Introductions

Right.

First post! Hmm... where to start?

I might start by introducing myself. I am slightly horse obsessed. When i say slightly.. i live, breath & dream horses.... have since i was 5, see.. only slight... That said, it took me 21 years to get my own horse.

Let me start at the beginning.

Ever since i knew what horses were, I've wanted one, however all the begging pleading & tantrum throwing in the world didn't get me a horse. My parents were convinced by other "knowing" members of my family that i didn't need a horse, it was just a girl craze, and i would grow out of it, and that would be that!

I had to settle for riding at the local riding school, which was fun, but didn't happen often enough and surely wasn't as much fun as having my own.

When i was 13, i had a bit of an accident - I got kicked in the bum! (Not by a horse) and dislocated my tailbone, it was enough for my parents to say "Right! No horseriding for you, it will make it worse". This is not a good thing when you have a horse addiction, and needless to say, the obsession did nothing but fester & get worse for years.

Fast forward to 22 years of age, I've got a full time job, self sufficient, financially independant, and still driving off the road every time i drive past a paddock with a horse in it, when i had the bright idea "Right! I'm getting myself riding lessons".

5 minutes later, the lessons were booked, and i was starting the beginning of the journey I had always wanted. My plan was to learn to ride, and then once i was proficient enough, buy a horse.. maybe.

For 4 years, i had a 1 hours lesson and went for a 2 hour trail ride every week, rain, hail or shine. Let me tell you.. that one day a week spent at the riding school was food for the soul. It refreshed me. Reset the batteries, enabled me to go back to work and face the real world for another week.

However, it wasn't enough. Simply riding & being around them wasn't enough. I wanted one. I was waking up every morning dreaming of owning a horse. I was daydreaming of owning a horse, and every night i went to bed praying for a horse.

So.. i started to look for my very own. I looked for about 12 months. Some were to fast.. to slow.. pacers... completely nuts. In the process of riding the "completely nuts" horse, I fell off and was trampled.. breaking my fibula in the process. Fearing the horse would run off more than fearing i had injured myself, I jumped up, grabbed the horse and walked back with a broken leg. The owners were greatful, and i had a broken leg...

3 months out of riding, and momentarily contemplating never riding again, and then all of a sudden i was back in the saddle.

Not long after that, I was told about a beautiful thoroughbred Gelding called Sante. 8 years old, 16.2 hands, really really quiet horse, *perfect!*.

I arranged a trial ride, only to be told that I was to late, and he'd been given on trial to someone else! I wasn't happy! I was told that he hadn't been moved yet, and technically hadn't been payed for yet, so i could take him for a ride.

Well.. from the second I saw him, i fell in love.. it was one of those love at first sight things. There standing before me was this tall SKINNY lanky awkward looking thoroughbred with the softest eyes & saddest face. And i was sold. I took him for a ride, and he was perfect. I was kicking myself that he was already given. I loved him.

The yard manager said something to me which ended up being quite important.... "I'm a firm beleiver in fate, what is meant to be, will be"

So imagine my reaction when three months later I get a call from the yard manager saying "It didn't work out! He's come back, he's pretty skinny and in need of a bloody good feed, you can have him for $400".

In my insane rush to get to the yards and pay for him before someone else did, i tripped over and broke 2 fingers - not a terribly good start to our relationship!

But all of that aside, On December the 22nd 2006 (contrary to the date on the picture) I became the proud owner of my first horse - Sante. And what a sorry sight he was! ALL ribs, all hips, and like I said.. the saddest face.

I had always had this dream - you know the one.. a typical teenagers dream of sitting in a paddock with my horse, lying down next to me.. or seemingly invsible communication & understanding between human & horse. I had always imagined my horse would love me, and whatever i did with him, it would be based on love & understanding but more importantly, no fear & no force.

During my riding lessons, I became familiar with "Parelli" After googling Parelli, I decided that this was exactly what i wanted. This was it. Here I was, a 26 year old horse owner "wanna be" with all the heart, but zero experience or know how. Sure, I'd been reading horse care books, but reading it in a book, and the real thing are two entirely different things. I had no idea! What do i do when he doesn't want to be caught? What do i do when he wont pick his feet up, How many times am i supposed to kick him before he moves?

So, studying Parelli seemed the obvious answer.

Thanks to Ebay, i became the proud owner of a second hand Parelli Level 1 kit. And so... our journey started.........