What are you most proud of this year?

[dalesfan]

Been feeling a little low on Christmas spirit, so thought it was time for a cheerful thread. Would love to hear what everyone's proudest of/happiest about from this year....as many as you like, doesn't have to be limited to one thing and it doesn't necessarily have to be horse related! I'll set the ball rolling.....

1) Building a deeper bond with Chymnee, and getting to the stage where I can take her out on our own without even a second thought...( something that seemed impossible a year ago).

2) Dealing with my own 'demons' so that I can be more effective both with horses and in the rest of my life, and being open to things being different.

The more the merrier...



3)

[misty]

For a quarterhorse JD is quite fast so loping over poles one handed in an indoor arena with quite a few other people was quite a buzz!

[curlytobiano]

Dalesfan you are a brave girl to be so positive when you have had a rotten few months. Very inspiring.

So focusing on the positives here too -

1) I am proud that Harry and Lily are both at brilliant weights now (and mine is much better than it was!!)

2) That Lily and I have been out with the bloodhounds - my very first time

3) That Xas our baby (17 months) is a confident friendly youngster and is brilliant for the farrier. Leading is a challenge just now but I think I have been amazingly clever to find Bridget RA who is helping us work better together

4) And I think I have only bought 4 rugs this year!!! ;D

[kizi]

1) that my eternally nervous niece went and jumped a xc course and had fun!

sorry.. cant think of more.. i'm just proud of her.. i guess i cant force being positive!!

[gillb]

Backing my own home bred 4 yr old Highland pony myself, the first I have done at the grand old age of fifty something.

[SarahW]

1) Riding Theoden out on his own

2) Completing my first half marathon

3) Helping another 'batch' of No fear, No Force ponies.

[wabuska]

Gill.. Wow! Em... in terms of horses...

1. Getting a bond back with Flynn despite injury. We're closer than ever. ;D
2. Hauling the box out every Sunday morning so that Faelen could jump over 50 rounds of jumping at the local leagues. Rain, hail, shine, ice or flats... we did it. Winning some comp's was nice too, but being together was just the best.
3. Getting the 23 year old mare sound despite ringbone.

[donnalex]

Having moved by home bred newly broken four year old pony 450 miles away to a completely different environment than anything she knows and she has behaved herself. Not only has she been good to hack out she has been to riding club lessons and comps and been a little star including on wide open beaches. She has had to hack out alone and travel alone to the riding club. Several people have commented how good she is and cant believe she is only four.
It must have been massively daunting for her but she has tried her heart out

[cheekychops]

Lovely to hear everyone's inspiring stories.

For me, the main achievement this year has been to actually start ENJOYING horse ownership rather than just being perpetually worried about everything! Being a first time horse owner in my thirties opened up a whole new world of anxiety and feeling overwhelmed by the huge responsibility. But this year we have discovered the joys of hacking out on our own in beautiful surroundings, been to our first show, and developed a whole support network of lovely knowledgable and caring friends.

So, all good really!

[Beth&Rosie]

Horsey...

1) Going out hunting for the first time, and Rosie was a star.
2) teaching my horse who has done no road work with me before to be almost bombproof on the roads, even when massive refrigerator lorries try to go past on stupidly narrow lanes!
3) Teaching Rosie to be tied up (3 months ago she would panic and break loose, now I can happily leave her to go and get tack!)
4) Our loading is getting there (2.5hrs to normally 20mins at most) I did it all myself, with no sticks fighting or harshness involved!

Just for myself...
Doing my GCSES and getting good grades (good enough for vet school if I do ok in IB next year!)

[elkerlodge]

Hi dales fan

missed you at the last GHD

well what a year a few ups and downs

you know the system is causing a lot of the downs,

but the highs working with sarah on the last GHD

and volunteering at the New brginnings the Thoroughbred rehoming centre near me.

Hope you are well, good look in april

[sandy]

Moving yards - best thing I have done in a long time. Moved from a bullying, lecherous YO to a lovely yard run by a kind, fair YO. I should have done it years ago but just didn't have the confidence. Now I know if I had to, then we could move again and it wouldn't be a problem.

[BJMM]

I am most proud of my lovely Aunty Blaze, for helping to give both Ladyndibs and TeenaE their confidence back. She really is an absolute angel of a horse!
I am proud of my youngster, Jasmine, for making progress in her ridden work and finally finding forward gear! ;D
And I am proud of little Marygold, for settling in to my little herd so quickly and for standing up to bossy Blaze a few days ago and actually waving a back leg at her!! ;D

[companymagic]

Some lovely things shared

For me I think it's been a rubbish year and I can't wait to see the back of it, but there have been some highs..

1) Being back on Ailsa pony, and not only that but starting our canter work in the school.
2) Being able to take Ailsa out to different places and know she will be as good as gold, she really is an angel in a fluffy coat most of the time
3) Feeling closer to Amigo for the first time in ages, spending more time just the two of use with no pressure.
4) Amigo proving he is a brave brave little man, leading a young TB out and about and showing her there really is nothing to worry about out on hacks, I am so proud of him at only just shy of 13hh he stomps out and leads the way no matter were we take him locally... He acts like an old hat at it and it makes me very proud of him..

[dalesfan]

Really loving these, thanks everyone keep them coming! x