Never look a gift horse in the mouth

So a very exciting thing happened at the weekend, Sofie’s owners offered me Sofie – for free! This is exceptionally generous of them and I am really touched. Of course I would be delighted to be Sofie’s official mum – but I will be honest I am a little nervous of the commitment.

I realise, I have never actively chosen or sought to buy a horse, except for when I was 11 and campaigned for Frodo – but I’m not sure that counts. Now I am older I am well aware of the commitment I am making.

To me horses are like marriage – better for worse, for richer or poorer (inevitably poorer), in sickness and in health, till death do us part. If I accept this kind offer, I will be paying for Sofie for the rest of her life (the next 16/20 years most likely). I will forsake the bigger house, the nicer clothes, the better car. I will not be able to stop work or work part time because I will have livery to pay. I will always have the responsibility of her welfare, getting cover when I am away, paying extortionate vet fees, being at the yard in dark winter nights freezing my tits off to ensure she is warm and comfortable. Sneaking out at Christmass dinner to give her a carrot.

The timing is a bit pants, wedding next year, lodger moving out, mortgage needing re-negotiating, kids in the near future. Loaning is far more practical and low risk for my current circumstances. I had always planned on loaning after Tonto because of the freedom it affords you.

And yet…

 

 

Look at her, she is my little princess, I can’t just let her go. If I do not take her, her owners will sell her on. She just is not the right horse for them and it does not make sense to keep paying for a horse that you are not using. They are reluctant to do this as they do not want her to continue passing hands – she isn’t for everyone – but they have practical considerations of their own.

Sofie seems to be a bit unlucky with owners. She has been passed from Belgium to the UK, to the RSPCA, to a girl in Manchester, to Adrian and then to me. She is only 9! I’d hate for her to continue this nomadic existence.

But most of all I just want her. If I were to describe my next dream horse after Mr T it would be:

·         Just enough spark to be interesting but not dangerous in any way

·         Cute and cuddly but more independent than Mr T

·         Tough as old boots and happy out in the field so cheap to keep

·         Loves to jump and nice and straight forward comfortable ride

·         Good bone but pretty to look at

That is Sofie! I really could not find a better horse. If I let her go I will be back to riding free horses – who tend to be free for a reason - or paying for shares that I don’t really like. If I wanted to buy later down the line you never really know what you are getting. And lets face it, I would not be me without my horses. Tonto is not going to last forever, having Sofie would make that whole awful process much easier to bare.

Of course I have to think of when I have kids. But Sofie would be easy to put out on full loan should I need to. And if she went permanently lame she would still have value as a brood mare. And basically, I want her to be part of my family.

So I am off to re-mortgage the house, I got livery to pay.

Slipping saddles and soundness issues

Sof and her wonky saddle

Today we had Louise out the check Sofs saddle. Amazingly her back is very similar to her February measurements, but her GP rides all wrong. The saddle constantly slips to the left, it always has, and when I ride in it I get a sore back. Experience tells me that if my back is sore most likely my horses back is as well. I just don't think it is comfortable for us.

I brought Sofie out to show Louise and she was fairly horrified to see how much it sat to the left. After checking the tree and the flocking Louise felt that Sofie was the one causing it to go left. I really respect Louise's opinion, she was the first to spot Tonto's arthritis in his hocks and has always given sound advice. She said she didn't want to alarm me but often saddle slips are caused by underlying mild lameness.

This makes a lot of sense.  Sof takes forever to warm up, does not like to bend or extend, and spent last summer notify uneven. Her right shoulder is much bigger than her left and she holds tension in her neck. I think the problem is in her left hind. Louise pointed out that she tends to stand with it tucked under her body, and thinking about it she is more snatch with her right hind, as if she does not want to stand on the left hind.

So what to do? Well of course I will let her owners know, but I think it is so slight it would not come up on a vet check. She seems fine at the level of work I am asking of her at but might limit what do in the future. Still we were never planning on eventing so probably not really an issue. I guess all I can do is monitor her. Most horses are ever-so-slightly lame, I don't think this is a massive problem but worth being aware of.

Louise is going to see what she can do with the flocking and straps to counter the saddle slip. Just as well we have her flexed in the mean time.

On a different note I was very touched to see Sof refused to be lead away from me today. Yay she does love me after all 😊

Sofie strop on video

A film of Sofie stropping last march, makes me realise how much calmer she now is