God, i wouldn't have anything fiery! All the wild nags of my youth have put me right off. GIve me something with a bit of scope and a VERY even temper and i'm happy! A nice cobby gelding i think - something about 15-15.2hh but broad so it can take up my long legs, manage most riders, and still short enough to vault onto. Also hairy - i can't be doing with rugs all year round or expensive food in the winter. A nice native cross. A gypsy-pony would be fine. Got it all planned ain't i? My friend is breeding her riding mare this year - In a few years i'll be begging her to cross her with a nice cobby stallion..though i'm not sure i can be bothered breaking a youngster again... No probably not! LOL. So lazy!

Dach i can remember wondering WHY we had to rise to trot, so infrequent was my use of a saddle. But i find it SO hard to sit to trot in a normal saddle. Has anyone tried the treeless saddles? They're totally amazing! We used bridles often but not always. Some of them coudn't be trusted without a bit, but even then we never used nosebands or browbands, just a headpiece and throatlash, bit and reins - the bare minimum to fasten and to clean LOL. I loved bareback jumping! But then these were ponies, 14hh! I can remember jumping one of the mares 2 foot 11 bareback (the highest jump we could build with our oil drums, traffic cones and improved poles!) from TROT - she could really fly! It's a bit different on the 16.3hh cobs all my friends seem to be keen on nowadays!

I'm so excited to see if Smee likes the idea of horses or not. in a way i'm jealous of her - my parents were mainly disinterested, i would actually go without to let her ride!

Bx