Your fondest memory

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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Only 1 memory allowed ;)

What is your fondest memory of your Horse to date?

Mine would be coming first in an in hand show, she was always very naughty at shows and was placed last/low due to this. We carried on going regardless and her behavior improved each time we went out. I went in a class and there were some very strong beautiful Horses we were to compete against, in all honesty I didn't think we stood a chance. Imagine my shock when we pulled in 1st! I couldn't wipe the smile from my face and my Horse was thoroughly spoiled for the rest of the week with as many Bananas as she could possible eat (her fave)
 
I have two.

Archie was never an easy horse to jump (with hindsight we now know it was because his feet were hurting him) but we went through one phase where he was doing pretty well. It was through the winter so we were jumping on a surface which seemed to suit him better and our confidence was pretty high although the thought of a stop was always there. I was at a local riding club SJ competition and in the warm up, one of the jumps was fairly close to the fence (about two horses' width away) I was warming up having a quiet little canter along the long side towards the gap between the fence and the jump and this annoying woman (with a reputation for being oblivious to other riders) cut across the school and completely filled the gap between the fence and the jump. I had to circle away, in front of the jump to avoid a collision and as I pulled off the track, about a stride and a half away from the jump and at about 45 degrees to it, A locked onto it and it was obvious we were popping over it so I just went with him! Although it wasn't my intention, the fact he saw the jump at the last minute, chose to do it without any drama and calmly carried on with his canter afterwards was such a happy moment. We then went in and jumped clear round the biggest course we'd done. Sadly he went lame about 6 weeks later (after jumping on grass for the first time that year) and he's not really jumped since so I treasure that day.

The second was on a riding weekend with 3 friends. We were on Gower, on the hills behind Rhossili beach when a paraglider descended from above and landed about 10m in front of us. He was coming in to land from the same direction as us so couldn't see us as we were directly beneath him (he was very apologetic later). We were on a steep slope, so if they'd legged it down the hill, we'd have been in trouble. One of the 3 other horses behind us was terrified of kites, let alone paragliders, so his rider had jumped off in anticipation and was struggling to hold him. The other two horses were spinning away from it. A stood still and took a little moment to digest it then just kept walking towards it. He said hello to the very apologetic man and had a little pat from him. Because he didn't react to it and got up nice and close, the other horses worked out it was ok and calmed down pretty quickly. He was so brave bless him! I think he was hoping it was the equine equivalent of the Milk Tray man delivering carrots. :D
 
Not my horse as I've only ever ridden at riding schools, but...

Where I used to ride as a teenager was a riding school at the top of a hill in the Cotswolds, and sometimes we used to do a longer hack rather than our usual lesson. One time I was on this lovely gent of a horse, an ex hunter who was now a bit older with some arthritis, so was a happy ploddy ride who tbh usually seemed willing but a little sleepy. We got to the top of one of the hills which has a good open stretch of grass, and started having a gentle canter. The horse's head came up, ears pricked forward and I'm sure I had a bit of a snort (although this could be embellishment - it was about 15 years ago). He just seemed so happy to be cantering through the countryside again with the other horses that it's stayed with me all this time!
 
Cantering on our new Connie. I had given up riding for 3.5 years after suffering spinal damage in a fall. Then decided to get a mother/daughter share and I've not looked back. The first time I cantered I was thrilled. Embarrassed to be so happy as this is someone who back in the day team chased, jumped Foxhunter etc although that was 30 odd years ago.
 
My horse is quite an independent boy and he doesn't tend to show that's he's particularly attached or not (unless you have food!!). He was grazing outside his stable a few weeks ago and there was a loud crash in the road (the dustbin lorry I think), I heard a clatter of hooves where he panicked, so I ran outside the stable. He was heading up towards the fields and other horses, but when he saw me he stopped, turned and ran over to me instead for comfort. Him showing me he trusts me was the best feeling.
 
Rosie: PC Area eventing 2015, she was so perfect, we jumped our first EVER double clear. I'd spent years struggling with her SJ and she pulled it out of the bag for a fantastic clear round, I came out of the ring and just cried with happiness. And to top it off she flew round the XC, which was the biggest we'd ever jumped, including a skinny in the water (she used to hate water and skinnies) with absolutely no help from me because I was too busy wetting myself about the fences to ride properly. I got to the finish and my instructor was waiting there cheering us on, I just jumped off and hugged her with both of us crying with happiness. And a sneaky second one, when I came up to the yard and she was lying down in her stable and she let me go and sit down next to her and fell asleep with her head in my lap, and also let me sit on her with her lying down. It took a lot of time to teach her to trust people, and it was so special that she trusted me enough to do that.

Henry: One that always makes me smile. After our very first ODE together, my first since R's accident, having jumped clear XC (which is the phase that scares me). It was a beautiful sunny day, and my friends and I (and a few people from the yard who just came as support crew) were having a picnic after we'd all done our rounds. We were sitting on the lorry ramp holding the horses, who were just snoozing in the shade. I had just got a piece of cake, but Henry noticed and decided he'd quite like to try some! I ended up literally lying flat on the ramp of the lorry laughing, while he kept trying to shove his face at me and steal the cake out of my mouth! It was just so funny, and one of the times where his cheeky personality just shines through!
 
I've only had Amber since January but so far my fondest memory is of a XC camp at an amazing 80 acre XC schooling venue. She was so incredibly bold and brave. Just locked onto everything. We were jumping stuff I wouldn't have dreamed I could jump just a year ago but she gives me so much confdence as you always know she is going to go. There is a photo of me afterwards grinning broadly. One ear is cocked towards me in a 'what now, mum' kind of way. (The one on the right, below). She was very herd bound before that camp and very nappy. But something clicked over those few weeks before and during camp and she started tuning into me instead of other horses. I feel huge gratititude for her for that - the feeling that your horse sees you as their partner and looks to you for direction is wonderful.

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Rosie, my first pony, I was quite mature, so just getting her was amazing. She was a dapple grey Section A, gorgeous. We started training her to harness, and she was so superb every step of the way. Her first go in harness was the best moment ever.
Sadly she never got fully trained as she died from Grass Sickness.
My Best and Worst equine memories ever.Many more since, but these....
 
Our first visit to the beach!! having owned horses for 16 years, my old girl was far to mental to take to the beach!

so when I got the chance to take my boy for both of our first times, I was so excited but so nervous!!

He was a total legend! he didn't put a hoof out of line, even if I did forget my whip and worried that he would try rearing through excitement! it totally made me trust him sooo much more than I could have ever imagined.
 
My old gelding Rufty was put in a small paddock with 2 foals. He looked after them as though he was their mother. He followed them round and when they went too near the fence he went between them and the fence and pushed them away. The yard owner said she had never seen anything like this before
 
I've done a lot over the years but nothing will beat when my dad said he'd buy me the pony I had been helping to look after at a riding school back when I was 14.
 
Doing kissy-nose. My boy was never very affectionate when people were around. However, on quiet nights when we were on our own, I would say "kiss" and he would put his nose up to my face for a kiss. He never did it with any one else and never when anyone was around. It was our special thing. I do miss kissy-nose as I lost him two years ago.
 
Probably the first time I went on a complete hack on my own on my horse who used to be part of an rs so was quite tricky to hack alone one time I even had to turn round as he planted. It felt like such an achievement as my aim was the end of the first field we actually did all 4 in the end.

My old loan pony it would definitely be my first ever gallop we were in one of the longish fields one summer evening with my mum watching and I cantered up it and along the top and just asked him to go on the way down and the change in stride felt so amazing. Unfortunately it was only a fairly short one as the end of the field came far too quickly! He was also in the rs and I loved him to bits used to loan him every Wednesday. I can remember he never used to canter on the left lead but we were having a lesson once and we did 3 loop serpentines in canter and he was changing onto it for me. There was also a show at the rs one summer and yo had bought a fairly decent width and height viaduct wall and she bought it out for the show. There was a top score class and it was available in that he was flying round (he could be a real so and so to jump and loved a cheeky run out) but this day he seemed in top form so I thought if he jumps the decent size green filler that I'd previously been scared of we will go for the wall. He absolutely flew the filler so we headed for the wall and everyone watching (all people who rode at the rs/ lots of whom were my friends) started cheering him on and he jumped it first time. Unfortunately i was so amazed by doing it I turned him round to do it again when obviously another circuit would have been better so he stopped!
 
Old Cob - on the orienteering phase (POR) of a TREC a few years back. We were going along a nice wide track through some woodland when he decided to offer extended trot. He would absolutely refuse to do this when asked but it was incredible when he decided it was appropriate. All I had to do was rise and sit and enjoy the ride. We overtook two people who were cantering down the opposite side of the track. They yelled as we passed us asking 'Is he Welsh?' Of course he is - the daft pony!

Young cob - sitting on him for the first time. Amazing!
 
Tilly: (This was tough as we have so many) I'd had her a few months and went to the field to let the horses in (open gate, let about 5 in, close gate and someone at stables closes their doors behind them) so open gate and just as they're about to come through bird scarer goes off and 20 horse leg it back up field. They're all stood in gateway to second field but no-ones brave enough to come down. I see little 5 yr old Tilly at the back (bottom of pecking order) pacing back and forth wanting through.
I stand and shout and next thing Tilly canters UP the field, pops over the cross country fence between the two fields and comes cantering down the field with no horses in. Smart Highland brain!

Fidley - The tear jerker. I got in touch with a professional backer in area and explained about Fidley and I'd like her to try and back her (lots of platitudes about if she couldn't it was fine as I wasn't sure she'd ever be able to be sat on). First day in training she was lunging with tack on (although she kept trying to kick the girth off when stood in stable) and fifth day they progressed from leaning over her to sitting astride. Four weeks later I had a sit on her and had tears in my eyes as I walked, trotted and popped over poles on ground.
 
So nice to hear everyone's memories, mine has to be our wedding where I was lucky enough to ride my boy to the church doors with my dad walking beside us... Was super luck the sun shone too!
 
I had years of not really getting anywhere with my pony, tried all sorts but nothing really helped.
We managed a couple of months of really good work, her canter came on really well and we had a jump session where her canter felt amazing, light in the hand, I felt like I could do whatever I wanted with that canter.
We got the jump up to 1.05m, she cantered up to it, light, balanced, controlled and just pinged over it.
That was my proudest moment ever.
Sadly, shortly afterwards she went downhill again (SI issues) and about 12-18 months later I retired her.
But I still think fondly of that day, she was amazing.
 
Mine was my biggest competitive achievement with my now-retired horse. Crossing the XC finish line with a double clear in a CIC* at my "local" venue where Id watched riders at that venue doing the classes as a young kid and thinking the fences were massive. I was so proud of my horse!
 
My previously very nappy little mare (Amymay) deciding that catering away from her mates on the beach was the best thing ever. It was a life changing day for her.
 
Crossing the finish clear and in time at my boys final ODE before retiring him from eventing.

I've never been so emotional, as I was in that moment!
 
I think my absolute favourite (if I'm really only allowed one :p) is this: my horse used to be kept in the fields behind my parents' house. We were 3/4 of the way up a steep hill and the yard was at the very top, so the horses grazed the fields in between. I used to make sure I had my headcollar at home, then catch my mare, jump on and canter back up the hill (yes, usually without a hat, but I was younger and more foolish then!). On one occasion, when I would have been about 19, I had left my headcollar at the yard but was too lazy to walk up for it. So I went over to fetch my mare planning to lead her up using the belt I was wearing round her neck. However, it was such a glorious day that I couldn't resist jumping on board and cantering up the hill as we usually did - no bridle, no hat, me in shorts and flip flops, and just a think belt round her neck. I know it was in many ways a very stupid thing to do, but at the time it just seemed the most natural thing in the world! I would never do it now, but I do cherish that memory. I just knew that I would be fine, that she would stop when I wanted her to.
 
I've only had my youngster a week so creating fond memories daily! Yesterday he was turned out with the herd for the first time (which apparently was super exciting) but he made me smile when he came to call for an evening check and looked ridiculously pleased to see me.
My cob would be doing Frensham sponsored ride. After being diagnosed with hock arthritis we got the combination of weight loss, feed and magnets just right and he flew round the course. We didn't jump but he flew round and left behind the youngster pals we were out with!
Best memory of my companion pony was the day i went to move yards. He had been out on loan 4/5 times and sent back due to kicking/biting/PITA. I'd known him for years through the riding school i taught at and agreed to buy him as companion to my cob. Loaded the cob up and untied the ponio and he trotted full speed up the ramp and loaded himself. It's like he knew he was going to his forever home :)
 
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