Welcome WarriorNik

[NIKKIB]

Please tell us about yourself and your pets, we love piccies so please put any up ;D

If you have any problems please contact myself,Mugsy,AnnK, AmyJo or Selina and we will be pleased to help.

[WarriorNik]

Hi all,

Sorry, I seem to have put my hello in the wrong place! Will delete it now.

I'm also a Nikki, and have an old horse named Warrior and seem to have acquired a couple of old working collies - Ladd & Lass.

Trying to justify buying a young horse to bring on for the time Warrior is retired, but the one I have fallen for has far more potential than I need for a weekend/evening hack. (Price tag to match his potential as well. Someone boot some sense into me, please, I am like a besotted teenager - again.)

I believe I am expected to join a team of Neddies here? Can't promise to take part in the quizzes, but will try and donate some prizes when I can.

[mugsy]

Welcome Nikki, I think we had a talk on msn one evening ;D

You don't have to join the Neddies, you can join one of the other groups so don't let them bully you into joining a team you don't want to ;D

I don't worry about a horse's potential, if they haven't competed they won't miss it. Mine had a lot of potential but he had a really good life enjoying himself without having to do all that. He did several things all to quite a high standard but prefered to play around, typical of a man

I can soon change you to Neddies if you wish to join them

[WarriorNik]

Yes, I think we did chat on msn one night. Which one of the two were you? (No, don't answer that! I don't want to remember! )

Yes, please as a Neddie. I am more of a horse than a wildcat, wolf or terrier.

As for the horse and potential, I know in my head that I need a 4 x 4 Land Rover equivalent and not a Rolls Royce but, having been quietly riding out on the Rolls... (sigh)... I think I'd feel so guilty about expecting it to scramble up rocky mountain tracks and knee deep through bogs instead of performing in a dressage ring or as an eventer. I'd feel as if I were abusing him and that really is the sort of riding I tend to do. Common sense and my bank balance endorse it... but my heart is playing games with my head.

[mugsy]

You are a Neddy

I enjoyed that chat but it did get muddled at times ;D

I see what you mean about the rocky tracks and mud, we have the mud but not the rocky tracks, have stone walls to jump though. I think life must be so boring for those horses that compete.

I love the Gypsy type cobs, they look like plods but are normally very forward going and can go anywhere.

[WarriorNik]

Sadly Warrior is slowing up a lot now. A couple of people raised eyebrows as they looked at his teeth when I bought him, but I was smitten then and refused to listen when they said '9 and a good bit!' If he really was 9 then, he's 22 now... Although he still enjoys going out for a ride, I find myself feeling very conscious of not doing as much on him as I'd like, just a very quiet plod, and approaching this winter, he's not carrying as much condition as he has in the past, despite supplimentary feeding. Mike had a look at his teeth in case they needed rasping and said there wasn't enough of the molars left to rasp.

[mugsy]

Hugs Nikki,

Mine went to the Bridge last year and I still miss him even though I couldn't see him as much as I would have like the last few years. Let them raise their eyebrows, you bought him for the right reasons, because you fell for him.

Keeping condition on them as they get old can be a problem.

Unfortunately to many are now disposable these days but he has found love, what more can he ask for.

This was the last picture I took of him just before he went to the Rainbow Bridge. He was 32 years young, nearly blind and going senile so I let him go. Much better that way that waiting until he done some serious damage to himself. Got tears in my eyes now.

[WarriorNik]

Awww, how, sad, and I know how hard it will be for me to make the decision when the time comes. Your lad looks a much finer type than Warrior and 32 is a good age, but it must have been a wrench for you.

I don't think Warrior is ready to go yet. The mad charge to the gate when he sees me is now more of a shambling trot, but he still neighs a greeting and takes a big interest in his bucket, but don't they all? He also pricks up his ears and seems to take an interest in his surroundings when I do ride him. I'm only small and in his prime he could have carried twice my weight easily all day.

I'm stabing him at nights now and letting him stay in with a massive haynet (soft meadow hay) if it is really wet. Just walking him out in hand and in a rug when I get home from work and to try to avoid him becoming stiff if he can't go out by day with his girlfriend.

I'd really like for him to have at least one more good summer, but have asked Mike to kick my butt and be brutally honest if he thinks his time has come and I start sticking my head in the sand.

[mugsy]

It is difficult to let them go, same with my dogs, they give us so much, we can at least let them go when they want to and with love at the end. It doesn't make it any easier though.

He had some Arab and Welsh Cob in him as well as something else, and used to beat the race horses up the park when he was younger ;D. Strange, the riders couldn't control them when we were racing along side of them

You will know when the time comes, he will tell you, then it will be up to you to act on it, but it isn't easy.

How about a picture of Warrior? Is he a hairy cob? I love them they have so much character. I am not keen on TBs, though.

[jessnhoney]

aww and welcome to the neddies

[angelcwmpodd]

warrior sounds like a babe...i have a heavy weight cob...he's about 7 ish(??) and is a loverly horse!! he is a great horse for me ...we are well matched and he is my horsey soul mate!! we are doing a lil bit of competing and will do more in spring!! sorry to hear about your baby mugsy!! never easy!!

re: the horse nikki...go with your gut feeling....it's usually right!!

[kayleigh]

Welcome to the Neddies Nikki