For The Love Of a Mare

I first saw Liesl on Pat Birnie’s website, just browsing as you do, and came across this picture of Liesl as a 2 yr old...

There was just something about Liesl I liked, so I hummed and hawed over whether I actually "needed" a cob for myself and eventually talked myself into it…. oh and talked my other half into forking out a bit for her to! So the decision was made: Liesl was coming to live at Thistleview Stud and that was when the fun began. The process of trying to get her here was not an easy one and to cut things short, it wasn’t until a a fortnight later that she eventually arrived on my yard.

She came off the trailer about 17hh and proceeded to drag me round the yard. I thought “Aaahhh…..someone with a bit of attitude!” Over the following year, we have had our differences, with her quirky little ways but she has come round to my way of thinking and is now no trouble at all.

Last November I madly took it into my head that there was no reason why Liesl couldn't do our local Welsh Group winter show, totally forgetting that we had a "slight" loading problem. The decision was made that my mother and myself would tackle the problem one Thursday afternoon, a week and a half before the show. It was a bit of a struggle but after an hour and a half, with just being patient (which was very difficult!) and putting one foot on at a time which she proceeded to take off when you lifted the opposite one, we finally got there…… She was in! Yes!

We had overcome a huge obstacle, and from then on, things were a lot easier and she didn't try me as much as she had before - a huge breakthrough! The day of the show arrived and I wondered if, in fact, she would load, but I wasn't to worry as she was in the lorry before me. She travelled well although a wee bit sweaty, but stood at the lorry the whole day like an angel and was third out of seven. Just getting her there had made my day, and any ribbons other than that were a bonus.

She has now done three local shows this year and has been really lucky to have won all three, picking up a handful of Championships along the way. I had intended to take a Section A to the Royal Highland Show (the biggest Agricultural Show in Scotland) at Edinburgh this year, but decided with a day to entries closing that they were just not quite ready, so I took it into my head to enter Liesl. It was only afterwards that I thought “Oh my god, what have I done?” !!

I shouldn't have worried as she travelled like a pro and was no bother to stable. Then the big day arrived. I was sick to my stomach, but Liesl just loved the main ring at the RHS and trotted her wee socks off. I was absolutely gobsmacked to be pulled in 1st, and then Section Champion, having a good cry as Mr Morris gave me my rosettes – as we say up here in Scotland, “Wat an eejit!”

I am so so SO proud of my wee girl, who has come such a long way in the last 18 months, and we are now best friends - I can't imagine life without her.