Back in the Saddle
2025 was a turn about year for me. The farm emptied of animals and the unexpected loss of Lina put me in a state of indecision that lasted well into spring time. New horse or no horse?
Then I saw a Fjord mare advertised, fully trained to harness, field work, logging etc. and she captured my imagination. Kris came with me to look at her very reluctantly and…was impressed! Unbelievable. Only, the mare had already been promised elsewhere and, honestly, to a more competent home than I could have offered. Shame but fate had other ideas.
In early June I was supposed to go down south, Basque Country, to stay with a lady I had got friendly with, who goes horse trekking on her Camargue horses. This was my chance to get back in the saddle after three years „rest“. I was excited and nervous at the same time. But then, the very morning I was supposed to set off, all things arranged for my 4 day absence, Kris’ dog Marley had to be put to sleep. There was no way I could leave Kris alone so I had to cancel my trip. Again questions abounded in my head, was this a sign not to push the horse thing? But motivation had taken hold and I got it in my head to train Pholl (now 26!) to harness. That went surprisingly well.
From there it seemed a natural step one day put a saddle back on her back and take a tiny ride which passed with no ill effects. With Kris’ encouragement I spent June and July alternating ground work and harness exercises with short rides out on my “un-retired” Pholl.
She seemed to enjoy the rides more than she endured the harness work.
Before I knew it, I had fallen back in love with Pholl and Icelandics and was riding out several times a week to my hearts content.
I extended my outings carefully, mindful of not overdoing it with the old lady but she still went lame. At first I thought she had an infection in her hind foot but after three months I had to admit it was probably her tendons that were troubling her.
Meanwhile, late August I made the acquaintance of a German lady, K. who was holidaying in the neighbourhood. She told me about her Haflinger mare Betty who had had a bad loading accident the previous year followed by paddock rest followed by severe laminitis. We got talking about her “situation” at her stables and I offered for her to send Betty over here, seeing as it would be cheaper and easier to look after her. She took me up on the offer and made arrangements for transport from Kaiserslautern.
Meanwhile I had vaguely been looking at Icelandics for sale in case I could find one near to Betty that could be added cost effectively to the lorry. As luck would have it I found Hrönn in Rheinbach near Köln. The two mares arrived safe and well (AES Transport de Chevaux) at the beginning of November 2025 and settled in short order.
Since then Hrönn has become my reliable riding partner as we explore the beautiful countryside nearby and further afield.
Betty the Haflinger has brought a nice dynamic into my foursome herd of lovelies and it feels like I’ve waited a lifetime for this fulfilment. In winter they have a huge pasture and there is no limit to the space I can give them.
They have access to part of the barn when they want but they have little call for it. It is very convenient though for getting ready under cover to ride out on the many days of mixed weather we have here.
The arrival of spring invites lazy snoozes in the sunshine
but grazing has to be restricted except for those who get sufficient exercise to avoid laminitis.
