Hello everyone, about time I showed my face on here as I'm currently horse-minding, as it were.
theslownorris, although I was a complete and utter novice, I've also had three years of being groom/driver/support team since we bought a pony for my daughter three years ago. He's 25 now but still very fit and strong and in active work. He had been underused as a mere riding-school hack but we quickly discovered him to be very talented, bless him - brave, careful and clever - so that they've had a lot of fun and success at local SJ and dressage (small- time stuff but one rosette from a local show is as thrilling as a Badminton placing to novices like us!) He adores cross country in particular and put many great big expensive horses to shame in our local event (he ony cost £1000, due to age and general ordinariness :D
ANYhoo, we are selling the horsebox now she's gone to univrsity, but can't bring ourselves to sell the boy himself, so he stays on working livery at the school he's been for the last ten years of his life, and it's ME in charge of overseeing his welfare while she's gone (though the stable owner is brilliant - she even SWAM in to get him out when the barn was flooded by four ft of water a couple of months ago.) Considering I'm a really nervous novice (and don't ride) I'm really proud of myself for now being able to do some basic pony-care - I can do feet, groom, and even take him out for a graze in hand (not easy because he's a well-known escape artist and full of character.)
DD misses him dreadfully but I think I'm doing quite well in loco parentis.... and just wanted to say hello to all fellow horsey people on here, and say I've enjoyed reading this topic.