My first horse!

[Anne G]

If you had told me 6 months ago that I would own a horse I'd have thought you were mad.

Since moving back to Scotland, not far from my sister who is a horse addict (she owns a 3 year old irish ex racehorse and a nice little welsh cob ex schoolmaster) I have been bitten by the bug.

I started riding lessons, somewhat haphazardly and fell in love with a 6 year old 15'2 dales "type" mare that the school decided to sell due to her getting bored.

Bess is a lovely lady, she puts up with my attempts at tacking up with good grace and stands patiently when i fall off and scramble back on. I bought a stable rug and im sure the instructions are by the same people who make DIY furniture and she let me fumble with straps and buckles for half an hour till i got it right.

We have two suckling lambs who have lost their mums who she allows to jump all over her, head butt her and even eat her hay. The chickens fly onto her back, the peacocks bed down with her for the night. My GSD dog Sommer loves her and they race up and down the field together. When Bess lies down, Sommer is with her.

When I bring her in from the field at night all I have to do is open the gate and she trotts into her stable for her turnip (i hope this is good for horses?)

My son who was terrified of horses has qualified as a mounted gunner and starts his training soon at St Johns Wood. This is due to hands on experience with Bess.

I just wish I'd done this 20 years ago.



Anne (happy horse mum :))

[Jane Williams]

Good work Anne. It's funny the twists and turns that life has in store for us.

I find it fascinating how some people have the bug and others dont.

I was looking at my childhood photos last night of me riding. I quite obviously had the bug then and still do, yet my brother and sisters were given the same chances as me but just didn't enjoy it as much!

[Perdita]

Congatulations on being a horsey mum Ann - Bess sounds like an absolute darling, I love the part about the chickens and lambs, dogs etc, I can just picture that lovely scene:) We'd love to hear more about her!

[ros]

What an absolutely lovely story! She sounds like a real fairy-tale horse :)

[nat17]

how fantastic Anne, she sound brilliant. She sounds like a dream.
Funny how the bug gets you, and how things pan out.....

[Nickie]

So... wheres the piccies then??

I want to see them all - they sound fantastic!! Esp. Bess

By the way - whats a GSD dog ??

Nicola

[Esther.D]

Nickie - GSD = German Shepherd Dog (or Alsation)

[cvb]

Anne

If you are in scotland, it could be "neep" you are feeding rather than suede (which is what the English call turnips). Our horses love turnip (neep), and also like to help "clear up" any left over fodder beet (related to neep) after the sheep have had theirs.

My guy is 31 now, and is missing some front teeth - so these days he needs some help with his carrots, neeps, beet etc. But still managed to get into a sack of carrots and make short work of them !:D

You can hang up a turnip so they have to work a bit more, like aerial apple bobbing. But why spoil her fun ?!

[CityGirl]

What a lovely story - we want pictures!!!! Sounds like you've found yourself a great horse - look at it this way - you waited but you found the perfect one!:D

[Retty]

Wow, Bess sounds absolutely gorgeous! Would love to see some pictures of Bess and Sommer lying down together!

[Laetitia]

She sounds a dream come true. Pics please. L

[Anne G]

Im going to borrow a digital camera from a friend on Saturday and will attempt to place some piccys then.. :)

[kedwards]

How sweet! Bess sounds like a wonderful girl. Lucky you.

[vala]

Anne,

The description you have given of life with Bess sounds blissfull! What a wonderful feeling it must be to have your own horse. It sounds like you live on farmland. Bess sounds like a very good 'catch' indeed especially with all those 'birds' settling on her. Enjoy!

Best Wishes
Vala

p.s. Pictures would be great!

[mojo]

Sounds like heaven. You're a very lucky lady and she is one hell of a lucky horse. Hurry up with those piccies!!

[virtuallyhorses]

Originally posted by cvb


You can hang up a turnip so they have to work a bit more, like aerial apple bobbing.

I must remember that cvb - it sounds like a fine idea to keep a horse that's on box rest from being bored, we hide carrots in the hay but they're very quickly onto that one, but a few turnips strung around the ceiling might be an interesting alternative. Mind you turnips are rather expensive here...