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Post by jennyb on Dec 14, 2012 12:47:04 GMT 1
Another difficult year for me personally but life is on the way up again at the moment!
Horsey-wise, I took my BHS Stage 4 care exam and passed all bar one module where I made a stupid mistake. Gazdag went from Novice to Medium BD this year, I am exceptionally proud of my little horse who continually tries his heart out for me and makes me feel very humble. My proudest moment was at our last Francois clinic when F confidently announced that Gazdag and I should be working at PSG next year, and this was echoed a few weeks later by my regular GP level trainer. I bought Gazdag hoping to produce him as best as I could, perhaps make it to Advanced Medium or maybe even the lofty heights of Advanced one day, expecting that the journey would take many years. After our rocky start together when he was hand on heart one of the most difficult horses I have ever come across, never in my wildest dreams did I think that four years after meeting the skinny little waif in Hungary, we would be progressing so well and getting ready for our top hat and tails debut. I honestly can't think about it too much, it makes me well up with pride, so I'm just going along with it and enjoying the journey!!! ;D
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Post by diggydoggy on Dec 14, 2012 13:26:56 GMT 1
I am modestly proud of myself for (taking the last 12 months and) working out how I could get back into horsieness on a VERY limited budget and with no local horsey connections. I now have a very low-cost, low maintenance, small Shetland, kept just down the road with the local R.D.A. ponies. I now volunteer with the R.D.A., making some great new friends and getting up to speed with pony handling, etc. and getting C.R.B. checked too. Every time I walk out with Boyo, we get stopped so people can fuss him and talk to me. People stop as they are driving past! Suddenly, I am meeting lots of people interested in horses! I am having SUCH a good time. So glad I decided to do this- it is making me very happy.(and amusing the locals no end!!!)
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esther
Advanced Poster
Posts: 347
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Post by esther on Dec 15, 2012 14:23:28 GMT 1
I rode my pony! And I ran my first half marathon too.
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Post by wabuska on Dec 15, 2012 18:07:17 GMT 1
What a stunner Esther.
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Post by SJpony on Dec 15, 2012 20:35:15 GMT 1
What a lovely thread! Finally me and my fiery mare who is affectionately nicknamed 'Beast', have gone a whole 344 days without a single fall, which by the amount of falls we had last year, is a huge achievement! must be doing something right
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Post by zack&buffysmum on Dec 15, 2012 21:11:27 GMT 1
5 years after comming to horse ownership for the first time in my 40's, 2012 has been the best year ever. Bit of a sticky start getting to know my pony but now there is no stopping us In August we cantered on a stubble field - my first ever 'proper' canter outside a school ( asked for, not just being tanked off with!!) In september we hired a lorry and went on a sponsered ride by ourselves. In november we had a day out with another livery and met up with other friends and had a fantastic hack in lovely new surroundings. We hack out regularly by ourselves now - and I'm learning to jump (Buffy already can!! ) I can't wait for next year ;D
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Post by Mellymoo on Dec 15, 2012 21:26:14 GMT 1
Great thread, and well done to everyone for your achievements.
Mine are not earth shaking, but for me it would be starting lateral work with the old man, and my riding instructor telling me that I have managed to school Jos and make improvements to our way of going. I still don't think I'm a good rider, but at least I am improving.
Oh, and a biggy for me, I am now no longer nervous at all about riding, even if he is being rather exciteable beforehand! Yay!!
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Post by antares on Dec 15, 2012 21:39:52 GMT 1
Sitting on my youngster for the first time ;D I bought him as a weanling and have done everything myself. This is my first baby horse so to get to this stage is very special for me. I'm so excited about his future.
Also, my jumping confidence has returned, it isn't yet what it used to be but this time 2 yrs ago I wouldn't even jump a 50cm cross pole and this year I've been doing 90cm wh with the odd 1m Xc fence thrown in too. I even took my friends 5yo to a clear round jumping session after never having jumped him before and I loved every minute
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Post by Travis the wonder horse on Dec 16, 2012 9:21:29 GMT 1
This is great and makes me smile My best moments
My lovely wonky donkey, who I rather impetuously bought then found out he had active sidebone, so was not able to ride him until May, then he went lame again in the summer...luckily it was an abssess, I say luckily as this was easily sorted and a relief that he would be sound again. Since this he has been totally sound since. He has lots of confidence issue having been passed from piller to post in his 10 years...6 owners! 3 in the last 3 years. He is still very green in alot of ways he has got into the habit of spinning and napping alot when we are out...nevr trying to loose me, just very unsure of going too far from home I thnk. But every time we work quietly at getting over this and each time he is better and better.
So I am happy to say this year (although only once for me but more for my daughter) I had my first canter on him out in an open field...so exciting and yesterday I went for a 2 hour ride and he didnt nap or spin once....so fantastic I am on cloud nine. He just plodded the whole way happily. The sun even shone and we missed the torrential rain that started 5 minutes after we got home. So we stood together in his stable together just watching the rain, with his head resting on my shoulder. I could have cried with joy.
I am so looking forward to next year and what progress we can make...jumping? trec? whatever it is I just love having him around, he has such a gorgeous gentle if a bit cheeky character.
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Post by Kelly Marks on Dec 16, 2012 12:11:55 GMT 1
What a super question!
I bought a card for someone once that said 'Make Yourself Proud'. I think it would be a good slogan to have in our offices, tack rooms - everywhere! (Perhaps personally not in the kitchen as I'm not sure that will EVER happen!)
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Post by maryanne on Dec 16, 2012 15:49:41 GMT 1
What a great thread -it really got me thinking about our achievements this year rather than thinking about all the things which have not gone so well. For me it was just to canter confidently. It's always been an issue with me tending to dip forwards & resulting in the pony going on the forehand & then me holding tight feeling hopelessly out of control motorbiking around the school! So this summer I made it 'not an issue' and after a hack would return to the field & just have a go. I imagined I was on a lovely hack with miles of bridleway in front having a lovely canter or one of those Olympic dressage riders doing an effortless 'push button' canter. By the end of the summer I was sitting up straight and easily 'push buttoning' her into canter without any fear or concern -happy me and a happy pony!
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Post by ladyndibs on Dec 16, 2012 16:23:51 GMT 1
There have been some really tiny things and some HUGE things this year that have meant so much.
Feeling confident enough thanks to Auntie Blaze to canter with one stirrup (accidental) and enjoy it, even when she 'sets her neck' and takes off I don't feel fear just a pure adrenalin rush and can't wait for the next time.
Having my first ever canter on Marygold, a lovely dainty little arab.
Beng able to catch Lady any time I want, I do sometimes have to send her away but it is only ever for a few minutes at most and she turns her nose for her headcollar every time.
And being the brave girl she is.......not! She let my OH give her a little brush today, no headcollar loose in the field, ok it wasn't for long but at one stage he couldn't get within 100' of her.
Not bad for an oldie ;D
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Post by dalesfan on Dec 19, 2012 11:27:11 GMT 1
These are all lovely, thank you for sharing them Perfect way to cheer up on a grey December morning!
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jinglejoys
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,503
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Post by jinglejoys on Dec 19, 2012 20:27:01 GMT 1
I'm just proud of Malaga He has come so far (Sod Photobucket you used to be able to change the upload size! )
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Post by Kelly Marks on Dec 20, 2012 11:25:30 GMT 1
That is one handsome mule!!!
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