Horses would be my most favourite animal, I had my first riding experience when I was really little as we lived on a farm until I was 5 or 6 whereby we moved
to another town and lived in the town area on half an
acre which was far too small to hold a horse, so I raised
pet lambs each spring for many years as my father still lived back
on the farm and would commute home at the weekends.
I owned my first pony Jack when I was 13 as I was able
to rent some land to hold him. We went through pony club
together and he was a very experienced pony to the
extent when he wanted to jump he jumped everything in
sight, and when he did not, there was no way you could
convince him to..
I had two horses after him before I gave up because I left
school and was working full-time and could not put the time in to exercise them
Seventeen years went by before I would ride again
My two children were keen to start riding so I bought a pony, Pandy
then shortly after I was offered a little shetland pony, now they each had a pony. It was time that I got myself a horse so I could ride along with them to teach them and keep up as it was hard work walking along-side!
Well..In the 6 - 7 years the children were keen we changed
mounts because they outgrew them. I have lovely memories of the many long rides I went with the children treking, riding to get to pony club before a horsefloat was purchased. I joined an
Adult Riding Club where I had a great time participating in their riding events. My last mare was a beautiful grey that I named Amazing Grace
Grace for short. To me she was 'grey and graceful, and one day she would be Amazing'.
All my riding was on an english saddle, western saddles are not used very often in New Zealand
and definately not in Pony Club and Equestrian Horse events. I had my first ride in a western saddle a few weeks ago when I was asked to exercise a pregnant mare as her owner had broken her leg and could not ride
The saddle is extremely comfortable and James my husband and I
hope to get land here in Oregon and get horses and other animals.
Amanda_NZ
