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  Virtually Horses  

Around The World

Hello, I live in Bristol, England and I am the proud owner of New Copse Dolly Mixture, a three year old New Forest mare. I started riding when I was 8, although I had loved horses forever. I have no idea why, as no one else in my family is horsey.

Learning to Ride in the Seychelles

I was living on a little island called Mahe, in the Seychelles when news came in that a crazy Austrian man had imported 3 horses - an Arab broodmare (Wal Ki Di), and an Arab ex-racing stallion (Makram) and their colt (Lazio) and intended to start a riding school with horses that he would breed himself.

I was fascinated and badgered my parents constantly, until they gave in and contacted him. My first ride was on Wal Ki Di (pronounced Vy-Kee-Dee). The Austrian man whose name I"ve forgotten, rode Makram. Wal Ki Di was quite possibly in season, as Makram seemed very interested in her. We walked and trotted bareback on the beach for half an hour. I was hooked and returned every weekend for a year.

One day I turned up and was told I couldn"t ride. Wal Ki Di had foaled. She gave birth to a wonderful little colt called Chirin (Cheereen). I began backing Lazio the following week, with the Austrian riding Makram, and occasionally Lazio. The Austrian"s method of backing was just hop on, and follow the lead horse, until the youngster has gained confidence and started understand start and stop commands. Within a year, Lazio was an excellent riding horse, and at 15hh, was taller than both his parents. I now had a friend who came riding with me. She rode Makram, I rode Lazio, and the Austrian rode Wal Ki Di. Chirin would run along behind.

When I was 12 we moved to England. My nan paid for me to take riding lessons. What an experience! Everything I did was wrong, although I could make any horse they put me on obey me without using force. I started riding their way, and they let me enter their horses in shows. I won about 200 rosettes before I started pining for a horse of my own.

I started sharing a Thoroughbred gelding called Jake when I was 14. He was brilliant. But we moved house, and I could no longer get to him. I returned to riding school, but a different one. This one was very relaxed, and I had a lot of fun, but I still wanted my own horse. I had a few more shares and they were disastrous. I quit horses, and riding for over a year.

In Summer 2002, a friend invited me to see his new loan horse, Rosie. She was a complete angel, and really got me back into horses. In November 2002, at the ripe old age of 17, I bought Dolly. She is the most brilliant pony in the world.  She is quiet, excitable, intelligent, cheeky, adorable, funny and just generally perfect. I backed her myself in Summer 2003, and she has now been turned away for winter. I cannot wait for next Spring when we will recommence riding. I know she will be excellent.

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