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Ruth_Cymru
Bronze Member

Wales

90 Posts

Posted - 15 Jun 2011 : 09:39:05 AM

I've been Gold's owner/personal scratcher for exactly one year, so thought I would share a bit about our time together with you all.

In a previous life he was a show horse and a racehorse, and it all blew his mind a bit. Happily for him he was taken on by his owner previous to me, who worked with him for several years changing his mind set and introducing him to endurance (which he loves!) and basically turning him in to the horse I fell for.

It's been a big year of learning for me. Taking part in my first ever pleasure rides have been a great experience, and with Gold being an old pro and taking me round my first ride safely I just had to sit and be a passenger, whilst at the same time wondering if my legs would ever recover! But as I did a few more we started working together (and my muscles stopped aching!). I have some lovely photos of us on our rides, but as they are pro shots I'm not sure I can post them- so instead please envisage Goldie and I motoring along with smiles on our faces. Here's a shot of Gold all booted up and ready to go:

As much as Gold loves endurance he dislikes schooling about as much, so it's been a slow but improving scene. It's taken me a while to work out how to ride him to get the best out of him, but we're getting there.
This time last year:

And last month:

And thanks to my wonderful pony I've managed to lose a stone! I didn't even realise it was happening until a routine check up at the docs (where they just love to put you on those scales). The first photo was from last year and the second last month:

Goldie is a complex horse (but that's part of what I love about arabs), and there have been times when he's really put me to the test. He sometimes tries to convince me that he's still a racehorse, and if I'm honest there were a few times when I wondered if I'd bitten off more than I could chew. But I persevered, and I'm so glad that I did, I now know how to divert his attention most of the time, and even when he does carry on with his demonstrations of his own awesomeness, it's just part of who he is (and much to his annoyance I now just laugh at him).

I keep Gold at the yard of his previous owner, and she's been a great support to me. I remember her saying when I'd just bought Gold, 'this time next year you'll be doing rides twice this length and most of it at a trot' (we'd just finished an hours' ride with a few trots) I thought she was nuts, but turns out she was right

. There's nothing I love more than saddling up my boy and going off for a ride:

(Please note I always wear high vis but took it off for the photo

)

I can't wait to see what these next years have in store for us. I know it won't all be plain sailing, but the sticky times just make the good times even better.

And to end, Goldie doing what Goldie likes best:

I love my little pony

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Emmo
Bronze Member

Wales
132 Posts

Posted - 15 Jun 2011 : 10:03:10 AM

What a wonderful, inspiring story. Well done for sticking with him, the change in him is very obvious to see.
He is one lucky pony having you for a mummy! Wishing you the best of luck for your future together.

Emma x

P.s am loving the scenery behind your school photo's