Introduction

I started this  horsey-themed blog shortly after the perchance of my current horse, Mate, early last year.

STATS:

Registered name: (I'm still deciding...)
Barn Name: Mate
Height: 14.2ish
Model: 2002
Breed: Stock mixed
Future: Low level dressage, pleasure horse.

Mate came from a trail/riding school that I had been volunteering at since I was twelve, and taking lessons since the age of seven. My first memory of Mate was that he was the horse that was extremely unpredictable, often broke his saddle on the wired fences but looked like fun to ride. I watched as he threw riders over his head and onto their backs on numerous occasions - he was a horse that only experienced riders could handle. My first ride on him was when I was nine and didn't know the difference between a right and left lead canter. The only thing I remember was that his canter made me laugh (and it still does).



2010, after a lesson.

 For years after that, he was my favourite horse at the riding school and I begged to ride him every time I was there. I'm still not sure why I liked him so much - he was arrogant, refused to do anything but follow another horse in a line and didn't have much to offer...

After eleven years of trail riding and lessons, Mate was offered up for sale for a ridiculous $2500 after he continued to throw off staff. We made an offer; which was refused. Five months later, and only a few rides under his belt during that time, he was offered up for sale again for $1200.

Donkey or llama? I can't tell.

This was a horse that had literally done nothing for eleven years other than throw people off and follow in a line. He had lousy movement, no muscle and his conformation was nothing to brag about. But, hey, he was a cool dude. And back then, I was looking for a solid, all-rounder that was low maintenance.

There were multiple heated conversations (with people who cared about me - but I still didn't want to listen) about the things that could go wrong. I remember being in tears a lot of the time. I got him on the basis that if selected people saw that it honestly wasn't working, I'd have to give him up.


His first few rides were insightful..
I quickly learnt that he was definitely not a jumper or needed a serious schooling in the area that I couldn't be bothered to do:

*flail*

 My first lesson on him as "mine", he vertically reared on my instructor (who was already unsure about our pairing):

I threw a lot of different things at him within his first few months. I fell off a lot but was have a blast getting to know him and learning new things!

I'm not sure of the exact moment I decided I wanted to enter the field of dressage training. But it was the beginning of our real journey.

Our first "dressage" lesson - leg yielding

 We've come a hell of a long way since our first "dressage" lesson. And I have enjoyed every single bit. I love learning new things and I think Mate really enjoyed our schooling sessions too (or rather the amount of loving he got after)

 His first show experience (and mine) was a T-shirt day about 20 minutes down the road from where he lived. Looking back, I really should of focused of the positives. But I cried the entire time of the test because it didn't go it way I expected wanted. His second show, however, was a blast. And we scored a very generous 50.789%

Note: favourite photo

 Bless his little, pony-sized booty. He's so good.
We'll continue to mosey about and, I can only dream, rock the low levels of dressage.