I began riding at age 10 but had to wait a long time before I found the horse of my dreams. Frisbee, a 16.1 hh threequarter TB gelding.
A courageous horse but as gentle as a lamb. He would patiently stand still while I arranged practice fences.
A typical schooling session on a hot summer day. It really is true that if you take care of the 'flatwork' the fences usually take care of themselves.
This is 12.2 hh Angus - rescued from auction. He was ridden very infrequently and kept in good health until his death at around age 35 years.
Red ribbon! This was my first show after taking time off to have a baby. Frisbee is carrying too much fat here, having only recently come back to some basic exercise.
When Frisbee was first introduced to Angus, they charged round the paddock with much snorting and posturing. Nothing unusual really, but I took refuge behind a silver birch tree until they calmed down!
Frisbee loved cross-country work. Thanks to his prior Pony Club background he soon taught me about approaching drops, and ditches.
Schooling at home in preparation for a Riding Horse class. In UK that means a horse of quality and conformation that has more substance than a hack but is not as heavily boned as a hunter.
Frisbee loved getting a bath.
His temperament was generous and he was easy to do in every way. Perfect to load, clip, shoe and 100% in traffic!
Best of friends. Angus was kept purely as a companion but sometimes travelled in the lorry with his big pal. I love this photo of them.
Final schooling for a Riding Horse Class. Thanks to Frisbee I was confident enough to take my British Horse Society Stage II Horse knowledge and Riding exam. I rode five different horses in the test and was delighted to pass.
This photo was taken 14 weeks after the 'red ribbon' pic and clearly shows that Frisbee is now fit and ready for the arduous (and fun!) cross-country task ahead of him.
I I do not know where Frisbee spent his formative years but I instinctively feel that he was blessed with kind, knowledgeable owners. What I do know, is that I am indebted to him for making all my girlhood dreams come true.
Like sitting in your favourite chair - only a lot more fun! On the rare occasions I fell off Frisbee he would come to an abrupt halt and wait for me to remount.
