One of the many things you learn as a professional trainer/clinician is that your own horses won't wait. It is almost inevitable that if you are retired from competition but making a living training and working with other people's horses and training other riders, your own horses will come second or even third in the priority lineup.
Sadly though, you may learn the hard way that horse's won't wait. While keeping your own horses happy and healthy, maintaining their training routines and programs will always happen, the time spent with them on adventures out together my be limited. The net result is your horse(s) and even your partnership never reaches its full potential. I don't even have many photos of me riding Charrington because I am the photographer in the family and during that time a camera was needed, the cell phone camera was not invented.
This has happened to me. The regret that I should have done more. Although it hasn't really 'happened' to me I caused it to happen. I must take responsibility. Though my last horse Charrington WVH, a Dutch/Percheron/TB cross who I loved to pieces did attain Grand Prix moves I never competed him. I never got out there. I put family and building a farm and business first.
Sure, Charrington and I did some showcase performances. Usually in a Pas de Deux with Tiberio Lafite aka Tigger, ridden by my husband. Also trained to Grand Prix, Tigger was a grey Andalusian/Percheron cross with a true 'Tigger' like bounce to his gaits. He was the white salt to the black pepper of my Charrington, who was jet black. We performed to music at many of our own clinics as demo riders. It was a lot of fun. But working with them was never the priority. We always found some time to train and ride them but looking back it was not as much as it should have been.
Tiberio Lafite aka Tigger
Yes there were other horses in our private yard that we loved and trained to their potential too, many we owned and some belonging to others. But the fact remains that when I reflect today on those 25 years that Tigger was in our lives and the 13 years that Charrington lived, I wish I had given them more attention. More riding time. More adventures.
Both horses lived out their lives here at Willowview Hill Farm. THAT at least we got right. I wrote on this very blog about losing my heart horse CHarrington 5+ years ago. I am still not over it, and have trouble connecting with my new equine talent in the yard. My fault, not his.
Neither Charlie or Tigger were world-beating Olympic talents movement wise. That almost made their achievements more special. Both horses could do execute a very good Grand Prix test in a snaffle bridle as well as a double.
As I approach 2026 with a 3 year old Andalusian El Amable aka Ferdi in my hands, who we have raised from a weanling - I am challenging myself not to make the same mistake.
If you are a busy professional perhaps take a look at your own horse(s) too - horses don't wait. Don't let them and yourself down.
El Amable aka Ferdi
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