Horses

As I have started to look at creating things for horses, I thought people may like to know a bit about my experience in that field (forgive the pun!).

As well as the sheep and poultry, I have 18 horses of my own, mostly retired, and 2 others that I look after for their owners.

I sat on my first horse when I was 3 years old and they have been part of my life for 60 years this year (2024)!  I got my first pony, a 14hh New Forest when I was 14 and he was 9.  Polo wasn't what you would call an ideal first pony but he  taught me a lot and I kept him until he passed away at 26.

I left school to become a working pupil at a riding school, where I was trained in horse management and as an instructor, but I stopped working with horses when I got married and it was many years later before I became involved again.  In later years I've managed an international event yard and run my own equine maternity unit and livery yard, but a change in circumstances meant I had to give it up.  I  kept all the horses and have always hoped I could start again, but I think that's become a bit of a dream now, time and finance aren't on my side.

I have had some beautiful horses over the years, mostly Thoroughbreds/ex-racehorses and they will always be my favourite, but now I only have three large horses - my own-bred stallion, his mum and his half-sister, she wasn't bred by me but I did have their sire with me until he passed away at 32 years old!  All the others are ponies, from 11.2hh to 14.2hh and ages from 2 years to 24.