Your horse of a lifetime- Have you found them?

[Coffee_Bean]

Have you found your horse of a lifetime? How did you know? Was it "love at first sight"?
Or are you still looking for them?
Do you think it is something that happens the first time you see them, or something that you gradually acquire over time?

 

[Puppy]

Yes, Believe is mine

Even though she damn near ended my life!

 

[Boxers]

My daughter's pony (Toby) is our pony of a lifetime.

I saw his advert over a year ago and although at first I didn't go to see him, every other pony we went to see wasn't 'him' and I was constantly drawn to his advert again. Eventually went to see him and although he wasn't quite what we were looking for I knew we had to have him, and I have never regretted it. He is doing the job we bought him for and is characterful, funny, affectionate - just a superstar.

We hope not to have to sell him ever, but the pot of money isn't bottomless and daughter will be out of juniors, and she will have GCSE's etc ...

 

[Sparkles]

Yep.

And let them all go =[

Though still own Casspot who's my number 1, she's just going out on loan and I'm so happy with where she's going....everything she's taught me teaching her she can teach to kids now

 

[kafrin181995]

My gorgeous pony Damona is my pony of my lifetime! and no it wasnt love at first sight mum perusaded me to get her and now i cant believe i ever never wanted her! she has brought my confidence on o much and i love her to pieces! (in siggy!)

x

 

[JoBo]

Yes I have, Bodey, my coloured! He gives me so much and I just have so much fun on him!!!!!! Obviously I loved him from the start but being wild and unbacked it was a gamble, but the gamble paid off! I believe we have great trust in each other. Definitely my horse of a lifetime!!!

 

[cyearsley]

Have had two....my first was taken away from me with a puncture wound to the foot after only have him for three years. He built my confidence up and made me enjoy jumping (!), a safe and gentle boy, the second one is very different in some ways but has similar traits but his much more up for it and likes to have fun, he's taught me now to be a little bolder and braver! Both of them ID x TBs with a sense of humour! Shame they couldn't have met!

 

[JessPickle]

Definetly Pickle has really made me a totally different rider. I can't imagine having anything apart from him. I trust him to much, my friends will come and ride him kids will ride him. My horse of a lifetime.

 

[Chico Mio]

No, but my two have found the owner of their lifetimes!

 

[spike123]

I am also lucky enough to have owned 2.The first is now owned by a relative and has a home for the rest of his days.I had him in his early teenage years and he taught me so much and gave me alot of confidence. He now has a quieter life as a mum and daughter share and is giving them the same confidence he gave to me.
The other is my current horse whom I brought last summer.He was not what I was looking for and like another poster I was drawn to his advert and when I went to see him I just totally clicked with him. Having got him home he was a total nightmare and I am sure some of you will recall my post about how my hubby wanted me to sell him on as he was dangerous due to past mistreatment and the fact he felt all humans were not to be trusted. I now have a calm safe horse who is a total pleasure and who I have so much fun with. My YO actually said to me a few months ago that he is glad I brought him round and was amazed that I didn't give up on him when most people would have done.A total stranger to me who was visiting the yard was watching me with my horse.The YO explained to her about what a complete b****rd he used to be and the stranger came over and said to me that she could see my horse loved me to bits and that we really have something special. I was really touched by this. My horse will be with me for life,not just because of the bond we have but also because given his past it wouldn't be fair on him to be sent into the unknown.

 

[dsophiea]

yes, my connie Arron, we missed the drive when we went to try him and he was in the field next to the road. i turned to my mum and told her i wanted him, probably not the most professional way to want a horse but i haven't looked back in the 5 yrs ive had him.

dounie my mare is our family pony of a lifetime, she has taught me so much and will be with us forever, like arron and my yearling who i have a feeling will be my other pony of a lifetime

i don't know if anyone else feels like this but all 3 of my ponies i have bought feel as if they were meant to be, like we were meant to have them

 

[Ranyhyn]

Yes, and almost like a love story, it happened when I wasn't looking for him. He is the one who when I see him look up at me from the field, he makes my heart smile

SPEW.

 

[tabithakat64]

Yes, Fudges owners were completely honest about him and I knew I wanted him straight away and after some work on manners and lots of schooling he has turned into everything I wanted and more.

Sadly he's broken at the moment.

 

[charlyan]

Minstral is mine.

He had me the moment I walked into his stable and he looked over his shoulder at me.

Although it probably took a good six months for us to truely gel, there was never any doubt that he would be with me for life.

He has far more talent and quality than i could ever have hoped for (he's really too good for me!) he has forced me to re-evaluate where I wanted to go with my riding and he has taught me to ride as he won't let me get away with just pottering. If I don't actively ride, he does what he thinks we ought and refuses to let me simply be a passenger.

We have an incredible bond and people have commented on how in tune we are to each other.

Having said that, some of our best times are ambling along on the buckle end, sampling the local shrubbery!

ETS: He is irreplaceable

 

[4leggedfurries]

Yes and lost him, owned him just short of a year before he went to the fields in the sky. Knew the moment i laid eyes on him that he was 'the one' just clicked stright away. Despite all his problems and issues he was perfect and even the non horsie rents knew the moment they saw him too. Now i have three wonderful boys, that even though they arent nettie and they arent the one's they are very special in their own right and i wouldnt be without them even for all the money in the world. Thier mine and thier staying that way!!

 

[Joya]

Yes. Gem was my horse of a lifetime

 

[pottamus]

Yes I have him and he is also the naughtiest, opinionated and down right cheekyiest horse I have had in a lifetime...but I love him dearly. It was love at first sight from a photo and even more when I tried him out as he made me laugh uncontrollably...something I had not done for a while previously.
Our bond has built up over time as his trust grew and we experienced things together...he was a very scared and confused fella when I got him and thought life was out to get him...but now he is confident, bold and cheeky...just what I need.

 

[Tnavas]

Yes - at 6mths old Serenity came into my life - it was love at first sight - she fills my heart whenever I see her - she is now nearly six and will be with me always.

 

[Stroppy Mare]

Indefinately yes.
Before i had Gem i was all for giving up riding, id had 2 previous horses who failed to meet the match if so to speak and id more or less given up. Tried Gem, she was a complete sod, didnt like her at all, bucking and napping in the menage, really sharp and too hot for a nervous nelly. Tried her again a couple of days later, not much better. But... needed a horse to replace Paddy so we took on Gem.
Id been riding 3.5 years, had alot of very unsuccessful riding and had my confidence completely crushed. I took on an 8yo temperamental mare whos very sharp natured, as green as spring grass and too much intelligence! Oh and shes only about 14.2hh and is extremely nippy!
Fallen off her about 8 times or so in the time ive had her (3yrs) and ive tackled everything shes thrown at me but now ... shes everything ive ever wanted. Ok, shes still green and jumping, were both nervous but we look after each other.
Its hard to believe unless you see it happening, but its true. I always thought that she'd transformed from the nutty pony to the sane(ish!) one i now ride for my friends to ride too, however a friend attempted(!) a novice workers on her at the weekend and Gems just threw in the towel and although she never once tried to get her off, there was no way in hell she was going to jump for her!
She took her in the minimus after to pop her over something coloured, what shes more familiar with, but Gem was still having nothing so i got back on and decided to have a pop whilst i was in there and Gem was fantastic. Didnt put a foot wrong.

Ive been at uni all week, came home (not seen the horses since sunday) and me and my mum got out the car, mum shouted Gem, no reply, carried on eating, i shouted Gem and her head shot up, ears forward and didnt take her eyes off me. Went to feed her and she was sooo loving. Was sooo huggy its untrue, was naughty and fed them all a polo and she took offence to the fact that Bertha and Eddie got one each too! Jealous pone!

Shes definately a one woman horse, and shes all mine!

I love her!

 

[rara007]

Maybe Pip, may not be

Not many ponies could give me as much back as he does, yet also he is sooooo infuriating at times, very much a love hate relationship

I expect in years to come I'll look back and remeber how great he was a forget the bad months. He is amazing

 

[jesterfaerie]

My ex-racer is.
I wasn't totally serious about buying another but being at uni and having my pony retired I was missing having a horse. Came across quite a few half dencent ones in my budget but none of them made a huge impression on me. Came across my lad's advert (of one line and no pics!) had an email sent with a pic of him and fell in love.
He was 10-15 mins away from my house, exact hight, age, price and lack of training I was wanting.
Went to see him and even before I saw him do anything I said I would have him.
No idea what it was about him, he had quite a few problems and was a scrawny ugly duckling but I knew he was the one.
He may have his quirks and still be bery green on the flat but beats every horse I have come across hands down!
I love him to bits.

 

[AG18]

I also definitely already had mine, for almost 18 years, from mine and his age 10 til 28, until last Saturday.
Not love at first sight, my mum was sure about getting him but I wasn't, he ran away with me the first time I tried him and we still got him. He ran away with me everytime I rode him for ages, and even once I got the hang of him, he still did it frequently even when he was mid 20s.
He was my closest friend all through high school and on, taught me everything, had the most fun ever in the world. Loved him so much, will always remember all the fun we had and all the naughty things he did.
So no, it doesn't have to happen at first, I think it's all about building up the relationship and trust in each other.

 

[Wasrandyra]

*gags* - I sold mine due to an arsehole of an ex - she was jumping 1.60m from trot and would have been a puissance horse without doubt. I had pro after pro wanting her but I only wanted her to go to a good home and she did - a home for life doing riding club and winning it all

I bought her for a pittance in ireland and she never let me down a day, never stopped, never said no to anything whatsoever.

She would have sold her soul to jump for you, she would never have gone far with me as she was too big for me by far. Everything I ride now seems somehow mediocre - she had an amazing feel when you jumped her like air.

I dont give up so I hope another but smaller one makes his/herself known to me soon

 

[katie_and_toto]

Yes

I don't know what I'd do without Toto

 

[Madam_max]

I have mine. I adore her. She's not straightforward and after 9 years still haven't got to the bottom of her. But I love her to bits. She can turn her hoof to anything and I don't believe I will find another like her.

 

[RachelB]

What is the definition of a "horse of a lifetime"? I love my horse to pieces, she is totally irreplaceable, I will never sell her and I would do almost anything for her. BUT I'm not sure she is "The" horse of a lifetime for me - she cannot do what I want her to do, which is more than just hacking in walk and trot! I knew she was The One for me when I first met her, but I always knew I had intended to sell her a couple of years on, had she not damaged herself beyond repair and ended up being my much loved pet

So it's a bit of a yes and no for me!

 

[Coffee_Bean]

[ QUOTE ]
What is the definition of a "horse of a lifetime"?

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know- as I don't believe I have mine yet.

I love my mare so so so much, and she has taught me everything I know, but I think I will meet a horse who will be everything i want- one day.

Lovely post guys

 

[RachelB]

[ QUOTE ]
I love my mare so so so much, and she has taught me everything I know, but I think I will meet a horse who will be everything i want- one day.

[/ QUOTE ]
EXACTLY how I feel - mine is one in a million but she isn't enough as she can't do what I want her to do. Put her in a horse with a better body (un-broken!) that could do all I want and she would definitely be my horse of a lifetime!

 

[rubyrumba]

My yearling is my horse of a lifetime. I first saw him when he was 3 months, i went topick a foal out of the 7 they had. As soon as i stepped into the field he was the only foal that noticed me and the only one that was interested in me. After lots of playing about with him we walked back to the gate, which was a long way away (massive field). He followed me all the way back to the gate on his own without his mum and neighed to me as i walked off, it was like he was saying 'pick me, pick me' He was the one i wanted anyway but it was like he knew. He has bonded with me amazingly, i have very high hopes for him. He will be with me forever.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Yes i believe seren is my horse of a lifetime without doubt.
My parents bought her for me back in 1992 at auction as a two year old, i was 11 at the time, she has a few tiny faults, but very little.
She is the most wonderful animal, with a beautiful, patient and forgiving nature, she means the absolute world to me and i know she is a one off, one in a million.
We had a few other horses back in the day but she was always the one out of all of them, though we had some other crackers, she is my darling.
I do think it is a special bond that builds up over time, 17yrs in our case.
I did love her in the auction that day, it was chance we got her as she didnt sell in the ring as she did not make enough money for the gypsy, we bought her outside the ring for a song and she has done me proud for many many years now.
I think this realisation has come more over time, as i have got older i have realised more and more what an absolute star she is