ok… i have read the thread from the beginning (a few times) but got lost somewhere… what horses do you have now? lol.
Thank You!
I’m riding Sigma - she is 20 yo lady, had been a broodmare all her life but now she is very very patient with such riders like me. As an old lady she does not like canter so I so we are safe team together.
Puika is like me - works one day a year or so 
When we have some time, somebody gets on his back for 10 minutes but that’s all - just a little bit fun for old boy - in general he is just pasture decoration, a very happy decoration.
DandyMatiz, I had lost the number sometimes by myself To tell everything would be too complicated - who arrived, who went away… Status for today - all in all we do have 17 horses here, 14 are ours, 3 are boarders. The good thing is that somehow we managed to stop at this number for over 6 mo now. That’s good (The bad thing is that our stables can place about 50 at least and that’s the number that I do not want to reach). So I try to stay strong.
i looked up the Latvian horses on Wikipedia one day… interesting article… the 3 different “styles” and such. You have some lovely examples of them
Our pride Guddy who cannot jump
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/12-08-10jumping/123_10082010_Ieva_Kantmane.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/12-08-10jumping/135_10082010_Ieva_Kantmane.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/12-08-10jumping/158_10082010_Ieva_Kantmane.jpg
As you can see, jumps are getting higher Now he has started to do 110 cm courses - it is a way from his limits but we do things slowly to keep him happy and enjoy the job.
Troublemaker Jimmy
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/12-08-10jumping/003_10082010_Ieva_Kantmane.jpg
Peter and Gamma
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/12-08-10jumping/181_10082010_Ieva_Kantmane.jpg
So glad you decided not to end the thread! I also have been reading from the beginning and so very much enjoy it. Puika looks great, all the horses do and very contend!
Anna, I have followed this thread from the beginning and it never fails to make me immensely happy when I’ve read it. I love what you do and how you do it.
Just wanted to share… I’m so very proud of him. This is that non rideable dog meet prospect… Remember?
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/15-08-10guddy/162119316.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/15-08-10guddy/162119328.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/15-08-10guddy/162117286.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/15-08-10guddy/162117293.jpg
He did well for him on his first official show, but he still has to go a long way to show his full potential and we are not the best trainers… But at least he is moving away from being unrideable, isn’t it?
Awesome!!!
Annacrew-
How much would it cost for me to send you my horse! Right now he is unrideable…He is safe that is for sure but I think he would be happier if he had a job. We are not sure why he is as bad as he is but boy I would lovw to just walk around on him…Do you take boarders…heehee!
Ivy, this is our answer to You 
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/aaaPICT5544.jpg
Actually picture was taken after Chelsea’s first halter training. As you can see, it went well.
And that is why European riders are better (nay more experienced)! You can not touch that in North American horse show system.
Anna, thanks for coming back and sharing your stories and especially the pictures. I appreciate hearing and seeing them and the work you put into it all - it does not go unnotice!
Congrats to Peter and the prize BTW!
What a beautiful ending of the season! Guddy made me cry… very happy tears.
For You who had a hopeles horse… You will understand. For you who never had, short report - he finished 11th in his class, only 3 seconds slower than the winner.
But story is not about a place or time. All started at the morning when we arrived at the stables with a trailer - Guddy spotted the trailer and cantered to the gates - Me, me, … take ME!
OK, then he self loaded! Guddy… walked in the trailer… out of the blue he was not negative, scared or frightened (or at least big headed and pretending all of above) … OK, easy, all the way we were discussing what happened and why he suddenly decided to make loading so easy.
we arrived at the show - Guddy looked sooo happy, active, I would say - ecstatic. OK, if show is not a scary torture - great… But… OK, great, good boy!
And then it was his turn… And he went : ears forward, eyes bright, he jumped every fence with elegance, with pride, with joy… The rider did not did anything, just hold him back, slightly slowing him down and pointing to the fences in the right order (we can not expect Guddy also learn numbers in one night, right?) . He was suddenly an easy, safe and happy showhorse - born to enjoy the showjumping.
I really do not know what happened, but our idea is that something just clicked in Guddy’s head - that it is much better life for good horses than bad ones, and good ones always get all the sugar cubes, apples and so on… Othervise I can not explain the miracle of this last show.
He was going, without pressure, without fights, without penalty points, refusals, knocked jumps and so on… And I’m just soooo happy - we did trust in Guddy, we spent a loooot of money and time, and at the end decided that soft approach will suit him better and that one day he would get it… You know - he got it! HE GOT IT! Our idea about how and what to do despite all the trainers opinion - worked! Trainers suggested harder bites, we decided on the soft plastic one with apple taste, we were told to push him much harder, not let him go away with a murder, we decided do opposite - no penalties, only great praises and a lot of peeps when something was done right. And now I can say very proudly - we did it. Now there in our pastures is another happy horse who is healed. All the time I ghad doubts about shal we be able to train him, to overcome all the things done to him, will he ever be able to enjoy trainings again? Just enjoy being ridden? What if we are doing wrong just spoiling him? Ignoring his misbehavior and praising little victories? Maybe he just needs to be seriously told off? No - now I know that we were right. Guddy showed that yesterday. And his 11th place at a local show - clear round, perfect behavior and easy ride… that’s all, in general - it feels much better than if our horse would win Europe. Really - I’m so proud!
And for acing on cake … This morning when it was time to return… We went into paddock, called him, he arrived, looked on the open trailer door and … self loaded again. OK, good boys do not mind returning home… May I hope for another sugar cube?
It took nearly 2 years to full recovery, each day getting a bit better, and again a bit… And now the job is done - this is completely normal horse again.
Was it worth? Financially - definitely no It was costly experience. Yes. But for experience, for learning purposes - yes, worth every penny spent. And the feelings having one happy horse…
I do not hope that you will get my bragging here… I’m not in the right mode to tell the stories now (there are few different reasons, not horse related) , but believe… I was crying yesterday and I’m crying now again…Sooo happy
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Anna, I am so happy for you and mostly for Guddy!!! Patience, kindness and persistence always pay off. Sometimes, it is not what you know that works, it is what you feel! Guddy proved it! I often think that the “best and famous trainers” do not take failure very well and are so afraid to think outside the box!
Congratulations to all of you… and a big sugar cube, peppermint or carrot to Guddy. He deserves it too.
Anna, I am so pleased for you all. Well done to Guddy, but also to your whole team.
If you don’t have time to tell more, can we have photos? I know you’ll have had your camera with you!
Congratulations again, it’s a wonderful feeling when it goes right isn’t it.
Well deserved.
AnnaCrew- Love conquers all…Understanding and trust…You guys are amazing…I wish you could write a book about your journey it would inspire a lot of people…Carrots to all…and of course sugar cubes!
OK, here are few pictures of our hero
Pleasure of horseriding
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/picresized_1285099148_aPICT6096.jpg
Hero job
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285099265_aPICT6118.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285099405_aPICT6120.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285099635_aPICT6121.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285099744_aPICT6122.jpg
And praising
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285099813_aPICT6131.jpg
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285099885_aPICT6139.jpg
Of course, AFTER riders finished, weather calmed down
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285099965_aPICT6143.jpg
And the night was beautiful
http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae135/lillydelully/18-09-10usma/1285100018_aPICT6243.jpg
Congratulations Anna Crew! Awesome story and no need to explain why you are so happy and blubbering: we all get it! You’ve done a fabulous thing with these horses and your story is an inspiration.
Again, congratulations and keep up the good work. Your international fans are eager to read each and every report!
AnnaCrew. where ya been? Anything new about your herd?
Have a nice holiday…
I cannot tell you how this thread has affected me, Anna. You, Peter, and your herd are examples of what the horse/human relationship is, or should be, all about. Thank you for sharing your journey. I hope this thread will continue to thrive as long as CoTH is around.
I’m back. Not fully, but at least partially (had a hard winter, and had not had time and the spirit to loog in here, sorry, folks, family and health issues took over).
So far nothing really to tell. Lilly as planned is getting ready for Dressage, and Guddy today opened the jumping season.
He is progressing nicely and seems enjoying life as he likes jumping per se.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x400/mazamija1/Guddy/guddy-1.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x400/mazamija1/Guddy/guddy-11.jpg
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x400/mazamija1/Guddy/guddy-10.jpg
Last year’s foals are doing great and if lucky, we do hope to have two more. Chelsea is a very sweet lady but hooligan Jimmy also has had learned proper behaviour and is so much easier.
Ziggy had a bit problems during the winter- few times she rolled over and was not able to get up by herself in the box, but now when it is getting warm, she lives outside with just a shelter so she has all the space to find comfy position. She is 21 now and a big lady, so that’s understable.
And old boy Puika is having wonderful time just hanging around and sometimes doing an easy ride.
So all in all everything is OK. Due to the family health things we did not took any new horses in so no new challenges thus nothing much to tell. Babies are growing, big ones - learning, and old ones - just having fun of doing nothing.
