Taking a punt on a veteran – for £1
After a 38-year break from riding, I decided to jump on-board again. I needed a new hobby where I could get fit, have some fresh air and improve my wellbeing – and riding ticked all those boxes. So, at 52, I started taking riding lessons. Early in 2016 my partner Chris got me thinking about having my own horse again. We have a fabulous livery yard on a private estate across the road from our home and they had space for me, so I started my search. I wanted something over 16hh and heavyweight, a happy hacker, who’s bombproof and my budget was up to £5,000. Tricky I know! I scoured the adverts online, contacted a few sellers, and then out of the blue my neighbour (an extremely experienced equestrian) told me about a good friend who was looking for a home for his semi-retired hunter. Enter 19-year-old ex-hunter Arnie! After a brief ride and a chat, Chris and I agreed to buy him, although at that point I didn’t even know the price. But his owner Ian Arnies said that as he knew he would go to a good home he only wanted £1. Arnie arrived on 17 April 2017 and since then we’ve had a vet check, a saddle refit and brought him back in to work. During the last nine months we’ve learnt a lot about each other. Arnie has been well schooled so we’ve started dressage lessons and every week he surprises me. We all think our horses are special, but Arnie is beyond that. He’s a real gentleman who is funny, cheeky and an overall dude. Everybody loves Arnie – even the other horses adore him. If you’re looking for a happy hacker, try an older horse. They have experienced so much that they end up teaching you! I’ve committed to Arnie for the long haul and he truly was the luckiest find. Stephanie Watts, by email