My boy

[susiella]

Just because I love him!

[OscarWinningActress]

Oh, he's a cutie :) How old is he?

[susiella]

He's about 18. IDxTB 17.3hh. A grumpy bugger but a true gent to ride & handle.
We.ve got 2 pony mares 13 hh & 11hh as well. Arlo is very protective of his girls!!

[frostyfingers]

Here are mine:

1 ex pointer, a bit of a Jekyll & Hide character. When's he's good he's brilliant, when he's not he's vile!

1 dearly loved companion who is sadly on his way to heaven. Recurring colics have meant that we are due to lose him shortly. I just have to pick a day and can't quite bring myself to do it.

1 new companion. Rescue pony who is 6 and handled but never had a bridle or saddle on. He's a bit of a cheeky monkey who is learning my way of doing things. I may show him next summer if he's confident enough.

[susiella]

kormachameleon lovely!
Frostyfingers really feel for you.
I will be a gibbering wreck when the time comes for one of mine.

[Pixel]

They are all lovely.
Frosty I know how you feel. We sadly lost our beautiful dpony a couple of months ago (there he is below, such a gentleman) and I'm not sure how much longer we will have dshetland as she is an old lady and missing her best mate.
Bloomin' animals break your heart but they are still worth it.

[Bonkey]

My two boys!
Sadly another one here who may very soon lose one. Dshitland has a bust leg and after 6 months with no improvement whatsoever I have kind of made up my mind to call it a day after christmas but I am devastated. I have no idea how I'm going to do it.
The little buggers steal you hearts don't they?!

[susiella]

Bloody hell. I feel so sorry for you all. What a waking nightmare.

[susiella]

Bonkey your 2 are beautiful. It's so sad.

[Pixel]

Sorry Susiella, I think we brought your thread down a bit! It is sad to lose them but also it's only because they are so wonderful that we miss them so much when they go. It brings home how lucky we are to have them at all. Despite the heartbreak at the end I don't regret a minute with any of them. Mind you, I do know we're lucky that (so far, touch wood) we haven't had to have one pts when it was young, we have had the consolation that they've all had a long and happy life (dpony was our fourth and the youngest at 25).

Your ponies look very sweet, and that school they are in is gorgeous, I am !

[Plomino]

All these gorgeous horses ! These are my motley crew , the first two are my beloved but departed first pony who was my partner in crime for over thirty years , talking to my current big diva , who has a crown on his bum which he thinks entitles him to staff . He's the one that won't eat an apple unless you peel it . The muddy one is my rescue , that cost me a pound , and is shaping up very nicely , and the little baggage is DS's pony , the welsh wimp that hates the rain and shivers theatrically every time she's out in it . Spoilt rotten the whole bunch .

[frostyfingers]

Some lovely pics and some sad stories. It's a fact of life, but for all the pleasure they give I think we owe it to them to do the right thing at the right time. I keep telling myself "he doesn't know, he won't know" and also looking at the photo I took of him when he was very ill to remind myself of what I'm up against if it happens again.

It's not all doom and gloom though - had a fab day on dhorse on Saturday which included jumping a five bar gate & a hedge, and a nice day yesterday giving all 3 a thorough clean and wash (in order of seniority so no one's feelngs were hurt!), tidying up the yard and cleaning all the tack. The pleasure I get from being with them is immense.

[susiella]

Pixel it's ok. Part & parcel of owning animals I suppose. There are 2 different schools in the photos. The first 1 where DD is dressed up is Milton Equestrian Centre in Worksop Notts. The 2nd 1 is the school belonging to the next door neighbour of the yard where the horses are currently kept. He's a miserable old sod & has now stopped us using the school.
Plomino lovely pics. My Sec A is kept out along with the NF. They are both pretty hardy girls but I can't wait until we're able to keep them at home again. All 3 will be stabled at night in the winter. Cos that's the way I like to do things.

[susiella]

frostyfingers My sentiments exactly. Can't be doing with keeping them alive past their 'time' drugged up, & lining the vet's pockets.
I'm so envious of you. A serious fall resulting in a life altering back injury has put paid to my riding these days. I rode twice last year. Not ridden at all this year. I'm living vicariously through my DD. She's having a great time with her ponies. I'm just the groom/chauffeur now.
I get so much pleasure from being around them too. I NEED them to be home with us though. Looking madly for somewhere to accomodate us. (North Notts, anyone know of anywhere??????)

[susiella]

Plomino I've got fence & stable envy.

[Slippersandacuppa]

Oh your lovely horses and ponies, and what sad bits too :(

Can I ask your opinions? I long to have a horse or two one day - how do you fit life in too? I just remember whole days spent pottering around and can't think how it would fit in with having children (I've got four between 8 months and 7 years so I know it can't happen any time soon), work and husband. How do you do it?

They are all beautiful, by the way.

[susiella]

Well, you just make it work. When I worked I was always 1 eye on the clock, though. I've only got 1 DC so I don't know how it would fit in with 4.
It is so much easier when you've got them at home.
I worked part time & had 1 on DIY & the days I worked in winter it was dash to the yard in a morning with DD in carseat, feed v quickly rug change & turn out. Then leave work at 4.30pm dash to yard rush rush rush to muck out bring in prepare feeds & feed before rushing to collect DD from Nursery at 6pm. no time to ride or anything else Mon-Weds.
We moved to a house where I could keep my horse at home so I bought 11hh Sec A gigner diva to keep him company. Wow. Chilled morning stables where DD watched TV or pottered on yard whilst I did my jobs. Same for evening stables. But it's like anything else. You make it work if you want to.

[susiella]

Ahem. Ginger diva. Upside of being on a yard, if you go on holiday your horse can be looked after. If they're at home it's megabucks for a groom to come daily. In 5 years we managed 2 nights away! DD went away lots though.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Worth it to have a horse. They are pets though, at the end of the day. People who keep horses to compete & win will probably take a different view.

[OscarWinningActress]

ALL your horses and ponies are gorgeous . Sorry to those of you that are facing tough decisions .

slippers there was a time a few years ago when I never thought I'd have time for a horse again but my three (13, 10 and 8) are all in school now and far more independent so it has worked out OK. I go to the barn to groom and ride every morning after I drop the DC at school. DHorse is on full-board though so I don't have to do much except groom him when I go. There are a few other boarder-moms with really young kids who have part or quarter boarders for their horses ( not sure if you call it that in the UK?), so that might be an option for you?

This is my little boy. He's a monkey :)