{"id":2029,"date":"2020-02-02T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sunshineriding.co.uk\/?p=2029"},"modified":"2021-05-19T11:16:54","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T11:16:54","slug":"horse-story-annie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sunshineriding.co.uk\/?p=2029","title":{"rendered":"Horse Story: Annie"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" Hello! My name is Annie. It could be Betty. Actually, it could have been Siobhan for all I know. But here at Sunshine I am Annie. Annie Of The Floating Trot. Mother Annie. The Mirror of Magic.<\/p>\n

I was offered for sale when I was living in Ireland. Fiona saw my\"\" advertisement on the internet and she sent it on to Kimberly. I was hiding a little surprise when that photo was taken. Yes, I am young at 6 years old, but I do have a big heart that was looking for a forever home where I would be loved and cared for as I always dreamed I would be.<\/p>\n

After much fussing about, I arrived at Sunshine on December 2. It was a horrible night. I had spent the day locked in the blasted horse box with a few other horses. I didn\u2019t have rug and I didn\u2019t have much hay. I had been travelled from hither and yon and across the sea. It was dark and wet and I was exhausted. My arrival had caught Kimberly and the staff on the hop. She had expected me three days later on the 5th. She also didn\u2019t expect me at 9 at night.<\/p>\n

I must say that Kimberly didn\u2019t sound too thrilled about me at first. She was quite cross that my passport said my name was Betty not Annie. The Irishman who brought me said that he expected being paid and that if she didn\u2019t take me, then he was tying me to a fence and leaving me. I was so scared that she was going to be mean and just abandon me. But she said she wanted to see me and if I looked like Annie, then she would take me. The man had to unload two other horses, both bone tired, before he could get me. I came off as meek and mild as I could so she would take me and give me and my surprise a home.<\/p>\n

Kimberly said she would have to walk me into the light as the road I was unloaded on was black as pitch. \"\"As she brought me on to the yard, I could hear him reloading the other horses. Now Kimberly has a man named Andrew. I could tell he knew naught about horses but he was on my side. He held my lead rope and kept telling his wife that I was good horse and keep me. I prayed while Kimberly checked me over as best she could in the scant light she had. She then turned to Driver Man and said she would accept me. I had never been so relieved in my life. She hadn\u2019t seen my surprise.<\/p>\n

Now I do suspect that seeing my surprise would have been a bit difficult. I was bedraggled as could be. I had been taken straight from field and loaded on that lorry. My feathers were loaded with mud and my mane hadn\u2019t seen a brush in Lord knows how long. Yet, here she was taking my photo and telling the world that I had arrived. \"\"Now while I am being photographed like a fashion model, Kimberly\u2019s boys, Beowulf (isn\u2019t that a lovely name<\/em>) and Huw (I wonder if that is short for C\u00fachulainn?<\/em>), set about tearing a stable for me \u2013 emptying out jump wings, and tools, and wood. Kimberly was shouting at them to hurry as weather was going to give me a bath before morning if they didn\u2019t hurry. It look less than a turn in the field and I had a warm, clean bed to call me own. I had a lovely pile of hay and peace and quiet.<\/p>\n

The next morning I was greeted by the Yard Man, Simon. Kimberly had been speaking to him last night and I didn\u2019t know what to think. She was sure he was going to be angry. I was worrying again. As it turned out, he is really a rather lovely chappie. He talked to me quietly and gave me some of best food I had had for a while. After breakfast I saw all the residents as they went out to the field. I really wanted to join them, but Simon said I had to stay in until Kimberly and the vet looked me over. I knew now that my surprise was going to be out.\"\"<\/p>\n

Kimberly came down about an hour later. She spoke to me nicely, but I was so worried that I gave her my \u201cmare face\u201d. I didn\u2019t want her to see my surprise, but she had noticed. She called the vet, Dr Laura, and told her a bit of my sad story. Dr. Laura was out about an hour later.<\/p>\n

I was very unsettled when I saw Dr. Laura. I just couldn\u2019t stand still and there was simply no way she was going to get near to nether regions. If I could keep her from looking there, then I knew that Kimberly would not turn me away because of my condition. Dr Laura, I must say, is a very persistent woman however. She did look me over everywhere and there was little I could do so I did throw a foot or two, but she was not to be deterred. Kimberly then asked the thing I dreaded, \u201cLaura, is it possible that Annie is pregnant?\u201d<\/p>\n

I stood in shocked fear. She knew.<\/p>\n

Dr Laura ran a hand down my side and my belly. She listened to my belly. She poked and prodded. Dr Laura then decided (God Bless Her!<\/em>) that I had had a foal recently and only just stopped nursing. Now that was true. I had and my body told that story clear as glass. What she didn\u2019t know was there had been lad afterwards. Kimberly accepted Dr Laura\u2019s words and they decided that I was as big as I was because I was out of shape from being both pregnant and out of work. They decided I was to be exercised and some muscle built after I came out of quarantine.<\/p>\n

Now I know that some humans like to lie in their bed all day. I know of some fine equines who can stand to be in their stall all day and night, only to come out to race or jump. I, personally, find that type of life to be wasted. I like my freedom \u2013 fresh air and green grass. I told Kimberly and Simon the only way I could. I broke out regularly. Now to be honest it was early in the morning when I did it. I did like to say hello to Andrew and he would say hello back. He would then tell Kimberly. Other days I would greet Simon as he came in. Simon would sigh and ask me what I thought I was doing. I thought it was obvious, but then I am Irish.<\/p>\n

\"\"It was a week short of a month when I was allowed out to the field. It was heaven. I ran and trotted and loved the sun on my back. Then I put my head down and devoured that lovely sweet green grass. The thing that shocked me was when I came back in from the field, I was suddenly in a stable half the size I had previously. I was not impressed and I told them. Next morning I greeted Simon at the gate. He looked a wee bit peeved.<\/p>\n

\"\"Later that morning I had a real surprise. Kimberly fit me with a saddle and a bridle. I hadn\u2019t worn tack for the better part of 2 years. Oddly, it felt quite lovely. I was taken into the menage where Simon gentle patted me and then slowly mounted. I was calm about this because he had not raged at me for breaking my door that morning. We had a nice walk around the arena and I enjoyed it. I did wonder, however, how long this was going to last as my surprise would be growing every day.<\/p>\n

Kimberly, Simon, Beowulf, Huw and lots of the other staff, Miss Fiona included, rode me and exercised me. I could tell I was getting stronger. My back felt good and my legs felt powerful. \"\"It had been about 2 months since I last saw Dr Laura when she came back to see me. She was here to give me my second injection for flu. I was pleased to have it because I knew my surprise would benefit from it. Then Kimberly had to ask again. \u201cLaura, we keep working her and she looks like she\u2019s getting fit, but she still getting fat. Are you sure she\u2019s not pregnant?\u201d Again, Dr Laura looked me over and said it was just the process of getting fit from having a foal. Don\u2019t worry and keep working for a top line. I\u2019d been second time lucky.<\/p>\n