Barney

[PepsiChic]

Its not often i talk about Barney to anyone, hes probably the most dearest "pet" i had, tho hes more like my best friend then anything. (im in tears already)

Barney is 14.2hh, chestnut (redish brown) in colour, a flaxen (gold) mane and tail and 4 white socks. Barney is indeed a Horse, or pony whichever you prefer to call him, at 14.2hh he can be classed as either. Pony sounds cuter and suits him.

I dont honestly know quite what to say or why im saying this, but basically i moved out of my home when i was 16 and i moved into a riding school/farm/helicopter company (husband owned the helis) I fell in love with Barney who was cheeky and always in trouble, hes not one of those big posh perfect expensive horses, hes a cross bred in fact Arabian x welsh but in my eyes he is perfect and amazing. when i rode him i fell more in love, and i bought him from the riding school. he became my best friend. Sadly my ex made me give him up and move. i was heartbroken, absolutely heart broken and i'll never forgive myself for it.

when my fiance came to see me, we went past the farm and i decided to go in, this is now nearly 3 years since i left, didnt think barney would even reconize me. i was so incredibly wrong, he canter right from the back of the field to me the moment i whistled for him. i just couldnt stop crying, didnt ever want to let go of him. but i had to. left so bad leaving him all over again, i didnt wanna eat or sleep or do anything.

My old riding teacher called me heard id be there to see barney. She said i could come up and take him for a ride when ever i wanted, completely free of charge. to just call and say im comin and turn up.

so now today i am not working, so i am going to go see my beloved pony and ride him for the first time in 3 years, go all along the river bank and through 100 acres of fields just me and him. i am so emotional i actually cant stop crying! i promise to get some pics i only have one of him and me together atm, when we got a clear round over our first ever cross country competition

[Duke]

Wow that's an amazing story. I'm sorry you had to leave him in the first place gg.

[PepsiChic]

i could talk about Barney for years and never tire, his personality is just pure amazing, i'll try to explain what hes like..

First his breeds:

Designed for desert races the Arabs are dainty and slim but "posh" almost, they carry both their head and tail up in the air when happy, or on show. They are one of the horses held most proud for bloodlines and sturdiness, they can travel for miles at a speed without tiring. They are also "high spirited" and known to be temperamental, basically they dont like to stay still for long.

The welsh breeds are a much softer bulkier horse, a lot shorter then the arab (who are tall horses) they are used for ground work they also do great in jumping where as the arab is used for a lot of groundwork competitions known as Dressage. Welsh horses tend to be very gently quiet animals.

Between the two ive got Barney, hes gentle and sweet natured but just bursting with energy and a fantastic runner, hes just raring to go all the time. and LOVES to jump, put anything in front of it and he just wants to over it!

Hes got a unique, very unique, personality, he follows me everywhere i dont need to hold onto him he just walks alongside me, sometimes tho he stop to say hi to someone or nick a flower from the garden to eat while i wasnt looking! he also loves to play with things, leave anything lying around he'll pick up, buckets were his favorite, he'd grab the edge and flip it up on his head, and then walk into things, used to have me in tears laughing, or id turn around and he'd have grabbed a broom and is dragging it along next to him. Hes got nose for mints, loves mints, no matter what pocket i hide them in he'll find them.

When im riding him, if we stop and he wants to go on he'll turn and put his nose under my feet and lift them. sometimes i just sit on him let him walk where he wants, he loves to go along the river bank because the men fishing always have a carrot or mint to give him.

I had never ridden before i was at the riding school, so i learned on and by Barney. We entered a 3 event competition, Cross Country, Show Jumping and Dressage, now people used to ride and jump him often so jumping wasnt new to him but a competition was, it was all new to me. However no-one had even done Dressage on Barney not even me really, but i thought we'd enter it for fun, we went up again 23 of the top riders in Britain, we came 6th and would of been 4th but we accidentally stepped out the arena when he got spooked by a bag someone watching had in their hand. still we carried on and came 6th, we then proceeded to get a clear round with show jumping and the cross country and it was the most amazing day for us both.

hope that explains his character a little more, i'll try get some photos capture his personality if i can, my attempt to explain him will never do him justice.

[Luba]

Originally Posted by Duke

Wow that's an amazing story. I'm sorry you had to leave him in the first place gg.

I think the same as well! An incredibly beautiful tribute to Barney!

[TKDLady]

He's a beautiful horse. I had one when I was 17 and was heartbroken to give her up but the city isn't a place to have a horse and I was about to go to college so I sold her. I have always loved horses and was hoping that one day I would live on a farm and have a horse again. It hasn't happened yet but I am still hopeful. Gotta have dreams.

[PepsiChic]

thats so strange tkdlady, Fb said to me yesterday something like "everyones got to have a dream to live for" when i told him i dont rally have a dream. When my ex made me give Barney up it was to move to the city so i too couldnt of kept him there.

anyway barney has a new stable mate wait till you see him! just gonna sort out the pics now