Horses

I miss mine too, NfkDumpling. They know when you're down in the dumps. There's nothing more theraputic than stroking their ears, laying your cheek against theirs and listening to their steady breathing as they rest their chin on your shoulder.

Thank you for resurrecting this thread - it was before I knew of GN. I had a pony for many years. I didn't mean too, he just happened. He's been dead ten years now but I still miss him so much. Not just slopping around the countryside on him , but the rest. Brushing his great red hide. The smells. The sound of a contented horse tucking into his haynet on a dark evening. [big sigh] emoticon.

Just came across this thread....and would like to add myself to the Horsey Nana set....
Still have 7 of them ... oh how much fun I have had over the years...and loved the time with the GC and the ponies...cant be beaten for spending time with little ones.

Ex A.I (not artificial inseninator!) here, also ex competitive dressage rider. My poor DS1 used to come to work with me, ride etc, but wasn't that really bothered. DS2 (deceased) of his own choosing became a very competent horseman, and I treasure the photos I have of him riding and competing. (He at one point was involved with showing heavy horses, with all the attendant extras).

We had a lovely pony on loan, if I got on it, he would play me up something rotten, but put a small person on board and he would behave as if he had a cargo of eggs on board! Great little chap, sadly long gone, but then that was many years ago.

millipede I am impressed! You and all the other gransnetters on this thread have given me just the push I needed to do what I have been braving myself to do for months - get back on a horse. I have never owned my own horse but used to ride as a teenager (spent every weekend hanging around the stables) and then intermittently as an adult. I last rode about a year ago and although I enjoyed it I felt very nervous and then was in agony from every muscle for about a week afterwards. I thought that maybe I had to accept that I was just 'too old' at 59. I am now ashamed of myself for being so defeatist (and such a wimp) so have given myself a good talking to and will get some lessons booked immediately. to all of you

Thank you very much yogagran - I'll certainly check up on those. Very helpful.

In W.Sussex you could try three of the ones that are fairly near me:

The Three Greys - www.3greys.co.uk/

Albourne Equestrian Centre - www.albourneequestriancentre.co.uk/

Bridge House - www.bridgehouse-equestrian.co.uk/

I can't vouch for any of them personally but have heard people talking about them in a complimentary way.
Good luck

Do any of you horse-loving grandparents happen to know where I and my DGD aged 8 could go for a ride together in Devon (or Sussex)? I live in West Sussex and she lives in Devon. Her father, my son, would love us to ride together. She's had some riding lessons, so is not very experienced, but she's knowledgeable, having read many books, and even written one called 'What you need to know about horses and ponies' for her father's birthday! I used to ride a lot but haven't ridden for a few years now.

It's a long shot I know, but someone just might be able to recommend good stables. There is quite a choice on the web, but I do value personal experience.

Thank you for reading this - I won't be upset if I don't get any replies!

I miss just watching them. I never rode ours [get on one side of a horse and fall off the other] but I used to love watching her in the field with the others..their friendships [or, as was the case with ours not wanting to be friends with the others; she wasn't at all nasty but liked her own company]. Drove through Lincolnshire to Market Rasen on Sunday. Very flat and VERY bendy. I'd find it very tiring looking after a horse again. Not sure how I did the '14 years without a break apart from holidays'..but it does become a way of life, doesn't it. Used to love seeing all the foxes come out towards evening time, or going down the field early in the morning and seeing the horses lying down; would go and sit with her. Magical times.

I had 4 Ponies and a 15 hand Welsh cob mare when we came to Sunny Lincolnshire 32 years ago, I thought it would be easy to find grazing in such a rural county, I forgot that Lincolnshire is 70% arable . They have all gone now. I would love another horse but have no where close to home to keep one I get to ride with friends now and again but so missing having my own.

Gosh; I've missed a few posts on this thread..I've got a whippet, millipede. Have you ever read 'My Small Country Living' by Jeanine McMullen or 'Rebecca the Lurcher' by Andrew Simpson..the two books that got me into sighthounds. As for the smell, mickey, I love the smell of hoof oil. My Welsh Cob [long since gone] had a musky sort of smell..I can still imagine it now, and can still hear her whinny.

This thread is great-just found it. I have a soon to be 29 yr old Connemara dun boy called Bailey. I am 68 so he just suits me. I had ponies as a teen-then got married-did,nt ride for 30yrs then got a TB which ruined my nerve. now I'm enjoying again-they keep you young if poor do'nt they. I love the smell of them-get some funny looks in Tesco on the way home sometimes.

Hello Dordor...can probably beat you. I am 81 and have a 27year old shire cross chap called Oscar..it really wasnt in my life plan to be still mucking out at my age, but when I am doing it, I think how much it would cost me if I was working out in a gym!!! He has a few problems so not ridden much but I did go out on him on my 80th birthday..can email you a photo if you would like it...Her shares his life with a retired national hunt horse called Joyrider..JR for short. They are out in the day and in at night now its getting colder..My daughter in law has two horses and her 7 year old has two ponies..one that she has outgrown but refuses to part with. I also have a 8 year old whippet bitch, and work three days a week in a travel agency, so not doing badly.Beautiful day here..what the Irish call a shining day..frosty and bright sunshine...pity I have to work..Milly the whippet would love to go for a walk on the plain..they are funny little dogs..they spend 20 hours asleep and the other four trying to kill something..but they dont moult..dont smell and wont go out if its raining so make great old ladies dogs..off to shower the smell of horse piddle off and get to work...take care Muriel..alias Millipede...

I used to teach and compete, many years ago! I haven't ridden for over 15 years. We used to have a marvellous pony for my ds1 (who is now aged 33, ds, not the pony who alas is long gone to the pasture in the sky).

You could put a tiny tot on that pony, and he would walk along as if carrying a cargo of fine china, but if I or the stable owner would get on board (as we would in the evening when taking the horses up to the top field, riding bareback, halters, not bridles, ride one, lead two) the little bugger would put his head down and take off like a miniature steam train, just because he could!

That pony was a real character, I swear he could have won a bending race without anyone on his back, just put him on the start line and let him go!

I could not see it again - I cried too much! I cried in the sad parts and cried buckets when boy and horse were reunited

Very proud moment this morning. My GD (14 months) pointed at my horse Teddy and said "Teddy". I take her with me to do him every Monday, carrying her in a backpack so my hands are free. I love it when a fat little hand comes out from behind my head and strokes him. He is extra good when she's with me, and I feel very lucky.

Did anyone read about the shire horse that was born blind; her owner was advised to euthanise but he refused..she has had a cataract operation and can now see [not perfectly, but adequately]. Was so 'Black Beauty'. Made me well up. Iremember reading Black Beaty to my daughter..got to the Ginger chapter and couldn't read for sobbing; my daughter grabbed the book and read it herself saying 'Oh Mother!'.

Yes I agree, my DGS age 3 yrs is very active and so about 3 months ago I agreed to part fund a pony for him - my daughter has always ridden and worked with horses so quite knowledgeable.
It has been such a positive experience for both of them, he loves helping get the water, groom and spends hours outside, my daughter finds that she is no longer hunting for things to do with him and so is not spending money on other activities. She also finds being with the pony a good stress buster for herself.
We live in the country and they can walk to the DIY livery yard so it is easy to fit into everyday life.
He already knows the rules about being safe around the pony and I think that caring for any animal helps children to learn about respect , patience and responsibility .
For me it is so special watching the pleasure they get from having the pony.

Oh I would love to curl up on the sofa with a couple of miniature horses and you, Crimson!! As for house-training, I believe that it can be done - they go outside, Farmgal, although I suppose if you had an enormous house you could get a litter tray . . . I know horses can be trained to poo in the same place: the best I've experienced is that Teddy uses the same 2 or 3 spots in his field, which is useful. Talking of poo, which I'm afraid I do sometimes, it was only when I got my first horse a few years ago that I realised the use of playing lacrosse at school. Anyone who's mucked out a stable and played lacrosse will know what I mean.

Nickel Coin's National, a year before I was born.Revealed; amateur ridden, 11 years old. Our racing club has a Grand National evening in April and we have a room full of Grand National jockeys, some of whom haven't seen each other for years. It started as a one off, but now we do it every year..I get them to sign my Grand National book 'A Race Apart'. Sat next to John [Foinavon] Buckingham one year. I love racing folk, and the horses are my heroes.

The horses DH used to ride were the ones his father bred and trained, crimson. One was Revealed which ran in the 1951 Grand National, others were Red Fuel, Tombo, Trygoon and Silver Star. They travelled all over the country to races but I'm not sure whether you'd call any of them famous

DH used to steward the horses at The Royal Show before we left the UK and he knows so many folk in the horse world

Apparently there is a pony in the UK -called Rosie - that is being trained for a young boy. Brilliant as the concept is, the downside could be people who would want them as the latest fashionable pet - like pigs. The advantages over a dog is (apparently) that they live 2 or 3 times as long.
Just think how cosy it would be having one keeping your toes warm at night! Perhaps you just need a very large litter tray to house train it, or perhaps they could sit on the toilet. I have heard of cats that use toilets!

Dordor; is this for real? I want one!! Can just see us on the sofa watching the telly at night. [how do you house train a pony? I know you can house train rabbits...]

I've never heard about Shetlands being used as "guide horses", that sounds very strange. My DH was very rude when I told him about this - muttered something about the Americans being much bigger than us so needed ponies instead of dogs!

Re shetlands being used for blind people in America. There is a breed of miniature horses that are used as "guide horses" - not only are they bright, trainable, friendly, and loyal, but they are strong enough to lean on to help one stand up. Sometimes they live in the house, even going upstairs. They can be house-trained, and slippers and soft boots are available for them to wear indoors. Sometimes I think I'd love an indoor house when the knees are creaky, but then I think about how being a horse means living outside in a herd . . .