Can I brag in here????

Hi Guys,

I just got a phone call from a lovely lady, and it now means that I HAVE to brag!!!!!! Hope you don't mind.
Some years ago I bought a BIG grey gelding out of the horse sales. By the looks of him, he was TB X Percheron (or similar) with a lovely disposition and confirmation. When they were selling him, they said he was approximately 15 years old (perfect I thought), but after a vet check and the dentist coming out, it was decided that he was 7 or 8 at the oldest. Anyway, I didn't know if this boy had done anything, and I must admit that his size did scare me a little. (he was 16.3HH).
So, I named him Charlie (short for Charlie horse) and did some work with him in the round yard. He didn't object to anything (except me leaving) so I thought i'd start breaking (i really hate that word for this) him in. It seems that he'd already been ridden and took to everything beautifully. After about 6 months I took him out with a friend on a trail ride and he was a dream. He pulled a bit, but was otherwise terrific. During the day we jumped the odd ditch, fallen tree etc. on the way back, we stopped off on an open patch and put him through his paces. Turns out this boy was rusty but quite well educated. Anyway, I had a lady come out to look at a young QH colt I had for sale but she fell in love with charlie. After much umming and aahhing I decided to let him go.
Well, I just got off the phone to her (some 6 years later) to hear that charlie had his first clear s/j round, got an excellent dressage score and only got a few time faults for cross country. Apparently he's qualified for something (have to admit I was soooo happy that I kinda stopped listening lol) and she is loving him to bits. And to top it all off, he's also being used by the lady's daughter who is a paraplegic and is doing dressage. He got a good score under her too apparently . So okay, its not really my work that got him where he is now, all I did was save him from the knackers and give him some work, and found him a great home but OMG I am SOOOOOOO proud of my big boy!!!!!!! I feel like one of my kids has taken their first steps all over again!!
Anyway, sorry for the long post guys but its so nice to hear that he's loved by the family, is doing something that he loves and is bringing joy to a young girl who has such a hard life!
Thanks for listening everyone!
Smiles all round from me
Bdna :P

That's fantastic. I love to hear about horses that find awesome, challenging, and caring homes. Yay!

Thats great to hear!!! I bet that was great news to find out he was only 7 or 8 years old, I think if I would have found that out I would have freaked LOL!!

That is a fantastic story. What a special character he must be to be so well behaved and share so much with that ladie's daughter. I watched a few months ago, a show on dressage school for disabled children and adults. It amazed me at how well those horses did. Incredible animals. These riders would have beated the crap out of me any day.

Congrats on training such a great guy and giving this lady and daughter such a great opportunity to advance their riding. Not many horses around that could have done what he has accomplished.

OMG Guys,

I'm so happy! I'm getting to see my old charlie horse in a couple of weeks! They even said I can have a ride on him if I want to. I sound like a kid in a candy store, don't I? Lol

Will take heaps of pix to share with you guys

Bdna

Oh wow that's amazing!!
Have fun going out to see him again!!

Oh that's wonderful! Yes, please take pictures!!!!