Oops...

[eija]

I just bought a horse. Now for a while I have two, until the other one moves on to the evergreen pastures.

The old one is our darling. With no family history or exact birthday. One with rough things in her past, serious struggles with us but now the best horsie in the world. Our dark bay, star-faced cuddly-kissy-girl.

The new one is totally different. She knows how to behave - and that's somewhat difficult for us to understand at times    She's also bigger - about 200 kg more! She's an Irish Cob, a.k.a. Tinker, black and white, with lots of hair. In no way she can replace the other one, but once we get to know each other, I'm sure we'll be good friends. And now she'll be a distraction when the other place becomes empty.

Still, buying a horse is always kind of a shock. It's difficult to decide if it was totally crazy or the wisest thing you did in a while 

[Sleepy In Seattle]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! 

My guy is 20 - just had to have hock injections about 12 days ago, and now he thinks he's a yearling again, LOL. He survived a horrible infection/injury a couple of years ago, but other than that he's remarkably healthy and fit. I don't know how long that will last, but we'll do all we can to keep him young for as long as we can.

Once he needs to retire, I hope we can afford to get another one. But nobody will ever replace him! I tell him every day he's my favorite horse in the whole world, even when I have to go ride client's horses. I always wonder what he thinks of that - if he's jealous, or if he's thinking "better you than me, buddy!" LOL...

He acts like a jealous boyfriend when I come into the pasture - driving other horses away from me. It's endearing but kind of a pain in the butt 

They keep us going, don't they? I don't know what I would do without horses. Shrivel up and die, probably. 

[slccom]

I'm glad that your horses give you so much joy, and that you have another one to hold and cry on, Eija.

We celebrate our dogs' "rebirthdays," which is when they come to live at Camp Campbell!

Sharon

[eija]

Thanks, guys

Yep, horsies are my best therapists. This new one is proving to be another Character    If she doesn't want to do something or is afraid of something (like cows!) she gets up on her hind legs - it's quite impressive a sight when a 160 cm, 700 kg black and white giant with lots of long hair gets up like that Other than that she's very good behaving. My girls love her already and I suspect when we get to know each other she'll be a very good horsie for us.

And this was a perfect solution to the situation. After letting the old one go, it would've been horrible to start with a totally strange horse. Now we already know the new one a bit when our darling one goes away next week.

With all the fuss, though, I'm rather exhausted.

[Katybarstool]

Hi Eija

How You doing?

Kathyx

[Carolina]

OOPS! I BOUGHT A HORSE?

How did I miss this?  And now you have TWO horses for a while?

This is hilarious to me, for some reason.

I think I'm just so tired from doing nothing today (shopping and bought gas) that I'm punchy.

I cannot imagine having a horse, buying a horse, finding a place to PUT a horse, being around a horse (they are very big and scary to me).

My granddaughter is an accomplished rider and thinks my fear of horses is funny.

However, it isn't even the fear, it's just the idea of driving up to the house with a horse.

"honey, I'm home!  This is Trigger."

oh well, you can see how tired and silly I am.

Hugs

Elaine

[susanep]

My dad will turn 81 next month, and he loves horses. I listen to all his stories of horses in his past. I love hearing them. I have not rode them, but wish I was fit and normal again so I could.

Elaine I feel exactly like you do most days.  I wash a few dishes, or go to the post office, and feel like a did a huge thing. Then I think about all I want and need to do, but that's it for the day. I can't get this body to do anymore.

susanep

[eija]

Guys 

Or maybe I should say "gals" ...?

Two weeks ago today we said goodbyes to our beautiful mare    However, now she's not in pain anymore and doesn't need to endure difficult shoeings either.

Kathy, thanks for asking Still tired. But not just for the horsie issues. The new horse is a great consolation and we love her a lot already

Susanep - it would be so wonderful to listen to old horsemen telling their stories! Say hi to your dad for me - and make sure you record his stories in one way or another. In years to come they'll be worth a lot. About riding - you can do that in so many levels. Yes, with our illnesses (and age and what else...) we won't become Great Equestrians anymore, but anyone can enjoy horses, one way or another. I love just being with them. Maybe grooming them according to my strength, talking to them and kissing them Also watching my kids ride them is so much fun! When it comes to riding, many people with disabilities ride horses and it does a world of good to them. You could ask around from the local riding schools if they offer services like that or know someone who does. It doesn't have to be much else than sitting on the horse when someone leads it, and feeling the animal and its movements.

Carolina - to tell you the truth, our horsie purchases tend to be rather strange, every time...

Originally the girls and I thought we won't become horsie owners but just enjoy the riding school ones. Well, it was one Wednesday evening when we were talking about this the last time. The following day, Thursday, around 11 am I was a proud owner of a Gotland Russ pony. Also, it wasn't until several months later that I realized I hadn't discussed the thing with hubby at all! A year later I was forced to give up the pony because living in a riding school was too much stress for him (that's why he was given to me in the first place). He moved 200 km away to live with my sister-in-law's horsies, which was The Perfect Place for him, so it was all good, even though we missed him a lot.

So we were without a horse but had tasted the joys of owning one. I had finally found a new favourite among the riding school horses but then the owners told me that the mare needs to be sold because she's dangerous. And yes, she was. But I couldn't lose another horse (in addition to our pony my best ever horse in the riding school had died so I almost gave up the hobby already) so I made some furious calculations and lots of rationalizing and yes-no-ing and decided to buy her. I was sure I was mad to buy such a crazy horse, the farrier thought so and so did many others. But in two weeks she started to slowly realize she didn't have to endure the endless line of little girls anymore and the recovery started. Yes, we still had lots of trouble with her but in the end she was so wonderful we could never imagine she'd become like that! But now, sadly, we had to say goodbye to her

So, this third one. It was the first time we were choosing from all the horses that were for sale out there. We were looking for a nice, calm, sport horse -like gelding, medium size. We ended up with a huge Irish Cob mare with a questionable past who likes not only doing huge bucks but rising on her hind legs.

So it has become a reality-based joke among me and the girls: No matter how hard we try, we will never end up with a "normal", good behaving horse with a good past. We are destined to be a sort of save-the-horses -trio 

Fear of horses? I know. Five and half years ago I took my girls riding after they had begged for it for ages. I found the muzzles and hooves rather intimidating, although I have always admired horses. However, two months later the riding school owner dragged me on a horse and I've been riding since. First it was sooooooo scary and nerve-wracking I had to go to the loo like zillion times before the class - but what do you know, now I own a horse in a small private stable and I managed a year and a half with a "crazy" mare who's favourite hobby once was just killing little girls.

"honey, I'm home!  This is Trigger."

Well, I pretty much did that... 

And being silly is good!

[slccom]

Eija, I am so sorry for your loss. I bet she was able to leave easier knowing that she had found someone else for you to love.

Hugs, Sharon