shamrock2021
Well-Known Member
My mare is my horse of a lifetime . She has improved my riding so much. I could never sell her. Who is your horse of a lifetime.
Who is your horse of a lifetime
- Thread starter shamrock2021
- Start date
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
I think you can have more than one tbh.
I thought my old mare Millie was my horse of a lifetime, she was brilliant at everything I ever wanted to do and when she retired through a recurrent injury I wept absolute buckets because I thought I'd never find a horse as wonderful as her ever again. But what do you know, the project that I already had in the field has turned into a pretty amazing horse, not easy, none of it really what I expected, but pretty special in her own way.
it helps that they are so different, and also that I'm happy to concentrate on the things that current mare enjoys instead of trying to make her do the things that my retired mare did, because that has meant she has shone in her own way
She's a funny little soul, very complicated whereas the retired one was sassy but straightforward, but i love the bones of both of them.
I thought my old mare Millie was my horse of a lifetime, she was brilliant at everything I ever wanted to do and when she retired through a recurrent injury I wept absolute buckets because I thought I'd never find a horse as wonderful as her ever again. But what do you know, the project that I already had in the field has turned into a pretty amazing horse, not easy, none of it really what I expected, but pretty special in her own way.
it helps that they are so different, and also that I'm happy to concentrate on the things that current mare enjoys instead of trying to make her do the things that my retired mare did, because that has meant she has shone in her own way
She's a funny little soul, very complicated whereas the retired one was sassy but straightforward, but i love the bones of both of them.
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
I can't answer that question because each horse I've had has been utterly wonderful and special in their own unique way.
For me, it's like when I had my first child. I couldn't believe I could ever love another child as much as him, but of course, each sibling that arrived was just as amazing.
For me, it's like when I had my first child. I couldn't believe I could ever love another child as much as him, but of course, each sibling that arrived was just as amazing.
iknowmyvalue
Well-Known Member
Without a doubt my mare who I lost in 2016. I had a pony before her, and Henry (current horse) is lovely and special to me too, but I’ve never felt quite the same about a horse before or since. If I can find another who makes me feel the same, I’ll be incredibly lucky.
susielavery
Well-Known Member
My beautiful TB who I lost a good few years ago, he taught me so much and was the most wonderful, gentle soul ever but like another poster I think my current one is going to be as equally special, he's an Arab and reminds me so much of my TB, they're also the same colour.
Spotherisk
Well-Known Member
Both of them. Harley as my first, still with me 23 years later, still adored, and Tinner who I lost this spring, who choose me across a barn full (25+) of weaklings and who adored me as much as I adored him. I’m still struggling with having him put to sleep age 10.
Harley I could ride down a motorway, gallop up a hill one day and walk it the next, leave him with a child or aged relief and know they’d be safe. He was super proud of himself whenever he did a show or pleasure ride, a great nanny to other horses and crazy spooky when young. I still get huge pleasure from sniffing him under the mane and hugging him each night as he eats.
Tinner was unsure but trusted me to be with him, I think he had problems for years and years, certainly for five years. He was the one who always greeted me at the door, who positioned himself between me and a youngster in an obvious attempt to protect me.
I cannot choose between them.
Harley I could ride down a motorway, gallop up a hill one day and walk it the next, leave him with a child or aged relief and know they’d be safe. He was super proud of himself whenever he did a show or pleasure ride, a great nanny to other horses and crazy spooky when young. I still get huge pleasure from sniffing him under the mane and hugging him each night as he eats.
Tinner was unsure but trusted me to be with him, I think he had problems for years and years, certainly for five years. He was the one who always greeted me at the door, who positioned himself between me and a youngster in an obvious attempt to protect me.
I cannot choose between them.
doodle
Well-Known Member
My wonderful Minto.
Closely follow by Robin
And of course Soli
Closely follow by Robin
And of course Soli
SEL
Well-Known Member
Mine isn't actually ridden - although we did some gentle hacking when he first came to me as a companion. I adore every hair on the body of my over grown teddy bear Ardennes and although I'm sad that I can't fix his joints I'd never have met him if he'd not been retired. Makes me smile every single time I see him.
Chinchilla
...
oh wow, I've known far too many wonderful equines to pick just one!
HashRouge
Well-Known Member
I have my dear old mare, who I have owned for almost 20 years since I was 11. She's retired now but she's the sweetest thing and I just adore her. I don't really think there is such a thing as only one horse of a lifetime, but the relationship I have with her will take some beating!
GinaGeo
Well-Known Member
I’m fortunate to have three current horses that I adore. They’re all completely different to ride and to have around, they have their own strengths, their own preferences and their own characters. If I owned any of them alone I’d say they were my horse of a lifetime. Owning them together reminds me that there is more than one special horse out there and that it’s the adventures and experiences you have with them that makes the partnerships so special.
Mickey is a real fun pony, utterly reliable, a machine to hunt and ride cross country. I trust him to keep me safe over any country and he always does. Now I’ve stopped asking him to do ridiculous things like compete and instead enjoy taking him on adventures we have the very best of fun.
If I could only ride one horse again for the rest of my life I would choose Solo. I’ve done a bit of everything with him. BD, BE and his most recent career has been Side Saddle. He’s the one I get on if I’ve had a busy day and need to clear my head. He’s my Mr. Reliable, my take out hacking one day to hare round the countryside and then trot up the centre line on the wonk the next. He doesn’t like hunting and that’s fine - he’s doesn’t need to. He has an opinion on everything and has spent nine yearsto listen to him.
The last is the four year old. I wouldn’t say he’s a horse of a life time yet - he hasn’t had the chance to be. But he is an utter poppet that I enjoy having around, he’s cuddly and soppy where the others aren’t. He is a very different ride - sharp with a wicked sense of humour. He isn’t bad and he is jolly clever. I get off him either in despair of his antics or with a stuck on grin. But I recognise that as I learn more and more and about him, and that as he learns to trust me and as we learn to rely on each other that the partnership I treasure with the others will form with him too and I look forward to it.
Mickey is a real fun pony, utterly reliable, a machine to hunt and ride cross country. I trust him to keep me safe over any country and he always does. Now I’ve stopped asking him to do ridiculous things like compete and instead enjoy taking him on adventures we have the very best of fun.
If I could only ride one horse again for the rest of my life I would choose Solo. I’ve done a bit of everything with him. BD, BE and his most recent career has been Side Saddle. He’s the one I get on if I’ve had a busy day and need to clear my head. He’s my Mr. Reliable, my take out hacking one day to hare round the countryside and then trot up the centre line on the wonk the next. He doesn’t like hunting and that’s fine - he’s doesn’t need to. He has an opinion on everything and has spent nine yearsto listen to him.
The last is the four year old. I wouldn’t say he’s a horse of a life time yet - he hasn’t had the chance to be. But he is an utter poppet that I enjoy having around, he’s cuddly and soppy where the others aren’t. He is a very different ride - sharp with a wicked sense of humour. He isn’t bad and he is jolly clever. I get off him either in despair of his antics or with a stuck on grin. But I recognise that as I learn more and more and about him, and that as he learns to trust me and as we learn to rely on each other that the partnership I treasure with the others will form with him too and I look forward to it.
Dave's Mam
Well-Known Member
This wonderful, cheeky, quirky, hairy little beast. I adore him. We are not going to set the world on fire, but I love the very bones of him.
Chinchilla
...
This wonderful, cheeky, quirky, hairy little beast. I adore him. We are not going to set the world on fire, but I love the very bones of him.
Ah, one of my favourite internet equine partnerships. Dave is just fantastic in every way.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Well given I’m (hopefully) only half way through my lifetime then I might not had my horse of a lifetime so far!
But these two are most definitely the most significant to date ?
But these two are most definitely the most significant to date ?
windand rain
Well-Known Member
This pony is not only my pony of a lifetime but is held with great love and respect of every person to sit on her from tiny babies to old granny from dressage to eventing, from top level showing to taking a child to their first show a child that could never have dreamt of going. Letting the kid hanging on the fence to have a go to the producer winning County Workers almost 23 years with me and rising 25 forgot to add being a superb mum
Flame_
Well-Known Member
Flame. She never did anything in particular but she was the most charismatic horse I've known. Her self-assurance and deer-like energy and bounce were splendid. I dream I'll get another similar one day and I'll know what I've got from day one, but maybe it doesn't work that way.
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
Gypsum. Literally. I bought her when I was 17 and she was 7, and now I'm 37 and she's 27. 20 years of your life is like a whole generation.
spotty_pony
...
My extremely handsome Captain Pugwash. Just 15 hands but what he lacks in height he more than makes up with in character! I've owned him for 15 years and he is now 21. We have do e everything together but he was a demon on the hunting field - a proper thruster up at the front and we have crossed all of the high Leicestershire country! He is now in semi retirement but we MIGHT get out for the odd day this season. He owes me absolutely nothing - he's my complete horse of a lifetime and I will never find another quite like him!
Attachments
windand rain
Well-Known Member
Isn't it lovely how so many horses have had a long and productive life with so few owners
SatansLittleHelper
Well-Known Member
Jester was my heart horse, I don't know if I will ever love another one like I loved him. Making the decision to sell him as I was seriously overhorsed with him just broke my heart into a million pieces ?
With that said, my two current boys are amazing and make my heart sing every day ♥
With that said, my two current boys are amazing and make my heart sing every day ♥
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
A horse named Captain Pugwash just has to ooze character. What a fantastic name.
Mrs G
Well-Known Member
Ive only had two horses of my own, the first was the realisation of my lifelong dream to have a horse but he didn’t get to be my horse of a lifetime as I lost him to colic within 18 months. My second I’ve had for nearly ten years now and he is most certainly my horse of a lifetime. He is beautiful, brave and clever and he is the most precious thing in my life. He kept me going when I was in a very dark place and he is irreplaceable - I won’t get another after him.
scats
Well-Known Member
I’ve had 2 who I consider ponies of a lifetime. Both changed my life in ways that I never imagined.
Sharne was my JA pony. My parents got her for me as I was so unwell and they wanted to give me something to live for. She was my best friend, team mate and soul mate and I have no doubt that I either wouldn’t be alive today, or I’d have a very different kind of life, if I hadn’t had her. We won everything together and also had the most fantastic adventures out hacking. She had melanomas, but she was perfect. She was a bit of a local celebrity around here and has been one of the Alan Paul ponies prior to me getting her. We had 9 fantastic years together and then liver disease claimed her at the age of 27.
Second pony of a lifetime was my Diva (Florence, or Flo). I was so fed up, I’d had a run of 15 years old complete bad luck, my health had nose dived after lupus attacked my kidneys and I had 2 geldings who were both out of action. I answered an ad for a 6 year coloured welsh x cob and popped to the yard next door to see her. She looked a bit small and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go to 3 so I said I’d have a think.
I now truly believe that she was meant to be with me. Her owners messaged me and said they really wanted me to have her and they would drop the price considerably and chuck in whatever tack and rugs they had to ensure she went to me. I agreed... and it was the best decision of my life.
Within half an hour of her being in my Stable, I loved her more than I loved both my geldings put together (god I hope that doesn’t sound awful!). I can’t even describe the attachment I had to her, I felt like she completed me in a weird way. We had so much fun together. She was brave, bold, but cheeky and clever with it. She was wonderful. I’d have ridden into battle on that pony and she would have made sure I was alive at the end of it. I had 4 of the happiest years of my life with her, but, as most of you know, she was found to have an exceptionally rare tracheal collapse and I had to make the absolutely heartbreaking decision 2 years ago to put her to sleep, aged just 10. It broke me, I won’t lie. I’ll never get over losing her and no pony will ever come close to replacing her, nor do I think I will ever love anything like I loved her.
Sharne was my JA pony. My parents got her for me as I was so unwell and they wanted to give me something to live for. She was my best friend, team mate and soul mate and I have no doubt that I either wouldn’t be alive today, or I’d have a very different kind of life, if I hadn’t had her. We won everything together and also had the most fantastic adventures out hacking. She had melanomas, but she was perfect. She was a bit of a local celebrity around here and has been one of the Alan Paul ponies prior to me getting her. We had 9 fantastic years together and then liver disease claimed her at the age of 27.
Second pony of a lifetime was my Diva (Florence, or Flo). I was so fed up, I’d had a run of 15 years old complete bad luck, my health had nose dived after lupus attacked my kidneys and I had 2 geldings who were both out of action. I answered an ad for a 6 year coloured welsh x cob and popped to the yard next door to see her. She looked a bit small and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go to 3 so I said I’d have a think.
I now truly believe that she was meant to be with me. Her owners messaged me and said they really wanted me to have her and they would drop the price considerably and chuck in whatever tack and rugs they had to ensure she went to me. I agreed... and it was the best decision of my life.
Within half an hour of her being in my Stable, I loved her more than I loved both my geldings put together (god I hope that doesn’t sound awful!). I can’t even describe the attachment I had to her, I felt like she completed me in a weird way. We had so much fun together. She was brave, bold, but cheeky and clever with it. She was wonderful. I’d have ridden into battle on that pony and she would have made sure I was alive at the end of it. I had 4 of the happiest years of my life with her, but, as most of you know, she was found to have an exceptionally rare tracheal collapse and I had to make the absolutely heartbreaking decision 2 years ago to put her to sleep, aged just 10. It broke me, I won’t lie. I’ll never get over losing her and no pony will ever come close to replacing her, nor do I think I will ever love anything like I loved her.
Attachments
MrsMozartleto
Just passing through...
The Dizzy Blonde.
Lost her eight years ago. She was my everything.
Lost her eight years ago. She was my everything.
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
Amber. I have loved others and I am very lucky to have awesome Dolly and gorgeous Toby now. But no other horse has ever come close to how I feel about Amber. Hopefully one day I can bond with another the way I did with her but it took me over 20 years of horses owning to find a horse like her so I'm not sure it will happen really. But never say never!
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Three guesses - althogh most of you will only need one
atropa
Well-Known Member
My warmblood mare. She's 18 now and the most beautiful creature, inside and out.
Bought 5 years ago after my mum was diagnosed and hospitalised with leukemia. Three months after this diagnosis, the human love of my life left me. I have never experienced pain like I did during that period of my life, and my mare was the only thing that kept me going. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, just sat existing in sheer, abject misery when I wasn't with my horse.
A few years down the line I will never be able to repay her for what she did for me back in 2015, and since then she has made my riding dreams come true, made me feel like I'm flying. I own two additional horses now who are both amazing in their own ways, but my mare is irreplaceable to me.
Bought 5 years ago after my mum was diagnosed and hospitalised with leukemia. Three months after this diagnosis, the human love of my life left me. I have never experienced pain like I did during that period of my life, and my mare was the only thing that kept me going. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, just sat existing in sheer, abject misery when I wasn't with my horse.
A few years down the line I will never be able to repay her for what she did for me back in 2015, and since then she has made my riding dreams come true, made me feel like I'm flying. I own two additional horses now who are both amazing in their own ways, but my mare is irreplaceable to me.
ponynutz
Well-Known Member
My current pony! What a handful - still is, but she's taught me to be able to ride anything; I could never sell her!
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
I don't believe in them. Each horse teaches me so much and each achieves something fairly useful. Maybe if I had one horse who got me to Badminton I might think differently but none of them have achieved anything very much but I have learnt a lot on the way.
Surbie
Well-Known Member
Archie. He's my first horse. I met him on my first day at the RDA and was smitten. I'm late to owning horses and doubt there will be many, but he means the world to me. I've had to relearn how to ride and he's coped with a wobbly, nervous, frequent faller. We've done fun rides, a bit of jumping and are bimbling about the lower ends of dressage. I am so, so glad the RDA sacked him for spooking and his owner decided she'd loan him to me.
Last edited: