The FastDay Forum

A couple of years ago, on a whim, I saw a pretty mare advertised locally so I went to have a look at her and she arrived 4 days later (March)! Said mare also happened to be a month away from producing a foal and as I had never ventured down that route before, I did a very intensive self-learning sesh and was prepared. I named her Scarlett Sweetpea, although she unfortunately ended up being known to all and sundry as "Pea" (haha) but she'd come from the gypsies originally (not who I bought from) and the plan was to back her when the foal had been weaned.

In the event she caught us all by surprise a couple of weeks before the due date I'd been told and when I got to the yard one chilly morning (mid-April), I could see that she suddenly had 8 legs. When she moved, this little man revealed himself....





I named him Boo Radley - although he's more commonly known as Boo-boo these days and I have a terrific bond with him, particularly as he came out "monogrammed" on his back... my name is Jane....



Anyhoo..... all was fab and dandy and then when Boo was a month old, I had my accident (mid-May), broke and displaced 6 ribs, damaged my spleen and totally shattered my riding confidence

So all the plans that I had for my horses through the summer of 2012 were put on the back burner. My ribs took forEVAH to heal as they'd been displaced so I was quite incapacitated for a while.... but although I'd initially said I wanted to sell them all, I gradually started to fall in love with them all again.

I was nervous around Boo as he was a little unexploded bomb at times and I needed to be careful of my injuries (docs said 9-10 months to heal!), but I still managed to have a little fun with him as he grew. He was a charming, friendly, laid-back little chappie (still is, just bigger!) and I handled him and did "stuff" whilst I did the daily clean out of their area....

Here's a little video I made back at the time which I think shows off his personality....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TnI9ftyLw



To be continued........ (when I come back from work at lunchtime!)

Thanks for sharing @Domane He's so cute a very clever of him to get down on his little "knees" to reach the bottom of the bucket, mums gorgeous too. Sue

[wildmissus]

I am not a horse-lover but I loved reading your story and watching the video. What an adorable pair, Boo-boo is so cute and a cheeky monkey! Thank you for posting this, it is really interesting to have an sneaky peak at other people's lives. I have a terrible habit of thinking that everyone else is 'better' than me but we are all just pretty normal getting on with our own lives. How are you getting on with the horrible woman?

[carieoates]

That little fella is absolutely gorgeous, and I can see why you love him to bits.

Continued....

Part Two

So there I was.... nursing my broken body and trying to cope with a growing and increasingly strong and opinionated baby hoss and his gentle but very unrideable mum. Not an ideal situation so I decided to advertise them for sale, figuring that I need to put myself first and mend. And this is where my luck changed....

At the end of August,I was contacted by the lady who owned the stallion who is Boo's daddy. She was interested in having Boo but she told me "I have a cob to sell first" I saw the word "cob" and couldn't help asking her. Her reply "Oh! JANE! He would be PERFECT for you - have him on trial. We could even do a part-exchange deal with Boo!" So my beloved Joey entered my life.... from the day he stepped through the gate, that pony has not put a foot wrong. He has been my rock and my TOTAL confidence-restorer. The first time I rode him I had to have Dom lead me.... I was far too terrified to be let go of and I must have been as tense as a Barbie-doll wedged onto a plastic horse! Yet Joey never faltered. And gradually, over the months, I learned to love riding again, my confidence came back and we had FUN.



In the meantime, Boo DID go to Jacqui's (another J for the monogram see? haha) when he was weaned.

So that left Sweetpea.

I have a friend who runs a riding school.... well it used to be a riding "school", now it has evolved into something more like an occasional trekking centre, full of ponies that are leased privately to adults and children but that sometimes get called upon to hack a person around the hills of the Cotswolds - and she has something of a reputation for rehabilitation and bringing sunshine back into horse's lives. There are many equines there that are testament to her magic ways! So in January of last year, I gifted Sweetpea to her, to bring on, see if she'd be suitable for trekking or sell on if she felt Pea didn't suit the lifestyle she could offer (with no financial gain for me, should this turn out to be the case)

And then, wouldn't you believe it.... Jacqui contacted me at the end of February to say she was having to downsize and would I be interested in having Boo BACK! Well by now, I was MUCH more healed and ready to cope with another youngster, so I leapt at the chance to have him back. He'd been gone 6 months and as the trailer ramp came down and I saw my baby boy a full half a year older and bigger, the tears flowed uncontrollably.....

I'm sure he remembered us all as he slotted straight back into the herd with no problems whatsoever.

The "happily ever after" to this story is that yesterday, Dom and I went to visit Sweetpea, who is now a very well-behaved and beautifully backed pony. And I had a dream come true because I got to have a RIDE on her.... something I never thought would happen, not least because I was so much heavier when I owned her....







If you are interested, here is a 60-second video of us at walk, trot AND canter....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AakIrcGC7SY

I was SO thrilled to be upon her and so proud of how well she's done as we think she had had quite a rough time with the gypsies and used to be quite nervous and scared at times....

I don't think I have stopped beaming yet.

And as for Boo.... well, we celebrate the first anniversary of his return tomorrow. I feel blessed to have a second opportunity with him and I won't be parting with him again if I can help it. I feel a special bond with him as I was the first human he clapped eyes on. He's still a bit of a shorty but on schedule to hit the same height as his mum and dad - although he'll be chunkier than his mum, so after riding her yesterday I feel confident that I won't look like a mountain on a pea (oops, no pun intended!) when I ride him in years to come.

He's like a yak in his winter coat at the moment, but that cheeky face is still there....



Just thought I'd share.....

Oh Jane what a lovely story with a wonderful happy ending. It would make a great 'feel good' movie! x

Like @wildmissus I'm not a horse person either, but that was SO lovely, I watched the video and it all brought a little tear to my eye as I love all animals but horses scare me due to them generally being bigger than me. Well done and good luck and much love to you all for the future

Ballerina x

Loved it, thank you! I had to give up riding 10 years ago when I'd had 2 ops on my knees, but now I've had my replacement knee, I'd love to go on a gentle hack again.
I'm most envious of you an your 'boys' and just love the way you were so determined to get back in the saddle.

What a wonderful story, Domane. Thanks so much for sharing!

Hmmm! my post disappeared.
Those were lovely videos Domane and a lovely story to go with them.

I do have a little question though. Is it sudocrem or has Boo got the cutest eyebrow markings I have ever seen on a horse?

[wildmissus]

Just tuned in for the second half and it was well worth it. I'm exactly the same as @Ballerina, a huge animal lover but horses are big and intimidating and can cause a lot of damage! Well done domane, time and patience as clearly paid off.

I've always worked on the principal that if an animal is too big to sleep on the end of the bed then it is TOO BIG for me!

Ballerina x

Thanks Jane i loved reading that and seeing Sweetpea and Boo Radley
They're gorgeous!

I do have a little question though. Is it sudocrem or has Boo got the cutest eyebrow markings I have ever seen on a horse?

Nope, no cream..... this is he and his completely natural markings....



He also has slightly blue eyes which can be frowned upon, but I think they're wonderful.....

Sweetpea had three foals in three years with the same stallion...... This is Boo's dad...



Her first two were both "piebald" - which means that they were black and white like their dad.... so I assumed that my foal would be black and white too. When he came out the same colouring as his mum I was overjoyed.....

A couple of weeks before he was born, I got to witness him kicking "in utero" and was overjoyed that I caught it on camera.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pn_rdps_bU

In fact, I put my hand on her belly and he kicked my hand.... and I burst into tears - it was SO exciting and terrifying (the impending responsibility) at the same time.....

Boo is also delighted that the horrible lady has now left the field.... he's smiling too!

How wonderful Domane. I'm so glad you are so happy!
Thanks for sharing your lovely story.
Xxx Julianna