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Kazzy
Platinum Member
England
3335 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Sep 2005 : 9:13:24 PM
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I have been round horses all my life My grandad owned an ex racehorse, and both my aunts had horses, my mother never did ride but
loved just looking after them.
My first experience with a pony was on Anglesey when I was 5 years old, I was told we all have horses in our blood and you are going to
have them too.
I didnt get my first pony till I was 13 she was a New Forest called
Brandy and I loved her so much, she taught me so much as well she was
only 13.1hh and a typical pony .
My first contact with an Arabian was when a freind of mine bought
a 3/4bred mare and then she decided to buy a stallion, he was liver
cheshnut called Nathanial and I was hooked. She later bought another
Stallion called Gabriel (General Grant x Djemal) who I fell for hook
line and sinker. Anyway to cut a very long story short I managed
to buy him many years later when he was 19 years old. My first Pure
Bred Arabian, I was hooked. He was an absolute gentleman, another
one I loved so much.
In the meantime I got my first mare Bazz-Swirl (diamond Jubilee x Golden Swirl) who incidentally was born on Anglesey!!! who I still
own today I have had her 15 years. Unfortunately I had to have
Gabriel put to sleep he had a Coronary Thrombosis, it absolutely broke my heart. Since then I had Bazz put in foal about 11 years
ago and she produced a colt called Kazbah (by El Kabah) who I still
own today he was gelded at a year old, and hand on heart, neither
will ever ever be sold, they are with me for life (and they know it!!
little sods).
I keep saying when they have gone I am not having anymore, I am now
43 and Kazbah could live for another 15years easily he is only 10,
But, I cant honestly think of myself with a horse.
And it would have to be a PURE BRED ARABIAN WOULDNT IT
Janet |
     
Sunny Cheshire |
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Sarah Smith
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
196 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2005 : 12:20:32 PM
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I got into riding because my parents were totally against it and I was determined to rebel,  so I started helping at the local riding school and getting free rides for my efforts ! which usually just meant riding the ponies back to the fields ! you know the kind of slave labour - but hey it was worth it.
Then I moved home through work and moved in with my friend who I knew through work and she had her own yard. All the horses were all posh warmblood types, (she is big into SJ and Eventing) But there was one that caught my eye - to me he stood out way above the rest - he is Arab cross Trakehner and boy is he beautiful ! After many hours of constant pressure from me (cos he was her baby), my mate finally gave in and let me loan him !He's a lovely bay with grace - speed - stamina and such a kind heart !
After that - the people at the next yard down were selling their pure bred because their daughter had lost interest. Her loss totally - he is a beautiful grey and - well I was just hooked by this stage. My mum - seeing how happy I was with horses finally agreed to give me the money and he's now mine.
I've moved back to Surrey now, and taken my two boys with me. My mum has bought the field next to our house, and every morning when I look out my window and see the lads waiting for breakfast, I feel like the luckiest person alive. |
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pinknose
Silver Member
England
298 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2005 : 10:39:48 PM
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You are Sarah!What i'd give to have my own stables and be able to see my baby from the house.Goddam lottery!!!By the way,can't believe all those fab pony books that were such a part of my childhood/teens are out of print!Its no wonder young girls are growing up with no ambition other than to be the next Jordan or Abi Titmuss!(rant rant ) |
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jo c
Silver Member
United Kingdom
476 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2005 : 4:43:30 PM
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I have ridden since i was little- again non-horsey parents -my cousin inspired me and 'taught'me to ride on my rocking horse. She would get my postion perfect and shout at me constantly but I swear my rising trot was learned there first
After I got married I starting hacking out again (hadn't ridden much for a few years) and took my hubby along, he fell in love with horses and we had great times with him learning to ride and me remembering all i'd forgotten (and realising I did not have my old nerves of steel any more  )Eventually after 2yrs we decided lessons and hacks weren't going to satisfy the craving and bought Charlie mainly for me , a 16.2 ex-racer and hunter of 12.Although a smashing quiet ride and allround gent i found him difficult on the ground (he has mild shivers)he pushed me around and i let him Leon(oh) brave guy he is, took him on as his and made himself a friend for life
So i started looking for a quiet well behaved schoolmaster for me and wound up with a 5yr old part-broken pure arab- insane i know ! but from the first months of having saki i realised that arabs are just not like other horses and now have the full blown - Arabitis - cure unknown
I would love to have a yard full of them and just spend everyday with them but i have to work so at the moment i'm being good, we've just taken on a much bigger yard and there happens to be 4 empty boxes so i don't think it's going to last
jo |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2005 : 8:58:20 PM
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Great stories girls keep them coming Jo c I am lucky I Do have a yard full of them and my life couldnt be better I count myself truly lucky to have come from desperatly Arabian starved childhood, to having them in my life 24\7 as you say no cure I'm afraid but hey you have to die of something |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
Edited by - LYNDILOU on 28 Sep 2005 6:20:08 PM |
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jo c
Silver Member
United Kingdom
476 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2005 : 10:44:00 PM
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| Lynda- I have a strange feeling I will wind up with many of the beautiful creatures.... i'm thirty now so hopefully bags of time to enjoy more ' babies '.Lucky for me that hubby feels the same. Arabitis - what a way to go jo |
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arabianlover16
New Member
13 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2005 : 03:07:22 AM
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| I fell in love with horses and started ridding by chance but when I did I was hooked. It all started 9 years ago when I was 8 now I'm 16. Since I have all my family in Poland except my mom I always fly to my grandparents for the summer. My grandmother decided to sign me up for a 2 week horseback ridding camp knowing that I had an interest in animals. After the first day I knew I had found my calling. I just couldn't forgot about theses amazing creatures and when my grandparents asked if I wanted to continue taking lessons every Saturday for the whole summer I immediatly agreed. Then one day when I was in a bookstore I noticed that there was a horse magazine with a stunning white horse on the cover(at this time I hadn't discovered Arabians yet)I showed my grandpa and since he was supportive of my new interest he decided to buy it for me and even start a subscription for it (Since it is a monthly horse magazine "Kon Polski"). As soon as we got home I started to read it and since it was the August issue it had a lot of Arabian info. When I saw the picture of Pilarka trotting or Ekstern being presented my jaw just dropped and my eyes pooped out of my head I mean I had seen horses before but this THIS was some type of horse I had never seen before I had never seen such an amazing creature before. I immediatly learned that this was an Arabian and immediatly started learning as much as possible about them. After a year of my arabitis I learned that there were several types and that my 2 personal favorite ones were the Egyptian and Polish. Sadly my mom isn't horse oriented like me so I don't have a horse. When I grow up I hope to move back to Poland and own a world famous Arabian and Warmblood Horse Stud specializing in Polish and Egyptian Arabians |
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nicolanapper
Platinum Member
England
4247 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2005 : 08:23:10 AM
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Bianca, that is a lovely story. I am sure that you will one day own that beautiful arabian, just keep wishing and hoping and it will happen. There are a lot of Arabian horses in the US as well have you tried finding out about them?
Nicky |
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tamila
Platinum Member
England
2532 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2005 : 09:39:18 AM
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Welcome to the site Bianca. As Nicola says there are plenty of Arabian studs in the US. So perhaps you could find one that will let you exercise their horses. My daughter lives in Oregon but originally lived in Florida and this is what she did and eventualy showed for them and then had her own Arab gelding.
Good luck and hope to hear more from you in the future. |
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arabianlover16
New Member
13 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2005 : 12:07:40 AM
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| Nicolanapper and tamila the problem with your idea which I already thought of is that I live in New Jersey which is one of the richer states in the U.S so horseback ridding is really expensive in it. An half-hour lesson is $40 |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2005 : 12:30:42 PM
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My Mum never got the opportunity to ride until she was an adult so was determined that one or both of her daughters would. So I have her to thank for my love of horses in general. I learnt to ride at a local riding school just having weekly lessons and the occasional hack (all we could afford). I then, at the age of 18, started to ride out with the sister of someone I worked with, who happened to own an arab and an anglo-arab. And that's where Arab-itis started....
2 years ago, at the age of 25, when I was finally in the position to afford both the time and money, I started to look for a pure-bred gelding around the 15.2 mark. And came away with a part-bred mare, 14.3 who is in my signature! She is my pride and joy and best friend and I love her to pieces. I'm now very tempted to buy her 5 month old half-brother....... Same sire, different mare.
I keep her at the same place as my friend with the arab and anglo. My Mum also keeps her first horse there, who she bought at the same time (aged 48!). What breed is he? The 15.2 pure-bred gelding that I went out to look for! |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2005 : 2:46:49 PM
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I grew up in Germany and it wasn't until I was 11 when we moved to the UK that I saw my first arabian in real life. the yard I rode at had two arab stallions - El Sharka and Prince Arlam. It was love at first sight. Prince Arlam or Ally as he was called at home had the most amazing temperament. I used to climb onto his manger and lay across his back while he was loose in the stable. He would stand there dozing - he was only 4 years old!!!!!!!!! To this day he has to be one of the most polite stallions I have ever met.
In 1981 I had a partbred mare, Portsdown Morning Pride on loan and it was 1982 when I took Perissa on loan. Her foal had died so her owner wanted her ridden for a year before going back in foal. Of course I fell in love with her and bought her the following year and we had another 20 years together.
Vera and Dennis |
    
Hampshire |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2005 : 5:55:33 PM
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One of the earlier threads mentioned the Jill books - I grew up with them too albeit in Sweden as I'm a Swede living in the UK!!
My background with horses started when I was 5 in the local riding school and I never looked back. It went from loaning a shetlant stallion for a summer when I was 8 (noone else liked riding him as he regularly bolted), to a welsh mountain when I was 9 (local showjumper had an oldie that needed exercising), a cross Icelandic/Fjording when I was 10 (a real plodder) to my own New Forest mare later that year. She's still alive (23) and was competing showjumping up to last year, bless!!! Had to sell up in my late teens due to too much school work, then uni, then moving to the UK, then getting married, then buying house (you know the story - although no kids!!) to settling in the lovely Sussex countryside a few years ago and hubby encouraging me to get back with horses.
So in the late twenties I was back at the local riding school to get back into shape but quickly got bored, once you've had your own there is no turning back! Part shared a couple of horses but was lucky to meet Shah 2 years ago when his owners were looking for a part sharer through our trainer. It was love at first sight and yes, like all of you, I'm now stuck with Arabities thanks to him...
During these 2 years I've had the pleasure of seeing Shah change from constantly trying to bite me to turning soppy and trying to groom me - such joy |
West Sussex |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
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Hollyhill
Gold Member
589 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2005 : 4:10:51 PM
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Ok, here’s my bit……not all Araby but close!
First memory of horses was running away from home to be with the gypsy horses on the common near where I was born in South London. I was about 3! We moved to Hampshire when I was 5 (and that’s a bl—dy long time ago now). My parents finally gave in and I had fortnightly ‘lessons’ at a riding school which consisted of being led around the lanes on a pony by girls not much older than me.
First pony arrived when I was 12 – I had saved £30 and my brother (bless his chops) gave me another £30 and Rex, a 2-year old New Forest colt came to live in our garden (it was huge), he was full of lice, worms and rampant sweet itch but we both had a rapid learning curve of how not to do it but had loads of fun en route. Unfortunately College and growing up got in the way and we had to part company – I later tried to buy him back but he had been sold several times by then and had disappeared. Second pony - an impulse buy when looking for a pony for a friend - another N/F colt foal called Pep Talk followed and he lived in the garden and my conversion of father’s garage into a stable. Parents divorce and sale of family home meant he had to go as I left home at the same time.
Then, in I think 1978, when I just couldn’t be without a horse any longer, I found him. Wormy, lousy, skinny and barely halter broken, Mouse (Ringing Echo x El Zain) a rose grey Arab colt. It was love at first sight – vermin and all! He was the best thing that ever happened to me. Unfortunately, domestic circumstances meant I had to sell him when he was 7, but luckily I kept in touch with him because nine months later, I bought him back as they were going to have him pts because he had had a nosebleed and their vet’s prognosis was poor. Just goes to show, he stayed with me til he was 26, just two years ago, when he succumbed to Cushings/Laminitis; but we had all those wonderful years together doing just about everything.
Ten years ago, I brought Dennis  (Genaro x Roxhalia) a bright bay Arab yearling – temperamental, grumpy and argumentative – but one of the loves of my life.
Two years ago, Harvey came to live with me; a gorgeous elegant dark bay Anglo Arab but he was far too sharp for me to ride and very fine so I made the decision to find him a nice home – BIG MISTAKE and the last time I EVER sell a horse.
And then, last year I bought Dusty (Ganemede x Dahmah), a grey Arab colt foal – the other love of my life - who got 2ND IN THE YEARLINGS AT THE WESSEX SHOW LAST SUNDAY, and am I a proud mother or wot!!!
And there’s The Fat One – a 14 year old coloured pony who babysits whoever gets left behind – almost uncatchable, accomplished escape artist and thief, but undoubtedly the nicest pony ever!
Trouble is, I’m still thinking………..can I afford another…………is there room………have I got time……it would have to be a secret from the OH but as he is hideously allergic to the horses, he might never have to get to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still Awake???
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2005 : 7:45:08 PM
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| that was a nice story hollyhill! dont worry about the OH, I bought another horse last year and mine still does'nt know ! lol, he hardly ever goes out to the fields , but the other day I asked him to fill the waters and he stood looking at all the horses, even had the new mare staring him in the face and still he didnt twig ! |
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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joycemelvin
Platinum Member
Scotland
1574 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 08:40:34 AM
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my story..
Always loved horses since a child but although pleaded with mum and dad they couldn't afford to send me for lessons and there was a 2 year waiting list at the time.
When I starting working I started taking lessons as I was able to pay for them by myself. Got my first horse as a 21st birthday present, a highland/cross arab called 'Scottie'.
A few years late was made redundant and with the money I bought two weanings, a pure bred gelding (Dhinar) and an anglo-arab mare (Downies Aim for Fame).
Eventually sold Dhinar to a family in Inverness and my part-bred Scottie to a local girl and bred from the anglo-arab mare (result anglo-arab gelding Zak).
Purchaed a pure bred mare (Fantazeer).
Fantazeer was unfortunately found dead one morning whilst visiting a stud to be covered by stallion.
Purchased yearling arab filly (Gabrymmal) which I then covered as a 3 year old resulting in my mare Shamila Amira (Amy).
Purchased mare Zaleta.
Amy covered by Psynergy resulting in Psynammon.
Purchased Trooper (one Shetland pony) for my daughter.
Thats me..I have the 2 mares, yearling filly and a shetland gelding. The Anglo-Arab gelding I gifted to my friend this summer.
Whats in the future..who knows
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sazzlepants71
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3536 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2005 : 1:42:49 PM
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hope its not tooo late to reply to this topic! but seeing as so many people didnt have 'horsey parents' though join in x
i started riding when i was five, from as soon as i could walk which was late in life as had lots of hip / back /walking problems in & out of hospital blah.blah, i wanted to ride..!
my great-great grandparents with whom i had a brief but fab relationship a young child had had a hunting yard and i was facsinated by the stories and pictures and would be a follower..
i was fortunate enough to have weeklyt lessons at a very good riding school! were they taught u to ride properly! times i have emerged from shubbery after riding/jumping stirrupless / only to be told to get back on!! is hilariuos , but then i didnt care as i when i was riding i had freedom!
i fell in love with a part-bred arab called sandy he really started my love for arabs and he was sold after me loving and riding him for 6 months and i was heartbroken @ 14 ..
he was my dream pony.. but i decided then that all i wanted was the arab!
after a time i moved to surrey , then older ( but no wiser )
and made friends with a lady who had a arab stallion , she wanted tosomeone to ride him as she couldnt as she was very ill , & i jumped at the chance!
after learning ( the hard way ) about arabs from him i knew these were the only horse i wanted to own , and after he was retuned to his owner after she made a full recovery i finally after 20years of wating bought my first arab - a part-bred with whom i still have fun with today ..
i also have Ramak pure-bred on loan so my family is complete! You never stop learning , and i would never swap them for anything x
so there you have it ! |
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jdavis
Bronze Member
England
72 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2005 : 5:09:48 PM
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My grandfather was an Irish bookie who came to this country before I was born. He lived near a riding stables and as soon as were were old enough my grandfather took us to the yard and asked the owner to teach us to ride. He wanted us to be the first female jokey's (probably had some money on it!) He died when we were quite young and my mother said I couldn't have my own horse because we couldn't afford it. I was devestated. I forgot about horses and got on with my life until many years later, married with 3 children, we moved house and my neighbour had a horse on a local yard. My 8 year old daughter was mesmorised. My neighbour took my daughter under her wing and in between riding lessons at a riding school, my neighbour taught my daughter the finer things like mucking out, picking out feet and the like! When my daughter was 12 I managed to give up smoking and as a reward I said she could have a horse. Through a friend I was introduced to a lady who had rescued a horse who had once been very successfully shown but had been sold and neglected. We went to see her. She was called Shariqa. When we turned up all I saw was a sad looking wooly horse but my daughter fell in love with her. Someone said she was 'Arab' - meant nothing to me. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we brought her home to the cries of 'not a child's horse', arab - huh - you know the kind. Shariqa is now 17 is the apple of my eye. I occasionally ride her and I can't ride. We later bought a second arab, we were so taken with them, but he had to be destroyed after 11 days after breaking his leg. We bought another arab, a filly who was an absolute cow and totally unsocialised. Three years on she is a real sweetie. It would now be cheaper for me to smoke but the beauties before me are far better for me and much more rewarding.
xx Jacqui |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2005 : 5:44:19 PM
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| Jacqui, thats much better than smoking and healthier too! I hope you are as happy with your arabs as I am with mine, remember they are true living treasures, and we are so lucky to have them in our lives! |
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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Storm
New Member
United Kingdom
14 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2005 : 10:16:54 PM
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I fell in love with arabs when I was about 12. Loved horses anyway but also read the Jinny books - brilliant!! - but one day while walking my dog I discovered a field tucked away that I hadn't realised was in the park. I had to go through some pretty rough ground to get to see what was in it and there he was! I can remember it to this day, a gorgeous chestnut arab. I was hooked! and when he began to trot around the field! I must have stood there gaping for about an hour.
After that I was obsessed, reading, drawing, painting - anything to do with arabs. Every night I would wish for an arab of my own!
I spent a few years then helping people look after their horses and then got a friends of mine welsh sec C on loan for a couple of years - she was lovely but I had to give her up due to a messy divorce.
When I was 26 I at last could afford and decided to buy my first horse of my very own! So of course it had to be an arab! I found Storm then in the local paper and went to see him. He was (and still is) absolutely beautiful with an amazing personality - I fell in love with him! To cut a long story short, I asked her about the price and she told me that I could have him for nothing!! I could not believe it!! I was given my own horse and he was a pure bred egyptian arabian.
I still cannot believe how lucky I am to have Storm. It was a dream come true!! Arabs are amazing horses and I am learning new things about them all the time. |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2005 : 09:02:59 AM
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That is lovely Storm and reminded me about when I was 11years old (I had already given my heart to arabs) but close to were I lived was an arab and a big cob called Tom I dont remember the arabs name I wish I did as I could look her up in the data base but she was a pure bred.
Anyway me and a friend used to go there everyday to give them carrots or whatever, and one night ( naughty things that we were) we made rope head collors and caught them and took the fence down and rode them out and down into the valley I will never forget it the moon was full almost like day, and the horses were calm and happy to be ridden, so from then on we did this a lot , now I knew it was wrong, but loved this arab mare so much I would have given my all to own her.
She was a dark bay with a small white blaze and a very dished head!. the end of my story is we never got found out although we went to see the owners and asked if we could look after them, we sort of had permission to keep an eye on them so I didnt feel too bad about it, looking back now as an owner I would be mortified to think someone would take my precious horses out of their fields and ride them
But there is a strange end to this story I have recently been reading the Crabbet books and realise that in 1957 when I was 11, lady wentworth died and many of her horses were sold off, could this lovely mare have been one of her horses? she was high quality! could I have been riding a part of history without even knowing it , chances are yes because in 1957 there were no other imports, and I lived just a few miles from crabbet near coulsdon. |
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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Storm
New Member
United Kingdom
14 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2005 : 09:57:30 AM
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Lyndilou, I always wanted to take this horse and ride him but could never quite muster up the courage! I wish I had! I just spent a lot of time in the field with him but never did see an owner to find out his name. He was obviously "Shantih" to me then. Then one day I went down after school and he was just gone.
What a wonderful experience that would have been - riding out under the moonlight - and how amazing that it could have been one of Lady Wentworths horses!
Bev
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Libby Frost
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4711 Posts |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2005 : 2:43:48 PM
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| I wish , oh how I wish I could remember her name, I lay awake some nights still trying to remember, I know I did know it because her owners told me ( it is lost in the depths of my mind) but apart from her knick name we gave her which was c Calam ( dont ask me why!) I think it was after seeing the film Calamity Jane, how on earth could I trace her just to see who she really was ? |
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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