Savvy-horses

How my horse journey started

When I was just 14yrs old I managed to get a job strapping trotters!! It was long hours with no pay: However the experience I gained working with these horses was worth its weight in gold. I had to handle some very bold stallions which really tested my confidence. After six months I was offered a horse, he was to be my first horse. His name was Silky Son and he was a chestnut gelding, 17h ex pacer. He was nasty and would kick and bite at every opportunity. Silky and I spent many hours riding around suburban streets and out on the trails. I would call into home whilst out on a ride and leave him loose in our front yard to graze. I lived in a suburban area. We had no fencing and he would never leave or even venture next door.

A year later I was finally getting paid!!!! I put this money toward buying another horse more suited. In the next few years I had bought and sold quite a number of horses trying to find the right one. I know now with natural horsemanship any of these horses would have been suitable, I just didn't have the "natural" experience or understood horse behavior.

I eventually stopped at Spike a first cross QH gelding which I took to my first show on the Gold Coast in 1985. We placed in all of our classes and had lots of fun. I also owned another first cross QH, his name was Jake - the best horse I have ever owned!!! Sure wish I had him now. Jake and I spent hours and hours riding the pine forests of the Gold Coast, along Burleigh Beach and swimming across Tallebudera Creek. We would average around 20-30 hours riding per week. I had to do a stock horse work out back then to have him officially registered as an Australian stock horse, he got the "stamp" on his butt. He was an unbelievable horse and I have never met any like him yet. Jake taught me confidence, balance and trust. We worked as one, he just seemed to go where my focus was. We didn't come across anything we couldn't do - we even rode along the main highway from Mudgeeraba to Burleigh racing the cars.........not a good thing, but fun back then.

From these fantastic years (as a youngster) I went into breeding Arabs and miniatures for a few years. Then came our 5 children so I had a 15yr break from riding............lost ALL MY CONFIDENCE......and stopped riding. I still bred miniatures and did a lot of showing with them. Broke some to harness and did lots of long reining, loved it! We went over jumps, over bridges, through gates, around obstacle courses etc, so much fun.

Now after my long break I managed to find QS NH through a good friend and I have started my journey again and am loving it!! When I started QS in August 2006 I wasn't even game to sit on a horse or handle anything bigger than a mini !!! Now with the program I am back in the saddle and passing my assignments and levels!!

Below are some VERY VERY OLD PICS of my early riding days, please excuse the quality .