by Lynn Mann
DANIELLE HARTLEY AND LADDIE BOY
When I went to try Laddie Boy, I knew he was the one. I was so excited. The morning after arriving, he was crazy, running round the stable, rearing, kicking the door and his water bucket. The vet diagnosed him with ring worm, lung worm and dehydration. After getting him well enough to go in with other horses, he went straight in for a fight with the only gelding in the field. When he bit me on the back because he was scared of the broom, the vet deduced that he had been used as a stallion in Ireland and then been shipped by the dealer, hence all the problems. I moved to a yard where there were only mares. I rode him and he was crazy, rearing vertically up in the air, side dancing, the works. I persisted with him and took him to shows and did well. He would follow me round the yard, I taught him to bow on one leg, I rode him bareback and I would lay with him in the field. Four years later, I got pregnant so needed help with him but he wouldn’t allow anyone else to ride him and would only be lunged if I stood nearby giving him voice commands. It was like I had saved him from this bad place that he was in and he didn’t trust anyone but me. I had a lot of trouble with him but he was worth it and he thought I was too.
JESSICA DARNTON AND ABBI
When I first met Abbi, I knew she was something special. I could see it, not on the outside but on the inside. She may not have been the most well-trained, talented or beautiful pony in the world but to me, she was perfect. She gave me my confidence back so much that we ventured out to shows. She taught me so much over the years, while helping me to have fun on a horse again. Then Abbi took ill. Our vet tried everything, but I knew I had to do right by her and let her go. My heart shattered into a million pieces. Words can’t explain what she meant to me. I’m a girl who loved her, how lucky am I! She made my life but I was only a chapter in hers. I thank Abbi for our time together. We had the time of our lives.
TRACY MARCH AND CHUTNEY
When I applied to Bransby Horse Rescue (www.bransbyhorses.co.uk) to rehome a horse, I was offered the chance to meet Chutney. The minute she looked up at me I knew she had been waiting for me. She was an angel as I took her out of the field, groomed, tacked up and rode her. I found out later that another lady had tried her before me and she had dragged her about and walked all over her. Once she came home she showed her true personality – she’s bolshy, stubborn and always tries to have the last word, but I wouldn’t change her for the world because she’s also honest, trusting and melts my heart. It’s the little things, like how she watches me if I walk away, the way she only hesitates for a second before doing what I ask. I’ve loved many horses but Chutney is my once in a lifetime horse and I can’t imagine us not being together.
MEG HIGGINSON AND ELLA
I lost a special mare, Dolly, to colic. A family friend, David, who had found Dolly for me, sadly died soon afterward. One of the last things he said to my Mum was, “don’t worry, I’ll always be here for you, just look up.” When looking for a new companion, I found Ella, a six-year-old mare who had already had ten owners. She was lovely natured but quite untrusting and very green to ride. Her passport had been lost so we had to apply for a new one. It took a few months to arrive and in this time, Ella was a nightmare. I was on the floor A LOT but something kept telling me to keep going. When Ella’s passport arrived, we found that Ella’s grand dam had belonged to David! We feel Ella was a gift to us. She will stay with me forever. We have such a bond now. She whickers every time she sees me, we enjoy competing and she’s doing so well. She is my bit of treasure, my world, my best friend.
HAYLEY MARIE JONES AND ZARA (racing name: Ivebeenthinking)
I bought my beautiful ex-racehorse Zara from a racing yard and within days we were out riding. Within two months we went to our first in hand show and then did ridden showing and dressage, a first for us both which we now enjoy regularly. When Zara pined at the loss of her equine companion, she refused to eat unless I was there with her – we are each other’s comfort. Around that time, I was made aware of Zara’s behaviour while she was in racing. Zara had thrown nearly every jockey off, a side she has never shown me. Zara and I have a new life together built on the bond that we share which is truly beautiful and rare. We have put our trust in each other like neither of us have with anyone before.
RAE VICKERS AND MAY
My best friend May brought me out of a very dark place and gave me confidence I never knew I had. She knows me inside out and I know her. She always trusts me when she’s unsure of something. I always trust her to look after me when I’m unsure too. May taught me to ride, the meaning of trust and what it meant to have a bond with another being without ever having a single conversation. May is so gentle with my son and has not got a single nasty bone in her body. I had a nasty riding accident (not on her) where I broke my leg in five places. She helped me gain my confidence and I’m back riding stronger than ever. I could never put into words the bond I share with this girl.
RACHEL STOCK AND HARRIET
I bought Harriet in her early years as an unwanted psycho type TB. For three months I couldn’t click with her. I cried a lot. She taught me very quickly that you couldn’t use force to train horses. She protected me when we were attacked out riding, she protected an old man when a gang of youths cornered him. She laid bolt still after getting herself tangled up in wire, waiting for me to save her. She was always steady when I was injured and bouncy when I was well. She would put her head on my shoulder when I was sad and on the day she died, she vocally told me her time was up. Every horse that came after her arrival has been ethically trained, no gadgets, no force, time and patience given. She changed the world for any horse who came my way.
MAGGIE MARSDEN AND DONKS
I was looking for my first horse a year ago as I had always wanted one from when I was young. I looked at many horses before I came across Donks. I fell in love with him straight away and bought him. He was very naughty when I got him, he wouldn’t let anyone ride him and kept pushing and shoving. I worked with him every single day and now, because of the bond we have, he is a completely different horse. He doesn’t like anyone else to ride him, only me. I have taught him to give cuddles and kisses for his treats. This horse is one in a million and I love him so much. I couldn’t be without him – no Donks, no me, that’s how I feel about him.
MICHELE SAVORY AND RISARIA
I lost Risaria four days before her thirtieth birthday. My Dad bought her for me when I was sixteen, and she was two. My Mum and Dad were divorcing and I was an only child. Risaria was my baby, we spent so much time together. I broke her in myself with no experience at all. We learnt together, in all ways. She never bit or kicked me. We would play and chase each other round the field. She would take mints from my mouth and enjoy a can of coke with me. I could be sat in her stable crying and she would come over and rest her head on my shoulder. We went through twenty-eight years of life with friends coming and going, on both sides. I am married with two girls that had the pleasure of knowing her. I miss her every day and always will.
LILY McKENZIE AND BRENAN, IVY AND SALLY
When I was eight, I was having friendship problems. My best friend at the time started to do and say horrible things, it made me so sad I wanted to leave the school, she made me feel miserable and lonely. Around that time I started riding, it made me feel excited and gave me something to focus on. I began riding lessons on a pony called Brenan. Riding him made me feel happy again, which I had not felt in a long time. Animals showed more affection to me at that time, I trusted and loved Brenan, and he loved me too. I now have Sally and Ivy, they are there for me always. Ivy didn’t have a happy time in Ireland, just like I hadn’t had the nicest of time at school, and with Sally and her trumpy bottom, life’s never dull!
DONNA BATES, JOE AND SPLASH
Joe had been badly treated, so was very untrusting of humans. For this reason, although a talented horse, he had been passed from yard to yard as no one had the patience or understanding Joe required – until my partner of thirteen years,
Richard, bought him. He built a strong partnership with Joe, whose confidence began to grow. One day while competing Joe in eventing, Richard felt faint, collapsed and very suddenly passed away. I was left completely devastated and Joe was left without the one person he had learnt to trust. I knew I owed it to Richard and Joe to work on being another person Joe could rely on. Working with Joe helped me so much with the loss of Richard as I knew he was missing him just as much as I was. That was seven years ago and Joe has grown to be the most affectionate and loyal horse anyone could ever wish for.
When I first saw Splash, I didn’t think he was my sort of horse but as soon as I sat on him, I knew he was going to be special. Sixteen years later I still own him and we know each other inside out. When my life has been in turmoil, Splash has been my rock, always consistent no matter how I’ve been feeling. He is my horse of a lifetime. Splash and Joe are the best of friends and I consider myself very lucky to have two such well-mannered, gentle horses.
SKYE COVERDALE AND MEG
Meg is my rescue pony. I first went to try her with no confidence. I felt like a total beginner. She’s lively with a difficult past and I couldn’t trot her in a circle without tensing up. Her faith in me was non-existent. That’s how it remained for an entire year. We couldn’t get a bridle on her for three months and picking up her feet was out of the question. My instructor was worried that Meg would cause me to lose my confidence completely, but I believed in her. For hours I would sit in her stable singing, reading and brushing her. An opportunity came up to take her to an agility session, desensitising her and allowing her to trust me. A year later we clicked – in an open field with acres of land to jump in, she trusted me fully for the first time and I trusted her.
TRACEY WHATLEY AND JACK
I got Jack as a four-year-old and he is now rising ten. During the time I have had him I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. When I’m feeling down he makes me smile. He takes polos from my mouth and is so gentle. He loves nothing better than having a butt or hind leg rub. If I try and walk away, he will either put his butt in my way or cross my path to make me stop. Tickle him anywhere and he’s happy. When I ride him, he’s forward and likes to shy at things but with my daughter, he’s like a kitten and looks after her. I can’t get off normally, I have to swing my leg over his neck and he lowers his head for me to do it. He is my horse of a lifetime and my reason for getting up and leaving the house daily. He is my everything.
REBECCA WALTERS AND RUBY
Eight years ago, she shone the brightest light in my dark. I knew it had to be her. Every day since, she has illuminated my world in more ways than I knew was possible. My teacher and my pupil. My competitor and my team mate. My strength and my weakness. Whilst leading her... she in fact leads me. Whilst tending her... she in fact tends me. It is honest, woven and written. It just “is”... my mare and me.
Author’s Note
Just as this book was in its final stages of production, Pie – the real Infinity – moved on from this world, aged twenty-two, following a sudden and very aggressive illness. It seemed only right that, at the eleventh hour, her story should be included:
LYNN MANN AND PIE
Pie was black and white in far more than just her colouring. She was crystal clear about what she wanted – and fully expected – from me as her rider and carer, and that made her the amazing teacher she was. I learnt so much from her in the eighteen years she was my partner that I couldn’t contain it all, hence the creation of The Horses Know and The Horses Rejoice. Pie was fiercely intelligent, immensely strong, kind and loving. She was always looking to go out into the world and conquer and she pulled me along in her wake, making me more than I thought I could be. I knew she was “the one” from the minute I saw her and if I hadn’t found her, I would have spent my whole life looking for her. Run free my beautiful girl.
