Oh Jana,

I REALLY feel for you!!!!!! I grew up riding horses. I had a gorgeous mare, well still have, shes at my sisters, shes about 30 years old now. She had a son, and I was just starting to ride him and get interested in campdrafting, and bang along came mg and away went horse riding!!!!! I am thankfull I can still see my dear old mare when I visit my sister.

I love donkeys, although I've never had one, and have fallen in love with a mule that I have only seen from a distance on my travels up to the big city to the north of me. He just looks so darn cute, I could imagine having one in my back yard, well not at the moment, he wouldn't fit, but if I ever have land..........................just dreaming
Kate

ps, if you go to my profile you will see my gorgeous horse.

Oh, Kate, Sally IS a beauty -- with such a kind and intelligent eye. Her son is a handsome colt, too. So sorry you don't still own him -- and that you don't get to see her every day.

Having my horses in my backyard WAS a lifelong dream come true -- and I blissfully enjoyed it for almost 8 years -- so, I can't complain too much. My pasture stands empty -- but, I let my neighbor use it during the winter so that she doesn't have to buy as much hay. I get to sit at the kitchen table and watch Sammy and Frances graze -- a beautiful sight.

I still have my saddle and horse trailer -- I guess "dreams" take a long time to die.

Yes they do!!!!

When I got rid of my boy(Pardo) my sister and I were very particular about who he went to. Many came, and one lot left and we just cried and said "They're not having him!!!!"
One lady came, quite slight(Pardo had an attitude, not mean, just too big for his boots), and I thought"hmmm ok we'll see" She was looking at him as he had been raised the natural horsemanship way. the first thing she said was I prefer to ride my horses in a halter(headstall) wow I thought, so I said thats all we ride him in.
We saddled him up and off she went. It was blowing a gale,and pouring with rain, not the best time to try a new horse. He jigged around for about 5 minutes, then you could almost see him sigh and say "ok she knows what shes doing"
I think my sister and I cried when she left, she was an answer to prayers, kind loving and gentle. We went out and saw the Natural riding school he was going to and wow, what a place, all horses fat, happy and very well behaved, in paddocks full of grass.
We've driven past once and he looked happy.
Sorry to go on, but I still grieve about him, in fact I'm crying now!!!!
So I understand about your saddle and horse trailer. I've got his halter and lead hanging in my lounge room........................couldn't bear to get rid of all of him!!
Kate
ps sorry to hijack the thread!!!!! :-)

Oh Kate, you have me in tears now. I'm so sorry, but at least you know he's safe and happy. Take care. Pat

Me too, Pat. I haven't been able to ride horses for years. Not even go to our State Fair to see them. Sucks. I can't imagine owning one and having to give it up.

Annie

Kate, it's okay (about hijacking!). Sometimes we get carried away in posts, which doesn't bother me at least, as long as everyone is getting what they need.

Oh, this is hijacking?? I just called it good ole fashioned understanding and support. We can get info from LOTS of places about our MG -- cold, hard facts. But, until you "walk in our shoes" -- and have to give up stuff that you love (few tears here, too) NO ONE else but fellow MGers will EVER understand!! Although its been such a short time, you ALL feel like FAMILY!!

And, Kate, I thought I was the only one who rode with a halter and a leadrope for a rein -- bareback, nonetheless -- LOL. Of course this was when I was "shorter in the teeth" and WAY before MG.