What horse was "it" for you???

[mickeyfan3]

I found this picture recently while trying to organize my spare room/scrapbook room/office......thought it would be fun to start a a post about that special horse that you've never forgotten.

This is Timothy. He was a yearling here - isn't he cute? Check out that almost perfect 5 point star!!!! I look like a total typical 12 year old geek with my Horse Lover belt buckle and my Horse Happy t-shirt.... I lived in my boots and western stuff all the time at home too and totally fit that song "I was Country When Country Wasn't Cool".

I got to work with him for a week during one of my stays at Yosemite Trails Pack Station and Horse Camp.....I think this was my third year there (I was 12 1/2 here) and they had a few yearlings that they let us work with.......ground work, leading, ponying, etc. We even ponied him on over night trips into the back country of Yosemite and into Soquel meadows. Timmy was mine for the whole week and followed me around w/out a lead the entire time. He didn't want to bother with anyone else. They weren't planning on selling him, but said that if I could talk my parents into it, they'd let me take him.

I begged, pleaded, begged some more, promised anything to take him home. (Loved my mare, Missy that year too but I wanted Timothy so bad!!!!) Of course mom and dad said no, and knowing what I know NOW, they did the right thing as it wouldn't have just been board and some lessons, it would be starting from scratch, way too much for a 12 year old. Mom grew up with horses but I had two little brothers and we would have been boarding him, not having him at home. But I still wonder what happened to this little guy....He'd be 30 this year. I hope he had a great home....still would have been loved more by me though....

Reno's personality is a LOT like Timothy's, very playful and mischievious........probably why we clicked. He's a total ham and has even tried to figure out how to copy by friend doing the "crane" move from The Karate Kid......I should get a book about teaching your horse tricks, I think he'd pick it up fast. Wish I had a video of him trying to figure out how to copy what my friend was doing that night........

Here's Timothy, and of course Reno

[swissgrl]

Mine was a little Irish Pony named Strolli. He taught me a lot about riding and staying on ;D
My girlfriend and I were horse nuts and in highschool found a family that had Strolli, Merano (Haflinger/Fjord cross) and a bunch of Icelandics.
Strolli and Merano were their sons ponies and they both had jobs and moved out. So they were looking for somebody to exercise the two. Strolli became my friend, my partner in crime, my confidant, I rode my bike to the their house at least 3 - 4 times a week, that was next to homework, gymnastic and track training. When I got old enough to get a Moped, he would literally know the sound of it, and when I came around the corner, he was already standing at the gate looking for me.
We were inseperable, and even the people who owned him said I could never leave him, and that I was the only one they've ever since him get so attached to. He would do anything for me, and we won numerous ribbons, the best ribbon we got though was the one we got for best working team.
I ended up buying Strolli from the family when I was in College, but was able to leave him there. We were together for 8 years. When I went to the States I gave him back to the family, knowing he will have his forever home with them.
A few years later, I went back to see my parents, and my dad and I went for a bike ride, and rode past their house. They were home, so we stopped to say hi, and of course see if Strolli was still there, he was 24 at that point. He was, and as soon as he heard my voice, he nickered and came right up to the gate. I was wearing my old riding jacket, and he went straight for the pocked I always carried treats in.
The next time I saw him, was 3 years later, he was now 27, they had put him out in pasture over the winter, and he had almost died. I asked them to please not do that the following year, if he was still alive. He needed to be with his friends, and surroundings he knew. I took him for a walk and it was clear to me that that was probably the last time I got to see my old friend.
He was the best friend a young girl could have, countless hours of riding, he loved to run, he loved the speed, and so did I, but we also would walk in the forest, and he would listen to my teenage girl problems. I cherish the memories I had with him and because of him.
When I first saw Arrow's picture on the feedlot, I instantly thought of Strolli, they do look very much alike, however, Arrow is much more serious than Strolli ever was. Trevor has more his personality.
I will have to post pictures when I get home. Can't access photobucket from work.....

here is a picture of Strolli


and Arrow

[michellep]

For me it was Music, he was the horse that helped me get my confidence back after a very bad accident in which I was lucky I didnt get my head kicked off. He had been out to pasture for about a year and a half and was as clumsy as they come. He was a former racehorse and even up until the day he died if he was in a trailer you had better of had his lead rope untied when you opened the door because he was coming out full throttle backwards. In fact the day my dad brought him home he came out so fast he fell over backwards. The desire to be first horse in the lead never left him, he would go all day long. I had a sweet roller on the bit I used and he would get so worked up he would actually drool and I always found my way home from the little piles of drool on the trail. He was so fast and there was so many times I would jump on bareback and run wide open through the trails, looking back now Im lucky I survived because I cant say he had the best "whoa" we ususally stopped when he was tired or just didnt want to go anymore. He wasnt much of a cuddler and could get down right cranky at feed time, he hated dogs and would try and run them over if given the chance. Boy, he was just a kick in the a$$, good all around horse. He was always full of piss and vinegar and I was always worn out when we would get done riding. His last ride was at the ocean at the age of 35, he was still full of go, could hardly see and ended up stepping in a hole and falling on me (thank god we were in the soft sand in the dunes) he just kinda layed there for a second until I patted him on the butt and then he got up and continued on. He had a series of strokes and finally I made the tough decision to let him go. I still miss him to this day. Now I have Turtle who is in no hurry to get where he is going, is such a cuddle bug and snorts at every little thing on the trail. Every now and again I see flashes of Music's personality come out in Turtle. Turtle is turning out to be one heck of a trail horse himself, its just a little slower ride this time but thats okay. I dont have any pictures to post of Music, didnt have a digital camera back then

[gratefulknits]

Ahh, what memories! For me, "it" was Dooley, the 1/2 appy 1/2 TB gelding at the barn where I took lessons. I loved that guy more than anything. He was the perfect horse for me at that point: he was patient and forgiving but he had a lot of go, and he would jump anything I pointed him at! I never experienced a moment of fear on that horse. I learned to go over jumps "hands free" and without stirrups, to jump down embankments (can't believe now I was ever willing to try that!), to do flying dismounts and so much more, all with Dooley. I trusted him completely and in fact I trusted him so much that I ended up trusting myself, too. I rode other horses at the school, but my best lessons and my most fun rides were with him. I ended up being an exercise rider at the barn in exchange for extra time riding Dooley; we'd go out in the huge back pasture which was usually empty and "talk". He was the greatest horse. I only have one photo of him, a terrible quality little snapshot with my little sister in the saddle, but I treasure that picture. He can't possibly be alive anymore, but I still think about him, wonder how his life turned out, and pray that where ever he ended up he was happy and loved.