At 15:43:12 on 23.01.12, Dazzle wrote:
I am always interested to know why people have the horses they do. The moment I clapped eyes on Hector it was love at first sight, well for me it was. He almost had me off the first time I rode him and strangely enough I thought, 'oh yes you've got a bit of spirit'. So did your horse speak to you? Was it love at first sight? What attracted you, colour, breed, talent or just a little bit of magic?

At 17:19:22 on 23.01.12, noneotherthan01 wrote:
Jamaica was given to me for free by a family who could no longer afford her. When my sister told me about her, she left out all the personality and looks details, and just said, "I found you a horse." I honestly had no idea what to expect! A mysterious black? A gorgeous grey? Maybe super tall... or just above a pony! But I saw her for the first time and I knew she was perfect for me. She had a scraggly mane and tail, but she was fit... she had strong muscles and she had the perfect body type. As I got to know her personality, I thought for sure we were made for each other. She is so smart, which I love!! She loves to challenge herself, and her rider, but knows what is safe, and what isn't. I'd say the thing that attracted me the most is her mind. She loves adventure, just as I do, but she also likes to be safe. I'd say she's me in horse form :)

At 00:13:16 on 24.01.12, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:

I know you have already heard the short version dazzle lol but here is the long version... The day i went to see grenville he was on a big eventing yard boarding because he had been racing over here and he was due to go back to ireland the following week because the 'eventers' said he was too lanky for an eventer. So i went into the stables along the row of flashy sports horses and to the end stable, he was much taller than the other but didn't look it because he was so thin but what did show was his bright personality and all of a sudden i didn't care about the other, no doubt more tallented horses, around me, i knew then that i wanted him. Tacking up it took a full half hour and 3 of us to get a bridle on he was so head shy and when i got on all he wanted to do was go go go but i felt right up there even if my legs were clinging thin air he was so skinny, then my little sister who can walk and trot on her own got on and she was tiny on him then she was only 10 year old and he was totally different with her, slow and steady. After that he stole my grandads hat and i knew he was coming home with me and i felt like laughing in the womans face when she said he was a good weight and was asking £1500 for him with no tack. He was sooo overpriced for a ex racer with no training, no condition and no tack but she wouldn't budge on price and i really wanted him so that night we rang a vet and got him vetted and home within a week of the viewing :) here is a pic of grenville the day he came home, you can see how skinny he is

(Click here for larger view)

At 00:32:50 on 25.01.12, KklovesJunior wrote:
Well my horse Kerrie had just died and we needed to get a companion for Cherry and project for me. I was looking for a young horse I could train myself. I saw an add for Turbo Rain Storm and all that described him was "A super sweet boy" I emailed the lady and she made him sound perfect. Only when i met him i found out she wan't exaggerating. He was the sweetest thing i had ever seen. His father and his mother were the most beautiful paints i had ever seen. The lady had high hopes for him, but he was almost solid! He came right up to me and pushed his head into my arms. I knew he was coming home with me. We payed for him and he was home a week later. The lady told me that Junior had picked me and I had no say in it. lol

At 09:31:27 on 25.01.12, zoelovesanimals wrote:
We had been searching for a new Pony for only a few days when we came across Polly's Advert. I have a major soft spot for Welshies anyway so instantly fell in love. The rest as our family like to call it was almost as if it was fate! - We read through the Advert properly and Her name was Polly which was the same as my Jack Russels. We rang the owner and had a nice long chat with her mentioned i was in the wheelchair and without any hesitation said she would be perfect. She asked where we lived, we told her and it turns out her brother in-law lived down the same road as us. We went to view her and the first day I fell in love she had the sweetest temperement, was so kind, and NOTHING phased her. We viewed her 5 times in total just to be on the safe side. In the first viewing as we were taking her back to her stable a chicken jumped on her back and 'rode' her to her stable, where two more chickens were fighting in the corner. She just carried on with no fuss. a few weeks later we rang up and arranged to pick her up and the week before we did my Jack Russel Polly passed away. I know it sounds silly but i always like to think that my Pony Polly was attracted to us by my dog Polly. It was just weird how we lost a polly and gained a polly in a matter of a week. She really is a special Pony. Looks after and cares for everyone! Shes not your stereotypical Chestnut Mare! :)

At 17:30:36 on 25.01.12, OffTheTrack wrote:
I found my mare through the retraining of racehorses I help with. I was told a new horse was coming in (a relatively routine thing, so I just did the usual to prepare a stable and be there for the unloading). She came at 10pm on a damn horrible night, I thought to myself I'd rather be home and comfy than waiting for the lorry in the dark and sheeting rain! The lorry arrived, the ramp came down and the driver brought her out and put her lead rope into my hand. It was pitch black so I couldn't see her. I brought her into the stables, into the light and was shocked when I looked at her. She was an absolute state. There wasn't much left of her black coat, her skin was raw all over, she had faeces all down her back legs, her mane and tail were knotted, she had overgrown and cracked hooves, her eyes were red and weeping, she had lost all use of the muscles in her dock, she was so thin she looked like a living skeleton and she had ulcers on her hind legs that, once drained, you could fit your fist inside. I almost cried at how pitiful it was, there was no life left in her and she was, in most senses of the word, gone. The yard owner said to me, "Cynder's Way. Once a magnificent racehorse, what a waste. All because of some sick person." She was terrified of everything. She had been starved, neglected and abused, resulting in absolutely no trust in people or other horses. But out of the four of us at the yard, she seemed to choose me as the person she trusted. Slowly, we built a bond that no one else on the yard could understand or begin to form. She regained her health and built trust in me and she became the most stunning mare I have ever seen (but I have no good photos!!!). I had never been allowed a horse because of time constraints, but I had my heart set on this mare. My Mum came down to the yard once and I showed her Cynder's Way. The yard owner said I could have her for free in return for my ongoing work so it was a deal. I still work with the other horses but I will never love anything more than watching my girl gallop down the field to meet me at the gate and know that she chose me, not the other way round :) x P.S I have put her up for sponsorship on the website- so if you'd like to sponsor my girl and help the retraining of many other recahorses, please visit the website!

At 22:52:29 on 26.01.12, Jojo78 wrote:
I fell in love with Jonesy the moment I saw his big daft face poke out over the stable door lol He was at a local riding school, and had been bought to bring on and sell. I watched a girl from the yard ride him, saw his beautiful high knee action and thought how lovely he moved. He wasn't quite what I'd planned on getting, I was in the market for something in its mid-teens, around the 16hh mark, that had "been there, done that", and then I saw Jonesy - 14.1hh and only 3 years old. I tried him out, he consistently ignored all of my requests, and then proceeded to try and climb out of the school! He also slamed my leg into the fence, pinning it between him and the wooden slats... I guess that would have put a lot of people off, but not me. I thought "this one's a fighter, with plenty of spirit.... I'll take him" That was back in September last year. He's the sweetest, daftest, most inquisitive horse I've ever met, and I love him more & more each day :)

At 21:17:11 on 27.01.12, ChanChie wrote:
When I first went to look at Archie I instantly fell in love with his eyes,he have two wall eyes, which are the most gorgeous set of eyes i have ever seen! plus he is a coloured cob which i must admit i have a massive soft spot for.He also had a little moustache which i thought was dead cutee.. :) p.s he isnt really one for camera's.

At 12:05:35 on 28.01.12, sophieandcallum wrote:
I phoned up about one pony which was sold, so was told about a highland called Callum who wasn't for sale yet as he was only a week back into work. He was at a breaking/producing yard being brought back into work after a 2 year break, which i later found out was due to him throwing off his previous owner regularly and was deemed 'dangerous'. I got to the yard and saw a beautiful face over the stable door and instantly fell in love. I did want a 15.2+ RC type that was NOT grey, but 13.3hh grey, completely green highland was what I came home with. I still think he was doped, but thankfully he is not 'dangerous' and his character is loved by everyone. Poor chap just needed someone to understand him and take the time to get to know him. He's not your typical highland and is very sensitive, but is also capable of a huge amount more than anyone would have anticipated. It's funny how fate can play such a funny game, but I truly believe I stumbled upon him for a reason.

At 13:01:42 on 28.01.12, JaymeeLS wrote:
Well some of you will know mine and Saffie's story. We didn't get to pick each other, she was the only one my aunt had if I wanted to learn to ride... I honestly don't think we could have been paired up any better than if I'd had a choice of a 1000! Our personalities are identical, lazy, stubborn(but not in a malicious way), excitable but not often, cheeky and clever(or so I'd like to think lol). She's not the perfect beginner horse, but she's not a dangerous bronco either. The most you'll get out of her is a nap, which she'd been allowed to get away with at her old home so it became a vice, and spooky bolt/nap while out. She never tries to ditch you....you're going with her if you can't stop her lmao.