My first horse was a year old shire gelding who needed a loving home, he stayed with me for about 5 years but then I felt I was not doing him justice and found him a great home at a brewery where he could do what he was meant to do in life, work delivering the beer around the streets of London. Later he was sold to a lady who showed him successfully until a turn in fate and he sadly died from peritonitis. I feel at ease as I know he had a happy life after a not too good start.

Annie (1981 ~ 1999)

Whilst I owned my Shire I also brought a Dutch Warmblood mare who I had for a wonderful nine years. We had good times and bad, On many occasions she would go home from a hack without me, particularly when she was in season!!! But I could trust her with my life. For eight years we had great times, mad gallops, lazy hacks, helping youngsters get out on the roads and learn about those nasty things called cars - she was a super surrogate mother to all young horses. Every Boxing Day we had our mad Christmas ride on the UK Chaser Course letting rip as no-one else was out! But sadly out on a quiet hack one day she suddenly just fell over - no idea what happened and she looked totally shocked, I led her home and assumed she had stumbled. Days later she was found down in the shelter and unable to get to her feet. The Vet came and some five hours later she managed to stand and came flying out into the paddock. Then all the tests began to find out what was going on. This started in February and finally on May 7th 1999 I had to say goodbye as she had been diagnosed with Myeloma and things were getting worse for her. By that point she looked like a hat rack and was unable to keep on any weight, and was so weak it was unfair to carry on. She was a special creature and will always be missed.

Blandysfarm Zig Zag - Ziggy to my friends

Then came my Chestnut British Warmblood mare a four year old, she was not what I was looking for and if I am honest totally unsuitable, but I was smitten and brought her anyway. We had years of trials and tribulations, I could not work it out, we had the most  fantastic and special bond, but she was a total nightmare to ride, unpredictable is an understatement, her riders spent  more time on the ground than in the saddle! No matter how many broken bones and injuries I sustained I just knew we had to be together (now I know I am mad!!!). Oh in case your thinking I am a terrible rider, she actually used to ditch most people that got on her!!!! In 2001 I decided I would never ride her again after a very bad fall where I  really did hurt my back seriously. But I knew I could never part with her, from the ground our relationship was so special, and it was obvious she hated work, the more I tried to work her the more bouts of colic she would get. In 2001 I realised the connection with the colic and work so retired her at the grand age of 7, and from there her health did begin to improve to a point. For whatever reason she had by now developed around 13 sarcoids along her midline and between her back legs. But I am pleased to say now (2009) she is a sarcoid free little mare, and I have learnt so much about sarcoids I could write a book!

Cassie

In 2002 I found my next mare a little 3 year old Welsh Cross palomino with "attitude" and a temper that would suit a chestnut!  I was missing riding and thought at 14.2hh it was not too far to fall off but  my gut feeling was this was going to be another challenge in my equine life.  As she was so young I decided to turn her away for the first year to develop more and basically grow up, but we did lots of ground work trying to teach Cassie to lead - preferably with me on the end of the rope!  Anyway, ground work was a disaster, one broken wrist, many bruises and a concussion later we finally reached an understanding - I made it to Alfla Mare in the ranks!  Cassie then developed her health problems, arthritis in the hocks, muscle problems in her back, shoulders and neck and then in 2007 serious hayfever.  The use of magnetics, reiki and herbs have kept her comfortable, but the hayfever was getting worse each year, to the point she again became dangerous to lead.  At her worst we thought she was going blind as she would walk into things, not see me approaching her and various other little mishaps.

So I decided at the end of the summer 2008 that I would not put Cassie through another summer of misery and it was time to look for another friend for Ziggy and make a decision in the Spring about Cassie.  But, always a happy ending with me, Cassie is still with us, she breezed through this summer with absolutely no problems and all because I found the perfect herbs that worked for her. It was like a little miracle - and what is really great, now she is comfortable and happy her leading work is perfect and she is happy to play games on the lead rope!!

Wayward Adventure - Asti - or Asti Pasti so Very Fantasti!!!

As I had decided in 2008 that maybe Cassie would not be here for the Summer of 2009 I began to think I wanted a new friend for Ziggy, and I had in my mind a 16hh Bay mare about 14 years old - within a week a dear friend said she had the perfect horse, Asti.  I was cautious at first as I have never had a good experience with a TB, but this one is an absolute pleasure to live with and I can't fault her in any way.  Asti as you would expect has her own little problems, she has kissing spine so her working life is over, but she is comfortable and in no pain so came to me to retire, and we hope it will be a long and happy retirement for her.

Asti has a huge personality and is so cheeky you can forgive her anything. She has done it tough in the past, but we don't talk about it because its history, and all she wants is to know she'll be fed and loved - which she is!  She is a worrier and if her routine is changed we do have to have a little weave, but nowadays its more a sway than a weave!  Since homing Asti I have been taught another little lesson in life and that is not to judge all TBs by one bad incident - and I have to say if I ever get another horse it will probably be another TB - but I am not having any more horses, 3 is enough at 6.30am on a winters morning with everyone demanding breakfast, rugs and to get to the field!

I suppose I should know better than to say I will not have any more horses, who knows who is around the corner needing a home and wanting to teach me another lesson in the equine world.  My horses, and those of my friends and clients have been some of my greatest teachers, and I thank them all.