Your highs and lows of 2009?

[sophielouise]

I was sitting here, considering 2009 and didn't think I had achieved much ... but, when I think up until September, we were on a roll!

Highs;

~Moving to a yard that finally suited Chester – it only took three attempts, but he finally stopped stressing, weaving/box walking became much less, he became much easier to handle and he finally came out of his shell!

~Progressing to riding him, after over a year of groundwork – more amazingly, I was the first person to sit on him … I swore blind I would employ someone else to do it, as I was too chicken!

~ He has gotten SO much better with the farrier – he used to take 90 minutes to just trim, last week he was remedially shod and trimmed in 45 minutes with no fuss!

Lows:

~ Intermittent lameness, which came to a head in September, just after re-backed him – x-rays showed arthritic changes in all his feet & it was all a bit uncertain ...

~ Further lamenss after coming sound again – thankfully, unrelated but a long stint of box rest followed …

~ … the boxrest set him back a bit – he started weaving again and the seperation anxiety we were getting on top of, returned. But it was too be expected really.

Final high for 2009 – Chester responding well to lameness treatment, being given the all clear for ridden work and just to work out how much he can cope with … although what happens next … it snows, ices over and he throws a shoe Christmas eve just as the ice was meling!

I hope everyone has had a great 2009 as well

Hopefully, 2010 will see even more progress!

[l17]

Your year sounds similar to mine!

Highs
Dec last year moved to a fantastic new yard with my instructor on tap. I had a specially made saddle fitted for my pony that arrived in January. I booked up a load of great clinics with my RWYM instructor over the year.

Lows
Fizz started to act strangely not wanting to go into trot and no impulsion etc.
Vet couldn't find what was wrong even after a course of bute so he was referred to the Animal Health Trust. After nearly £4000 of diagnosis and treatment he started to get back to normal (Thank goodness for insurance).

Just as I started cantering again Fizz became extremely spooky. I realised his saddle was becoming too narrow so had it re- fitted and altered. Then started getting him back into work again just in time for dark nights and muddy ground! Now snow and ice.

I can't count the number of hours I have spent walking in hand or in the saddle this year, but considering there have been many times I didn't think I would ride at all I am glad to ride at all.

Other highs

My instructor has let me have lessons and rides on her lovely horses, so I have managed to keep improving my riding despite all of the problems.

Lx

[lizpurlo]

My 'low' - and I can still hardly bear to think about it - was the awful RSPCA and Polo business of August. And these wretched people are still going about their normal lives, probably forgotten all about it by now.

My two 'highs' - the first one of course, putting a halter on my Cob weanling Echo for the first time; he had been forcibly haltered, tied up and tidied up for the sale where I bought him and was terribly traumatised. Thanks to IH methods (the first time I'd tried them) and advice from Sarah Weston and lovely people on here, on a February evening he stood beside me, totally relaxed, while I assembled a rope halter onto him for the first time. What a moment! I felt like yelling 'YEEEE HAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!' and doing a dance round the stable, but realised that might have been counter-productive....!!

And the other - backing my fabulous three year old, the mighty Dave, Welsh Cob extraordinaire, and riding him round the yard, OH leading. Such a great moment, to be looking down at the familiar thick black mane, and between the little pricked ears for the first time - of many, many times, I hope.

[sandy]

My lowest of all lows was when I had to have my beautiful mare, Poppy put to sleep aged 17.

My high has been each little step I've made in training my three year old Arizona who I bought on 3oth September. I leaned over his back yesterday for the first time and again this morning. He was such a good boy and It did feel good. Fairy steps for us.

[gixer]

oh Horsey highs...

Another that finally found the perfect yard, Rio took a while to settle but is another who is now rarely seen to weave and the box walking has now gone altogether

Got into EE riding... and found I have a mare who can actually move, and move quite nicely

Found some confidence from somewhere and did get her jumping a reasonable height.. but pregnancy curtailed that schooling for now

Oh and completing our 1st dressage comps together, and seeing a steady improvement in scores

the lows...
Having to relent and give up on going barefoot and going back to part shod, nice idea but not for us sadly
all the lows have been our intermittent lameness, either from sore soles or LGL

[portiabuzz]

Highs:

Started my bhs levels, passed my horsey nvq, went to see monty for first time, started search for land

Lows: redundancy, no horse to exercise due to being sold and no replacement found yet

Roll on 2010!

[Deleted]

Highs: 5 day foundation course and making lots of friends while there. Buying my first horse and every little achievement I've had, he lets me pick his feet up easily now most of the time and I can put a surcingle on his back without him stressing

Lows: 10% pay cut

[bryony83]

Highs: definately finding my mare when I wasn't really looking and finding the most amazing yard with the best people on it

Lows: the set backs and lack of riding I've been able to do compounded by the leg injury and box rest we are currently on. It can only get better

[Daz]

High - Cumbrian Heavy Horses (despite the cruddy weather!)

Low - not being able to ride so much this year.

[jen526]

what a year 2009 has been, the biggest highs and horrible lows.

The horsey highs, all learning and new friendship, from helping at the science trials, doing most of the Ih courses, helping and finding new friendship with Sarah Weston - a fab year.

The lows, after being given the all clear to bring my jumping mare back into work (15 months off), the lameness returned, she could not cope with ridden work, 8 years old and loss of use. Hundreds of miles later and various failed vettings I found my new dream competition pony, he was fantastic, died 16 days later of atypical myoglobinuria, a baby at 5yrs. I was with him when he went - still hurts. My other pony (great fun pony, just not very brave!!), Little Joe, has been confirmed he has a cataract (12yrs), I have suspected a problem with his sight for some time so not really suprised.

To finish with a high, my mum purchased a new filly "Poppy" - she is just so sweet and calm.

May 2010 be only good news and happy endings for all !

[gemmamarygold]

Highs: bringing Marygold back into work, and completing 3 ERs (4th in 80km, 3rd in 80km and then 3rd in a 120km - AWESOME!!!) and taking part in a FEI 1* ER. Getting Maj on loan.

Lows: Failing the FEI 1* ER due to the start of Marygold's arthritis. Still not sure what her competitive career is going to look like. But, she's in one piece and at the moment is OK.

[jenniwren]

Highs - riding from St Davids in South Wales to Talacre in North Wales. 240 miles. My Tennessee Walking Horse mare did 100 miles barefoot (with boots). I'm proud of her as this was her first time Long Distance Riding. My Arab, Sharnina, did 140 miles barefooted (with boots most of the way). We missed one day (20 miles)in the swap over. The story is on the Equine Ramblers UK website as The Welsh Long Ride.

Second high was attempting the High Street in the Lake district with Sharnina who was a super horse. We had to come down a footpath to Hawswater and she did what I asked of her. It wasn't an easy decent! Story on same website.

Also organised two rides in North Wales for Sport Endurance which helped pay for Equine Ramblers UK re-vamped website.

Enjoying training our Tennessee Walking Horse filly, Ella.

2010 Ella's mum will be put in foal again.

Going to ride the Cheviot Challenge with my barefoot trimmer, Tina and Equine Rambler, Howard who will guide us round as he knows the route. Following that we will have another go at the High Street from the Askam end this time.

Hope to organise a two day pleasure ride with over night accommodation from north to mid Wales to promote Long Distance non-competitive riding.

Attachments:

[jamesb]

High - Feb 2009 I finally showed sufficient assertiveness to change riding schools, the one I was at was doing me no favours as it was run along 'if it doesn't move kick/hit etc etc' lines . Then I discovered that a long-lost friend had horses and offered lessons! She has much more of an NH ethos.

Low - May 2009 I had a difference of opinion with said friend when out on a hack; basically she got somewhat stroppy with me when I felt I was doing as instructed. Didn't ride between then and October, when I had a lesson and a hack. However it still didn't feel quite right so I have not ridden since

[Caroline]

High - Finding I can now walk up to Zee anywhere in the field, fling my arms round his neck and give him a cuddle - without him trying to leave the country as he used to! Think I could start him now if I was small enough for him. Am dead chuffed. Six or more years of trying everything and failing miserably finally paid off.

Low - nothing terrible really. Got a bit caught up in the cross fire the other day when TigerLily had a dispute over a feed bucket with one of her field mates. Could have got trampled in the mud, but TigerLily (or maybe my guardian angel) always seems to make sure I don't. So I didn't get killed, just a bit shaken. Not terrible as lows go though