Any horse owners?

[kateo]

I have been meaning to reply here for a while.
I am officially horse mad. I have been riding and owning and messing about with horses for about 40 years!
Until last week we had three horses but sadly my 26 yo Pure Arabian mare had to be laid to rest as she'd gone completely blind. We knew she had vision problems but she'd started missing gateways and bumping into things. We think possibly her hearing had gone downhill too. I broke her in myself when she was 2 so we'd had half my life with each other. I still burst into tears regularly but I know my angel daughter Ellen now has a lovely horse to ride. Fortunately I have her son and daughter in the paddock and my Andalusian mare will soon be coming home from the lease she's on. The hardest thing about saying goodbye to her was that she was fat and healthy apart from being blind.

I am a riding coach and work part time. I am registered EA/NCAS so have jumped through the hoops for a qualification and have insurance etc.

I run clinics in body awareness riding and I coach a LOT.
My horses live here at home and I broke in my Pure Arabian grey gelding. I sent my young black arab/wb mare off to one of my students to start as I'd taught her how to break in and I wanted the horse done consistently which was hard to do with my baby.
I am about to get back to riding after being in a bad car accident about 18 months ago. I can't wait!!!!!

Today I have one of my clients show horses here and I just finished plaiting and show prepping him for her to take to Cooma show tomorrow.
My life is horses!

Out of interest my old mare was happily in a stable/yard every night as I don't like to hammer my limited paddock space with them out 24/7 she seemed to cope well. I always rug when they are stabled in winter 'cause I don't think they can move enough to stay warm when space is restricted. I LURVE prydes feeds too!

[Miss.September]

Sorry to hear about your girl, kateo. Heartbreaking Wish I lived closer to you, a body awareness clinic sounds cool!

We've decided against the enforced stabling. The shed will be made available to him and if he wants to go in, he can. I'm going to increase the rug thickness and add in a neck rug and/or hood. Plus bringing over the bigger horse will hopefully add in some warmth as well as company!

Thanks for the feedback about the intro. I think it'll take some time for me to relax. The other horse has been in with a yearling for a while and has been teaching him how to be a horse as he was hand reared as his mother died. So I've seen him both placid and bossy! If it doesn't work out, we can always send him home again (he belongs to a friend who is resting him at the moment).

[Joeve]

kateo sorry about your loss. I had to have my old show pony pts earlier this year, she was 35 and I had owned her since she was 5 broke my heart but I stayed with her til the end.
Off to SIEC tomorrow to watch EA NSW HOTY, fun to watch and not have to get a horse ready!

[kateo]

Thanks girls. I don't know where you are but before I was a mum I travelled to teach body awareness.....it's amazing how much it can help with any discipline.
I am planning a clinic in Melb later in the year I hope.
Did one in Perth a good few years ago.....it's so much fun watching horses faces when their people "get" it :-)
A friend and I popped up to Horse World to watch the hacks go 'round a few weeks ago..........gosh there were some lovely horses and some ordinary work-outs. Lovely show though but I prefer to compete at SIEC
I think one of my clients is off to HOTY this year.......haven't heard from her for a bit as she's going pretty steady since the royal here.
The horse that was here today was a complete pain and wouldn't get on the float yet he was a total angel about getting plaited. His rider was driving to the show this evening so I hope to god she got there OK.......still waiting for a call.....arrggghhh. It's awful driving somewhere new with a horse and arriving in the dark!
Does anyone else manage to compete and juggle a little person?
Also my good mate offered to loan me a 8hh pony for my son. Has anyone else done the lead rein thing? I was hoping we'd avoid getting him a pony until he's really keen on it. It is however very tempting .............

I used to enjoy all the big arab shows........trained a lot with a bloke called Shane Ackerly but I don't think he rides much anymore. I used to do side-saddle and costume as well as hacking and dressage.......the old mare got a few blues for working stock-horse too!

[Miss.September]

Oh Joeve! I'm so sorry! What happened?

Kateo- I'm in Melb. I know exactly what you're talking about with the horse's face. They have so much expression! My boy was the one we'd let our friends ride and he would play up something terrible if they didn't know what they were doing. And then he'd look at me as if to say "who me?" Lol!