CS Equestrian - Success Stories

Our newest story is by Bethan Jenkins aged 15. Bethan is one of C S Equestrians biggest helpers! She dedicates most of her free after school hours and weekends to help at the riding school and aswel as this she has worked wonders with one of our more 'difficult' ponies - Maya. Here is their story.......

NAME- Henwen Chorus (Maya)

AGE-7

BIRTHDAY-18^thof April 2004

ADDRESS-C.S.Equestrain

BEST FRIEND-Deekie

Dear Diary,

Today was a very unusual day, as you know I was abused by a farmer but thanks to Ceri who found in the field saved me from getting hurt even more, but after all her effort I just couldn't let myself trust her the fear was just still there I can't help it if someone goes to touch me I just move I am afraid that they will hurt me like the farmer did. But today was different it all started off at around lunch time when a girl about 13 or 14 stood by the gate holding a bucket of food but no one bothers with me much so I didn't bother walking over unlike Deekie and Rose who bombed it over as she shook the bucket, she was probably going to catch them anyway as everyone has given up on me. But this girl was different she pushed them away and walked over into the field and started calling my name. At first I thought I must be hearing things but I looked up and there she was walking over to me calling me even more. At first I panicked and run away I thought she would start shouting at me but she didn't she just sprinkled some food on the floor and walked back and that was the last time I seen her that day. But looking back at it now it wish I had just let her come over to me that way I could have had more food.

Dear Diary,

When I woke up this morning I hoped that the girl would come back today and feed me more cool mix but I thought after running away yesterday she going to want nothing to do with me like everyone else. But just when I walking over to Deekie to say good morning she was there at the gate again this time I walked up when she called my name but Deekie followed even though I do love Deekie I wanted to go by myself to see if she did want to see me which I hoped she did. Deekie got there first and as I thought she give him a handful of food but after she did she was pushing him away and calling me again I was happy to hear her say my name but I was also scared was she a nice person or was she going to be mean to me like the farmer was. She was getting close to me now and she put the bucket under my nose I sniffed it and I don't know why but I ran away, and as soon as I did this I thought oh no she going to go again but she didn't she shook the bucket and I walked over this time I knew there was cool mix in there and really wanted some, and the girl seemed to be nice but I wasn't sure she could be hiding. But this time I took some food and run away again I just couldn't make myself stay there I was so happy that someone was here but sacred at the same time. And once again instead of given up on me she stayed there and called me again. This time I was more confident and when I went to go eat the food instead of running away I stayed there but his time the girl went to touch my neck and I freaked out and trotted off. At this point I couldn't believe after all this time that she stayed with me but after this, there was no way she would stay any more who wants to try and get a problem pony in from the field. But I couldn't believe what I was hearing when once again she called my name in her harmless voice. So I plucked up the courage and walked over. She put the bucket on the floor and took one step back. This to me meant that without a doubt this girl had patients and lots of it. As I walked over she was telling me that I was a good girl and praising me this made me feel really proud of myself no one has called me that in a long time. I started to eat my food and I could see her walking towards me I didn't move I kept on eating but then out of nowhere she touched me neck again I put my head up sacred but didn't run away and then out of no were a rope came from round her back and she put it round my neck I was so scared I reared up thinking it would all go away she was hurting me just like the farmer but all I could hear in my head was "its ok Maya calm down it is fine I am not going to hurt you" I was pulling at the rope and then realised that it wasn't hurting I was feeling no pain and stopped pulling and I looked into her eyes and she looked in mine and stroked my neck and started talking to me that calmed me down alto and we walked out of the field on to the yard. She put me in a stable I was really scared at this point I haven't been in for ages so I just stood at the back of the stable thinking this was all a dream that I would wake up any minute but I didn't I opened my eyes to the stable wall and to the girl calling my name with a hand full of food so I walked over very slowly and ate the food out of her hands. I stayed in for a while I found out that the girls name was Bethan and that it was her birthday today she was 15 my guess was totally wrong. Later on she gave me some more food and then put me back out in the field I really liked this girl there was a connection there somewhere in her eyes the moment that they met with mine they were so kind and sweet like she couldn't hurt a fly (i've heard the girls calling her 'Willow' the eco warrior because she tries to save all creatures!).

Dear Dairy,

Today in was hoping she would come and get me again and after yesterday I was expecting her to come but I waited and waited and she didn't come I seen her walking past thou but she just looked at me I was hoping she would come and get me but she didn't. I was a bit upset I really fancied some food.

Dear Dairy,

After yesterday I lost all hope on Beth coming back. But just when I thought she would never be coming back there she was at the gate with a purple bucket again I was so pleased when she called my name so of I went and trotting over beating Rose and Deekie this time, As soon as I got over there she greeted me so friendly and offered me some food I took it out of her hand and when she did this once again she put the rope around my neck this time I didn't panic I just raised my head a little. She led me back to the yard and put me in a stable and feed me some cool mix which I love now. Then she came in to the stable with a head-collar and she had cool mix but not in her hand she thought I didn't know she had it. I could see a little bit hanging 0ut of her pocket so I nudged her to try and get it and she just laughed at me. She then tried to the head-collar on me but I freaked out what was she doing to me run was trying to get out of the stable but I just couldn't she was talking to me trying to clam me down her voice was very calming and I did I walked back over to her and she gave me some cool mix I knew she had some there, she patted me on the neck to make sure I was ok. Then she put cool mix in her hand with the nose-band of the head-collar on her hand to I knew what she was trying to do but I really wanted that food so I put my nose on her hand and took the food from it the same time she pulled the nose-band up I lifted my head I really didn't fancy it on me last time I had one of theses on I was in pain. Well Beth kept trying and after about half an hour she was a lot faster than I expected and up the nose-band went on top of my nose I didn't even freak out I was in no pain and before I knew it was done up probably on my head like a proper horse. The prise I had for letting her put this on was awesome I had so much cool mix and pats I liked it. I felted loved for once in my life.

Dear Dairy,

Beth brought me in again today this time she tied me up outside and started to brush me I liked this felling and when she finished I felt so clean and fresh. I hadn't felt like that in a while. Well later on she give me my food and lead me down to the field and said goodbye to me I hope this didn't mean she was not coming back.

Dear Dairy,

Well like I thought Beth didn't turn up and no one came so see me again. I was a bit upset as for once in my life I felt like a proper horse like I meant something and also I felt loved.

A few weeks later

Dear Dairy,

Today I was so happy I could not believe it when I seen Beth walking down the lane to come and meet me I was so happy I called her and trotted over to see her. She stood there and give me my favourite food ever cool mix she talked to me in her clam and friendly voice but she didn't stay there for long and went back up to the yard where I could she was having her party at Ceri's. I wish I could talk to wish her happy birthday and her not to leave me again.

Dear Dairy.

Well like I guessed Beth didn't turn up today so I just got on with my normal life, eating grass.

2 months later

Dear Dairy,

Today was the best day of my life I was minding my own business when out of nowhere a girl was walking up the lane it looked a lot like Beth but I think I was missing her so much I think everyone is her. As this girl got closer it did look like Beth and just when I tried to forget about her she called my name I called back it was her I was so happy I walked over to see her and she greeted me so friendly I was so happy she was back. After she stroked my face she walked up and patted all the other horses to then carried on up the lane. I walked up to the gate hoping she would come and get I haven't had cool mix in a while and really fancied some I waited and waited and waited and just when I thought she has given up on me there she was walking down the field with a lead rope and Lesley was with her to I haven't seen her in a while only when she came down to get Anji. They walked down to the gate talking away and then she called my name I was so happy to hear her voice I loved how she looked at me I only hoped she loved me as much as I loved her. Beth walked up to me and called me over but I didn't move I wanted to go over but I was afraid the way she was holding that lead rope was as if she was going to hurt me but her voice was to kind I took a step forward and to a mouthful of cool mix out of her hand and trotted away I wanted to go see her but I was back to my scared self again. She shock the bucket this time so I knew she had a lot with her but I just had the horrible thoughts in my head that as soon as she clipped the lead rope on my head-collar she was going to hurt me just like the mean old farmer. I took me and Beth a while to catch me normally everyone would have given up on me now and would go back to the yard. But no, Beth stayed there staring at me right in the eye. She called me again and I could see by her face there is no way she going to hurt me why would she I have done nothing wrong but this is what I thought with the framer but I must try not everyone is like that so when Beth walked towards me I let her she put the bucket on the floor and as a horses I went straight for it eating the food out of it the same time as Beth clipped the lead rope on my head-collar. She gave me a massive pat that scared me a little, no-one has patted me that hard for a while. All the way up to the stables then I could her Beth and Lesley talked saying that "she must like you we can't go near her" Beth was always smiling but when Lesley said this it got bigger and she get telling me I was a "good girl" and a "clever" one too. This made me fell so happy I think she really liked me. We got back to the yard and she put me in the stable give me the rest of the cool mix and left me. She was helping Ceri out back and forth tacking up the horses grooming them mucking out the stables she looked like she was having fun. Later on she walked over to me with a few brushes in her hands and once again greeted me with a big friendly "hello girl" she came in and started to brush me I remember this from before I loved this feeling not so much above eye level that scared me a bit but she stayed below it so that kept me clam. As she was brushing me Ceri and Lesley walked in this scared me a little I haven't had this many people round me in ages. But they were not doing any harm and Beth being there calmed me down. I could hear them talking my name came up a lot. I looked at Beth her face looked so happy it looked like she wanted to scream out loud but she kept it in. I listen more deeply into the conversation and they were talking about me, they wanted Beth to loan me! Hearing this made me want to scream! I was going to have an owner, a proper owner that going to spend time with me and love and give me as much cool mix as I wanted. I wished she would say yes I prayed and prayed and prayed and all she said was "I will have to ask my mum" let's just hope Beth mum is nice.

Dear Dairy,

Well Dairy Beth's mum is nice very nice indeed! Beth came running up the lane with a brand new head-collar I hoped it was for me she called my name I replied with a friendly whinny. I walked over to meet her she give me a carrot and OMG I have never tasted something so nice in my life she jumped the fence and clipped the lead rope on my head-collar the lead rope was purple my favourite colour how did she know. She lead me up to the yard and put me in a stable and give me this treat called a lick it and I thought the carrot tasted good this was much better it was very minty. She then went on to brush me and she took me on walks down the lane I liked going down the lane but I was a bit unfit so I had to stop all the time to get my breath back. Beth understood and let me rest. She came up every day from then on and did this to me mostly every day I loved it. And I loved Beth and I think she loved me.

Dear Dairy,

Well a few weeks have gone by and I have really bonded with Beth I trust her she not going to do anything to hurt me now I really like her. But today we did something different she put a saddle on me and put a bit in my mouth and went down the lane for a walk I didn't like this bit in my mouth very much and kept opening my mouth all the time and wriggled my tongue. Beth just laughed at me is this the right thing to do or not I stopped anyway and tried to forget that it was in my mouth it was harder to walk back up the lane now the saddle was heavy well it weighed nothing really but I pretend it did so we could stop for grass. I had loads of pats when we got back and much more lick it. I kind of enjoyed having tack on my back I kind of felt like a proper horse.

Dear Dairy

I think Beth has left me again she hasn't come up for 3 days and I am missing her maybe she has gone on holiday or maybe she has just given up on me I am a pain. A girl of 15 wants a jumping horse or a showing or cross country horse maybe she has bought one of those and just forgotten about me.

Dear Dairy

Well today diary Beth returned after like a week well 3 days but it felt like a week. I walked over to greet her and she came over and gave me a lovely welcome with a handful of carrots YUM. Well later on she gave me a groom which was nice as I hadn't had one In a while so it felt good to be clean again. She led me down to the field and normally she leaves my head-collar on but tonight she left it off me. She must trust me now.

Dear Dairy

The last few days have been nice we went for walks down the lane sometimes even with a saddle and a bit. We had a lot of fun and I am really starting to like Beth I am even starting to love her now. But today we did something a little different she tacked me up and I thought we were going for a walk down the lane but she took me in the school. Her mother was with her too and she had her to watch and Beth had her riding hat on which was strange! Why did she have her riding hat on? The mounting block was down there too, and then it came to me she was going to riding me. I didn't know what to do so I played along and walked down with Jackie (her mother) who was holding me. Beth stood on the mounting block and rubbed my back and was talking to saying I was a good girl but I hadn't really done anything so why she was calling me a good girl I don't know, but as I was thinking all of this in my head out of now where Beth laid on me her feet still on the mounting block. I didn't move I froze I didn't really know what to do, she wasn't hurting me and I had a lot of prise off her and her mother and I was proud of myself. And just as things were going well Beth lifted her feet of the block and It shocked me a little and raised my head up in shock but it didn't hurt me. We started to walk on but not very far because Beth was sliding of all the time so we had to go back to the block. It was a very strange feeling to have someone on my back but it was nice it made me feel funny.

Dear Dairy,

It has Been 4 days since Beth laid on me and today I think we were going to do it again as she tacked me up and put her hat on and lead me down to the school this time though Ceri, Sian and Rachel were there too. Ceri was holding me. Beth started off like she did before and then she stopped for a bit and was talking to Ceri but as a horse I can only understand some words but this conversation the only thing I understood was when they said my name. Well they finished their conversation and she laid over me again but this time she put her leg on the saddle and pushed herself on to it. I couldn't believe it Beth was Sitting on my back we walked round a little and Ceri was leading me round it was nice to think I was being ridden but strange to think it as I used to hate people and now I am starting to like them. They are not hurting me any more just trying to be nice to me.

Dear Diary,

Well dairy this is my last page in my book and I haven't written for a while as I have been so busy with Beth. Even though I have had my bad days with Beth (that i'm not going to tell you about because it will take me a very long time as I was very naughty!). Lets just say in involved a wall falling down - I was in a seriously bad mood and ended up being put in the field for a week without any attention! But anyway after that had blown over me and Beth have been coming on loads. Beth has been riding me like a normal horse now we are trotting around the school but I am a little lazy so Beth has to wake me up with her school crop. I have also been jumping. The first time I did it was when Beth was leading me round the school in my head-collar I only jumped a little jump then but a few days later she free schooled me and I jumped over 2 foot! I was very happy with myself even though it took a while to get me over it I had no energy. I have also been jumped when Beth was riding me, that was cool too! It was a lot of fun but I only had enough energy to do it 3 times but I had a lot of prise after I did it which I love. Our bond and schooling has come on loads I am letting Beth put the bridle on now without me having to fight with her (that how the wall fell down) as she always wins anyway. But after all I have been thought if it wasn't for Ceri none of this would have happened. She was the only who found me with the farmer, she was the one who bought me from the evil man. Ceri tried so hard with me to get me right again but It was to soon I couldn't do it as I was still so scared. She was also the one who took me to have a foal, Taran I think that is what his name was I can't really remember I haven't seen him in a while. But there is a pony in the field that looks a lot like him. And if it wasn't for Ceri I would have never met Beth. She was the one who let her come here for work experience and let Beth bring me in and it's thanks to Ceri and Lesley that they offered me for loan. I'm a little more fond of Ceri now too and Beth's patience, courage and confidence is making me more and more trusting all the time! I love me new lease of life!