This is my new blog to continue my journey with my Dales Ponies. It will also be the story of my building a new life for myself, alone now, except for my friends, horses and dogs, since my partner died in March 2009. We had lived and worked together, mostly twenty four hours a day, for nearly 28 years and I have never lived alone before. It is a tribute to my wonderful friends that I am still here, still sane(ish) and ready to re-invent myself. I love them all more than words can ever say and can never thank them enough for all they have done and are still doing. It is also a tribute to Alexandra Kurland and 'The Click That Teaches' that I know how to save myself now. To new beginnings.......

Friday 11 September 2009

More Friends and another possible Pony.

My yard is now officially full!!! In fact it's probably slightly over full. That's all through word of mouth and in just a few months, and the new people who came to look today are keen to find out more about clicker training too.

I never really believed a few months ago that this would be possible - to fill the place up with like-minded people who would help and support each other with never a cross word, no moody behaviour, and all becoming close friends with me and with each other. As he reminded me on Tuesday I had told my main inspiration that I am an idealist and I would never be able to find enough people in the horse world who felt the way I do about horses - how wrong can you be?!!

It's going to be noisy. There will be 5 children around the place, two of which are only two years old, and 10 dogs at times but that's just the way I like it. You can keep peace and quiet as far as I'm concerned - I've had enough of that to last a lifetime! I'm useless without other people around me and need people to bounce ideas and enthusiasm around with.

A friend told me the other night that she's never seen anyone change as much in such a short time as I have. She says she met a quiet, shy person a year ago who bears no resemblance to the outgoing, bubbly person that I am now. Another friend says that I collect people now. It's been a hard, painful road but the only way I could survive it was to find a way to make loads of friends very quickly and make sure that they always know how much I appreciate them and their company.

One of my farmer friends said that I could charm anyone. It was kindly meant but it stung a little because I thought it made me sound a bit false and I'm never that. I genuinely love all of my friends and am so proud that I can call them all my friends. I can't wait for them to arrive every day and miss them like crazy if I don't see them for a few days.

When I go to the local saddlery and feed store it's like being here because the staff nearly all keep their horses here now. The one that doesn't says that she feels quite left out! My life has changed beyond all recognition and I'm finally coming to terms with the fact that it's all for real and not some dream that I'll wake up from. This is the person that I am now and it is a vast improvement on who I was before. I wish that David could see me now and see what I've found that I'm capable of. He would be amazed!!!

I'm going to see another pony tomorrow who sounds ideal. My Inky Dinky Saddle arrived today so I just need a pony to put it on. It's a bit mad - buying a pony for someone else's children when I'm not even sure if they'll take to riding but at least I'll be trying to give them something back for all they've done for me, in the only way I know how, and I love small ponies so it will make me very happy. I think I've probably earnt it.

6 comments:

  1. Wow! Sounds like a fun place to board. It's nice when everyone gets along and has a similar philosophy about horses and training.

    And as long as you enjoy the hustle and bustle, more power to you! Even from afar, I can tell you have really blossomed in these last months.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fabulous, I can't wait to come and see it all!!!

    I think the charming comment was a compliment - if we said that Bella was charming, there'd be no falsehood there!!!

    I think the inky dinky is brilliant - can you fit into it to test it :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brilliant news. Good luck with the pony .

    ReplyDelete
  4. Helen, you're an inspiration to all of us - you have done amazing things and learned so many new things in such a short time! I love following your adventures, and accomplishments. Good luck on the pony search!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Catching up on posts here, Helen!
    How marvellous that your yard is filled up already, and with nice people too!
    Of course the charming comment was a compliment - be happy for it.
    Maybe that's also why your yard is filled up? I can read through the lines that you are happy and enthusiastic about the project, and that is often contageous!
    I am so happy for you.
    I hope that you find a nice pony too. Maybe someone has an older pony that they are happy to retire to a good home?
    I would have loved to have an Inky Dinky saddle to my daughter when she was small.
    Good luck on Wednesday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you all so much!!!

    I went to see an 11.1hh Section A today and her owner very kindly agreed to let me have her on a weeks trial and delivered her this afternoon. She was only a few miles away. She was her son's pony and although he didn't want to ride her anymore he looked pretty devastated at her being sold. He was a lovely boy snd I felt really sorry for him - he kept going and checking that she was ok while I showed his mum around the farm.

    I will write a post and take some pictures of her tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete