself, would never ever be better.

 

[Ratface]

OH doesn't!!!

4 maximum he reckons

Get one the same colour; OH will think he's seeing double/made a mistake!

 

[I don’t like mondays]

OP your post could’ve been written about my horse! Some days I don’t cope, but I’m going to read through the answers for inspiration ?

 

[I don’t like mondays]

And if I ever get my horse out competing again I think Sedalin should send me a saddle pad with their logo on because of the tubes we got through on my boys lengthy box rest (and hand walking in high winds) post surgery

 

[Alibear]

I go with the retire to an easier life and get another one option. It's tough financially but much less stressful overall.

 

[eahotson]

The one who has a reputation at the vets so the sign is there ready saying 'this horse may kick'

The one who despite being only 7 has been to the vets wayyyy too many times due to wayyy too many problems

The one who won't be caught or handled by your friends offering you the favour of doing him for you

The one who will look 'colically' on the one day you get someone to turn him out so you can have a lay in

The one who will find that tiny hidden danger that you hadn't spotted and manage to hurt himself

The one who makes you do what seems like strange things but you know it means less stress for you both so that's how you do it

The one who was backed late but has probably now spent more time out of work than in work

The one who literally costs you thousands in vets bills and medication

The one who needs a dash of sedation to get through the daily walking rehab in a sensible manner

The one who potentially could put you off ever wanting to own a horse ever again

The one who you just can't help but completely and utterly adore and you live in total hope that it will all turn out ok and you might get to see what it is actually capable of...

If any one also owns this type of horse how do you cope???

She is beautiful