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Mina
Jan 5, 2011 22:54:40 GMT 1
Post by avril on Jan 5, 2011 22:54:40 GMT 1
Lovely pics, Nellie. Seeing Mina brings back so many memories, she was a big part of our lives. I don't know who looks more impressive, Mina or Akis! Seriously though, she looks a credit to you, and even more so since we know you've been in quite a bit of pain recently.
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Mina
Jan 9, 2011 0:30:27 GMT 1
Post by Erika George on Jan 9, 2011 0:30:27 GMT 1
I love the pictures Nellie, isn't she sweet. Don't worry about the mane, it will topple over eventually and then provide lots of protection against summer insects and something to hang on to when jumping! Keep up with the ground work if the hip is still troubling you. I have been through bad backs and knees with George but even if he hasn't been ridden in a while he seems to know that I need to walk and always behaves himself. I have very much reinforced the vocal commands so that he understands STAND and WALK without me having to do anything else. Looking forward to spring, Erika & George
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Mina
Jan 15, 2011 22:56:57 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Jan 15, 2011 22:56:57 GMT 1
Thank you for your lovely replies - especially Avril, I was really chuffed by your comments . Karen's lovely post about her day with Crispin has made me think: I have to admit that I still have not ridden Mina out completely on her own. I've been out with other horses and I've been out with either my sister or Akis on foot with me but I have not been out on my own. Now, of course, I can say in my defence, that I haven't been able to ride for most of the time that I have had Mina so my opportunities have been limited. And now I still don't want to go on my own as I'm not that stable and my right leg still doesn't work when I'm on board - but how much of this is excuses: should I be saying Karen's mantra to myself too? I think I so! Meanwhile, the baby is leaving the yard and her place is being taken by a lead rein pony. I'm not at all sure how Mina is going to cope with this as she is very attached to the baby. So I'm going to talk to Mina so she's forewarned, I don't want this to come as a horrible surprise. But I've just realised that I haven't written about last weekend, I don't believe it ! Finally, my dream came true. When I met Mina I was so excited because I thought I had met a horse that Akis and I could both ride and enjoy and I had dreams of us going out together and taking it in turns to ride. Well, that's exactly what we did last Sunday ;D. It was Mina's first ride out since September so I wasn't too sure how it would go but, true to Avril's training, she was a really good girl. I lunged her first to make sure she was listening to me and then off we went, me on board first. She was amazing, not spooking at a single thing. We had a little trot away from Akis and then a little trot back towards him and past him. Then we stopped, turned and trotted back towards him again and she was so good - not rushing at all but going off my voice command since my silly leg still doesn't work when I'm on board - on which note I have to say it was my first trot since the op and what a comfortable girl she is! Her action is so smooth . She was then a really good girl while we swopped over and Akis hopped up, using a fallen tree as a mounting block. In fact she was so good he even had a little trot too . Very short as I didn't want to do him any damage ( ) and I was concerned that we shouldn't tire Mina too much, I don't want to put her off! But we clearly didn't because, once we turned for home, Mina really started to step out and it was all I could do to keep up. Following Avril's rules, we insisted she halted every so often and she soon settled down again. As you may imagine, I'm now counting the days until we can go again ;D.
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Mina
Jan 15, 2011 23:41:07 GMT 1
Post by liz on Jan 15, 2011 23:41:07 GMT 1
Hi, Helen Another nice, positive post I really am so envious of you lucky MSC owners - if I win the lottery, I will definitely make my way to Avril's with the intention of re-starting with horses! Ho, hum!
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karen
Full Member
Posts: 133
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Mina
Feb 2, 2011 13:56:22 GMT 1
Post by karen on Feb 2, 2011 13:56:22 GMT 1
Hi Helen
I have just re-read your post about Mina, and that's fantastic that Akis is riding Mina now. It sounds like the three of you had a lovely time. Unfortunately Ray is too big to ride Crispin, so I brought him a bike for Christmas so he can come out with us! Have you ridden Mina out on your own yet? Also, I hope your leg is getting better now.
Best wishes Karen xx
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Mina
Feb 2, 2011 22:27:35 GMT 1
Post by em on Feb 2, 2011 22:27:35 GMT 1
Hi helen
I am so thrilled for you .. it must have felt so wonderful for a dream to literally become a reality... how brilliant and what a good girl Mina is but you know that already.... am very envious ;D
Wishing you all the best and long may your successes and dreams continue to happen x x
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Mina
Feb 3, 2011 20:55:55 GMT 1
Post by janebaily on Feb 3, 2011 20:55:55 GMT 1
Hi Helen,
Great news about you, Akis and Mina. Its a lovely feeling when you go and do something like that, you have a big smile on your face for the rest of the day. Its nice not to put pressure on yourself as well, and do things when you feel ready to do them. A friend of mine took about 2 years before she felt ready to canter but i shall never forget the look on her face when she did it. Its lovely to know you are enjoying yourself. Keep us posted Jane x
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Mina
Feb 4, 2011 14:18:52 GMT 1
Post by cobblergirl on Feb 4, 2011 14:18:52 GMT 1
Hi Helen Lovely post about you MIna and Akis What a great team i wish i had one of Avril;'s safe Cobs, Finding that right home for a Safecob would be very high on my list ., and unlike the one i have the with the Loan pony , The people are friendly and Helpful but stable's and turn out are Rubbish. It's hard to Balance ,What you want from a lively Yard .it seem's to be one or the other ,and i would like Both , could be a long wait!!!! All the best on your next outing with Mina Sue x
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Mina
Feb 4, 2011 15:15:21 GMT 1
Post by angelac on Feb 4, 2011 15:15:21 GMT 1
Hi Nellie Hope all is going well and that your leg and hip are improving. It will be great to catch up with your news and hear the latest of the lovely Mina. Take care Angelax
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Mina
Feb 6, 2011 23:03:34 GMT 1
Post by sharonspiers on Feb 6, 2011 23:03:34 GMT 1
Hi Nellie, i've just read all your posts again. Have to say you seem really well suited with Mina. She looks absolutely gorgeous in the photos. I did chuckle as her mane looks just like Sulas did a while ago. You will be pleased to know that she now has a lovely mane and forlock. It's flopped over and even though her rug with the neck hasn't done it any favours it still looks really sweet. She adores having it combed and will drop her head and stand very still whilst i do it. Well i do hope your hip improves. It will probably be a rather slow process but then you hopfully have many years ahead with Mina. Like you i will endeavour to put some photos on in the very near future. Best wishes Sharon
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Mina
Feb 20, 2011 15:43:56 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Feb 20, 2011 15:43:56 GMT 1
Dear All, Thank you for your lovely posts and the reassurance about Mina's mane. It is now starting to flop but it's really thick and wiry. I sometimes wonder if I've done the right thing for her looks but I so love the security of having a mane to grab in times of need that I wouldn't hog her again! It's been a funny old time since the start of the new year. Despite my New Year's resolutions, I went down with a flu bug thingy and then my squashed finger (from the car door in November) still hadn't healed and was jolly painful and my hip was still not right and then Akis came off his scooter which was a huge shock. Some lovely passer-by found his mobile and called me so I was able to run down the road. It's all a bit of a blur with him laid out on the road, two police cars, a paramedic and an ambulance causing total chaos on a busy road in the middle of the morning rush hour but the miraculously good news is that, after a day in resus at the local A&E with his head strapped down and a collar on, lots of x-rays and a CT scan, he was pronounced battered, bruised and concussed but nothing broken. Since then I have been working to make up the hours I missed both on the day and on "concussion watch" afterwards. I could have taken them as unpaid leave but with Akis not earning when he's not working (and the scooter to mend not to mention a full set of new motorbike kit for him as it was all cut off) that was not a good alternative financially . Plus I'm already trying to make up the time for me to have physio twice a week for my hip plus follow-up appointments for my silly finger... Well, you get the picture, the new year did not start at all how I would have wished and I have to admit to having been very down about it all. However, this last week I've started to take things in hand: I took my finger back to the hospital and it's now SO much better; I'm having accupuncture for my hip; Akis is back at work and I'm off to see a hypnotherapist. I normally heal really fast and really well and I'm certain that my finger and leg are taking their time because my life is not going in the direction I should be going in so I need to listen to my inner self and tackle it! A good first practical step was that I had a lovely hack out yesterday on Mina. I lunged her first to be sure. We had a really exciting lunge a couple of weeks ago when it was windy and she finally expressed her exuberance. I've known it's in there but normally she'll restrict herself to a little head toss on the lunge (and total certainty that the laurel trees are out to get her on the way to the field) but on this occasion she seemed to reach critical momentum and just had a whoopee moment. It was quite eyecatching and I did wonder if I would be able to stop her but I stood my ground and she stopped beautifully once she reached the end of the line. I don't know if it was an appropriate response but she made me laugh! It was so lovely to see her letting it all out (with no-one on board!!!), she's normally so dignified ;D. Anyway yesterday she was a dream and a total star out on our hack, completely relaxed the whole time out despite being out in company, one of which was very up on her toes. And then I had a lovely chat with Avril last night. She has the marvellous knack of being really comforting but also of dropping "little" challenges for you, usually new ways of looking at things. And she's SO perceptive. So I'm now digesting our conversation and looking at Mina, and Akis, is a new way!!! Well, this isn't a very horsey post is it? But it is very long one so I will stop here with a final word just to say that Mina continues to delight and entertain. My prospective teacher was up at the yard yesterday so I introduced them and she really took to her - no "neutral" words such as "nice sort" or "must be comfortable" or "quite broad" but "Oh isn't she lovely? What a wonderful eye. I can see why you had to buy her." Another fan added to her legion ;D! Helen
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Mina
Feb 20, 2011 15:47:22 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Feb 20, 2011 15:47:22 GMT 1
PS Karen, I love that Ray got the bike for his Christmas present so that he can keep you company ;D!
Is he getting fit for when Crispin comes home?
Helen x
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Mina
Feb 20, 2011 16:13:33 GMT 1
Post by angelac on Feb 20, 2011 16:13:33 GMT 1
Hi Nellie Lovely to have you back on the forum, though obviously sorry that you haven't had the best of times whilst away. Glad to learn you are all on the mend again. Well done you for getting going again. I know its not so easy after a break. I too restated a couple of weeks ago, but the weather up here has been diabolical ever since. Never mind Feb nearly over. Hurray !!! Take care and look forward to the next update. Mina is an extremely handsome girl and you look fabulous together in that beautiful pic ;D Angelax
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Mina
Feb 20, 2011 17:21:05 GMT 1
Post by lisandsaf on Feb 20, 2011 17:21:05 GMT 1
Lovely piccies of mina, helen,, hope your on the mend and with summer on the way can get back to riding,, it certainly helps to clear the cobwebs away
Lisa and Saf
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Mina
Feb 20, 2011 17:28:04 GMT 1
Post by sarah on Feb 20, 2011 17:28:04 GMT 1
Hi Helen, lovely to read your post, but I am SO sorry you have had such a difficult and traumatic start to the year.
I really hope things start to improve for you, and you can enjoy some lovely peaceful hacks on Mina.
Take care, Sarah. x
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