3 yrs ownaversary!! Lots of pics...

[lil_legs]

Well tomorrow it is 3 years since I bought home a little bundle of fluff. He was a Section D x expected to make 15hh. I couldn't believe my luck when I went to see him and thought he could be mine. I paid way too much money for him and alot of people made it their business to tell me so but I aim for him to be my forever horse and so he was always going to be worth it.

When I saw these pictures my heart fluttered...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/HM840B34H_3.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/HM840B34H_2.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/HM840B34H.jpg
He was 6 months old when I picked him up...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/DSCF2779.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/DSCF2768.jpg

After a week of being in the stable he was allowed into his pen...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/DSCF2809.jpg
And spotted friends at the bottom field...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/DSCF2812.jpg

He grew and as we played together we grew a bond...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/072.jpg

I worried he wasn't going to get big enough...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/Photo0290.jpg

Then he went through a real ugly gangly stage and shot up...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/Photo0267.jpg

He had his first bath at just over a year old...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/Photo0008.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/Photo0012.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/Photo0011.jpg

The first time he let me approach him laid down...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/P210809_1327.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/P210809_132702.jpg

And then....
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/P210809_132901.jpg

At 18 months old he tried his bridle on for size...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/019.jpg

And went for his first walks...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/Photo0106.jpg

Then the snow hit...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/017-1.jpg

We started ride and lead...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/20947_316652511516_679026516_400891.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/26606_356946651516_679026516_412930.jpg

We had moments with feet issues and when I was pregnant Hutch had to take over doing his feet...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/30903_394445906516_679026516_458432.jpg

He and Jasper grew closer...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/30903_394750816516_679026516_459004.jpg

He refused to let go of his winter coat!!
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/30903_394796601516_679026516_459096.jpg

And started longreining at 2 from the head collar...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/31053_398474811516_679026516_469736.jpg

He decided to try being a drag queen...
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/163836_484619266516_679026516_6407424_7046773_n.jp g

In January this year he went away for a holiday, and I had a sit on him for all of 2 minutes...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/010.jpg

He got big on holiday!!
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/013.jpg

And came home alot sooner than planned, he started getting bolshy and wanting more than being a field ornament. My stepmum was going to be breaking him to drive but her arthritis got worse and so he came home. I continued to longrein him and started a ten minute lunge once a week but that didn't satisfy him anymore. So I got my lightest rider on him, he was a star. He was 3 when someone got on him but I didn't want him backed until the end of the summer but he really wasn't a happy pony in the field and plodding...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/019-1.jpg

Within a few days he had a little trot...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/028.jpg

And then the girls made me do this....
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/030.jpg

I really didn't want to in case I hurt him but he felt so solid!! I walked him back to the stable, all of about 2 metres and left him for V to work on once or twice a week...
I rode him twice more in the school just gentle walk and trot and a couple of the girls got him walk trot and canter over the summer and they took him out for a couple of hacks...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/441.jpg

Then in September he got turned away from ridden work and we had a couple of inhand shows...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/AlfandArf.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/Alfieshowkit.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/TeamKing.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/emzy_1234/Alfie/AlfandMe.jpg
But we did have a walk around the showground at the end of the day to see what their reactions would be they looked after each other brilliantly. Alfie looked after Arfur when lorries started up and Arfur looked after Alfie past scary people on stalls!!
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297942_10150310457921517_679026516_8367500_3446515 47_n.jpg

He also went to a show without Arfur and had to show Charlie how to behave...
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/320712_10150314812221517_679026516_8391053_1382159 941_n.jpg

And found some energy and look at me factor at this show...
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/305392_10150314816731517_679026516_8391077_2012229 756_n.jpg

And got himself his first rosette and came 5th!
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/316303_10150314817066517_679026516_8391078_1525111 233_n.jpg
He is currently turned away and has been for the last couple of months. He has started getting bolshy again so we are going to start a bit of longreining and hope that keeps his brain ticking over until the Spring.

So many people told me I was wrong for buying him, he will never be big enough, a couple of people said he was ugly and my stepmum even said to leave him there when we went to pick him up. But I love him he is so willing, loves learning and has such a character, I can't imagine life without him in it, it would certainly be boring that's for sure.

Cookies to anyone who made it to the end!!

[Anni~Bell]

Well apart from you and Hutch, no one loves this little pony as much as I do (well maybe my sister) even if I did have to put him in detention yesterday :lol:
Can't believe its been 3 years you've had Alf now! Seems only yesterday I met this scared little bundle of fluff in his stable!! Can't wait til I get a go on him :D

[CautionToTheWind]

He most certainly is not ugly and regardless of what you paid for him he is totally worth it, you can tell that just by looking at your face. He's a nice sort of horse and those people who told you you were wrong buying him will eat their words in a few years when you's are trying your hand at everything!

I do have a biased opinion towards coloureds, but I do think he's gorgeous! More updates needed on this boy more often! :)

[lil_legs]

I hope so! I think he is going to enjoy just about everything he loves trying new things.

The last 2 pictures are of the girl who shares Flynn she wanted a go at in hand showing and Flynn cannot stand it lol so I let her take Alfie and he was such a gem for her. She is getting a bit big for Flynn and next year will be moving onto Alfie and I think she is somewhat excited about the prospect!!

The only thing I am worried about is we have a feeling the other half of him is a trotter and he has the weirdest movement, you keep feeling as though you are being left behind in the trot apparently the canter is much more comfortable. I just hope I can get to grips with the way he moves, there is so much power from those legs!!

[classic astra]

i havent seen recent pics of him he is ****** huge!! hes so lovely bless his heart!

[lil_legs]

i havent seen recent pics of him he is ****** huge!! hes so lovely bless his heart!

He is standing at 14.3hh at the moment, I am kind of hoping for that little bit extra, he's made it out of pony now so the least he can do is hit 15hh!! :lol:

[Niatross]

he is gorgeous :)

[eeek]

He looks like such a sweetheart :)

I think it's quite unlikely he's half trotter as he is quite hairy and cobby looking - but he could definitely be a quarter trotter or have some trotter in him. What is it about his movement that you find strange? Does he have a huge stride? Does he ever pace? Would be interesting to see some videos.

[Osci]

I think he's gorgeous :D

[Eclipse]

i think he's lovely, hes going to be so useful and do more than other people can only imagine by the sounds of his nature.

I love his front legs, theyre really white and straight! (i know that sounds daft but he's a 'type' ive seen many of over years and they've all been brill at everything)

[amandaxx1]

Wow look at him he's a stunner!!! We havnt seen enough pics!!! What's his breeding? And what are your plans for him?

Gorgeous boy he is xx

[sazzy925]

Aww he looks absolutely lovely!
Looks like you've had a fantastic 3 years with him.

[My Crazy Clan]

happy anni, lovely photos! hes a doll! love him, such pretty head.

[Bjutschilp]

Great to see a horse "growing up" within a few pics ...
... beautiful boy !!!

[Madoldbat]

Aww, Happy Owniversary!! He's utterly gorgeous, such a pretty boy - and the length of that mane!!!

Give the people who said he was overpriced a big fat nur nur ne nur nur from me, he's worth his weight in gold xx

[Soph]

Oh just love this little man (well, quite big now, lol) He has turned into such a cutie.
Can I just slap whoever cut his mane though?!!! :eek::eek: What an absolute sin! :lol:
He's going to be a fantastic little horse I think. Can't wait to see him grow and explore the world with you :)

[ness]

He's so beautiful!

[Pie_x]

He is absolutely gorgeous! Such a little sweetie. Glad you've proven people wrong x

[lil_legs]

Eeek the trotter was something someone mentioned to me because he has such big strides. I always thought he was just a cobxsection D. But when you see him move he wouldn't look out of place if he did pace. I can't really explain it but his back legs just look as though they need more room lol. Although so far no he doesn't pace.

When I move and get broadband set up I will try and get a video up of him on the lunge so you can see.

[vels mum]

What a lovely boy, I remember when you brought him home, think you had some issues with the 2 of them getting on?

He is lovely and a credit to you, just goes to show always go with your gut instinct cause its a hell of a lot more reliable than others opinions!!!

What height is he now?

[chelle83]

He is a lovely looking lad, happy owniversary.

[lil_legs]

VM we had problems with him and Monty last year Monty terrorized him. But he spotted in with the others nicely. The main problem I had with him was his feet he kicked like a mule and meant it. Pleased to report that has subsided.

He's now standing at just over 14.3hh so bery pleased.

[annmarie]

he is lovely and sounds like a character bless him xxx nothing nicer than a horse who likes to do new things xxx