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Post by marychick on Nov 14, 2014 15:14:31 GMT 1
that's a lovely story mrsfields!
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Post by mags on Nov 14, 2014 15:17:26 GMT 1
Mine didn't fit neatly either into the categories. Parents were reasonably supportive, but couldn't afford a horse/pony, so funded one of my horsey activities (vaulting), but refused to shell out for riding on top of vaulting. So I did a lot of working/helping out to pay for riding holidays or the opportunity to ride other people's horses. So, no own pony, but horsey time definitely more than an occasional treat (more like 4x a week, and quite a few holidays).
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Post by troop on Nov 14, 2014 18:34:06 GMT 1
Err I put second but my parents didn't buy my pony I did with £60 savings. He was a super scrawny Welsh a yearling. He died a year later of liver failure/ suspected ragwort poisoning (previous yard). It broke my heart and I gave up for a bit until I got Troopa when I was ooo err crumbs not sure how old but the rest Is history he is 21 I had him since he was 3 coming on 4 .
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Post by cookie on Nov 14, 2014 21:40:05 GMT 1
Parents generally unsupportive. Couldn't afford it. But from 11 I would get gifts of money towards lessons for birthdays and Christmas. At 13 I waitressed in holidays and did a paper round in term time do could afford weekly lessons then. I don't think my mum ever saw me ride as a child. Dad did the taxi service until I was about 15 and started at a yard on a bus route! Mum and dad seem more interested now, 25 years later than they ever were when I lived at home lol
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Post by happysnail on Nov 14, 2014 23:36:00 GMT 1
Obsessed with animals from an early age and had my first ride at the venerable age of six. Parents were supportive but there was a no pony until you can pay for it yourself rule. I was a riding school kid from the ages of 6-31. I didn't mention to my parents when I'd decided to buy Mayfly (she was conceived about 3 months). The biggest joy of my life is that she's such a part of the family now.
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Post by janwilky on Nov 14, 2014 23:41:30 GMT 1
I'm in the same category as you Lizpurlo I grew up in and on the edge of Liverpool. My parents were completely nonplussed by my obsession with entering win-a-pony competitions, my ever-practical mum pointing out that we really couldn't keep a pony on the lawn of a council house! So apart from the odd beach donkey ride at Blackpool, and my one attempt to volunteer at a local riding stables (which came to a sticky end when a carthorse much the size of Lucas trod on my big toe), I didn't even sit on a horse until I was in my late 30s. Of course I was then instantly and totally hooked, and within a few years I had my own horse: a wicked little piebald cob called Jack who dropped a shoulder and bucked me off whenever he felt like it. I sold him to my riding instructor and bought.... Lucas! The rest, as they say, is history. I now have three of them, making up for lost time
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Post by lizpurlo on Nov 15, 2014 23:54:21 GMT 1
Interesting - so 52% didn't have their own pony, although they were really keen, and 48% did have their own pony, - so far anyway! Jan, I'm being a bit unfair to my parents, who did buy me a riding hat and a course of ten lessons for my eleventh birthday, but that was the extent of it, and my ma did tell me some years later that they hoped it would 'get it out of my system'...... erm, yes.... that worked really well.....
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Post by janwilky on Nov 16, 2014 0:11:58 GMT 1
This was my very first ride
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Post by arabiangem on Nov 16, 2014 21:04:30 GMT 1
Kinda number 3. My Mum is horse obsessed and was really keen for my sister and I to ride but funds were really tight, particularly after my parents separated. But I had lessons/hacks as much as funds would permit, often in lieu of Christmas and birthday presents! I had my first saturday job when I was 14 and used my earnings from that along with pocket money. Started riding out with a friend at 17, supplemented by riding holidays, and carried on with that until I bought my first horse at 26! I am so grateful to my parents for finding the funds, and providing lifts to the stables for my weekly lessons, especially my dear old Dad who doesn't really get it!
My Mum finally got her first horse at the same time I got Marygold, at 49. She sadly lost him nearly 2 years ago, and hasn't the funds to support having another one. So Marygold is on loan with her with me footing the bills. After infecting me with the horse obsession, it's nice to give something back to her.
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heidi
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,490
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Post by heidi on Nov 16, 2014 22:37:50 GMT 1
That's lovely Gemma! I hope they are both having a lot of fun together
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Post by lizpurlo on Nov 19, 2014 22:30:10 GMT 1
Does this bear out the theory that if you never get quite enough of something in childhood, you can never get enough of it as an adult? And conversely, if you get too much of something in childhood, you never go near it again as an adult. I know quite a few pressurised Pony Club children who, once they were away from pushy horsey mothers, abandoned all horsey pursuits with a cry of joy.
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Post by flutterbye on Nov 20, 2014 0:55:26 GMT 1
My parents weren't horsey but paid for weekly riding lessons from the age of 11. I started work at 15. My boyfriend bought me a 2 year old New forest for £50 when I was 16. I had to pay for all keep and give my mum board money.
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Post by jen1 on Nov 20, 2014 13:30:11 GMT 1
depends on what you call a horsey child hood, my mother was never interested in the real thing , but worked at a livery yard when i was tiny, when i was old enough to walk id sneak off and go sit in there stable, given half a chance, lol, horses were ingrained in my soul by the age 1, i can remember my mum having every beswick horse going, i was brought up near lots of horses , i used to go and talk to them over the walls, and had my first ride on a mad thoroughbred call blaze, used to go knocking on doors for jobs, i didnt get my first horse till i was 14, and used to work evenings "int mill" to pay for him, his field was at the back of the mill too, id set my machines going and take my self off to go and see him, he was called midas and he was my world, but only on loan, he looking back was probably not backed and we both learnt on the job, at 15.5, i went to work with horses and stayed working in the uk till i was almost 20, my theory being id have many jobs in many things , i didnt buy my first lady till i was 18,ive done racing , driving, dressage with many so called "top" folk, but i always did it my own way, monty shifted my thought patterns ,back in around 1987, i worked bloody hard for my yard and still am, so who wants to buy it ,£2.50 and its yours, ha ha, in all honesty i wish id kept my passion for horses just for me, and not made my living out of it,
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Post by kizi on Nov 20, 2014 14:52:40 GMT 1
On a phone so can't see a quiz thing.. But my answer is no! I'm a city kid.. Started riding lessons age 13.. But always been obsessed.. Bought my first pony at 21!
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Post by jaxnbreeze on Nov 22, 2014 12:12:15 GMT 1
I come from a 'horsey' background but my children and grandchildren are not a bit interested. Which is sad in a way as there's over half a century of experience I could pass on to them - they must take after their father who although not into horses is such a wonderful help
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