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....

Eve - your gymkhana experience sounded great! What a buzz for you! It took me back to when I used to have lessons at a crackpot riding school run by an emotional wreck who had a birdsnest hair style! In summer we could pick a pony to be 'ours' for 2 weeks and on the last day there was a gymkhana. all the pretty ponies had already been picked when I went to choose so I ended up with scruffy, one-eyed Jason who nobody wanted. I remember feeling extrememly dissapointed but what a life lesson that was! Jason was so lovely! He was so easy going and gentle and we won EVERYTHING!!! What a result!! It was like being in an Enid Blyton story! He behaved absolutely perfectly and it was the first gymkhana I'd ever done so I was really surprised to come first in the 'equitation' which was the first event and then we came first in all the silly games and there was something else which I can't remember and then a jumping thing and he was just amazing! My friend was most annoyed ha ha!!
Anyway your message reminded me of that very wonderful day and that very wonderful pony. So thankyou!xx

Ah Manuka, that's such a lovely story. Good old Jason. Is there a "teary eyed" emoticon?

Thanks Rodeo . I'm a bit nervous now. I haven't ridden for a very long time and now I'm going to have to look as if I know what I'm doing in front of people at a riding club! I did have a walk round on Carn the other day but that doesn't really count. It's exciting though, I've so missed having my own pony to love.

There should be!! with a little tissue just to add a bit more of an effect! Poor old Jason!!! I think I'll write a song about the old feller!

We'll be thinking of you anyway Pixel! Let us know how you get on (like you wouldn't!)
Manuka that is lovely I had a cuddle yesterday with a pony, Flame, I used to love when I was about 12 or 13, I used to make my mum book him months in advance for my Summer pony week. He looked so old, must be in his late 20's (like me!) his face has gone all speckled with white flecks (I need this teary emoticon now!) He's on our yard still and always turned out, but when I turned one of mine out Flame was just over the fence and plodded over. Made me very melancholy, he doesn't get the love from all the children now the yard's turned from riding school to livery Must make an effort to cuddle him more often!

I recently met up with a shetland, Nippa, who I used to ride many moons ago. He's well into his 30s, just like me! He didn't look a day over 15.

Ponies are amazing aren't they. They just seem to go on forever.

Good luck Pixel. Blow by blow account later please.

I'm back! And I'm in love .

The older pony was very sweet but it was obvious straight away that she wasn't 14hh as we had been told. She also wasn't what I would call cobby and she would have been too small for my mum to ride.

The other one was bigger so we tried her out and she went beautifully. She has a lovely temperment and though she didn't strike at first glance as a 'pretty' pony, she looked very nice tacked up. Also she's golden dun like Carn and they would match! Anyway, we've left our phone number because we do want her but there is a fly in the ointment. Some people went to see her in the week (when we couldn't go - curses!) and they've put a deposit on her until their instructor has seen her which won't be for a couple of weeks. So, I've got to have my fingers (and toes!) crossed for a fortnight to see whether or not they buy her. I can't honestly see that they wouldn't as she is lovely and they've gone to all the trouble of paying a deposit etc but you never know. I won't even be able to consider any others until I know either way as I have a feeling about her. Please send mumsnet good-luck vibes my way!

Aw Pixel. What a shame you couldn't bring her home. But, don't you think sometimes things happen for a reason? Your dream pony may be waiting for you somewhere else.( He's here in Wakefield) Sorry, mustn't taunt.

You never know, if you are meant to have her they may drop out of the sale.

When I bought my current pony I took my riding instructor friend to view 6 or so. She was so fussy that she dismissed them all out of hand when I thought some of them were perfect!

Sending mumsnet type vibes your way.xx

Thank you.

My next-door neighbour always says "what's for you won't go by you" so let's hope it's true eh?

Rodeo- that's really lovely that flame's still alive and not just a memory! You indeed must give him lots of cuddles! Poor old Jason never had the chance to 'retire'. Horrid birdsnest woman used to have them all shot once they couldn't work!!! How absolutely disgusting is that?! I remember once she had four - FOUR! - done in one day!! I stopped going when I found that out.

Pixel- how about a lovely and amazingly practical Connemara pony? Hardy, cheap to run, good for kids and adults and good looking too!

Why Manuka? Have you got a spare one by any chance? .

Love Connemaras. Almost got one on loan a while back but then the person who had her on loan previously decided not to give her up after all .

Wish I did! When I'm 'allowed' a horse thats the type I'll get! Thats a bummer about the one on loan. obviously it was too good to let go of!
I'm sure you could pop over to Connemara and put one in your handbag? Noone will notice and there's bound to be a few small ones knocking about!

I've had one person come to see the pony so far, but they thought he was too small.

I have a girl coming to see him in the morning. She's in DD1s year at school, I don't know if that's good or bad. If they do want him they plan to keep him where he is now it might rub DDs nose in it a little.

I'll update you tomorrow!

He's sold!

Funny really, I don't feel glad or happy. I'm sad. He's such a lovely boy. He's staying on our yard, so it'll be very strange seeing his new family with him. I hope I don't turn into a interfering old busy body! DD1 never batted an eye lid today. So long as she gets some black drain pipe jeans from the spoils she's not in the least bit bothered!

for you.

At least the pony won't have to settle in somewhere new though.

Awww Madold Was it the girl from dd's school? Hopefully he'll get lots of attention and exercise, and you'll feel much better
Pixel, fingers crossed for you over the next few weeks - maybe you could look at some in the meantime? Although I suppose that's time wasting, nothing to stop you looking through ad-mag though. When I was a teenager I used to ring all the horses I liked in the back of Your Horse and leave it out for my parents to find hoping they'd get the hint. Nevcer happened though, but I used to spend ages doing it! Making up long lists, short lists and THE finalised list
I have a pic for our Yahoo group, though only a head through stable door one! I'll attempt to upload later

Yes. She's 13 and horse mad. It was lovely to see how excited she was. She's away til Saturday then she's taking him over.

Blooming sods law. DD wants to ride him this week! Too late to change her mind tho!

My mother coped by getting me a shetland as a nanny. I was about three. He was quite evil if I remember correctly. I spent a lot of time in ditches or being dragged off my low tree branches.

Thats typical madold! I hope you aren't in for a bad time on Saturday!!
Polarmonkey- Shetlands are NAUGHTY! just like Jack Russels and Yorkshire Terriers. Naughty the lot of them!

Funny you should say that about Yorkies and Jack Russels, my exceptionally mad dog is a cross of the 2 breeds. He's as mad as a bag of snakes.

this is one of my favourite youtube clips . No-one can say this shetland is naughty, I think she is gorgeous! There used to be loads of videos of her but there only seem to be a few now.

What an amazing beautiful pony!

I hate it when they put sloppy songs on youtube horsey vids. They always make me cry.

There was one, a tribute to an amazing black dressage stallion, sorry, can't remember his name. They played slowmotion footage of him performing in the ring,to the sound of Sarah McLachlan singing "I Will Remember You". God, talk about heart break. I never knew the horse but I could cry now thinking about it!

Oh God, I'm off again. Put dressage stallion tribute into the Youtube search and you'll find him. He was called Goffert.

You can do link Pixel, unlike crap old me. Could you do a link to Gofferts tribute please? So I can have another snivel.

You can do linkS too!