I might think that some of you do know that I started learning horse back riding a year ago.
As a child I dreamed about learning horseback riding and having a horse of my own. But my parents were very anxious about it and that is why I had not the opportunity to start taking riding lessons in my childhood.
Since we moved to the countryside about 5 years ago, I noticed horses and horseriders all around because there are a lot of equestrian schools and horse breeding farms in our neighbourhood.
I told Jan that I was so sorry to not have had the opportunity to learn horseriding as a child and that I felt too ‘old’ to start now.
But Jan encouraged me and said that if I really wanted to start learning it, I had to take my chance, even at my age!
And so I did!!!
A year ago I pulled my boots on and took my chance! I took lessons dressage at a local manège and believe it or not, after a few falls and ups (literally!!!),
and many lessons later, I felt ready for my own horse!!! Can you believe it!
And here she is! My new love, Mango.
Mango is a 17 year old mare and is of German origine. Her mother is a Hanoverian and her father is an Oldenburg horse, both known for their gentle character.
I ride Mango since the month of May and she is so sweet, so adorable and understanding!! It is so important that as a beginner equestrian, you choose ‘a horse that is able to write and to read’ (a saying we often use here)! So Mango is a 17 years old mare and she is used to have beginners horse riding on her back.
In fact she learned me a lot these past months and she even loves to jump!! She won several jumping competitions.
I am definitely not aiming to start jumping!! Oh no! I will be very satisfied If I could make some progress in dressage in the near future. I will never become a professional equestrian but I don’t care!
My real aim is to enjoy being with her, to ride on her back a few times a week, to take care of her and to give her the opportunity to have a pleasant retirement. She deserves this!
Jan and me and our new family-member.
Sorry for the blurry photos, all taken with my cell phone!
Me, very concentrated of course!
With this post I want to thank my husband Jan for encouraging and supporting me to make my child’s dream come true!!
Thank you dear!
xx
Oh Greet, she is so very beautiful !
I wish you and Mango a long happy life together 🙂
All the best from a fellow horse-lover. Candice
WOW GREEET!! THIS IS SO EXCITING. Congrats, she is beautiful. I rode up until I was 19, had my own horse, Annie for all of my teenage years and keep vowing to get back to riding. I just love it..isn't it wonderful? I am so happy for you that you are getting to enjoy this wonderful sport, owning a horse is a lot of work but such a labor of love….wishing you many happy years with Mango. Thank you for sharing..beautiful:)
Mango is absolutely beautiful! Congratulations on embracing a childhood dream. You have excellent riding posture, by the way.
Enjoy riding and caring for your lovely new mare, Greet!
~ Wendi ~
Greet! You can tease me for being sentimental if you want but I got teary from reading this. I am so thrilled for you–and even more so for Mango. She is so beautiful and is going to be one spoiled lady for her retirement. I love the photo with the three of you–the connection between you and Mango is so clear. And you look gorgeous in the seat! Don't ever say that you won't be a professional–life might surprise you. My Mom was winning (in Western) within two years of working with her trainer. 🙂 I miss having horses–I agree that they teach us so much.
Bisous et bravo!
Heather
oh Greet, I'm so happy for you…!!! and good for you to follow your dream…and for your wonderful husband to encourage you…!!
Mango is a beautiful horse and so wonderful that you found her…best of luck with your future riding…
best,
maureen
She is a beauty Greet….xv
Dear Greet
What a beauty Mango is – congratulations with her! I am sure that you and Mango will have many wonderful experiences in the future and I wish you many wonderful years together!
Love Lene
Beautiful horse! I love your pictures! Greetings,Zondra
Ohh Greet, Congratulations !!! she's adorable. I can understand your emotion and happiness. I hope that you could share together many big moments.
HUgs
Cecilia
she is one lucky beauty greet. congratulations on the new addition to your family
xo
debra
Greet
I do know the feeling. I had a dream as well, and I was as lucky as you to have a husband who support me in it. For me, it was studying anthropology, for you it is horse riding. It is so fulfilling to realize a dream and to have the support of your family.
Mango is a beauty and it so nice she is so loved.
Enjoy her!
Hugs
Isabelle
Congratulations on your riding and Mango, your new horse. A lovely story that has brightened my day. Happy riding! stephanie
Oh Greet Mango is so beautiful!! What kindness in those eyes I can see how much you love her, what a dream to come true! I can't think of a more loving home for her to retire to. You look every bit the accomplished horsewoman already and I have no doubt at all that it is a match made in heaven. I wish you many happy times together and an endless supply of sugar lumps and polo mints for Mango! Hugs and warmest of Autumn wishes from an old farmhouse in England – Glenda xxxxx (big kiss on Mango's soft velvety nose too)!
Mango is beautiful! How wonderful to live a dream no matter what your age. Congratulations on your new family member. Has Ralph met Mango yet?
What a lucky girl you are! The horse is gorgeous. May you have many wonderful times together. Your husband is awesome to help you make a childhood dream come true 🙂
So very happy for you and for Mango…I am sure she adores you as much as you do her…you look beautiful in the saddle and good for you for making a long held dream come true. May you have many happy rides together.
Jermaine
Dear Greet, love your blog and posts, but this one was very near and dear to my heart! I had ridden horses as a child but after moving and having children I finally started riding again with my beautiful sons!! I was 45 and they were 10 and 5!! it was so wonderful to be riding again and I know how it is after a long time to go back to something you LOVE! gongrats on your lessons and your new mare-she looks beautiful!!
Cheers!
Meredith
Oh Greet, Mango is beautiful! It's so wonderful that Jan encouraged you to follow your dream to learn how to ride, and that you're able to have your very own horse 🙂 I had a horse for 5 years – it was challenging at times (like riding with frozen feet & hands in the winter!), but also rewarding.
I hope you and Mango enjoy many happy rides together 🙂 Give her a pat and a carrot for me 🙂
Mango is such a beauty! Wish you all the best with her and congrats on following your child's dream! Stop by, Im having a giveaway 🙂
Such a magnifient lady she is, Mango!
She will bring a lot of love ……
Ingela
Oh Greet, she is such a beautiful lady!
Enjoy her.
Teresa
xoxo
Een droom is in vervulling gegaan Greet! Wat een mooi paard, ik kan me voorstellen dat je daar heel blij mee bent. Mijn beide dochters hebben paardrijles gehad en al ben ik niet bang voor paarden…als ze tijdens een les op een eigenwijs paard reden die hen er af gooide, hield ik regelmatig mijn hart vast!!
Ik wens je veel geluk en rijplezier met Mango!
Lieve groet, Ingrid
I want to thank all of you for these lovely and sweet comments and emails!!!!!! I never have expected to have all these comments on this post!!!
You all give me tears in my eyes!!!
Hugs,
Greet
Hello dear Greet,
Your Mango is very beautiful and congratulations to you for taking the chance and learning something that you've always desired to learn. Does every girl dream of owning a horse? I know I do!
I rode my neighbors horses as a child and we had a Shetland pony for my brothers. So I think you are very smart to take advantage of the fact that you live in the country and can afford to own one of your very own.
Love and hugs, Cindy
What a thrill for you & us. Congratulations, Jan, Greet & Mango. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Hi Greet!
Congratulations on your new love! So sweet and beautiful!
xo
danielle
You're an inspiration!
Angela x
Oh My, I have to wipe the tears from my eyes, this was an incredibly wonderful, heart warming and beautiful post!!! (I still and always dream of having my very own horse!) Congratulations!!! She's beautiful, and she's so lucky to have found someone to love her and appreciate her as you so obviously do!!!
What a perfect, little angel. May the two of you share a long, beautiful life together!
Oh, how fun and nice for you, Greet! I had a horse until I went away to college and miss those days. Like you, I practiced dressage (no jumping for me!) You brought back some fond memories for me today.
Deborah
I am so happy for you! Realizing a childhood dream is wonderful. I too wanted a horse growing up but my family just did not own enough land. I guess there is still hope for me!
Kudos to you Greet for going ahead and persuing your dream! And Mango is gorgeous! Congratulations!
How wonderful Greet!
Mango is beautiful, but more importantly I think it is fantastic that you are following your dreams and making them a reality. Yes, Jan is such a love for supporting you, although I am not surprised!
xo
Brooke
You are both very lucky to have found each other! Good luck with your riding!
She is lovely! Horse are amazing creatures and they have a special way of keeping us grounded and peaceful. Best of luck with your new mare.
I can see the pure joy in your face in the second to last picture with the two of you. Kudos to you (and your husband!) for pursuing a dream, regardless of the list of reasons not to! I wish you much happiness and that's a lucky horse to have you also! 🙂
Greet…How wonderful! She is just beautiful and I can see why you would be totally in love. I would hate to see less of you here…,but I could understand why you might follow this new passion. Good for you. We all need more fun and excitement in our lives. I'm a bit envious. XO, Mona
*** Wow, Greet… She is one… beautiful… lady!!!
I'm soooo happy for you, for so many reasons, and one is that you now know, FOR SURE, that "It's never too late!"…
Warmest hugs to Mango, and please keep one for yourself!
Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
Ze ziet er heel lief en prachtig uit Greet.
Veel geluk samen!
Fijn weekend,
groet Petra
OH GREET! LIEVE GREET! I am so happy for you, and do you know that IT IS NEVER TOO LATE FOR ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I too love horses and I will never have one, for I live in the city. BUT YOU NOW HAVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL MANGO and you are doing what I always wanted to do to…..AND YOU ARE HUGGING HER! I want to hug a horse around the neck too!!! You look stunning my friend, ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BISOUS, Anita
Oh, Mango? I love it!!! What a great name!
Look, Greet.. this is real love. No, I'm not only talking about your love for Mango. I'm talking about Jan's love for you. I'm a big believer that when someone really loves us they believe not only in our dreams and dream w/ us, but also encourage us to achieve them. It's so great to know that Jan supported you to live this dream! Life is WAY too short for us to feel too "old" to not do what we really want. Besides, old? Where?! You're gorgeous, heathy and so young!
I love horses. They're my favorite animals. I'm also in love w/ Mango. 🙂
Have a blessed weekend.
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Congratulations, you are beautiful together!!
What a wonderful husband you have, to encourage you to pursue a dream! And congratulations to you for just going for it. I'm so inspired–thanks for sharing!
Oh Greet! Mango is just stunning and I know she is in love with you! Jan is a gem to encourage you with your love. I would love to see you ride!
xoxo
Hi Greet! Mango is awesome!!!!!! Reminds me of my first training horse……..He was awesome! Good luck and many happy times ahead for the both of you!!!!!!
Maryanne. xo
Congratulations Greet! There is no better feeling than to be on the back of a horse and to be their number one caretaker. Mango is beautiful and the two of you look wonderful together:) Please keep us updated on your progress. Best~Penny, fellow designer and horse owner:)
Hello Greet, Congratulations and what a wonderful accomplishment. Mango is a beautiful horse and looks healthy with that shiny coat. I applaud you for being so brave and for succeeding. Bravo.
I grew up with horses in Ireland and have a passion for them. I do not own one but manage to ride a few times a year.
Continued success
Helen Tilston
Well done Greet, I am a believer in "Never too late" and you and Mango look perfect for each other. Have a great ride (and how lucky you are…)
Oh, oh, oh! It's a dream come true! I am so happy for you, as I know how much fun riding and taking care of such a lovely creature is! I ride with my daughter, we are sharing a horse, it is such wonderful way to connect with nature, animal and body and soul!
Proficiat Greet met je waargemaakte droom. De liefde tussen Mango en jou is duidelijk wederzijds, dat is te zien op de foto's. Geniet ervan! Manu is in mei ook begonnen met paardrijden en het is zo leuk om hem bezig te zien. Het heeft ook bij mij al fel gekriebeld om te leren rijden.
Prettig weekend, het zal schitterend weer zijn om een paar tochtjes met Mango te doen.
Saskia
oh! ze ziet er prachtig uit! Zo goed dat je gestart bent, het is een prachtige sport waarin je je van alle stress eens kunt vrij maken.
Ik kan jammer genoeg niet rijden omwille van allerhande ontstekingen 🙁
Veel geluk ermee! grtjs x
Greet,
She is so beautiful. I'm so excited for you. My daughter, Lucy, rides Hunter/Jumper & she is absolutely in love with this sport. I love going to the barn with her to see her pony. We are both happiest there.
Hope you are well.
Mango loves his Mama!!! I am so happy for you Greet! (I am looking at these images together with Frida (9) who wants to start riding horses so badly. She says she wants her own horse for sure!!!).
Love,
Mon
Greet, my daughter and I LOVE horses and have always had them. They are so dear to us, as are all of our animals. I can see how proud you are of this beauty! Soon you will be an accomplished rider, and will enter the show circuit, I just know it! Big hug to Mango (love that name). xx's
Greet !
C'est formidable n'est-ce pas d'avoir un cheval ?
Je comprend très bien votre bonheur d'être avec Mango !
C'est un bon choix d'avoir une jument de 17 ans si vous débutez l'équitation. Elle va vous faire progresser…
À bientôt,
Céline.
You surely look great and lovely together. That surely is a beauty that will remind you that everyday is worth living. Great to see you around.
How wise Greet to choose an older horse who knows the ropes, and such brilliant breeding. I've always admired the hanoverian horses. Mango is beautiful, and I love her name!!
xx