I've had a long conversation with the barn owner yesterday, and it's insane how screwed up the priorities and dynamics in the horse owner's family are. They're highly toxic, and much as it would break my heart to lose the horse, I have to distance myself from them.

So I've just drafted a letter - trying to be as diplomatic as possible - asking them to sell, and saying that otherwise, I plan to quit riding their horse at the end of the month. I'm seriously starting to feel blackmailed by them.

Luckily, one of the other girls at the barn told me yesterday that she plans to buy a horse - a nice little cob that I've ridden before myself - but that she needs someone to share it. (I was quite flattered that she said I was the first and only person in the barn she'd want to share her horse!)

So if this letter backfires, at least I can stay around to keep an eye on the situation...

Whew, so it's been quite a month, but at last, Jackson is mine, and next week, is moving to another stable where the old owners can't bother him anymore. :bigsmile:

Thanks! The future is looking rosy indeed. He's settled in to his new stable and being turned out with his new herd. He already has grooming buddies. Tomorrow, the vet is coming to microchip him for his passport, and I've already made an appointment to start lessons with a teacher who seems very knowledgable. We'll get there. He was back to acting like a numpty spooking at everything yesterday, but can't expect a miracle in a week...

Thanks, luv2all - it was the classic story, girl meets horse, girl loses horse, girl gets horse back forever.