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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

I miss having a horse. Please amuse me with tales of yours....

26 replies

Ebb · 01/02/2009 11:25

I sold my cob in 2003 as I went to work in America for a couple of years. He's with a lovely family who will keep him til the end. I haven't sat on a horse since falling pregnant in Sept 07 with my DS and really miss riding and all the fun that comes with having a horse. Anyone want to share any funny / sad / interesting horse stories?

Cob was a real character. 90% donkey 10% racehorse! Oneday I took him for a hack along the ridgeway. He was always a bit fresh on that ride so I was a bit wary when I heard a big group of off road motorbikes approaching from behind. I put Cob on the grass and waited. The bikers were great and all slowed down and Cob was fine. He stood like a rock and watched them go up the hill and disappear and then he pissed off after them! I didn't worry too much at first as I figured he'd be knackered by the time we got up the hill. Nooo he galloped down the other side still racing after the motorbikes. Eventually I managed to stop him but he was so wound up, I decided to get off. Big mistake. Realized I wouldn't be able to hold him from the ground and the ridgeway goes on across a fairly busy road. He was going round and round me in a circle so I decided to let him put his head down and eat. Cob was an equine version of a Labrador! I got one foot in the stirrup, got my leg over and off he went again! The motorbikes meanwhile had all stopped across the track with just a couple heading on down the hill. Cob headed towards them at top speed. I was by this stage effin and blindin thinking I was going to play skittles with the bikers. Luckily there was just enough gap between the end one and the fence. 'I'm so sorry! Can't stop!' I squealed as we ploughed through the gap and down the hill. I swear the end biker went White behind his visor! The bikers who started down the hill swerved into the bushes to avoid us and Cob started jumping the drainage channels. We eventually passed the lead biker and a couple of seconds later Cob skidded to a halt and walked back to the yard without so much as a jog. In his little Cob brain he had won the race and all was fine! Me? I needed chocolate!

OP posts:
alicecrail · 01/02/2009 12:21

This should help:

This morning, i got up with a hangover, got us all wrapped up and into the car for the 10mile drive to the stables. It is 3degrees at the yard and very open and the wind whips across like you wouldn't imagine. So we feed our 2 horses ( one ex racehorse and one tb x id) and get them rugged up to go in the field. They hadn't been out yesterday so were very keen and dragged us up to the field where one buggered off before we were ready. Then the mucking out - mucky beasts on straw so needed to empty stables, in the bitter cold wind, straw flying everywhere, tap half frozen, wheelbarrow with a flat wheel. But i love them really. Do you still miss horses

Nekabu · 01/02/2009 17:58

It's freezing here with a bitter wind. Rode mine out earlier in a dressage saddle as his GP is being reflocked (so no knee rolls!), I was so cold my hands had gone past numb and were hurting again, he had the wind up his bum so did nothing but spook and speed-scuttle alternated with vertical bounces and I'm pg and got heartburn half way round! I think I can quite safely say I wouldn't have missed having horses today! Took me ages to defrost ... brrr!

Original poster
Ebb · 01/02/2009 20:00

I used to love riding in the cold. I'm a bit odd like that! Cob always had the wind up his butt when it was cold so far easier on the leg! Don't miss having to trudge up the hill to break the ice on the water trough though.

OP posts:
Nekabu · 01/02/2009 21:15

I don't usually mind the cold but the wind was evil! Mine's always pretty nippy off the leg anyway so I definitely could have done without the wind ...

Are you still in the USA or are you back in the UK?

Original poster
Ebb · 02/02/2009 14:58

Back in the UK now. I rode alot in the States. Found a barn with some seriously lovely horses. Had a fab instructor. Often rode in sub zero temperatures in the winter despite being in the indoor. I was really lucky back in the UK that my employer had horses so got to ride for free. Hopefully still ride hers occassionally when I can get someone to look after DS.

OP posts:
mysterymoniker · 02/02/2009 16:18

anyone hack out today? I was tempted but we were on snow stilts just walking across the fields - didn't fancy stopping to pick feet out every 3 minutes

Pixel · 02/02/2009 19:23

I used to ride in the snow, I have photos to prove it, honest! But now we have to come straight out on to the road so probably not a good idea.
Anyway there wouldn't have been much chance today. We live on top of a steep hill and cars were skidding all over the place this morning. There were a gang of teenagers having a great time helpfully pushing them back round the right way. So, I decided taking my car out wasn't an option and had to walk literally miles in the snow to see to the horses, partly through town and partly over the Downs. I was already carrying a newly-mended turnout rug in a black bag and don't think I could have managed tack as well! Besides, it took hours. Luckily dh had come back in the morning after failing in his attempts to get to work (no buses or trains at all and would take all day to walk), so he was able to look after dcs. If the schools are closed tomorrow I'm stuck as dh's boss has arranged to pick him up on the main road.

I can cope with snow and children. I can cope with snow and horses. It's all three together that's the problem .

mysterymoniker · 02/02/2009 19:45

yikes, is there anyone who can help you tomorrow?

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 02/02/2009 19:52

aww That's my thoughts too. My mum currently has 5 horses, one I shared with her before I had dcs. I too have not rode properly since 2007.
DD nearly 2
ds 5 month.
I was only saying yesterday how desperate I am to start riding again. Only problem is mum has done nothing with 3 of them (2 new ones are youngsters) and I dont have the time to work with them, I am being selfish and just want to ride. iykwim.
Dh does not understand the need/love of horses.
mmm The smell of the tack, and hay, and feed, oh and when they are a bit sweaty.

Lovely thread,but it has set me off again......

Pixel · 02/02/2009 20:11

Mum and sis will be at work probably, I could ask retired stepdad to do horses but he hasn't been well lately (he slipped while emptying muck out of the wheelbarrow and landed on it, breaking his nose and two ribs).

Actually, he might be willing to come round and look after dcs as it won't take him too long to walk here if he comes across the Downs. That's an idea .

Neddie · 02/02/2009 20:23

I have just been told not to do much for a while due to pregnancy (twins)and I miss my horses so much. i have a stud farm and 15 of the devils. Luckily I have a young slave helping during the emergency. I don't think I'll ride this time as the lump will get too big too fast.

VanessaParody · 02/02/2009 20:31

Our local retired Judge had to bang on our door at 5am recently because he'd been woken by what he thought was burglars, but was in fact, one of our ponies in his swimming pool.

The pool cover is wrecked. We may also need to pay for a new liner but won't know until the pool is drained in the spring.

EVERYBODY finds this hilarious. [rolls eyes]. I hope it either cheers you up or reminds you why actually owning horses is pants.

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 02/02/2009 20:40

pixel your poor stepdad.
wow neddie 15. Glad you have help.
vabessaParody you have just reminded me of a little coloured I once had, that was always escaping, and someone rang to say he had got out and was laid on their back garden was quite away from his field too. I got so many threats from farmers too, seeing him trampling through the fields.

I swear he could get where water couldn't. Wasnt very clued up back then tbh.
They do keep you amused though.
My mum's favourite pony who wss fantastic around children died last year, as someone put yew clipping sover fence. which is why she bought 2 youngsters.
One of them is a stunning pure gypsy cob, who dragged her across the yard (stepdad spooked him) and my mum refused to let go and he kicked her in the chest and broke her arm.

mysterymoniker · 02/02/2009 22:25

"Our local retired Judge had to bang on our door at 5am recently because he'd been woken by what he thought was burglars, but was in fact, one of our ponies in his swimming pool."

am sorry for your expense/embarrassment but I can't stop laughing at this . . .

feel so much better about my own hooligan now, who has done nothing worse than break a few stable doors and escape into a nearby garden to eat flowers

mysterymoniker · 02/02/2009 22:26

although there is his lifetime ban from ponyclub but that was before my day

Original poster
Ebb · 03/02/2009 11:21

Oh the great horse houdinis! Cob was a bit of an escape artist. My boss and I were sat having breakfast one morning ( worked as a nanny on big country estate ) and she glanced out of the window to see one of the grooms trekking up the hill beside the house. 'Where's he going?'she asked then peered out. 'It's your bloody cob!' And there was Cob curled up, fast asleep, on the bridleway and standing next to him were the two point to pointers who he'd led astray taken with him. He'd managed to open the double gates of his field ( with one of those huge hook over bars ) with his nose and they'd all gone for a party. I later found dinner plate sized hoof prints all over the newly turfed back garden.......

And once when he was in livery he got out and set off the alarm. The yard owners came down, checked the yard, couldn't see anything, went back to bed, alarm went off again, they got a bit freaked, went back to the yard and Cob suddenly emerged from the shadows busy hoovering up bits of hay from outside the other stables. He'd shut his stable door behind him and, being piebald, had blended in go the shadows. They never forgot to put the clip on his door again!

OP posts:
Itsthawooluff · 03/02/2009 14:06

How did you get the pony out of the swimming pool? Did it have steps built into one side?

My cob likes to show off that she can jump - so when the grazing got a bit scanty, she jumped over the fence into the next door farmers winter wheat. Cue knock on door, much apologising, offers to pay etc followed by weekend putting up fences by 2 ft. She jumped them again the next day. I just put more hay out now.

alicecrail · 03/02/2009 16:41

Vanessaparody was it your horse that was in horse and hound? I remember a story about a pony that escaped into next door pool.

dooit · 03/02/2009 21:15

There's a picture on my profile of Leo's fieldmate Jasmine. I went armed with my camera yesterday to take lovley snowy pics but when I got there discovered that Jazz had had a make over and re styled her rug into a pencil skirt!

Poor girl could only shuffle round as it was wraped round her front legs. God knows what she's been up to to get in such a state.

Original poster
Ebb · 03/02/2009 21:22

Aww bless her! One of the horses at work once got his rug stuck over his head. Luckily he didn't panic and just stood there until my boss rescued him!

Leo is a very handsome beast!

OP posts:
dooit · 03/02/2009 21:31

Thanks Ebb. I have these really sad moments. You know when you first fall in love and you have lovely fluttery feelings about a guy.............well, I have them about Leo all the time. I just gaze at him and think "God you're bloody gorgeous you are!"

I think I need a life, or something........therapy maybe?

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 04/02/2009 09:55

Lol at therapy, they do make you feel like that though. I get it.
He is stunning btw.
The rug is very funny.
My TB (nuts) once appeared without his rug, I searched the massive field for it and found it fastened. I mean every strap. Neck,belly,tail?legs etc... How the hell he got out of this I will never know..

VanessaParody · 04/02/2009 11:10

Grrr at you lot thinking swimming ponies is funny.

Pony was led up narrow pool steps after several attempts (he is permanently in a headcollar because of his escapology). He had thickest winter turnout rug on and it sloshed about all the way home. This was early January and bloody freezing. Apparently the local fire brigade has training and special kit for lifting nags out of holes, ditches, pools etc, which is useful to know.

He wasn't in Horse&Hound, although a friend of mine was in last week as her horse & her daughters pony had been shot in the eye. Horrible.

alicecrail · 04/02/2009 12:07

Thats terrible! I didn't get last weeks h&h. It makes me worry so much when i hear things like that. I'm just glad we have a very secure yard with cctv and people living in. I was always so paranoid at the last place. People are sick bastards aren't they

MitchyInge · 04/02/2009 17:48

what the fuck is wrong with some people to do something like that?