The Derby thread made me want to share pictures (and the story) of my old horse, Tia.  She is the best horse on this earth, and i dont care what anybody else says!! 

She is "unique" to say the least.  Most people who meet her think she's singularly ugly.  Pshhh... I think she's gorgeous.
All these pics were taken last month.  She's still shedding out so looks kind of "funky", she's on pasture year round and we do not  blanket her so she grows a pretty magnificent coat during the winter.

I bought Tia 7 years ago.  I was a young teenager then, and my mom answered an ad in the paper for two 4H horses for sale.  After calling we realized that the owner was the school police officer, a county sherriff.  He was only asking $400 each, or $600 for both...
When we got there we about died.  Both these horses were skin and bones and looked like they wouldn't make it another day.  My mom couldn't afford to take them both, but she offered $300 for the little Appy (the other was white), the one who looked in the worst shape.  He took the "deal" (these horses weren't worth anything the way they were).

When we got home and unloaded her from the trailer my stepfather was standing there, and the first words out of his mouth were "I am not digging the hole".
Supposedly they bought her when she was 13 and had her for 11 years.  That would have made her 24 when i got her... so at best, she's way way up there. She has foundered in her lifetime, and years of hard riding has left her lame a lot of the time.  When we first got her with vet care and suitable conditions she recovered for the most part.  The last two years she's gone downhill with arthritis and laminitis.  I had MANY wonderful hours trail riding with her, but now i get lucky if i can ride her very very lightly once a week for 10 minutes (only walking, not even trotting).  She only had a "founder flare up" once, and now (after many hours in the company of a farrier - for the laminitis also -and lots of money later) she enjoys 3 acres of lush grass without a problem and has for the past 3 years    I still watch her very closely and fear she will founder, but its seems we are in the clear there.   I dont know how long she has left, but at least she's comfortable and still enjoys life.  She acts like she's 2 years old and even when i DO ride her she wants to take off (her barrel racing days left a major impact on her, everything is "go go go").  I think i pamper her a bit too much, because her attitude is still that of a yearling.  Her eyes are perfect, but she's about 50% deaf.

Now that i wrote a book, heres my lovely lady:


Taken last week. 


Me and her.  My Fiance had the zoom in and didn't realize it.  i really want this picture from farther away.  I love it.







(All wet in the rain, i effin love her!)


She gets sorta thin in the winter, but i think she still does good.  She still enjoy's rolling, so ignore the mud in some of these pictures lol)





Her and i again.  Damn sun ruined it, but i still like it.

Thats my girl, enjoy.  And feel free to post pics of your "ponies" 

She's gorgeous!

She is beautiful.  I have always wanted a horse, but space and money haven't ever come together at the right time.  A good friend of mine has horses and I had an ongoing love affair with her older appie boy.  Ugly as homemade sin and the worst stride ever.  Tempermental as a mule, too, but I loved him.  He passed several years ago, sadly.  I'd rather ride a horse with "character" than a beauty contestant any day.

Again, she's a lovely lady, thanks for sharing the pics.

She is a beautiful old girl!  I'm jealous...  *sigh*

How lovely! She is beautiful.

I happen to think she's gorgeous. 
Any happy, healthy horse who is loved is gorgeous.
'nuff said.

Oh gosh she's gorgeous    What a sweet old lady!
And the pictures of you and her are so sweet!!

I have to agree she is a very pretty old girl.

Ratwings, Appys in general are an either like them or don't kind of thing.  I have found very few people who are wishy washy about their opinion of appys.   I am guessing someone who does not think highly of appys would not see the beauty in this old girl.  I personally own two appys so I happen to think they are pretty darn wonderful.

Today is my boy's 15th birthday.  I can only hope he makes it as long as your girl has. 

Awww.......awwww  I want a pony or a horse but i live in the stupid city

She is BEUTIFUL!!:toothy4:

I don't know anything about horses (what's "founder" mean?).  But that is one of the sweetest horsie faces I've ever seen.   So glad you rescued her.   And I like that shaggy looking coat.  Such pretty markings.  Like a dusting of snow.

I am not sure I understand the question.  Wanting to scratch on things to help shed out hair is not something that is age related.  My coming 2yo does it.  I would guess your other horses do it.

If she grew an extra thick coat this year it might have something to do with her being a tad on the thin side.  Have you considered adding beat pulp or such to her diet?  With all the modern feeds and such there is no reason for our equine senior citizens to get way thin.