I love stories lol. Righto, about mine.
May be a long one
Poplar Charm
1998 Bay gelding 15.3 3/4hh
He didn't earn much lol $200
His race career wasn't long.
Dougie came to me after I'd had a long break from horses. He was being looked after by a lovely older couple who had every belief he was destined as a riding pony.
Dougie was a great racer over his short career with lots of potential but unfortunatley never even got a win due to being a bleeder. So he was retired from the track. His next phase in life is a bit iffy on facts.
He was rehomed ott to a young girl who fell in love with him. She aspired to compete in high level dressage. She gave D a small spell and had him saddle broken. Then proceeded to start her training.
Unfortunatley after a very short time she decided Dougie wasn't learning fast enough (her words) and threw him in the paddock. When she found her new pony neither boy liked the other so a small yard was quickley strung up for the 'stupid' standardbred. During a storm one night Dougie got tangled in the wire strung out everwhere and did a rip up job on his backright leg. He was left to untangle himself and heal his own wound.
Eventually the young girl was forced to sell him and without sucess, sent him to the old couple who gave him love and rehabilitated his leg. He got a refresher on riding and having lived up to expectations, went to the SPPHAQ for rehoming.
It was literally love at first sight. Dougie was vocally called from a very far back paddock. He galloped right up to us and came straight to me. He was everything I was looking for, except a bit green.
He came to his new home the week after
Dougie gave me everything I wanted.
He was happy to go slow, very slow. He was patient with just the walking, only venturing into the trot after weeks of walk.
Unfortunatley a couple of months into adopting everything seemed to go horribly wrong. He became odd around my friend and difficult to catch. He didn't enjoy being saddled and was defensive when ridden.
I couldn't understand it so stuck to everyone's advice of 'getting tough'.
It didn't work. He bucked, reared, pigrooted, reared, kicked, reared, and refused to move.
We had a vet check him, a chiro, a bowen, a dietician. Nothing was wrong with him. He was just 'naughty'.
So I contacted the adoption officer in tears and proceeded to tell her how bad our relationship was. I was given the confidence to continue for a little while longer.
Though nothing changed I started to see the relationship between my friend and my horse. It wasn't nice.
Again I decided to rehome him, with someone 'who knew what they were doing'.
I was still convinced not to give up. And have natural horsemanship and a few people to thank for that.
It was suggested I get him out of the agisting situation asap. It was a huge part of his issues and not a very nice situation.
I just hadn't wanted to see it.
When he arrived in my backyard everything changed. Within an hour he was happy, snuggly and all over me. But he was also severely underweight. My full board hadn't been so full in the past week.
I began the process of transforming my poor boy into the horse I'd adopted in the beginning.
Everything fell into place. He became the perfect riding pony. Responsive, active, willing and friendly.
Until we started a routine. After doing the same rides through the week and trails on the weekend he soured.
Dougie became more assertive. He anticipated every move we made to the point where he'd rear, buck and pigroot.
He was bored, nothing was interesting anymore. He then decided I obviously wasnt to be graced on his back.
After a few falls I decided to 'spell him', in a dirt paddock lol. Then, once it was out of his system, start again.
EI hit shortly after and the restrictions gave us some good bonding time. He became fat, glossy and relearned his place beside me through lots of ground work.
Having my confidence shattered yet again I decided to go slow. I would get myself to a happy point and find an instructor.
It happened slowly and I was glad. My future instructor saw me taking our time in learning and riding and offered help.
Within weeks we were cantering nicely and jumping ridiculous heights. Though as is life, things came up, and our mentor left us. It was like a see-saw.
We'd go foreward and I'd fall off. Each time it would take longer to get back to where we were.
Dougie was still patient and understanding due to our new found communication skills.
When we found our next instructor we excelled quickley. She knew which buttons to press and that yelling made us do it.
Again life got in the way and I attempted to continue on my own.
I fell off several times and lost the confidence I'd gained.
Finding a standy based forum with all my favourite people on it brought the light back into our ridden life.
We went out on trailrides and race escorts and learnt that it's not so bad going slow.
Eventually we'll get out into the show ring with unwavering confidence and show off the worlds greatest breed
Subject: Poplar Charm 
Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:16 am
