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Mina
Mar 26, 2013 21:14:57 GMT 1
Post by angelac on Mar 26, 2013 21:14:57 GMT 1
Dear Helen I'm very sorry to learn that Mina is lame. I hope it goes well at Rockley farm. Please do let us know. I note too that you are wildly busy at the mo. I hope that is in a good way. Hope you and Emma have a lovely time Take care Angela x
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Mina
Apr 12, 2013 17:20:42 GMT 1
Post by mandymoo on Apr 12, 2013 17:20:42 GMT 1
She is beautiful Looks soooo relaxed
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Mina
Apr 12, 2013 20:24:09 GMT 1
Post by liz on Apr 12, 2013 20:24:09 GMT 1
Hi, Helen. Just wondering how Mina is doing x
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Mina
Mar 16, 2014 21:27:26 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Mar 16, 2014 21:27:26 GMT 1
I am sorry for the very long gap in any update. It has been a switchback, roller-coaster journey and I am very sad to update you all that, in the end, we weren't successful. We couldn't get Mina right and with spring pressing in upon us, it was time to let her go to the big meadow that is horsey heaven where there is loads of grass, no weight problems and no pain of any kind. I would like to say a very big thank you to Avril for being so wonderful throughout and to Nic Barker from Rockley Farm who did a terrific job against the odds and was endlessly supportive. But most of all, I would like to thank Mina: it was an amazing journey, I have learnt SO much, not always comfortable lessons by a long chalk, but lessons I NEEDED to learn and by gum, she made me face up to my fears and I cannot thank her enough for that. She has changed me as a person, for the better, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart. Attachments:
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Mina
Mar 16, 2014 23:59:32 GMT 1
Post by liz on Mar 16, 2014 23:59:32 GMT 1
Oh, Helen. I am so very sorry to read this. What more can I say? (( Hugs)) and love to you. x
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Mina
Mar 17, 2014 11:36:54 GMT 1
Post by gillybou on Mar 17, 2014 11:36:54 GMT 1
Oh no Helen - what sad sad news. We'll be thinking of you x
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Mina
Mar 17, 2014 20:14:08 GMT 1
Post by Dawn Perkins on Mar 17, 2014 20:14:08 GMT 1
I'm so very sorry, Helen. You must have been feeling dreadful. Thank goodness Mina had you and Avril and Nic, all giving her love and support through it all.
At least you have the comfort of knowing that you did absolutely everything you could to help her and I hope that, now the decision has been made, you can start to recover from the inevitable worry and stress that you must have been feeling and can start to look forward to the future with the happier memories of your partnership with a wonderful horse.
Very best wishes, Dawn
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Mina
Mar 19, 2014 13:34:15 GMT 1
Post by custard on Mar 19, 2014 13:34:15 GMT 1
Helen, I know you tried absolutely everything to give Mina the chance to come right and be comfortable again, but it was not to be.
I am so sorry for all the heart ache you have been through, and will continue to feel for some time, but you made a brave decision and put Mina's well being above your own personal feelings.
You will have lots of amazing memories to treasure, and your love of horses and riding will be a continuing adventure.
My heart goes out to you Helen, and also to all at MSC who were involved with her.
Huge hugs, Sarah. xx
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Mina
Mar 20, 2014 21:21:45 GMT 1
Post by Erika & George on Mar 20, 2014 21:21:45 GMT 1
So sorry to hear about beautiful Mina. Erika & George
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Mina
Mar 23, 2014 17:15:58 GMT 1
Post by nellie on Mar 23, 2014 17:15:58 GMT 1
Thank you everyone for you kind words. In some ways I feel a bit of a fraud. Reaching the decision was agonising, painful and slow: it was so, so hard. But now that she is gone I have to admit to a feeling of relief. Don't get me wrong, I still cannot quite believe her warm and fluffy body is no longer there for me to cuddle but I feel in my heart that I made the right decision and I know I cannot change it now, even if I wanted to so there is relief that there is no more agonising, no more tough decision pending and bearing down upon me. Instead, I am focussing on all the gifts she has left me with, first and foremost for making me tackle my fears. I was determined that, by the time she had finished her 12 weeks at Rockley Farm, I would be less frightened. I signed-up for the Confident Rider Workshop at Ashen Equestrian Centre, a course I had wanted to do for years but was too afraid of the drive round the M25 to get there - but, for Mina, I would do it. And I did. I was so worried about the drive, I left my handbag at home! Have you ever heard of a woman forgetting her handbag? That was the state I was in. But the course was a turning point for me. Becky very kindly let me buy copies of her's and Pete Doherty's hypnosis CDs on tick until I was home and could send her the money. I have been listening to the CDs religiously every since, starting with the Confident Rider CD and working my way to Motivation to Ride, Confident Dressage and Confident Show Jumping - and I keep returning to them, choosing whichever feels most appropriate at the time. Between them and the techniques I learnt at the workshop, oh, and the Susan Jeffers CD "Confident Day", my life is changing in ways I never imagined were possible. And it is my whole life, not just my horsey life: what a legacy. Secondly for introducing me to my loan pony Badger. I met him because I wanted to keep riding while Mina was lame so that when she was better I would be a braver, better rider for her but he has turned out to be the pony of my dreams, letting me attempt things I thought would be forever beyond my grasp: winning my first rosette ever... and then adding another one 8 days later. The first came in 2'3" clear round show jumping - only my second attempt ever at the sport, the first being in 1993 - and the second rosette in unaffiliated dressage this Monday when we came second and qualified for the Championship. Please don't get excited and think we are great, all this is a huge surprise. Badger's normal job is teaching children and adults to ride. He is patient beyond belief but he does have his own coping mechanisms - when his riders get too desperate to make him move with a little more enthusiasm or energy and resort to kicking or hitting him, he just stops dead and refuses to move at all so, if you are willing to learn, he teaches you to appreciate what he offers you. If you thank him, he'll try a little harder... maybe LOL!! In the show jumping we actually walked between some of the fences; I was very glad it wasn't a Jumping and Style competition! But he popped over all of them without giving me cause for a moment's worry. I can't quite say the same for the dressage where I was very worried in the warm-up that it was going to be completely humiliating as he was on a real go-slow day. So, as the other horses and ponies warmed-up around us, looking smart and professional, we warmed-up in a slow shuffle . But the moment he stepped into the arena, he lit-up and all of a sudden I had more energy than I knew what to do with... but that was ok because he knew what he was doing and he performed like an old-hand, I merely had to sit there and remember the test . None of this would have come into my life without Mina, I have been so fortunate and her legacy will stay with me forever, so long as I keep remembering her and her gifts to me and continue to tackle my fears, to be open to change and to look for the good in whatever happens. So, you see, I have lost an AMAZING horse but she has left me with so much positive stuff that I find it hard to mourn her, instead I thank her and daily count the blessings she has brought into my life. Even though he is not an MSC Cob, he is kind of an honorary MSC cob, because of Mina, so I will start a new thread for Badger and you will see how Avril's work is helping us enormously Helen
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