My involvement with horses

Before meeting my wife my knowledge of equestrian arts was limited to knowing the front end of a horse from its back end. Since then my meager knowledge has been added to and a year after marriage I became the proud owner of a horse.

Rocky

Rocky Rocky

His name is Rocky (nicknamed Granite), he is 15 hands 3 inches in height (4 inches to the hand), 15 years old (1998) and an appaloosa (he has spots) gelding (castrated male horse). So far everybody has remarked on the lovely color of his coat, and all the knowledgeable people have not approved of his conformation (how the horse is put together), though some like his neck.

Rocky is a fairly experienced horse having participated in pony club and stock work (herding cows etc).

Personality wise, Rocky is a friendly horse, but not soppily affectionate. He is very quiet and resposive to aids (signals between horse and rider) when correctly given. However, he is not a very brave horse and is very protective of his rider. Thus suiting this complete beginner down to the ground.

Sadly, Rocky had to be put down in 2001, after losing a bout with cancer.


Location

He lives on a dairy farm in Far East Gippsland in Victoria, about six hours from Melbourne, with 3 other horses and many cows.

Far East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia

Co-habitants

My Wife owns two horses: Misty and Highlander (Laddie).

Laddie

Tania and Laddie

Laddie is my wife's new horse. In a previous life he was a successful steeple chaser ... then a show hack and is soon to be eventer. We acquired him in mid 1999 and we hope that he will grow a tail soon. Like many thoroughbreds Laddie is sensitive and a bit more highly strung than Rocky.

Laddie has a star (a white marking in the center of his forehead), a snip (a white marking on his nose) and three white socks (white ankles).


Misty


Misty Misty

Misty, my wife's other horse, is a well conformed bay (brown coat with black mane and tail) mare (female horse). Technically, Misty is a pony (less than 14 hands 2 inches).

Misty was the most educated (knows the most dressage movements) of the horses until Laddie turned up - they are both at approximately the same level.


Misty

Misty has retired from competition but continues to be riden around the farm.


Joey

Joey

I am not going to say much about Joey except that he is a pretty paddock ornament (non working horse) and although handleable he is not generally ridable.


Previous co-habitants

Cinders


Cinders

Cinders (aka blip or blippy) was put down in 1999. He had lived a long and we hope happy life until old age started to catch up with him. He had retired after having served 28 years, his last days were spent happily wandering around the farm eating grass. Cinders was a very quiet kindly horse who has helped many beginner riders over the first hurdle of horsemanship ... getting on.