Leigh

So did I. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horses #horsetok #horsetiktok #horsesoftiktoktok #equestrian #horseriding #equestrian #warmblood #bestfriend #soulmate #longjump #athletics #trackandfield #longjumper

I later found an amazing vet who took care of Dutch and me for the next 5 to 6 years. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horsesoftiktok #horses #horsesoftiktok #equine #equestrian #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #showjumping #showjumper #bestfriend #soulmate

I think about you so often sometimes I wonder if you can feel it. —M.M. #fyp #foryoupage #foryou #horse #horsesoftiktok #horses #equine #equestrian #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #showjumping #showjumper #bestfriend #soulmate

Another year over. Moving further and further away from you, and the time we had together… it feels wrong. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horsesoftiktok #horses #equine #equestrian #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #showjumping #showjumper #bestfriend #soulmate

Don’t know how I survived tbh, didn’t really want to. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horses #horsesoftiktok #horsetok #horsetiktok #equine #equestrian #showjumper #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #bestfriend #soulmate

Strong opinions on this. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horses #horsetok #horsetiktok #horsesoftiktoktok #equestrian #horseriding #showjumper #showjumping #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #bestfriend #soulmate

Replying to @🖕 Dutch was very emotionally shut down for the duration we stayed at the dealers yard I got him from (5/6months). When we moved he was explosive, completely different horse. He gave me his all, but I was asking unfair things from him. When he went lame, I did everything to try and get him sound. He was my show jumper, and I had the idea we’d compete. When 2 years went by with on and off lameness (better in the summer/warm weather) I realised that the chances were low of us returning to any kind of competition. It was in 2016, 3 years of owning Dutch, with 2 and a bit years of investigating his lameness and seeing the extensive mental ab*se he’d gone through, how shut down he was to the horse I had now, that I realised I might lose him. And that switched the game completely. I would lose him. I no longer cared about jumping, shows, riding… I wanted him better so we could spend our days together in the field doing tricks. He started laying down with me in the stable. I’d walk in, speak and hold him, and he’d turn around and lay down at my feet. That’s when everything changed. We still had our rough days. But I learned to fully listen to him. I watched, and I learned him. Horses are like books, words on every page if you are willing to open them up and take a peek inside. But the trick is to understand, don’t skim read, don’t skip parts. Read and take in what they are showing you. After that everything was easier. Tackless was easy. The tricks got harder, but they were easy to learn. In the chaos of everything, we understood and had each other. He knew I would force him to do something, not like his old owners. If he said no, I listened. Dutch was a chronic rearer. He rearer our first ride before I owned him. His rearing completely stopped (other than the odd moment). I’d sit in his field, reading. And he’d stay with me over his field friends. There was no expectations anymore. Just love and understanding. He flourished. He was this shit down 4 year old. And by just giving him the love and space to be himself, he developed into this amazing, brave hearted, smart, intelligent, loving, caring, special soul. He became Dutch. ❤️ Moral of the story… learn to read them. Give them the space to be truly themselves. And watch the incredible transformation. My heart and soul. ❤️ ##fyp##foryou##foryoupage##horse##horses##horsesoftiktok##horsetok##horsetiktok##equine##equestrian##showjumper##warmblood##kwpn##dutchwarmblood##bestfriend##soulmate

What I wouldn’t do for one last hug. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horses #horsesoftiktok #equine #equestrian #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #showjumping #showjumper #bestfriend #soulmate

Cannot express how much I miss hacking with my boy. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horses #horsesoftiktok #equine #equestrian #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #showjumping #showjumper #bestfriend #horsetiktok #soulmate

Those last few weeks hurt and heal me all at the same time. Sometimes I can barely watch our videos, sometimes it’s the only thing that brings me happiness and peace. My heart aches for you. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #horse #horses #horsesoftiktok #equine #equestrian #warmblood #dutchwarmblood #kwpn #showjumping #showjumper #bestfriend #horsetiktok #soulmate