Any MNers with horses out there?

[Longlegs1972]

and how do you cope?

I'm getting really down cos I never get the time to spend with mine....

I used to love Gymkhanas! When I was a teenager we could hack to a different show every weekend in the summer holidays, all the sort where you could have fun and get a few rosettes without it being too serious. We just don't seem to get that nowadays. I suppose they cost too much to organise now with insurance and everything. My first rosette was in a walking race on my mum's part shire. I suppose that's a bit embarrassing looking back but I was thrilled. I did get better after that honest! My favourite was bucket elimination because my pony couldn't jump very high but he was accurate .

Well done Eve, I'm glad you had a great time. I bet you can't wait to have another go.

Well done Eve! Last time I did gymkhana Rosie kept bucking and we were doing really well in the mug race until we crashed into the pole and destroyed everything

I've added some photos now to my album (BTW Pixel,the horse you're riding is lovely )

HI to the Theslownorris.... you have seen the picture!

We to did have a bit of a fit with the cups on the poles. I had practisied bending round roles and flag flapping around.. but not rattly cups!

But we got over it in the end!

It's a shame we are spread out all over the country, we could have had a mumsnet gymkhana. Imagine what fun that would be!

I've put some pictures of our pony on my profile. I'll put some of the big girl on tomorrow after I take some decent ones.

Why wont my profile show up on here!! I'm so bad at technology. Will ask DH to sort it. I can see my pics and profile, but it doesn't show on here.

Aha! There it is!

Don't taunt me you wicked woman, that pony is gorgeous. I would certainly take it home!

Still, going to look at some ponies on saturday so fingers crossed. I'm petrified of accidently buying a nutter. I've had one of those and loved him dearly but I'm not prepared to do it again. I'm too old and too scared!

Sorry Pixel, I didn't mean to taunt you!
I had no idea how hard it is to get a half decent picture of a pony. I kept trying to tempt him to prick his ears by waving a bit of carrot in his face and he just kept walking forward to grab it. We took 67 pics in total and these were the only ones worth posting.

Pixel, keep us informed on your pony hunt. I hate doing the visits to see ponies. You get some right weirdos. We saw some last year when buying this pony and at one place there were so many rats you could hear them scratching about the whole time and every now and then one would shoot across the yard!

I've not really had to do it before you see. Our first pony we bought, but he was the first one we went to look at and we said we'd have him because we were afraid our dad would change his mind and not take us to see any more! The second one, my beloved boy we were given simply because no-one else wanted him. He was only 5 but hadn't been out of the field in 18 months (or fed for that matter) and was a pitiful sight. He was also the nappiest pony I've ever met and strong with it so nobody would buy him. We were supposed to be sensible and have him on trial but after a few days we said we'd have him because we didn't want to give him back to his owner. The third one, my mum's fantastic Shire x thoroughbred was the perfect horse for anybody. We had him on loan at weekends because that was when his owner was at work which was great for us to all ride together. When his owner was getting a flat she couldn't afford to keep two equines any more but she wouldn't part with the pony as he was only 12.2hh and she couldn't bear the thought of him being constantly outgrown and passed on. So she gave us her horse because she knew we would look after him and give him a home for life. It took my mum three weeks to confess to my dad that we now owned 3 horses! He was brilliant though and we will never ever find a horse like him again.

My sister's pony arrived at our field a few months after we lost our last one when we only had Star left and someone said he was for sale. We thought we might as well try him out, my mum and I looked on in horror as he danced all over the road but my sister sat on him with a big grin on her face so that was that! I've been waiting for another one to 'find' me but it hasn't happened and I'm getting impatient .

Ooh Pixel, I'm so excited for you My fingers and toes are crossed for you for Saturday! Your horse finding stories are great - LOL at thinking your Dad would change his mind, that would be me at that age too! Dad's are so grumpy when it comes to horses
Madoldcatlady - Pixel's right, he is gorgeous! Some teenager will be v.lucky soon I'm sure Yuk at the 'rat yard'! I rode past a dead fox and a dear magpie in a plastic bag today! Last year I rode past a huge mound of chicken feet, wings and heads Bloody flytippers!
Well done Eve
Well I'm on full duty for the next few weeks, 'my' horses owner has gone in for her knee op today, I don't know how she'll cope without them, but she really needed her knee doing. The worst thing is, she didn't damage her leg with anything horsey related, she did it skiing! Taking the 6yo for a couple of long distance rides soon so hope this lovely weather stays.

Thanks Rodeo. How revolting to have to ride past all that lot! Poor old magpie I know people don't like them, but a plastic bag?

When we had a weeknd away in Whitby at half term we saw a beautiful badger at the side of the road. It was HUGE and must have been hit very recently as it was perfectly intact. Even the kids had a good look at it because it was such a rare sight. But chicken heads! Puke!!

I have a lady coming to try the pony at 5 tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Sounds great. What distances are you doing? The furthest I've done is 26 miles which was a charity ride. It took us hours and we thought we'd never get home! It was brilliant though, one of the best things we've done and it was beautiful riding through woods full of bluebells.

Madoldcatlady, that's me. I'm just getting on the train now .

See you tomorrow then Pixel.

does my little pony count?

Which one is it? Butterscotch? I always loved that one

Ooh not that far Pixel! Looking at a few that are have around 12 and 20 mile options (we'll probably opt for the 12!) Awww, are you sure you can't get up to Yorks?!
Good luck Madold PS Love Whitby! We go camping at Robin Hoods Bay, oh roll on Summer!

We're going camping at half-term. There are stables on the site so think of me riding on Exmoor .

Come on now Rodeo, we did 26 miles with a 9 yo girl on a lead-rein on her 5 yo pony. They managed the whole thing!

Actually it was more than that because some stewards had to come after us (and a lot of other people I might add) on motorbikes to tell us we had been going the wrong way for ages. We had missed a turning because some cows in a field had eaten the sign off the gate!

LOL at the cow eating the sign. That was a seriously long ride!!

No, I know my limits Pixel!
Going to the Fernie Teamchase Championship on Sunday, should be a good watch. Our yard has a team but hasn't been able to get it together this season unfortunately, so won't be going as ground support this time...

Good luck tomorrow Pixel
Rode past where I saw the magpie in the bag yesterday, and there where 2 dead woodpigeons in a bag this time
Enjoy your weekends everyone!