Progress!

[MadMumInKent]

After a week of looking around at livery yards, I've found THE one :D :D

The yard is further away than I'd have liked, but the quality more than makes up for it. Its a private yard, with only 5 stables, 24 hour turnout if required, all brand new, owner on site, a new sand school being built in September, good hacking... The thing that swung it though was how much I liked the YO, she's lovely, came across very friendly and genuine, and is fussy about who joins her yard, ie only wants people that are friendly and easy to get along with. She' s running her yard along BHS standards so that eventually she'll hopefully become approved. I'm so pleased, there was no hesitation in making the decision! Her son, 7 yrs old, also rides, so that means when my 8 yr old comes up with me, they'll be company for each other. (Not taking the other two sons up there - they're far too lairy! ;) ) Anyway, I'm very pleased :)

On Sunday I'm going to look at a pony! Yes, a pony! Who'd have thought it!! :eek: I'm taking my brand new YO with me for a second opinion, as she very kindly offered to help me in my search even if I didn't take a place at her yard! Not sure how it will feel, riding a 14.1 highland, after being used to the likes of Zip, a tb x and 16.2!! It'll be interesting I'm sure ;)

I'll let you know how it goes on Sunday! Wish me luck! :) Thanks for reading my ramblings, as ever :)

[GeeJay]

Highlands are gorgeous! I used to live near a Highland stud and loved to see their foals every year. Their stallion was absolutely stunning and in fact it was hard to believe he was a pony as he seemed huge - a real chunky monkey if you know what I mean! Hope it goes well for you and the new yard sounds ideal, nice YO's are few and far between from my experience LOL!

[cazrider]

Oh Madmum, a highland.. Fantastic :D My first fella Apache used to share a field with a highland and he was (and is) the most gorgeous pony. He is 14.2, and has carried me (a whisker under 12 stone, but about a stone heavier then :( ) without blinking. They are just lovely, but, a word of warning, he gets fat on mid air in summer so has to have very limited grazing as soon as Spring strikes, and he still gets fat :eek: None of us are quite sure how.

Dying to see the photos. :) I haven't posted since your last post about doing it yourself. I'm sure there are other things which have happened which you're not telling us! Your privilege. For what its worth, I think you are very wise not to have gone for the first horse you saw, however gorgeous he was, and as long as you have all the help you need starting off, and your YO sounds lovely, it sounds like a good decision to me.

Best of luck with your highland.

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks GeeJay and Caz :) I don't know whether its because I've found a fantastic yard, or whether its cos I feel this may be the horse (pony! ;) ) for me, but it feels so right, I'm so excited, and not at all scared and panicky like I was last time I was going to see a horse :)

This is the pic of him that's on horsequest - the owner admitted he looks too tight in front in this pic, but he sounds like a diamond, completely bombproof and as safe as houses.

http://www.horsequest.co.uk/images/MussonHlandApril.jpg

[Soupdragon]

Hi MadMum - that's great news! A good yard makes all the difference. My yard is brill - it's on a working farm with unlimited turnout and only 11 horses, including the YO's. She doesn't advertise and only takes people who are recommended to her. She likes it small so she can do all the horses herself and doesn't employ anyone. With all the troubles I've been having with Madge, the help and support I've had from the YO and the other liveries has been fantastic ...

I've had offers to ride the other horses just so I know I can still do it (as confidence took a bit of a dent!) and with Madge being my first horse, I didn't have much in the way of equipment, and people have been so kind letting me use their lunge stuff, fly sprays, buckets, etc, etc...

The highland looks lovely! Good luck with your search ... I'm sure you'll find the right horse/pony eventually. And don't worry about ponies - my YO is 5ft10 and has ridden Madge (14.2) no trouble!!

[halllv]

Oh, good luck Mad Mum. I think small is good when your just starting out. The yard I'm going to sounds just like Soupdragons.
I will keep my fingers crossed for Sunday, he looks lovely. Keep yours crossed for me, going to see one today that sounds perfect :)

[ambatt]

What a fantastic looking Highland - I hope he is the one. They make fantastic riding horses and can do a mean dressage test. I love them.

[*Rachel_George*]

Ohh I got confused between the two threads you have up :o

Good luck for tomorrow. Im also looking at a pony tomorrow and hopefully signing the agreement as seen her 6times before :D

Good luck
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[MadMumInKent]

Good Luck Rachel - is there a pic that I may have missed? :) Hope it goes as planned!

[Sable]

Good Luck :) :)
The yard I'm at is just like soupdragons I have so much help from YO and other livery's and they are such a friendly lot. If your new yard is anything like that, and it sounds as if it is, I'm sure you'll be very happy :D :D

[*toHorse&Away*]

Yard sounds great!

Hope you get on well with your viewing!
Yep, bit different 14 to 16hh!
He looks like it would move lolvely though, eh?

Best of luck :D

[GeeJay]

Oooh just seen the picture, he's absolutely beautiful, I'll have him if you don't want him! Lots and lots of luck for tomorrow, can't wait to hear how you got on - fingers crossed!