Willow (my horse/field ornament)

[Magpie]

As well as Maggie the hamster I have a horse called Willow. I bred her from my first horse who was called Whisper and was the best horse in the whole wide world.

Originally we had Whisper and another pony Tego but they have both since left us for the big field in the sky due to old age. They lived long and happy lives but I still miss my girls.

Willow will be 16 this year. I had BIG plans for her when we bred her but having kids meant putting her on the back burner and she’s never done much other than be a giant pet in a field. (She is quite happy with this arrangement)

We struggled with recurrent abscess (intermittent but then becoming more frequent) and lameness in one foot over the course of a year which after investigation meant she had to have surgery on her foot in 2024 to remove some chipped floating bone and subsequent necrotic tissue which was all very stressful at the time but she recovered well and is happy and sound once more.

Roll on spring and a break from darkness and muddy fields!

X

 

[Magpie]

Another photo I missed Plus a photo of Willows mum Whisper and Tego for fun. I’m sure you can guess which one is mum!

Was before the rise of the camera phone so most of my photos of the old girls are prints

 

[Maz]

Oh my goodness Willow is so gorgeous - I love horses. Doesn't everyone? How wonderful to have her. And having bred her yourself must be very special. I'm glad the foot got sorted- that did sound stressful. Whisper and Tego looked very happy there too

Presumably your children may be interested in riding Willow at some point? Or feeding her apples

 

[Magpie]

Thanks Maz. She is beautiful isn't she?! She's not the sharpest tool in the box though! Her mother was super smart (and 'sharp') Dad was a lovely big coloured sports horse who was much more chill. Think willow got her mums looks and her dad's laid back temperament. She is very special as she's all I have left of her mum, and it was so much fun and rewarding in the early years when I had LOTS of free time to spend teaching her things. I wouldn't breed again but I wouldn't be without her.

The fluffy little bum you can see behind her in the first photo is one of my friend's ponies who lives with Willow to keep her company. He's a typical cheeky pony... always where he's not meant to be, but worth his weight in gold.

I have 2 boys... they aren't really fussed about riding or doing anything with the horses (could be a blessing ). They like to do a little with them now and again but quickly get bored and would rather be making dens etc!

Oh take me back to the glorious days when my Sister and I spent every minute that we weren't in school galloping about on Whisp and Tego! Bliss!

 

[Maz]

Aw that's so nice Willow has a little friend. Yes our boy was a bit scared of horses but we did used to stroke their noses when out on walks We actually got harrassed by a horse on holiday once ha ha. We went for a lovely walk in the lakes on private land belonging to the place we were staying and there was a horse living on it. It clearly thought people meant food and started nudging my OH a lot. When we turned to walk back, it followed us and kept pushing my OH in the back! It was quite funny!

 

[Magpie]

Ha ha! You can get some rather naughty ones. I never feed wee Thistle (pony pal) treats by hand- he gets very cheeky and nibbly if you do. He’ll even get into your pockets if you’re not paying attention! Such a wee character. He’s like a real life Thelwell pony

Boys have spent enough time with horses to not be scared at all- they just aren’t that into it as a hobby.

 

[Yorkie]

Awwwww she is gorgeous,I used to keep horses when I first moved down south ,my favourite was an Irish coloured cob called Bear. He was my baby,but sadly ,also the reason I stopped keeping horses . I went up to turn him out in the field the one morning and found he had been stolen. I was heartbroken ,they stole everything,even his gear and trap( he was a ride and drive ). I swore never to keep horses again and always keep animals I could keep close. However ,I still think fondly of my years up the field,so peaceful .We who had stables there would take it in turns to muck out etc and I loved when it was my turn alone with all five horses .

 

[Socks' Mum]

A lovely but very sad story

 

[Maz]

Awwwww she is gorgeous,I used to keep horses when I first moved down south ,my favourite was an Irish coloured cob called Bear. He was my baby,but sadly ,also the reason I stopped keeping horses . I went up to turn him out in the field the one morning and found he had been stolen. I was heartbroken ,they stole everything,even his gear and trap( he was a ride and drive ). I swore never to keep horses again and always keep animals I could keep close. However ,I still think fondly of my years up the field,so peaceful .We who had stables there would take it in turns to muck out etc and I loved when it was my turn alone with all five horses .

So sorry to hear that - it must have been a terrible shock and heart breaking. We get sheep stolen around here - sheep rustling - not very often but ...

 

[Yorkie]

So sorry to hear that - it must have been a terrible shock and heart breaking. We get sheep stolen around here - sheep rustling - not very often but ...

Thankyou ,it was,but I still have fond memories. I also haven't ridden since ,I was put off .

 

[Magpie]

Awwwww she is gorgeous,I used to keep horses when I first moved down south ,my favourite was an Irish coloured cob called Bear. He was my baby,but sadly ,also the reason I stopped keeping horses . I went up to turn him out in the field the one morning and found he had been stolen. I was heartbroken ,they stole everything,even his gear and trap( he was a ride and drive ). I swore never to keep horses again and always keep animals I could keep close. However ,I still think fondly of my years up the field,so peaceful .We who had stables there would take it in turns to muck out etc and I loved when it was my turn alone with all five horses .

Oh Yorkie, I'm so sorry this happened to you! How horrible.

I am not sure if I will have another after Willow goes. I sort of doubt it to be honest but never say never. If I was to have another I'd need to save my pennies and buy a 'been there done that' School master that's just ready to go... and they don't come cheap! Many people think its mad to enjoy mucking out/poo picking, but as you say, its actually lovely and peaceful. When willow was on box rest/restricted turnout after her op I even used to nip out in my lunch break to poo pick the small field she was in. Was such a nice break from the office.

They are a lot of work- and mine live out 24/7, 365 days a year so relatively low maintenance!

 

[Yorkie]

Oh Yorkie, I'm so sorry this happened to you! How horrible.

I am not sure if I will have another after Willow goes. I sort of doubt it to be honest but never say never. If I was to have another I'd need to save my pennies and buy a 'been there done that' School master that's just ready to go... and they don't come cheap! Many people think its mad to enjoy mucking out/poo picking, but as you say, its actually lovely and peaceful. When willow was on box rest/restricted turnout after her op I even used to nip out in my lunch break to poo pick the small field she was in. Was such a nice break from the office.

They are a lot of work- and mine live out 24/7, 365 days a year so relatively low maintenance!

Thankyou so much,they were definitely my therapy. But I have always been too scared to lose another. Mine loved his stable and would curl up like a little cat to sleep,his yawns in the morning were funny.

 

[Magpie]

Thankyou so much,they were definitely my therapy. But I have always been too scared to lose another. Mine loved his stable and would curl up like a little cat to sleep,his yawns in the morning were funny.

He sounds the polar opposite to my girls. Neither of them liked being stabled AT ALL! Both had a stint of box rest at one time.

Willow was cooped up for 6 weeks absolute box rest followed by another 8 of being stabled with restricted turnout and she coped fantastically well… but I think she was on the verge of having a bit of a mental breakdown. She never once in those 14 weeks lay down, Even though she was stabled in a massive foaling box! Poor girl was so glad to go back out 24/7.

Her mother had to be on box rest for a few weeks many years ago for suspected navicular (turned out to be a very deeply seeded abscess) I asked my husband (not horsey) to hand graze her while i mucked out and he flat refused… I huffed and puffed about his lack of help and when I took her out of the box she absolutely exploded. Just as well he refused to hold her. did me no favours though. Typical Whisp!

 

[Yorkie]

Yes ,I think he was,he was so pampered,such a poser and loved his creature comforts way too much